Faculty Senate President Janet Whitley called the meeting to order at 3:30 P.M. Twenty
Senators were in attendance.

I. Minutes of the March 9, 2004, meeting were approved.

II. Secretary-Treasurer Malcolm L. Cross reported a balance of $1214.66, reflecting an increase in the Faculty Senate’s balance of $340.00, the result of an additional $300.00 allocation made by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the collection of $40.00 at the Faculty Senate’s Spring Faculty Luncheon.

III. Personnel Questions—Angie Brown: Angie Brown, Director of Human Resources, presented a written report responding to questions raised by faculty concerning personnel issues. She noted that some issues were still unresolved and under review by Gary Peer, and encouraged Faculty Senators to share their copies of the report with their colleagues.
IV. Announcements: Before soliciting the scheduled announcements, Janet Whitley invited Russ Higham to report on the newly-established Faculty Excellence in Research Reward. Russ Higham noted that the nominations process had produced five candidates for the award, and he wanted the Faculty Senate to select a 5-member committee, consisting of one senator from each college, and preferably from each department represented by a nominee, which would select a winner and provide appropriate recognition for the other finalists. The Faculty Senate selected Marlin Priddy, Judy Cadle, Jeanelle Barrett, Steve Field, and Russ Higham to comprise the committee.

A. Spring Luncheon: David Weissenburger announced that the Spring Luncheon had been held as planned at noon, 4/13/04, with 40 in attendance.

B. Bookstore Issues: David Weindorf announced he sent out a survey to faculty
to solicit feedback on bookstore issues for the new bookstore manager.

C. Travel Committee: David Weindorf announced that on the previous day he
sent out a survey to faculty to solicit feedback on issues related to travel
reimbursement, and had received 24 responses, mostly critical, in 24 hours. An
underlying theme to the responses was the belief that the University did not
provide enough travel funds, and responses included suggestions that the Faculty
Development Committee no longer sponsor travel, but that the Deans provide
more travel funds.

D. Tenure and Promotion Committee: Janet Whitley announced that some of the goals of the Tenure and Promotion Committee were to:
· Reduce or eliminate ambiguity concerning tenure and promotion criteria in the Faculty Handbook;
· Standardize tenure and promotion criteria; and
· raise the bar for tenure and promotion.
Janet Whitley concluded by noting that the Tenure and Promotion Committee’s recommendations will be sent back to the Faculty Senate and the Academic Council for further review.

E. Other Announcements: None.

V. University Committees.

A. Committee Reports:
1. Academic Council: No report.
2. Curriculum Committee: No report.
3. Enrollment Management Advisory Council: No report.
4. Employee Benefits: Kelli Styron announced that an employee benefits survey had been sent out today.
5. Distance/Distributed Education: No report.
6. TLTR: George Mollick reported that the TLTR is still working on its mission
statement.

7. EEO/AA Committee: Janice Petronis announced that the EEO/AA Committee
would meet on Wednesday, 4/14, to examine and update the Affirmative Action plan to keep it consistent with the law.

8. Other Committee Reports: David Weissenburger announced that faculty
requests for committee assignments for the 2004-2005 academic year would be
compiled at the Faculty Senate Executive Committee meeting on 4/27, and that the Executive Committee’s recommendations for committee assignments would be presented for Faculty Senate examination and approval at the next meeting of the Faculty Senate.

VI. Old Business.
A. Writing Proficiency Task Force: Jenealle Barrett presented a written summary of
feedback offered by faculty senators and COLFA faculty to the Writing
Proficiency Task Force report. The summary noted that many faculty favored
more writing intensive courses or a writing portfolio program, and emphasized that:
· Faculty in all disciplines must be prepared to teach writing across the curriculum;
· The university as a whole must be prepared to keep students writing once they have completed the core English writing courses;
· The university must maintain smaller class sizes;
· The faculty are open to considering new possibilities in this area.

B. Killeen Representation: David Weissenburger reminded the Faculty Senate that a
university-wide faculty vote was necessary to change the Senate Constitution to
provide for a Killeen representative, and noted that he had been working with
Leah Schultz to provide for on-line balloting to be conducted on 4/19/, 4/20, and
4/21, with safeguards to guarantee “one person, one vote.”

VII. New Business:
A. Faculty Survey: Janet Whitley announced that the process of conducting the latest Faculty Survey on line had elicited numerous complaints from faculty members concerning technical problems in completing the survey. However, she further noted that since not everyone had a problem, and since the problems reported reflected no overall pattern, Leah Schultz wanted those experiencing technical difficulties to work with her on an individual basis to resolve them.

B. Senate Elections: Janet Whitley:
· Reminded the Faculty Senate that Senators whose terms expire in May must conduct departmental elections to select successors;
· Announced that if the amendment to the Constitution passes, Killeen faculty may not vote for departmental Senators but may select their own representative;
· Announced that the Faculty Senate Executive Committee was recommending that the Senate at its May meeting elect Marlon Priddy President-Elect, and re-elect Malcolm L. Cross Secretary-Treasurer, but that nominations from the floor of other candidates for either or both of these offices were welcome as well.

C. May Meeting: Janet Whitley noted that the second Tuesday in May, the day on which the Faculty Senate would normally meet, fell after commencement, and suggested that the Senate schedule its last meeting of the year either on the first Tuesday of May (5/4), or 4/29, “Dead Day.” The Senate chose to reschedule its May meeting to 5/4, at 2:00 p. m.

VIII. Adjournment: The Faculty Senate adjourned at 4:58 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for May 4, at 2:00 p. m. in the Library Multi-Purpose Room.