EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

Present: Banerjee, Bryant, Fuller, King, Logan-Peters, Miller, Prochaska-Cue, Siekman, Whitt, Wolf

Absent: Scheideler, Spann

Date: Wednesday, July 11, 2001

Location: 420 University Terrace, Ste. 203

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1.0 Call to Order (Bryant)

Bryant called the meeting to order at 2:37 p.m.

2.0 Announcements

2.1 AFCON Newsletter

Bryant reported that the Academic Senate office has received the latest issue of the AFCON (Academic Freedom Coalition of Nebraska) newsletter. He noted that this is a very active organization in the state that works to maintain academic freedom.

2.2 Attendance at Summer Commencement

Bryant encouraged committee members to attend summer commencement in August. He noted that departments can receive one free cap and gown for a faculty member to attend the commencement.

2.3 Associate Vice Chancellor of IANR Search Committee

Bryant reported that he has sent Vice Chancellor Owens the names of faculty members suggested by the Executive Committee to serve on the Associate Vice Chancellor search committee. He stated that Vice Chancellor Owens would inform the Senate office of the final search committee members once they have been selected.

2.4 Parking

Bryant reported that he spoke with Tad McDowell, Director of Parking, recently concerning the proposed second garage at 14^th & Avery. He stated that the Academic Planning Committee raised questions concerning the need for a second parking garage when Vice Chancellor Jackson met with them in April. The committee requested that parking services re-examine the long range parking needs of the campus and explore alternative ways for financing the construction of another garage. Bryant stated that McDowell has been working on this for the past two months. Bryant stated that VC Jackson and her staff would make a presentation to the APC concerning their findings in late August or early September.

3.0 Vice Chancellor Prem Paul

VC Paul stated that he is in the process of arranging meetings with the various colleges to meet with faculty to discuss research activities at UNL. He stated that his job is to facilitate, stimulate, and recognize faculty involved in research and he hopes to team up with faculty to accomplish these tasks. He noted that he wants to implement the goals outlined in the 20/20 report and to enhance the stature of UNL. He pointed out that he wants to communicate and work with faculty and plans on doing a lot of networking on campus. VC Paul stated that he wants to strengthen the weak areas of the research office and is planning on having Associate VC Helmuth focus on technology transfer as well as creating an advisory committee to deal with this issue.

VC Paul stated that he has read the Research Council Report made to the Academic Senate this past year and noted that the Council has many good ideas. However, he stated that he needs to understand the University and campus better before any changes can be instituted. He noted that the Research Council's suggestion of a Faculty Advisory Committee is a good idea that he would like to see developed. He pointed out that we need to do a better job at addressing the needs of the Arts & Humanities.

VC Paul stated that he is considering UNL being a part of a community of science, such as that at Iowa State. He noted this is a web based directory of scientist and only members who are subscribed to it can use it.

VC Paul reported that proposals for grants from the Tobacco Funds need to be submitted quickly. He stated that $935,000 of these funds would be available the first of the year. He noted that $10 million of these funds, over the next four years, has been allocated to UNL, UNMC, Creighton University, and Boys Town. He pointed out that one of the criteria for obtaining these funds is based on NIH expenditures.

VC Paul stated that hiring faculty with NIH funding would be helpful to UNL. He stated that he hopes to bring in consultants who would conduct grant writing programs and seminars to help faculty increase the quality of their grant applications.

3.1 Accessing NRI Funds

VC Paul stated that the call for proposals for NRI funding is out. He stated that he needs to examine the program further to see where improvements can be made. He pointed out that the University has not utilized these funds in the past in the best way and that we need to use these funds, as well as others, as wisely as possible. Banerjee noted that UNL has a poor record with NRI and EPSCOR funding. Shestated that there appears to be a conflict of interest between the Board and EPSCOR. She stated that there is concern in the biotechnology area with hiring practices. She noted that faculty are concerned that one person could control funding. VC Paul stated that he wants to have an open and frank discussion with the biotechnology faculty. He stated that he is in the process of learning more about EPSCOR. Banerjee noted that competition for NRI funding is not seen as an open process. VC Paul stated that there needs to be more effort and competition for federal funds rather than local funds. Banerjee pointed out that the Arts & Humanities need to rely heavily on local funds. VC Paul stated that he would like to see faculty applying for NEA funding. He noted that he would like to bring in a consultant to deal specifically with the Arts & Humanities grant applications. He pointed out that we need to identify opportunities in these areas.

3.2 Research Council Role

Banerjee stated that serving on the Research Council has been a very rewarding experience. She noted that she has been impressed with the grants and research work being done across the campus. She suggested that the Council could sponsor brown bag seminars to bring together scholars from across campus. VC Paul stated that he is very supportive of this idea and would like to develop a culture of research on campus. He suggested having a Research Day on campus to market, both internally and externally, the research being conducted at UNL. Wolf asked if the VC was making efforts to meet with the leaders of the research centers and the Office of Great Plains Studies. VC Paul stated that he would definitely be meeting with these people and that he is in the process of first meeting with the colleges. Prochaska-Cue suggested that the VC should attend the Czech festival and Conference that is being held August 1-3. VC Paul stated that he would like to attend this event but that he is scheduled to have his household moved that weekend. He stated that there are a lot of challenges and needs at UNL and that he is looking forward to working with the faculty. He stated that he welcomes discussions with the faculty and they should feel free to contact him via email or phone.

4.0 Approval of 6/27/01 Minutes

Prochaska-Cue moved and Whitt seconded approval of the minutes as amended.

5.0 Unfinished Business

5.1 Questions and Issues Relating to Salary Allocation

Bryant distributed questions being raised regarding the salary allocation. He stated that many faculty are upset about the process that was used this year. He pointed out that he was unhappy that the Faculty Compensation Advisory Committee's recommendations were not followed. He stated that he would like to work on improving the process for next year. He suggested that a May or June Senate meeting might be held where administrators would discuss the proposed salary allocation process. Bryant stated that the FCAC recommended that most of the funding should be provided for merit increases. However, he stated the FCAC recommended that more money should have gone to the departments rather than to administration. Logan-Peters stated that we need to know how the 9% held back from colleges was spent by the Vice Chancellor's office. She questioned whether it was made clear to the Deans that they had to aggressively request for their portion of the funds to be used for their faculty. Banerjee stated that there needs to be flexibility within the process. She pointed out that some units that are very small have some faculty who receive very large salaries and even 1% of an increase could substantially reduce the amount of funding left for other members in the department. Fuller pointed out that some faculty feel that they need to do above and beyond satisfactory work to even get a cost of living raise. Miller pointed out that those faculty following the 20/20 research agenda are the ones that are going to be highly rewarded. The committee agreed that they need to see the data on the salary allocation before there could be further discussions with Chancellor Perlman, SVCAA Edwards, and VC Owens on it.

6.0 New Business

6.1 Distance Education Plan (Systemwide)

Bryant stated that after closely reading the most recent version of the Distance Education Plan, that certain changes should be made, although he noted that the plan has already gone forth. He pointed out that the name of the council on distance education should be changed from coordinating council to advisory council since this is the role that the council would assume. He noted that the definition of distance education needs to be broadened in the report. Bryant questioned some of the overall goals of the report pointing out that some of them seemed unrealistic. He stated that information on courses needs to be provided to all students, whether they are residential or non-residential. Wolf stated that he has concerns over who would control the curriculum. Bryant stated that the intent of the report is not to control curriculum. Fuller asked where the connection is between the report and current distance education program on campus. Bryant noted that each campus will develop a strategic plan which should address this issue. He stated that he hopes that we can be more constructive in helping the campus develop distance education opportunities for students.

6.2 Nominations to Replace Executive Committee Members

Bryant reported that elections would have to be held at the September Senate meeting to replace Linda Swoboda, who left the University this past May, and Ruma Banerjee, who has accepted a position as interim chair of her department. The committee discussed possible candidates for these two positions. Prochaska-Cue reminded the committee that many of the faculty in the College of Human Resources and Family Sciences have appointments with Academic Affairs, not with IANR. She stated that they should be classified correctly when being considered for committee assignments or elections. Bryant suggested that the Committee on Committees should review this situation.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be held on Wednesday, July 25 at 2:30 p.m., 201 Canfield Administration Building. Respectfully submitted, Karen Griffin and James King.