Email: senate@unlnotesorg.unl.edu

Website: http://www.unl.edu/asenate/welcome.htm

UNL ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING MINUTES

City Campus Union, Auditorium

April 4, 2000

Presidents Gail Latta, and Sheila Scheideler Presiding

1.0 Call to Order

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

2.0 Announcements

2.1 Jennifer Washburn Presentation

President Latta announced that Jennifer Washburn, co-author of the article "The Kept University" will be giving a presentation on the subject matter of corporate sponsorship of research at universities on April 13^th at 2:00 PM in the City Campus Union, Auditorium. She noted that this in conjunction with the Celebration of Research on campus.

2.2 Board of Regents Meeting

President Latta reported that panel presentations were made by members of the agricultural community. They indicated that they would like to see the university keep up with productive agricultural research. They also indicated their reliance on the extension educators in their communities. She noted that the Regents are interested in continuing this dialogue in the future.

Latta reported that a presentation was given on Class.com, a for profit organization that has been formed to market the high school education.

2.3 Teaching/Learning/Technology Roundtable meeting with Walter Weir

President Latta reported that the TLTR met yesterday with Walter Weir about issues relating to faculty input on initiatives regarding computing on campus. She noted that Lee Jones is the faculty representative at the Central Administration level. She stated that Weir indicated that he would like to see greater connection between the faculty and Central Administration on academic computing. She noted that Weir indicated that distance education may eventually use Class.com to offer some of the university courses.

3.0 Chancellor Moeser

Chancellor Moeser reported that the Life Sciences Task Force Report is now available on the web. He stated that there will be two forums held at the Beadle Center for faculty input. He noted that the task force raised some insightful and difficult issues that need to be dealt with in order for the campus to advance in the area of Life Sciences.

Chancellor Moeser reported that the Future Nebraska Task Force Report will hopefully be available by the end of the semester.

Chancellor Moeser reported that progress is being made in the searches for the Vice Chancellor of Business and Finance and the Vice Chancellor of IANR. He stated that he will be appointing interim deans for the College of Fine Arts and the College of Law very soon. He reported that the search committee for the Dean of Arts & Sciences will soon be conducting airport interviews.

Professor Zorn, Finance, noted that the position of a basketball coach is very prominent to the public. He asked why is it, that in a sport that has a large number of African Americans, that the university is not seeking an African American coach given its stance on diversity? Chancellor Moeser stated that the university, including the athletic department, is strongly committed to diversity. He pointed out that while we are dedicated to diversifying the faculty, staff, and students of the university, we are also committed to hiring the best qualified people regardless of race and gender. He noted that candidates for the basketball coach did include a number of African Americans.

Chancellor Moeser announced that he is being considered for the Presidency of the University of Florida. He stated that he and his wife Susan are very happy in Nebraska but that this was an opportunity he felt he needed to pursue. He reported that he will keep the campus informed as the search process continues. He expects that the search should be completed by mid May.

Latta pointed out that all of the attention that the media has given on the salary of the incoming basketball coach reflects poorly on the university in multiple ways. She stated that this became clear at the Regents meeting. The impression that the public gets is that the only thing that the faculty care about at the university is how much money they make and how many benefits they get. She reported that Regent Hassebrook asked, in regards to building programs of excellence, whether or not the faculty are committed to academic programs. She stated that she hopes that we can communicate clearly to the Regents and the public how very dedicated the faculty are of this university.

4.0 Approval of 3/7/00 Minutes

Professor Aguilar, Curriculum & Instruction, moved that the minutes be approved as amended. Professor Dewey, Geosciences, seconded the motion. Motion approved.

5.0 Recognition of Outgoing Senators

President Latta recognized the outgoing senators and thanked them for their service to the Academic Senate and faculty governance.

6.0 Committee Reports

6.1 Computational Services and Facilities Committee (Professor Pfeiffer)

Professor Curtis of the Computational Services and Facilities Committee asked for any questions regarding the report that was provided in the senator's packet. Professor Hallbeck, Industrial & Management Systems Engineering, asked whether it is true that faculty will have to migrate to LotusNotes even though they were originally told they could remain on unlserve if that was their choice. Curtis reported that the committee was informed that unlinfo would be replaced with unlserve. He stated that the committee was not included in any of the decision making on the changes of the servers. Professor DiMagno, Chemistry, pointed out that the primary reason for the change in servers was that unlinfo was not Y2K compatible. He asked what happened to this server? Curtis stated that they were told that the server was too small as well as not being Y2K compatible. Curtis noted that the committee will be meeting next week to hear complaints about the email service. He recommended that anyone having difficulties should let the committee know of problems. Latta noted that the Executive Committee wanted to know why the Computational Services and Facilities Committee felt that the Senate needed to approve their guidelines on computing? She pointed out that it is not a policy that needs approval. Curtis noted that the original charge of developing the guidelines came from the Senate. Latta stated that the faculty need to have dialogue with the Computational Services and Facilities Committee. She pointed out that this committee is the main organ that provides faculty input and that they need to be communicating with administration regarding computing issues. Curtis noted that the history of computing on campus has been very unstructured and segmented. He stated that the committee is usually not informed of decisions until after the fact. He noted that if integration is to take place, the scope of the committee will need to be broaden.

6.2 Graduate Council

Professor Keith Parker, Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies, reported that they are trying to establish a directory of post doctoral students on campus so they can make this information available campus wide. He asked that faculty who have post doctoral students in their department to contact Professor David Stanley, Entomology, who is working on the directory. He noted that once the Graduate Studies moves into their new location, they hope to establish a conference room in which regular meetings involving post doctoral students can be held. He asked that anyone with suggestions on funding, recruitment, and the overall management of a post doctoral program send their comments to Professor Stanley. He pointed out that we currently have approximately 100 post doctoral students and that we have room for growth in this program.

6.3 Academic Freedom Award

Professor Latta stated that due to scheduling conflicts, the chair of the committee could not attend the meeting. She suggested that anyone with questions contact Professor Dermot Coyne, Chair of the Academic Freedom Award Committee.

7.0 Academic Freedom Award Nomination

The Academic Freedom Award Ballots were distributed and voted upon.

8.0 Unfinished Business

8.1 Approval of Bylaw 4.3

Latta pointed out that the phrase "equivalent administrative unit" has been included into the document under section 2, i. She stated that the Executive Committee and the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee both discussed the issue of whether a time limit needed to be imposed on the decision made by the committee referred to in the Bylaw. She reported that the ARRC felt that it would be an abuse of the policy if the decision was to be continually challenged. If this should occur it could trigger off a grievance complaint. She noted that the Executive Committee felt that a time limit could hinder the ability of a faculty member to respond to unforeseen opportunities. Motion approved, 43 in favor, 1 against.

8.2 Approval of University Bookstore Committee Resolution

Latta stated that the Executive Committee agreed that the resolution should go forward for a vote, regardless of the resignation of Bob Carlson, Director of the University Bookstore. Motion approved, 41 in favor, 1 against, 3 abstentions.

8.3 Approval of Student Absence Policy Resolution

Professor Hodges, Horticulture, stated that the form was confusing and that there should be confirmation from the person requiring the student's absence. Professor Christensen, Chair of the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, explained the form and pointed out that the form is intended only as a tool for faculty whose class is being missed. Professor Kulik, Computer & Electronics Engineering, pointed out that students are required to attend class and that there does not seem to be a clear policy in regards to student absences. Bryant pointed out that the form is not a required policy but rather a vehicle for faculty and students to use to help both of them in these kinds of situations. Christensen noted that faculty still have the option of refusing to allow a student to miss a class for a sanctioned university event. Professor Brookes, English, offered a friendly amendment to the form to include a place for the name of the person requesting the student's absence and the removal of the word required from the form. Professor McShane, English, stated that there is no standing policy which permits students to miss classes. Professor Bauer, West Central Research & Extension, pointed out that the form will not solve the problem of students missing classes. He suggested that faculty who will not allow students to miss a class to attend sanctioned university events should notify the athletics department of their policy. Scheideler moved that the motion be tabled and sent back to the Executive Committee to get more clarification. Motion seconded by Benham. Motion approved.

8.4 Approval of Same Sex Domestic Partners Benefits Resolution

Professor Gaber, Chair of the Human Rights Committee, pointed out that the Senate previously passed two similar resolutions supporting benefits for domestic partners. He stated that the Human Rights Committee feels that the same sex domestic partner benefit should be considered due to the issue of discrimination. He noted that the lack of this benefit does not treat all employees equally and transfers a greater economic burden on the employee. Latta noted that the previous Senate resolutions were tabled by the University-wide Benefits Committee and that this resolution will call upon that committee to deal with this issue. Kulik pointed out that the Human Rights Commission has failed to prove how same sex partners are being discriminated. He noted that there needs to be caution in creating special laws and rules for specific groups. He stated that the issue of the transferring of credit hours is a more important benefit that the Senate should focus on. Latta pointed out that the resolution was written because the university has a policy that it does not discriminate against sexual orientation. Professor Kocher, Biological Systems Engineering, asked for a definition of domestic partners. Gaber stated that it has not been defined yet at this university. He gave an example of some of the criteria that the University of Iowa uses to determine domestic partners. Some of these are: that the partners must reside together 12 months prior to requesting the benefits, joint ownership of a residence, joint ownership of a bank account and/or credit cards, or a relationship contract. Professor Roysircar Sodowsky, Educational Psychology, pointed out that the term domestic partnership usually implies a sexual relationship. She noted that it is important to define the term due to the fact that many homes now have multiple wage earners. The motion was approved, 26 in favor, 12 against, 3 abstentions.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Dedication of Past Presidents' Plaque

Latta displayed the plaque honoring the Past Presidents of the Faculty and Academic Senate. She noted that the plaque will be placed in the Academic Senate Conference Room. She then recognized all of the Past Presidents. Attending the meeting and receiving recognition were Patricia Kennedy, James Ford, Peter Bleed, Doug Jose, Fred Choobineh, Royce Ballinger, Jim McShane, Jim Lewis, Larry Walklin, Jim O'Hanlon, Ezekiel Bahar, Bill Campbell, Henry Baumgarten and Frank Eldridge.

9.2 Resolution on Class Notes

Latta reported that she was notified by a faculty member that class notes from a UNL class were being placed on a website and listed as being copyrighted by the internet company. As a result, the Executive Committee has drafted a resolution that would call for the Academic Senate to develop a university policy statement outlining the permissible uses of class notes and other recordings of university courses, the conditions under which these records may be made, and the prohibited uses of them for commercial gain.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:29 PM. The next meeting of the Academic Senate will be on Tuesday, April 25^th at 2:30 PM in the East Campus Union, Great Plains Room. Respectfully submitted, Miles Bryant, Secretary.