Agenda Items of Business

1. Approval of the Minutes and Treasurer's Report. President Chandler called the December 10, 1996 meeting of the Tarleton State University Faculty Senate to order at 3:30. The minutes of the November 12, 1996 meeting were approved with the following correction: Dan Hardin and Charles Howard briefly discussed major topics focused on at the COFCO meeting they attended (Item 9). Trudy Carlson represented the Library. Irma Harrington and Brian Whitecotton were absent. Don Ross, Dean of Admissions and Registrar, attended the meeting.

2. Presentation by Don Ross on SCT Degree Audit Module. Dean Ross reported that the On-Course component of the SCT program was being developed by the Enrollment Implantation Team led by Brad Chilton. He informed the senate that an A&M Kingsville consultant had presented an overview to the administration on the process of implementing the module at A&M Kingsville. He also stated that degree plans would need to be tightened up, that advisors would be able to compose degree plans on-line and make appropriate substitutions, and that students would be able to "degree shop." He described the following time frame for making the software available to faculty:

Spring, 1997: bring up one degree plan prototype for testing

Summer, 1997: full-time work by team members who are not teaching

End of Summer, 1997: substantial number of degree plans on-line

Dean Ross emphasized that the software would not determine degree plans and that the catalog would be the basis for starting the process.

3. Discussion of Curriculum Committee Makeup. The discussion begin with a review of the current situation by Arthur Low. He focused on the appointment of an abbreviated committee in the summer of 1995. Specifically Dr. Low pointed out that many faculty are concerned about inadequate representation and department heads serving on the committee. Joe Cude, chair of the Curriculum Committee, stated that the committee's business is too much for an expanded committee with representatives from each department. He also stated his concern that current committee members may not be able to represent the broader interests of the colleges they represent and that he thought department heads should not serve on the committee. Dr. Cude observed that the problems of representation are magnified by a smaller committee. Dan Hardin also voiced his concern about the question of adequate representation in the current committee makeup. A motion passed to appoint a senate committee to study the committee makeup and report to the senate at the February meeting. Art Low volunteered to chair the committee. Also volunteering to serve were Dan Hardin, Roy Eller, Amy McKay, and Pat Smith.

4. Appointment of Merit Plus Committee. The following faculty were appointed to serve on the committee:

Brad Chilton, College of Business

Chris Guthrie, College of Arts and Sciences

Ron Newsome, College of Education and Fine Arts

Frank Gilman (tentative), College of Agriculture and Technology

5. Appointment of Faculty Achievement Grant Committee. The following faculty were appointed to serve on the committee:

Sue Cullers, College of Business

Joe Christopher, College of Arts and Sciences

Mary Jane Mingus, College of Education and Fine Arts

Member forthcoming, College of Agriculture and Technology

6. Announcements.

Charles Howard reported that President McCabe, at the November 4 luncheon with the Executive Committee, had invited the senate to provide a representative to participate in the committee appointment process in the spring.

Bill Chandler reported that Dr. Alexander had requested the senate investigate the need for university criteria for emeritus status. It was suggested that the Executive Committee talk to Dr. Alexander at the December 11 luncheon to get more information about this issue.

7. New Business.

Carl Chumney requested that the senate consider the feasibility of the university obtaining an independent financial advisor to assist faculty.

Carl Chumney also requested that the senate find out the status of the faculty's official files. Specifically, he wanted the senate to determine where those files are and whether or not faculty should be advised and sign-off on anything placed in those files.