AGENDA ITEMS:

1. Approval of Minutes and Treasurer's Report

The Senate came to order at 3:30 p.m. with fifteen members present. Senators Low, Eller, Hall, Johnson, and Walker were absent. On motion by Duncan, the minutes of the March meeting were approved as distributed. The Treasurer reported a balance in the Senate account of $1,430.96.

2. Elections for 1999-2000 Senate session

Senatorial terms expire and elections should be conducted in the Department of Animal Sciences, Biological Sciences, Fine Arts and Speech, Mathematics and Physics, and Physical and Environmental Sciences. Current senators should bring those elected for the new term to the May meeting to be introduced. It is the sense of the senate that individuals with responsibilities in administration at the level of department head or higher are not eligible for election.

3. Nominations for Senate Officers for 1999-2000

At the May meeting, nominations will be in order for president-elect, parliamentarian, and perhaps other posts in the Faculty Senate. Elections to the positions will follow immediately.

4. University Committee Assignments for 1999-2000

The Executive Committee will meet to complete the recommendations for committee assignments and will present their suggestions for senate approval at the May meeting. Faculty interested in particular assignments must get their requests turned in; Charles Howard will e-mail reminders this week.

5. Discussion Item: College of Arts and Sciences

Tarleton administration is seriously considering a split of the College of Fine Arts and Sciences into two colleges, each with an interim Dean until final arrangements can be made. An announcement should be forth coming form President McCabe by the end of April.

6. Old Business

The Faculty Survey form is complete and was distributed to senators. (Copies will be sent to those senators who were absent.) Each senator is to reproduce and distribute the survey in the departments along with a Scantron seat for response. Prior to May 11, each senator should then conduct an informal interview of the faculty to ascertain areas of special concern. Results will be tabulated over the summer for senate use next year.

Senate committees on developmental leave policy and on the system of faculty evaluations will be carried over to the next year.

Charles Howard distributed a comparison of parking fees and conditions form peer institutions. An extended discussion followed regarding preserving the reserved spaces for faculty, substituting a "tier" system of different fees for different parking opportunities, and other possible modifications. A copy of the parking comparison is attached to these minutes.

7. New Business

The Report of the Terminal Degree Committee has been sent forward to the administration. President McCabe has asked VPAA Alexander to form a special committee on the topic. Dr. Don Zelman will chair, and members include R. Walter, Barbara Williams, J. Cadle, R. Newby, W. Chandler, C. Rives, and M. Young.

The University Calendar Committee is still considering the 2001-2002 calendar and is discussing reducing the academic year by one week. The committee is also exploring various modifications to the summer schedules. On motion of Duncan, the Faculty Senate endorses the concept of a more flexible summer schedule.

SFC Whitecotton asks each department to identify upper level elective hours in degree programs which might be used to support continuation of the ROTC program.

The May Senate meeting may be rescheduled to conform to the final exam schedule. The exact time and date will be distributed to senators with the agenda.

The Senate adjourned at 4:55 p.m.