UNL ACADEMIC SENATE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

PRESENT: Bender, Bryant, Ford, Humes, Kennedy, Prochaska-Cue, Scheideler, Zorn

ABSENT: Aguilar, Baum Kuska, Latta, Mayo, Williams

DATE: November 18, 1998

PLACE: 1227 R Street, Academic Senate Office

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1.0 Call to Order

Kennedy called the meeting to order at 3:08 PM.

2.0 Announcements

2.1 Agriculture, Mainstreet and Education Against Measure 413

President Kennedy announced that the Agriculture, Mainstreet and Edcuation Against Measure 413 will still be meeting to discuss issues raised in Measure 413. She reported that there will be a meeting on November 19^th at 2:00 PM in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Building if anyone is interested in attending.

2.2 Exemplary Service to Students Award Committee

President Kennedy reported that she had sent an email message to the members of the Executive Committee calling for nominations for people to serve on the committee. She noted that one person, Ruth Heaton, Mathematics Education, has been nominated. Prochaska-Cue nominated Bette Montgomery, Family and Consumer Science.

2.3 Dinner with Deans

President Kennedy announced that there will be a dinner meeting with several of the Deans and some members of the Executive Committee. She asked who would be interested in attending the dinner. Scheideler, Ford, Prochaska-Cue, Humes, and Bender all expressed interest in attending the meeting.

2.4 Rumor of a Vote of No Confidence

President Kennedy reported that she has heard from several sources that a rumor is going around that the Executive Committee, or the Academic Senate, or Pat Kennedy, were discussing a vote of no confidence in the Chancellor. She stated that this rumor was false. The Executive Committee agreed that President Kennedy should write a letter to the Chancellor correcting this rumor and a copy of the letter should be sent to the Senators.

3.0 Vice Chancellor Omtvedt

3.1 Continuing Education and Extension - Potential Collaboration

Scheideler stated that in the recent copy of the newsletter Keeping Up, Dean Bolen reported that there is a proposal to administratively merge continuing education and extension. She asked whether this is a proposal being considered for the future. Vice Chancellor Omtvedt reported that Chancellor Moeser made this suggestion as a long term goal at one of the listening sessions held in Grand Island. VC Omtvedt stated that this is occurring at other universities and that there will probably be discussion on it in the future but that no definite plans have been made. He pointed out that the committee should be aware that the position of Extended Education Vice Chancellor was an experiment set up for a two year trial and that it will be evaluated at the end of that period. Prochaska-Cue asked about the announcement of Dean Bolen's retirement and whether this would open up another opportunity. VC Omtvedt stated that it will open up an opportunity and that someone is needed to provide leadership in this area. VC Omtvedt stated that he proposed that funding be put into faculty incentives and staff support for distance education courses. He pointed out that he hoped these funds will be included in the budget and not come from reallocated funds.

3.2 Hatch Funding

Scheideler stated that there has been an increase in the Hatch funding by 7%. She asked whether this will add some flexibility to the IANR budget or how it will trickle down? VC Omtvedt stated that the advisory committee of the research division recommends that they keep a pool there that would be used for emerging interdisciplinary priority research needs rather than a certain percentage being given to every department. He stated that no decisions relative to the allocation have been made but he believed that a portion of those dollars will be used to enhance research on a competitive basis for interdisciplinary approaches. VC Omtvedt stated that the extension funding will just keep up with inflation and that there will be a 3% increase on operating dollars that go in the field. Bryant asked if the funds are earmarked specifically for agricultural disciplines or whether it is earmarked for a land grant university? He pointed out that the entire University is a land grant university and asked if the funds were for the entire university. VC Omtvedt replied that some funding would go to Biological Sciences but that the funds are to support research under specific areas such as forestry research or extension partnership. He pointed out that the amount that comes in to each state is based on a formula and several factors are considered. Some of these are the importance of the agricultural industry to the economy of the state and the number of rural populations in the state. Scheideler clarified that the 7% increase goes to all of the land grant universities and that she hoped the increased dollars will go to interdisciplinary research. Ford asked how people outside of Agriculture know that these competitive funds are available? VC Omtvedt stated that they are communicated in many different ways, by monthly newsletters and each department in IANR should receive guidelines on how to obtain the money. He stated that for interdisciplinary research the announcement might be made through the Scarlet. Kennedy pointed out that all IANR people will receive information and if they are involved in interdisciplinary research than they would be able to inform their colleagues of the call for proposals for these funds. VC Omtvedt pointed out that the research does need to relate to agriculture. Scheideler suggested that the Office of Research publication may be a good vehicle for informing people of the research funds that may be available. Prochaska-Cue asked if the definition of interdisciplinary research has expanded to include areas other than agricultural? VC Omtvedt stated that is has definitely expanded.

3.3 Distance Education

Kennedy stated that while recently in Scottsbluff she heard from people who did not know that they will be able to pay the same tuition rate for distance education courses as on-campus courses. She suggested that the University needs to communicate this information better. VC Omtvedt stated it is being communicated through the new catalog of continuing studies and letters will be sent out. He stated that he is still being questioned on the fees for various courses. VC Omtvedt stated that we need to be competitive for distance education and that the cost for distance education will be market driven. He handed out information regarding costs and stated that these rates will be used from January through the Summer but that there will be changes in the fall. He stated that he is anxious to find out where we are going to get the tax dollars to subsidize distance education at the same rate that we subsidize on campus courses. VC Omtvedt stated that he does not want to see funding for on campus programs shifted to subsidize distance education courses. He noted that the policy calls for all fees collected to go back to the department or college. Ford asked who is subsidizing courses now? VC Omtvedt responded that in some cases departments were covering the costs and in some cases the Division of Continuing Studies. VC Omtvedt noted that the bulk of distance education courses are non-credit courses and that many of these courses are graduate or professional programs which are more expensive. Kennedy asked about funding for development of courses. VC Omtvedt stated that they are more costly than those taught on campus and that there is concern as to where the funding for these courses is going to come from.

3.4 Issues on the Horizon - Parking

Zorn questioned the sequencing of the master plan with the removal of parking spaces first before any parking garages are built. Zorn pointed out that 6,000 faculty and students will be displaced by the removal of the existing parking spaces. VC Omtvedt stated that the only agenda item on the Board of Regent's meeting in December will be the master plan of the university. VC Omtvedt stated that the plan that has been presented shows that the parking garages will be built at the same time of the displacement. Kara Slaughter, ASUN representative, stated that Tad McDowell, Director of Parking, reported at a recent ASUN meeting that 6,000 parking spaces will be lost over the course of a year. She asked if the building can not be held off until the parking situation is resolved? Kennedy pointed out that it is going to be vital to get information out and get people involved in the discussion along the way. Scheideler suggested that the University lease out space in nearby parking garages and lots during the interim. VC Omtvedt suggested that it would be good to raise this point at the next Chancellor's Cabinet meeting.

4.0 Approval of 11/4/98 minutes

Humes moved and Zorn seconded approval of the minutes as amended.

5.0 Pepsi Fund

Ford reported that he recently attended a meeting to discuss the Pepsi Fund where it was announced that the amount of the fund had increased to $520,000. However, Ford noted that some of these funds had already been distributed to specified areas such as women's athletics. Ford was concerned that there was only one faculty representative to the committee and that there appears to be a shift towards administrative control over the funds. He stated that the committee was concerned with the number of proposals submitted and that they are considering distributing the funds to only a few projects. Ford reported that $25,000 has been appropriated for a discussion forum and that a few organizations, such as the E.N. Thompson Forum, have asked about co-sponsoring debates. Scheideler asked if there was any discussion on the needs of adult students and providing child care. Ford stated that it would have to be submitted as a proposal.

6.0 Unfinished Business

6.1 Finalizing Priority Goals

Kennedy presented the second draft of the priority goals for the Senate. Zorn moved and Humes seconded approval of the priority goals. Motion passed. Scheideler suggested that there be discussion at the December Senate meeting to gather input on action or ideas on how to pursue our goals. The Committee agreed that this should be placed on the Senate agenda.

6.2 Celebrating Teaching at the December Senate Meeting

Kennedy reported that she talked with Del Wright, Director of the Teaching and Learning Center, and there will be no conflict with the Senate's Salute to Teaching and the Teaching and Learning Center's Celebration of Teaching activities scheduled for January. Kennedy will make the necessary arrangements.

6.3 Faculty Resource Index

Kennedy reported that a faculty member recently contacted her about the fact that no printed copies of the Faculty Handbook were being provided to new faculty members. Kennedy agreed that it is important for faculty to have the handbook as a resource to know what their rights and responsibilities are as a faculty member. Kennedy pointed out that having the information spread out on the web may not be adequate. The Committee agreed to discuss this issue further with Senior Vice Chancellor Edwards.

6.4 Mid-term Teaching Evaluations, Kara Slaughter, ASUN

Slaughter reported that ASUN hopes to get an email message out to professors next semester encouraging them to do a mid-semester teaching evaluation. She stated that this evaluation will be done on a voluntary basis and that feedback would be for the professor's use only. Slaughter stated that professors could use their own evaluation form or they could select one of the forms being suggested by the Teaching and Learning Center. Bryant suggested that ASUN conduct a pre-assessment of how many faculty are currently doing mid-semester evaluations. He suggested that they send out a short survey. Slaughter stated that costs are a concern for ASUN. Kennedy pointed out that there needs to be a pre-assessment to see if any change occurs. Humes noted that the mid-term evaluations may put a great deal of pressure on the Teaching and Learning Center and he asked whether the students have checked with that unit. Slaughter stated that the Teaching and Learning Center indicated they would be able to handle the additional work. Slaughter reported that the ASUN recently passed a resolution supporting the current Pass/No Pass policy. Kennedy reported that the charge to review the pass/no pass policy has been given to the Grading and Examinations Committee and that they will be reporting back to the Executive Committee in the near future.

Zorn asked how the students feel about the initiative to increase academic rigor on campus. Slaughter reported that it has been discussed by students and that the concern is how it has been addressed. She pointed out that it appears that a form of a numerical value has been placed on it as if it will be a quick fix to the problem. Slaughter stated that many students are saying that how a professor teaches a class, what their expectations are, and how hard they are grading have a greater effect on academic rigor. Zorn asked if students would support academic rigor. Slaughter stated that the students feel that academic rigor is not just a matter of grading harder but of challenging students to think. Slaughter noted that one of the points that is always made in discussion on academic rigor is the need for many students to work. Scheideler suggested that greater advising may be needed to assist students in areas of financial concerns and in course scheduling. Slaughter reported that ASUN is asking for the dead week policy to be revised to make a clearer statement. Kennedy stated that the policy will be reviewed.

7.0 New Business

7.1 Report on Rural Students

Bryant asked if the Executive Committee would be interested in hearing a report on rural students at the University. The Executive Committee agreed that it would be a good idea to hear the report at a meeting with the Chancellor.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 PM. The next Executive Committee meeting will be held on December 2^nd at the Academic Senate Office, 1227 R. Street. Respectfully submitted, Miles Bryant, Secretary.