EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

Present: Banerjee, Bryant, Fuller, Logan-Peters, Miller, Scheideler, Spann, Whitt, Wolf

Absent: King, Prochaska-Cue, Siekman

Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2001

Location: 420 University Terrace, Ste. 203

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1.0 Call to Order (Bryant)

Bryant called the meeting to order at 2:33 PM.

2.0 Announcements

2.1 May 30^th Meeting to Discuss Parking Issues with Tad McDowell

Bryant announced that the committee would be meeting with Tad McDowell, Director of Parking and Transit Services, and other members of the Parking Advisory Committee on May 30^th to discuss parking concerns. Some of the issues that will be discussed are security in the parking garage, shuttle buses, and a differential fee scale.

2.2 Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Search

Bryant reported that he has contacted SVCAA Edwards regarding the Senate's involvement in the internal search to replace Tom Calhoun who will be leaving the university this summer. Scheideler reminded the committee that UNL Bylaws indicate that the Senate should be involved in administrative searches for positions equivalent to Dean or higher. Byrant stated that the issue would be discussed with SVCAA Edwards at the next Executive committee meeting.

2.3 Report on Meeting with Chancellor Perlman Regarding Salaries

Bryant reported that he met with Chancellor Perlman to discuss faculty concerns regarding salary increases. He stated that the Chancellor understands their concerns, but the Chancellor is still committed to awarding salaries based on merit. Bryant noted that he has asked the Chancellor to report on the salary increases when the committee meets with him on June 13^th. Fuller pointed out that a major concern is how the salaries are being publicized. She noted that the public is hearing that the faculty will receive a 6.3% increase but they are unaware that the minimum increase is set at 1.5%. She pointed out that there is a problem in that the public has been informed that the university is getting more funding and that tuition rates are increasing to help cover salary increases, yet the average increase will more than likely be considerably below 6.3%. Bryant noted that the overall budget for faculty salaries will increase by 6.3% but that this does not mean that each individual will receive this amount. Wolf asked if all of the money being held back by administration would be used for faculty salaries. Bryant stated that he was informed that it would be used strictly for faculty salary increases. Scheideler noted that the student regents stressed that the income generated from the tuition increase should be used for merit increases to reward the best teachers. Wolf pointed out that the best teachers often do not receive the highest increases. Banerjee stated that the minimum increase of 1.5% is demoralizing and is not even equivalent to the rate of inflation. She pointed out that the minimum distribution rate needs to be higher. Bryant pointed out that the Faculty Compensation Advisory Committee voted for departments to receive a higher percentage of money than what is being distributed. The committee agreed that they would like to receive information on how the merit funds were spent, including a breakdown on the number of faculty who received specific percentage increases (i.e., # of faculty receiving 1.5%, # of faculty receiving 2.0%, etc.).

2.4 Research Council Membership

Bryant reported that he has assigned a biological sciences representative instead of a humanities representative to the Research Council. He pointed out that while the department in which the faculty member resides is defined as biological sciences, the faculty member is actually an artist and should be classified under humanities. He stated that he has spoken with the chair of this particular department and they agreed that the Committee on Committees should review the definition of disciplines to reclassify the department under humanities. Bryant stated that he would charge the Committee on Committees to do this in the fall.

2.5 Response to Memo Pertaining to Tuition Transfer

Bryant announced that the Academic Senate Presidents would be meeting with Human Resources to discuss the transfer of tuition remission. He stated that the Chancellor's response to the executive committee's memo regarding the benefit was supportive although the Chancellor did not think the committee should pursue some of the suggestions that were made in the memo.

Wolf asked if Bryant has been contacted by Ed Wimes regarding the appointment of a faculty representative to the committee to study coverage of benefits for domestic partners. Bryant stated that he has not, but that he would discuss this with President Smith.

3.0 Approval of 5/2/01 Minutes

Miller moved and Fuller seconded approval of the minutes as amended. Motion approved.

4.0 Unfinished Business

4.1 Distance Education Plan

Bryant stated that he has not received Chancellor Perlman's revised Distance Education Plan. He stated that the Chancellor would provide him with a copy of the report in the near future.

4.2 Intellectual Property Policy

Bryant stated that he should soon be receiving a copy of the most recent revised draft of the Intellectual Property Policy.

5.0 New Business

5.1 Strategic Plan

Bryant asked the committee to review last year's strategic plan and to think about specific items that the Senate should focus on during the upcoming academic year. He stated that a retreat would be held in August for the committee to develop a new plan. Miller suggested that the list should be comprised of attainable goals that the Senate could focus its energies on and where they can make a significant impact.

5.2 Upcoming Meeting with SVCAA Edwards

The committee discussed issues that they would like to discuss with SVCAA Edwards when they meet with him on May 30^th.

5.3 Pickaprof.com

Bryant reported that the Internet company pickaprof.com is seeking to obtain the grade distributions of faculty. He stated that the University does not want to provide this information but may be required under the Freedom of Information Act. He suggested that the committee might want to meet with ASUN officers to discuss this if it goes through. The committee agreed to discuss this issue further with SVCAA Edwards.

The meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be held on Wednesday, May 30^th at 2:30 p.m., 201 Canfield Administration Building. Respectfully submitted, James King, Secretary.