Faculty Senate Meeting
October 8, 2002, 3:30 P.M.
Library Multi-Purpose Room

Faculty Senate President David Weissenburger called the meeting to order at 3:30 P.M.
Twenty-two senators were in attendance.

I. Minutes of the September 10, 2002, meeting were approved.

II. Secretary-Treasurer Malcolm L. Cross reported that an allocation of $3100.00 had been made to the senate’s account, but no decision had yet been made as to whether the $776.03 left in the account at the close of the previous fiscal year could be rolled over into this fiscal year’s account.

III. Announcements.
A. Piper Award: Teresa Davidian reminded each senator to coordinate his/her respective department’s selection of a candidate for Tarleton’s Piper Award nominee. Each department is allowed to select one candidate, and senators from departments with more than one faculty member being supported for the Piper Award were to conduct elections to select a single departmental candidate. David Weissenburger said that members of Tarleton’s Killeen faculty were to be considered members of their departments as administered in Stephenville for selection purposes, and not as members of a separate entity. Each senator needs to submit 23 copies of his/her Piper Award departmental nominee’s application materials (parts A & B) to Janet Whitley by 11/1/02; for distribution to the senate, which will select Tarleton’ s Piper Award Nominee at its meeting on 11/12/02.
B. Faculty Development Leave: David Weissenburger announced that the deadline for submitting an application for faculty development leave, normally 11/1 beginning next year, had been moved to on or around 12/1/02 for the first year at the suggestion of Gary Peer. He added that the Faculty Development Committee was scheduled to have its first meeting within the next week, and that committee members will draw lots to determine term lengths.. Gary Peer will put out a call for applications, and applications, when received will be rank ordered by the committee.

IV. University Committees.
A. Changes in Appointments: The senate unanimously approved changes in appointments to the Faculty Development Leave Committee and the Administrative Confidence Committee. On the Faculty Development Leave Committee, the Senate substituted Mark Littleton for Linda Duncan and Paul Lawrence for Richard Winton. On the Administrative Confidence Committee, the Senate substituted Dan Dudley for Dan Collins.
2

B. Reports.
1. Academic Council: David Weissenburger reported that:
• The enrollment at Texas A&M Commerce had increased to 8500, and has supplanted Tarleton as the second largest university within the Texas A&M system;
• Tarleton’s enrollment had nonetheless grown by 3.5%;
• Pam Littleton is the new editor of the university catalog;
• The final examination dates are accurately reported in the university catalog, although inaccurately reported elsewhere such as in the student handbook;
• The Planning Council is planning a retreat for 1/8/03;
• Of students currently taking on-line courses, 98% of them are on campus, thereby raising questions about whether they are, or should be, participating in “distance learning;”
• A name change in the Department of Chemistray and Geosciences is being considered.
2. Curriculum Committee: The Curriculum Committee met on 9/27 and approved numerous course adoptions and/or changes.
3. Equal Employment Opportunity Committee: No meeting.
4. Employee Benefits Committee: No meeting.
5. Distance Education Committee: George Mollick reported that the Distance Education Committee met, wherein it was announced that 230 on-line courses are ready, 1000 students are taking on-line courses, and that a new distance education course evaluation of the faculty will soon be developed.
6. Calendar Committee: The Calendar Committee is to meet on 10/9/02 at 3:30, and that someone is needed to sit in for David Weissenburger.
7. College Forums: David Weissenburger noted that if members of the senate are unable to attend their own college’s faculty forums, they may attend the forums of other colleges.

V. Motions to Approve.
A. Representation at the Texas Council of Faculty Senates Meeting: The senate unanimously approved a motion to have itself represented at the next meeting of the Texas Council of Faculty Senates. David Weissenburger and Janet Petronis will represent the senate.
B. Other Motions to Approve: None.

VI. Fall Luncheon.
Teresa Davidian reported that the senate-sponsored Fall Luncheon will be held on 11/13/02 at noon in the Travis Room. The cost will be $1.00 a person. Regents Professor Tom Pilkington will be the guest speaker. David Weissenburger announced that in addition to the Spring Luncheon in Stephenville, an additional Spring Luncheon will be held in Killeen.

VII. Librarian Representation on the Senate.
David Weissenburger reported that he had written to Jerry Graham on this issue to express the senate’s position, and that Mr. Graham had replied that there was no conflict between the librarians’ status as staff and their having voting representation on the Senate. Hence librarians will continue to have a voting senator.

VIII. Faculty Work Load.
David Weissenburger reported that he had told Gary Peer that this matter needs to be given top priority for consideration. Gary Peer responded that he may be able to do more about workload than salaries, given the current budget crisis in the state; that his research had indicated that little had been published on this issue; and that more research, dialogue, and discussion were in order.

IX. ITV/Web-Based Course Student Evaluation of Instruction.
A consensus has developed on the evaluation of distance education courses, with the current faculty evaluation form to be supplemented by questions to evaluate technology and support services. David Weissenburger distributed handouts on the issue, indicated that urgency in the issue was driven by SACS requirements, and recommended that all evaluation data (i.e., instructor, technology, and support services) should go to evaluated faculty’s academic departments; and only supplemental evaluation data on technology and support services should go to the CITDE. The senate reviewed and approved changes to the supplemental evaluation items and the process of data sharing. David Weissenburger will carry the senate’s recommendations forward to Gary Peer and Joann Wheeler.

X. New Business.
A. Ad Hoc Committee for Web Site Enhancement: David Weissenburger asked whether there was any interest among faculty senators in serving on an ad hoc committee to enhance the senate’s web site which would produce an FAQ section, provide links to relevant information, etc. No immediate interest was elicited at that time.
B. Other New Business:
1. David Weissenburger announced that no further information on the proposed Excellence in Research Reward Award was available, and that no progress had been made in developing such a reward award had been made since last April. However, the notes of the previous committee created to work on the matter had been acquired, and the committee was reconstituted to include Russ Higham, Steve Field, and Jeanelle Barrett.
2. David Weissenburger also announced that the Student Government Association remains interested in the posting of on-line course syllabi.

XI. Adjournment.
The senate adjourned at 4:35 P.M. The next meeting is scheduled for 11/12/02, at 3:30 P.M.