Faculty Senate President Kelli Styron called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Sixteen incumbent Faculty Senators and four incoming Faculty Senators were in attendance.

I. Minutes of the March 8, 2005, meeting were approved.

II. Treasurer’s Report: Secretary-Treasurer Malcolm L. Cross reported a balance of $2841.51 in the treasury, reflecting the absence of any expenditures since the previous report but the addition of $62.00 collected from the Spring Luncheon.

III. Guests: Dr. Dennis McCabe and Mr. Lonn Reisman addressed the Faculty Senate on Tarleton’s prospects for NCAA Division I membership. Dr. McCabe stressed that it was not yet known whether Tarleton would receive or accept an invitation to apply for Division I membership. Both Dr. McCabe and Mr. Reismann said that membership in Division I would increase Tarleton’s visibility and prestige, but entail costs in providing more programs and scholarships.

IV. Announcements.

A. Introduction of New Senators: Kelli Styron announced the election of the following to the Faculty Senate:
Dr. Pam Lindsey (Curriculum and Instruction);
Dr. Max Sanderford (Biological Sciences);
Dr. Peter Bell-Chacon (Chemistry and Geosciences);
Dr. Joe Broccato (Accounting, Finance, and Economics);
Dr. Jim Kirby (Mathematics, Physics, and Engineering); and
Dr. Richard Sale (Human Sciences).
Dr. Don Henneke (Animal Sciences)

B. Recognition of O. A. Grant Recipients: Kelli Styron announced the following recipients of the O. A. Grant Award for Excellence in Teaching:
Dr. Teresa Davidian (COLFA);
Mr. Stephen McReynolds (COST);
Dr. Don Beach (COE);
Ms. Connie Fox (COAHS); and
Mr. Rusty Freed (COBA).

C. Research Award: Kelli Styron announced that the various colleges should be reviewing applications for the Excellence in Research Award and that both the College of Education and the College of Agriculture and Human Science had completed the process.

D. Other Announcements: Kelli Styron announced that Dr. Chris Guthrie, Professor of History, had won the Piper Award for outstanding teaching.

IV. University Committees.

A. Reports.

1. Academic Council: Kelli Styron reported that the Academic Council heard a report from the Academic Advising Committee on the possibility of establishing an Academic Advising Center on campus. Issues to be resolved include the physical and administrative location of such a center, and its funding.

2. Curriculum Committee: No meeting or report.

3. Calendar Committee: Marlin Priddy reported that the Calendar Committee had decided to retain final examination periods of 2.5 hours in length.

4. Enrollment Management Advisory Council: No meeting or report.

5. Employee Benefits Committee: Kelli Styron announced that Carol Barrett is to be congratulated for being elected to represent Tarleton Employees on the System Employees Benefits Advisory Committee (SEBAC).

6. Instructional Technology: No meeting or report.

7. EEO/AA: No meeting or report.

8. University Planning Council: No meeting or report.

9. Faculty Development Committee: Marlin Priddy noted that the Faculty Senate Subcommittee for Faculty Development, consisting of himself, George Mollick, and Stuart Warnock, had forwarded by email a draft of its report for further review and comment.

10. Committee to Review Awards: No meeting or report.

V. Old Business.

A. Arthur Award Committee: Kelli Styron announced that the Arthur Award Committee would meet on April 14.

B. Environmental Resolution: The Faculty Senate passed without objection a resolution recommending that Tarleton:
· Design future buildings and consider retrofitting current buildings in an environmentally friendly manner in order to reduce environmental costs along with long term operating costs;
· Utilize landscape designs which minimize runoff and water usage; and
· Develop an Environmental Task Force comprised of two representatives each from the staff, faculty, and students who can evaluate existing campus environmental impacts and who can propose and promote new campus environmental policies and programs.

C. Spring Luncheon: Kelli Styron thanked Janet Whitley for organizing the Spring Luncheon, Jeanelle Barrett for her successful program, and other Faculty Senators for encouraging attendance. Malcolm Cross announced the collection of $62.00 from attendees.

VI. New Business:

A. Bookstore Issues—Dewayne Campbell: Bookstore Manager Dewayne Campbell told the Faculty Senate that the Campus Store was beginning to buy back textbooks from students. Referring to his 4/12 email to the faculty, he emphasized that thanks to timely placement of faculty book orders, the Campus Store had more time and success in acquiring used textbooks, either through student buybacks or acquisitions from other sources, and that it could therefore offer students greater savings by offering used rather than new textbooks for sale.

B. Elections for 2005-06 President-Elect: Dr. Jeanelle Barrett was elected Faculty Senate President-Elect for the 2005-06 academic year.

C. University Committee Requests: Janet Whitley reported that faculty members could still apply through the web for membership on university committees for the 2005-06 academic year, but the process would close soon.

D. Appointments for Fall ’05 Standing Committees: The Faculty Senate nominated the following members to represent it on university standing committees for the 2005-06 academic year:
Don Beach—University Curriculum Committee;
Stuart Warnock—EEO/AA Committee; and
Mark Holtorf—Employee Benefits Committee.

E. Other New Business.

1. Teaching Evaluations. In response to Dr. Gary Peer’s request for the formation of a group to review the teaching evaluation process, Kelli Styron appointed an ad hoc committee consisting of herself, David Weindorf, and Jeanelle Barrett to address the issue.

2. Academic Terminology. Stuart Warnock announced that Dr. Peer had convened an ad hoc Committee on Academic Terminology to begin meeting in the fall of 2005 to develop policies promoting the uniform usage of terms such as concentrations, tracts, minors, and emphases in curriculum discussions.

X. Adjournment. The Faculty Senate adjourned at 5:15 p.m, with times, dates, and locations of meetings for the 2005-06 academic year to be determined later.