UNL ACADEMIC SENATE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

PRESENT: Bender, Bryant, Ford, Humes, Kennedy, Baum Kuska, Latta, Mayo, Scheideler, Williams, Zorn

ABSENT: Prochaska-Cue

DATE: September 23, 1998

PLACE: 1227 R Street, Academic Senate Office

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1.0 Call to Order

President Kennedy called the meeting to order at 3:01 PM.

2.0 Announcements

2.1 Inviting Senior Vice Chancellor Edwards to Speak to the Academic Senate

Kennedy asked the Executive Committee if Senior Vice Chancellor Edwards should be asked to speak to the Academic Senate. The committee agreed that he should be invited and suggested that he speak about the Nebraska Performance Model.

3.0 Approval of 9/9/98 and 9/16/98 minutes

Scheideler moved and Mayo seconded approval of the 9/9/98 minutes. Mayo moved and Humes seconded approval of the 9/16/98 minutes as amended.

4.0 Motion on the Lid

Kennedy reported that she received information in writing from Dick Wood, General Counsel, that stated the Academic Senate could make a motion to oppose Measure 413 - the Proposed Constitutional Lid. Bryant and Bender volunteered to draft a motion after contacting Frank Daley, General Counsel for the Accountability and Disclosure Commission, to insure that the senate could legally make the motion.

5.0 Governor's Candidates

Coordinator Griffin reported that both Mike Johanns and Bill Hoppner were unable to speak at the October 6^th Senate meeting due to scheduling conflicts. She stated that she is trying to find a date when both can meet on campus, although indications at this time show that this may not be possible. The committee decided that if a forum could be arranged that each candidate will speak for about 10 minutes followed by a question and answer period.

6.0 Post Tenure Review Policy

Scheideler asked if the recommended revisions to UNL's post tenure review policy needs to go back to the Senate for a vote. Latta responded that the revisions must be made to coincide with the Regent's policy but that the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee should review the revisions before they are accepted. Mayo asked if the department's are to cover the costs if external reviewers are brought in if a post tenure review is triggered. Latta pointed out that the policy calls for external peers but did not specify what format the review must take. She stated that it is up to the departments to determine how the external review is conducted.

7.0 Faculty Survey

Due to the current number of important issues being discussed, the committee agreed to consider conducting a faculty survey at a later time in the academic year. Zorn noted that it is important for senators to poll their constituents. Latta stated that the Executive Committee could work with senators on how to keep their constituents informed.

8.0 Finalizing Goals

The committee decided to postpone finalizing their goals until the comments from the Senate small group discussions have been compiled.

9.0 Article on University Bookstore in the Daily Nebraskan

Bryant stated that he has concerns over the recent derogatory comments made about faculty in a recent Daily Nebraskan article and suggested that the person making the comment substantiate his remarks. Zorn pointed out that it would be beneficial to talk with the bookstore representative to determine if there is a significant problem which needs to be addressed. Bryant will contact the book store representative and invite him to an Executive Committee meeting.

10.0 Faculty Club

Kennedy announced that Fred Choobineh, Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, is currently on the Board of the Lincoln University Club and that he is trying to reactive the UNL Faculty Club. She reported that they are going to reserve the Capitol Room from 11:00 - 2:00 on Thursdays and Fridays for lunch. They are also planning to host regular events with guest speakers. Ford noted that there is a Foundation account with funds in it that could be used towards a faculty club upon approval of the Chancellor. The committee felt that it is important for a faculty club to be located on campus for there to be interest in it. Kennedy will contact Choobineh about this issue.

11.0 Small Group Discussions Feedback

Latta will compile comments made in the various small groups and provide the committee with this information.

12.0 Professional Ethics Statement

Kennedy stated that at the April 22^nd meeting it was agreed that members of the Executive Committee and the Office of Academic Affairs would work on drafting a shorter version of the Professional Ethics Statement. Mayo objected to having any document revised that was voted upon and approved by the Academic Senate. Latta suggested that the shortened version could be a preamble that is put on the Academic Affairs website with a link to the full version on the Senate website. Humes suggested that we send an email message to all faculty informing them when the statement becomes available on our website. Latta asked if the Faculty Handbook is on the web. Griffin will check to see if the handbook is available on the web.

13.1 Unfinished Business

13.1 Administrative System Projects Update

Griffin reported that no list has been created indicating which departments will become part of a business center but she noted that IANR has a committee in place to work on the creation of these centers. She stated that she was informed that IANR hopes to have a list compiled by the end of the semester. Scheideler stated that the creation of these centers is being generated by a policy passed by the Board of Regents to make the business operation of the university more efficient. The committee agreed to invite administrators in to discuss the deployment of the Administrative System Projects.

13.2 Tuition Remission Transfer Benefit

Ford pointed out that there is a great deal of commitment to the effort of retaining students yet there does not appear to be the same level of commitment in the retention of faculty. He stated that providing the tuition remission transfer benefit will not only help to retain faculty, it will be helpful in attracting new faculty. Ford noted that eight of our eleven peer schools have some form of the benefit and that the public believes that we already have this benefit. Zorn pointed out that the decisions made by administration are being driven by the public perception that faculty have it too good. He stated that a strategy is needed to counteract the public perception. Bryant stated that administration is not representing faculty at the Board of Regents meetings and asked if the faculty are routinely on the Board of Regents agenda. Ford stated that in the past faculty were on the agenda but that this was eliminated several years ago. Scheideler suggested that it would be a good idea to have the Senate Presidents discuss the issue and present it to President Smith.

13.3 Proposed Bylaw Change

Ford noted that Chancellor Moeser had indicated to the Executive Committee that the proposed Bylaw change is being driven by the Board of Regents, however, he stated that he received information to the contrary. Ford stated that it is his understanding that the Faculty Handbook is on an equal status with the Bylaws. Zorn suggested that perhaps one of the professors in the Law College could review this. Latta stated that she and Kennedy will be meeting with the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee to discuss the proposed change. She stated that getting rid of the mutual consent is not an acceptable agreement and that we should be able to incorporate the language of the Faculty Handbook in the Bylaw to better serve the interests of the faculty.

14.0 New Business

14.1 Public Relations of UNL

Kennedy noted that when there is good news on the University, such as the recent national award to the Mathematics and Statistics Department, that it is relegated to a back page in the newspapers. This in turn, she stated, affects the public's perception of the faculty and the University. Bender stated that we need to check to see how the information is being reported. He stated that a press release is not as effective as the public relations office making direct contact with the newspapers. However, he noted that if the PR office is making direct contact, he stated that the problem then lies with the newspapers. The committee agreed to discuss the problem with Chancellor Moeser.

14.2 Lotus Notes Training

Zorn stated that the College of Business Administration was recently put on Lotus Notes and that each of the faculty received a directive that they had to go to a specific training session. He stated that there needs to be more of an optional spirit rather than a demeaning tone used with faculty who are switching over to this system. Latta asked who the directive came from. Zorn will check out the originator of the directive.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:16 pm. The next Executive Committee will be held on October 7, 201 Canfield Administration Building. Respectfully submitted, Miles Bryant.