EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

Present: Bender, Bryant, Latta, Mayo, Miller, Prochaska Cue, Scheideler,

Absent: Aguilar, Humes, Whitt, Zorn

Date: October 6, 1999

Location: 420 University Terrace, Suite 203

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1.0 Call to Order (Latta)

Latta called the meeting to order at 3:15 PM.

2.0 Announcements

2.1 Meeting With Interim Vice Chancellor of Extended Education Jim O'Hanlon

Latta reported that she will be meeting with Interim Vice Chancellor of Extended Education Jim O'Hanlon to discuss his new role as Associate Vice Chancellor for Extended Education and some of the recurring issues pertaining to distance education that have been discussed by the Executive Committee. She noted that she wanted to invite Dr. O'Hanlon to meet with the Executive Committee to discuss these things, as well as his vision for distance education at UNL. In addition, she indicated that she would request that faculty representatives be added to the membership of the extended education advisory council formed some time last year.

2.2 Grambling University

Latta reported that she has been asked to go to Grambling University to revive discussions again with them about developing a research exchange program. She noted that Scheideler will be visiting Alcorn University sometime this year as part of a similar, ongoing faculty exchange program with that institution.

2.3 Dialogue on Race Forum

Latta reported that she had spoken as a panelist at the Dialogue on Race Forum. She stated that she would be following up on a potential opportunity that arose at this forum to explore the possibility of having a group visit the community college on one of the Nebraska reservations. She pointed out that this would fit with the Senate goals on diversity and recruitment. Mayo noted that IANR has had an on-going relationship with the community college and he suggested that she also contact Juan Gonzales, Coordinator, CASNR Diversity Recruitment and Retention.

3.0 Approval of Minutes

Mayo moved and Miller seconded approval of the minutes as amended.

4.0 Senate Redistricting: Senior Lecturers

Latta reported that the Senate office needs to begin working on the redistricting of the Academic Senate to determine the number of current constituents in each of the districts. She pointed out that the current criteria for membership to the Academic Assembly does not address the position of Senior Lecturer. The committee discussed whether Senior Lecturers, who have had three successive academic years of paid faculty service, would be considered equivalent to an Assistant Professor with a special appointment. According to the Bylaws of the Board of Regents, special appointments do include lecturers, but according to the UNL "Guidelines for Faculty Appointments" they are not included as an equivalent rank. Bryant suggested that the UNL bylaws, which define membership in the academic assembly, be amended to include senior lecturers. Coordinator Griffin pointed out that to make any changes to the UNL Bylaws, approval must be obtained from the Academic Senate, the ASUN, the Chancellor, and the Board of Regents. Bryant made the motion that a proposal be drafted to present to the Academic Senate allowing them to vote on whether to amend the UNL Bylaws to add language that would expand the academic assembly to include senior lecturers. Miller seconded the motion. Prochaska Cue offered a friendly amendment to the motion to add lecturers. Bryant accepted the friendly amendment. Motion approved. Latta clarified that the issue would be presented at the November meeting, as a regular (not emergency) motion, to be voted upon at the December meeting.

5.0 UNL Bylaws Subcommittee Charge (Scheideler)

Scheideler presented a draft of the charge to the UNL Bylaws Subcommittee. Latta pointed out that this subcommittee is only to recommend to the Executive Committee a process for addressing any revisions that have not been previously approved, and not to determine whether the revisions should be approved. Suggestions were made to the draft so that the charge reads: The subcommittee is to review the recently updated draft version of the UNL Bylaws for consistency with previously approved language and areas where new language requiring faculty review has been proposed. Any item that has not been approved by the appropriate body will be noted by the committee and a process for review proposed by the committee. The committee will not be responsible for recommending changes, but will only recommend the process when changes by which suggested changes requiring approval by the governing committees would be reviewed. Bryant moved to approved the amended charge. Motion seconded by Mayo. Motion approved.

6.0 Unfinished Business

No unfinished business was discussed.

7.0 New Business

7.1 Academic Rights and Responsibilities Panel Ballot

Coordinator Griffin reported that the Committee on Committees has nominated Ellen Weissinger, Associate Professor of Health & Human Performance, and Heidi Inderbitzen Nolan, Psychology, to be placed on the ballot to fill the vacated position on the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Panel due to the resignation of Moira Ferguson from the University. The committee approved the ballot which will be presented to the Academic Senate for approval at the November meeting.

7.2 Budget Priorities 2001-2003

Latta stated that she is concerned that there has not been an inclusive process for faculty to put forward ideas that might become part of the budget priorities. She noted that she would like to have a list of items that faculty have articulated as being priorities to put forward to the Chancellor. The committee discussed various means of gathering this information. Scheideler pointed out that faculty need to think of campus wide priorities, not just departmental priorities. Bryant stated that the Teachers College had a meeting and determined that they feel that some budgeting priorities are to replace lost faculty lines, increase graduate assistantships, and to provide more technological support for faculty teaching extended education courses. Mayo pointed out that annual funds should not be used for scholarships. He noted that people are very willing to donate funds to provide scholarships for students. The committee agreed to work on obtaining faculty feedback on budget priorities.

7.3 Academic Freedom Coalition of Nebraska - Review Guidelines

Latta reported that the Academic Freedom Coalition of Nebraska has asked its members to review their recently revised guidelines. She stated that a copy of the guidelines will be sent to the Executive Committee and that this item will be placed on the next agenda.

7.4 Teachers College Poll

Bryant reported that the Teachers College recently took a straw poll on the current mail delivery system. He stated that 11 faculty did not mind the new delivery system but that 22 faculty felt that the system should revert back to its previous mode of operation. Mayo suggested that there should be several drop boxes around campus where mail could be placed that would go out that day.

7.5 Academic Senate Meeting

Mayo stated that a question that came up after the meeting was how the insurance fund is used? Latta reported that she asked President Smith directly if the fund can be used for anything else. She reported that he stated that it could not be used for anything else. Bender asked if the trust fund generates interest and why it has not gone up? Latta stated that she will ask Dave Lechner for more information on the trust fund. Bryant asked what the rules are for governing these funds? He noted that we should report back to the Senate on this. Latta suggested that Dave Lechner be invited to speak to the Executive Committee.

7.6 Parking

Mayo stated that the last vote of the Parking Advisory Committee makes it appear that the faculty were initially upset with the proposed parking garages but that they are now in favor of it. He pointed out that this was never the issue. He stated that the argument was that we should never have been put into a position where building a parking garage is our only option. He noted that when new buildings are scheduled to be constructed on existing parking lots, there needs to be a plan to replace the parking. Latta stated that there was misunderstanding by some of the members on the Parking Advisory Committee as to whether they were voting to change the fee structure or whether they were in favor of building the garage. She noted that she just received a copy of the garage structure planning statement. She pointed out that the statement proposes that a portion of the garage will be for metered parking and more commercial space for rent. She stated that she will be meeting with Chancellor Moeser to insure that the parking plan does not go to the Board of Regents until the Parking Advisory Committee clarifies its recommendations on the funding issue. She noted that the committee is scheduled to consider this at their next meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 5:10 PM. The next Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13, 1999 at the Academic Senate Office, 420 University Terrace, Room 203.