Agenda Items of Business

Before attending to the agenda, Senate President Howard invited President McCabe and Provost/VPAA Alexander to address the senate.

Dr. McCabe stated his intention to continue monthly luncheons with the Executive Committee. He reported increases in enrollment, progress on the new science building, and the proposed cooperative doctorate degree with Commerce as positive signs for Tarleton’s future. He emphasized the need to keeps our eyes on Austin and predicted that the legislative trend linking funding with performance measures such as retention, minority graduation rates, TASP, etc. would continue. On behalf of the faculty, President Howard thanked Dr. McCabe and Dr. Alexander for the new salary floors, merit raises, and increased funding for the University Research Committee.

Dr. Alexander reported that he has allocated $20,000 for the Merit Plus Program. He asked the senate to recommend members for the Merit Plus Committee and look at changing the application packet to firm up the application process. He asked senators to alert their department heads to nominate any qualified faculty for emeritus status. Dr. Alexander also reported that he expected the Board of Regents to confirm Dr. Jack Russell as a Regent’s Professor.

1. Approval of Minutes and Treasurer’s Report President Howard called the September 9, 1997 meeting to order at 4:00. The minutes of the May 6, 1997 meeting were approved. The secretary reported that the senate had $5166.16 in its account. Dr. Clyde Stahnke and Brian Whitecotton were absent.

2. Election of Parliamentarian. Art Low was elected by acclimation.

3. Appointment of Committees

• Faculty Advisory Committee (one from each undergraduate college, one at large, and one alternate for each; all must be tenured). Each college’s senators will select one representative and alternate, notifying Charles Howard of its selection
• Administrative Confidence Committee (three members and one alternate; one member must be a senator; all must be tenured). Members nominated were Hal Walton, Holly Lamb, Sue Cullers, and a member from Agriculture and Technology to be named.
• Award Committee (Holly Lamb, chair). Misti Riebock asked to serve on the committee.
• Calendar Committee (Charles Howard)
• Faculty Luncheon Committee (Bill Chandler, chair)
• Employee Benefits Committee. Lesley-Stanley Stevens agreed to represent the senate.
• Curriculum Committee. Clyde Stahnke elected by acclimation.
• Fiscal Affairs Committee. The Executive Committee and interested senators will serve.

5. Discussion of draft Mission Statement. The senate generally agreed that the draft Mission Statement was too long. A motion passed and was amended to return the draft with the comment: "This is not a mission statement."

6. Reports from Bill Chandler and Charles Howard. Charles Howard reported attending the August Academic Council meeting where a motion passed to revise page 47 of the Handbook. Howard voted for the motion because he thought it was a good compromise. Chandler talked about attending several budget meetings over the summer where the topics of discussion centered on salary floors and merit raises. A motion passed to thank Dr. McCabe and Dr. Alexander for the salary increases.

7. Announcements. Senators were asked to inform their faculty that the senate would consider funding travel to conferences.

8.New Business. No new business was announced.