EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

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

Absent: King, Prochaska-Cue, Scheideler

Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2001

Location: 420 University Terrace, Ste. 203

______________________________________________________________________________

1.0 Call to Order (Bryant)

Bryant called the meeting to order at 3:07 P.M.

2.0 Announcements

2.1 Resignation of Linda Swoboda

Bryant announced that Linda Swoboda is resigning from the Executive Committee due to her departure from the university. He stated that an election to replace her would be held at the September Senate meeting.

2.2 Friends of the Faculty Senate Donation Letter

Bryant stated that the Friends of the Faculty Senate was established to assist the Senate in lobbying efforts. He reported that a letter asking for contributions to the fund would be sent out this fall.

2.3 Committee Assignments

Bryant reported that he is working on making assignments to the various Senate committees. He asked for committee members to let him know of any faculty members who are interested in working on any of the committees.

2.4 Police Chief Search

Bryant reported that he has been attending the interviews for a new police chief. He stated that the search process is proceeding quickly and that they have had successful interviews.

3.0 Approval of 4/18/01 Minutes

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

4.0 Operation of the Executive Committee

4.1 Strategic Goals

Bryant stated that a copy of last year's strategic goals would be distributed to the new Executive Committee members.

4.2 Executive Committee Retreat

Bryant informed the new members that an Executive Committee retreat is usually held in August. He stated that during this meeting, the Executive Committee determines what the strategic goals would be for the Senate for the upcoming academic year.

5.0 Parking

Bryant reported that Tad McDowell, Director of Parking & Transit Services, wants to meet with the Executive Committee to discuss future parking concerns. Bryant stated that the parking plans for the campus are moving quickly and there is concern with the inequity of the parking fee structure for faculty and staff. The Executive Committee voiced a number of concerns that they want McDowell to address such as: safety and security concerns for the new parking garage, cost efficiency of shuttle buses, crime statistics for surface lots, differential fee structure for faculty and staff, and whether other universities have a differential fee rate. Bryant stated that a meeting would be arranged with McDowell and that questions raised by the committee would be conveyed to McDowell prior to the meeting.

6.0 Dead Week Policy

Bryant reported that ASUN has contacted him regarding the Dead Week Policy. He stated that they are interested in having a more specific policy. He stated that he would charge the Grading & Examination committee to review the policy to see if changes are needed. Bryant pointed out that ASUN only received nine complaints for violations of the dead week policy this semester. Spann suggested that faculty be informed of the policy by sending out an email message reminding them of the policy and deadline dates.

7.0 Senate Involvement with Promotion & Tenure Issue

Bryant reported that at a previous meeting, SVCAA Edwards raised the issue of whether annual evaluations should be included in promotion & tenure files. Miller noted that this is becoming an issue at other institutions as well. Fuller pointed out that it is becoming a legal issue because the annual performance evaluation is separate from the promotion and tenure file. Bryant stated that he has concerns that allowing the annual evaluations to become more prominent in the promotion and tenure file would lead it to become an administratively driven process rather than a faculty process. Siekman suggested that the procedures for tenure and promotion might need to be standardized across the colleges. Wolf pointed out that the requirements for obtaining promotion and tenure are continually expanding. He asked who is responsible for these changes and whether faculty have a say in making these decisions. The committee agreed that the Senate needs further involvement regarding this issue.

8.0 Unfinished Business

8.1 New Grading System

Bryant reported that the new grading system should be in place this fall semester, although this could be delayed until the following fall due to problems at the other campuses with cost and lack of time for implementation. He stated that there has been some confusion regarding whether the Senate has the authority to approve a new grading system for graduate courses. He pointed out that the Graduate Executive Council feels that they have the authority to make this decision. They will be voting upon whether to accept the new grading system for graduate courses at an upcoming meeting.

8.2 An overview of Revised ARRC Procedures

Bryant announced that the Executive Committee and the Academic Rights & Responsibilities Committee would be meeting on May 14^th to review the proposed changes to the ARRC procedures. He stated that they hope to present the revisions to the full Senate during the fall semester.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Dependent Scholarship Program

Bryant reported that the transfer of the tuition remission benefit to spouses and dependents has been named the Dependent Scholarship Program. He pointed out that there are some differences in the program from what employees currently receive. Some of these differences are that only undergraduate courses would be covered, a student must be full time in order to qualify for the benefit, and that dependents and spouses would receive tuition reduction at the rate of 50% for up to 30 credit hours per year instead of receiving 100% reduction for 15 credit hours per year. The committee suggested that Bryant contact Ed Weims, Director of Human Resources at Central Administration, to ask why there is a difference in the benefits. They also stated that they were opposed to the name of the program and wanted this message conveyed to Weims. Wolf stated that it should also be reiterated that the UNO bargaining unit had on the table that domestic partners should be treated as spouses under the terms of this agreement. He requested that Bryant find out from President Smith how the study on providing coverage for domestic partners is going to unfold and whether the Executive Committee will be a part of the study.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be on Wednesday, May 16^th at 2:30 p.m., in the Academic Senate Office, 420 University Terrace.

Respectfully submitted, James King, Secretary.

After the meeting several members stayed to discuss faculty salary distribution. Below are the minutes from this discussion.

Salary Distribution

Bryant reported that the Faculty Compensation Advisory Committee recommended that faculty salary increases be allocated as follows: 1% to be allocated at the college level, .75% allocated at the Vice Chancellor's level, and the remainder allocated at the department/unit level. Siekman pointed out that faculty are reading in the media that they will receive a 6.3% increase; however, in many cases the increase could be considerably less because of the above allocations. He noted that this could be a potential morale problem for faculty. Bryant stated that the money being held at the Vice Chancellor's level and the college levels are to help deal with pay inequities. He agreed that the message that is sent to faculty by the Chancellor needs to state clearly that a portion of the 6.3% increase will be set aside to address inequities, thereby leaving a smaller percentage for chair/heads to distribute amongst their faculty. The committee agreed that Bryant should write a letter to Chancellor Perlman stating the committee's concerns.