UNL ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING MINUTES
Clifford Hardin Nebraska Center, East Campus
September 10, 1996
President Peter Bleed Presiding
1.0 Call to Order
* President Bleed called the meeting to order at 2:34 pm.
2.0 Welcome and Announcements
2.1 Observations on the Start of a New Year. President
Bleed commented on the success of the dedication of the
"Torn Notebook" sculpture September 6 and the well-attended New Student Convocations. Bleed also cited two
major issues for UNL this year: 1) North Central
Association Accreditation process--this draft document is
nearing completion and should be available for review by
faculty in November; and 2) plans for the School of Natural
Resources recommended by IANR.
2.2 Goals and Projects for 1996-97. Three major goals of
the Academic Senate for this year will be: 1) Academic
Excellence and recognizing centers of excellence, 2) post-tenure review and 3) faculty compensation. Bleed explained
that the midpoint for retirement contributions is about 11%
for our peer group and currently the University is at 7.5%
with an 8% cap on contributions set by the Nebraska
legislature.
2.3 Retaining a Senate Lobbyist. Bleed has been in contact
with a potential lobbyist, Jack Moors, for possible retention
by the Academic Senate. The objective is to begin a funding
drive among UNL faculty to solicit donations toward
retaining a lobbyist regarding changing or amending the
legislative cap on retirement contributions and other benefits
issues. Bleed advised members to look forward to receiving
a letter requesting funds for the Friends of the Faculty
Senate account for this purpose.
3.0 Chancellor Moeser
3.1 Chancellor Moeser thanked James McShane and faculty
of the Foundations Program, Lisa Schmidt, Admissions, and
James Griesen, Student Affairs, for their efforts with the
Freshman Reading Program.
3.2 Chancellor Moeser was pleased with the attendance and
success of the New Student Convocation and the Torn
Notebook sculpture dedication.
3.3 The University has now broken ground in northwest
Lincoln for the new technology transfer park.
3.4 Chancellor Moeser agrees with the goals of the
Academic Senate presented by President Bleed. Chancellor
Moeser stated the two tests of academic rigor and excellence
are the success of our graduates to pursue degrees at the
graduate and professional levels, and also their success in
obtaining employment in the corporate and business world.
Chancellor Moeser stated he has met with both President
Bleed and John Wunder, Chair of the Academic Planning
Committee, regarding identifying funds and plans for points
of emphasis within UNL. He strongly believes that periodic
review of tenured faculty is an important objective in
avoiding some of the problems other campuses nationwide
are experiencing with assault on the tenure system. Moeser
feels we can accomplish our goals within the existing bylaws
of the university.
3.5 Search updates: The Senior Vice Chancellor for
Academic Affairs search committee is currently reviewing
applications. The committee is using an outside consulting
firm to supply additional names of applicants but it does not
have a decision-making function. The College of Business
Administration Dean search will trail the Senior Vice
Chancellor search. The university is close to selecting a
Lied Center director. Two candidates recently visited the
campus. UNL has several new deans: Richard Durst,
College of Fine and Performing Arts, Don Swoboda,
Division of Continuing Studies, and Rod Bates, Nebraska
ETV. Additionally, Ricardo Garcia is the new Director of
Affirmative Action and Diversity.
4.0 Committee Reports
4.1 Commencement. Robert Diffendal, Conservation and
Survey Division, chairs the Commencement Committee.
Because the report covers last year's activities, it was drafted
by past chair, James McShane, English. Diffendal invited
all faculty who have not attended a commencement exercise
to do so. Miles Bryant, Educational Administration,
questioned whether seating for faculty could be altered so
that faculty face the students rather than have their backs to
them. President Bleed said he would write to the
Commencement Committee to pursue this request. Diffendal
thanked Don Jensen, Psychology and Associate to the
Chancellor Herb Howe for all their work toward making the
commencement exercise a rewarding event.
4.2 Executive. Secretary Albrecht reported on the activities
of the Senate Executive Committee over the summer months.
If senators or other faculty wish to contact the Executive
Committee by email message, use "asexec" to write the
whole email address. This will forward your email
correspondence to the 13-member committee.
5.0 ARRC/APC Ballot Selection Approval
* Wanda Leonard, Chair of the Committee on Committees
distributed a draft ballot for approval. The ballot is for a
special election by the entire faculty assembly to replace two
vacancies. One three-year faculty seat is for the Academic
Planning Committee and the other is for a three-year term on
the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee.
Ballot names submitted for approval were: Nancy Betts,
Nutritional Science and Dietetics and Sanford Grossbart,
Marketing, for the APC. The ARRC seat names are Jerry
Petr, Economics and Donald Uerling, Educational
Administration. President Bleed declared this to be an
emergency issue in order to send ballot out before the next
Senate meeting. Seconded by Ken Dewey, Geography. The
motion was approved. Leonard explained that the committee
preference forms will be distributed in the same mailing as
the ballots to save on mailing costs and to allow additional
time for Committee on Committees members to review the
preference forms. Leonard requested that faculty give
serious consideration to committee service.
6.0 Approval of 4/30/96 minutes
* Deshayes, Special Education and Communication
Disorders, moved for approval of the 4/30/96 minutes.
Seconded by Parsons, AgLEC. Minutes were approved.
7.0 Election of Executive Committee Member
* With the resignation of Jay Corzine from the Executive
Committee, a two-year seat is available. A ballot was
distributed with Phyllis Japp, Communication Studies, and
John Bender, News-Editorials, as candidates. President
Bleed requested any nominations from the floor. None
given. The ballot was distributed and collected. Past
President Jose and President Elect Ford counted the ballots.
Japp was declared the winner and will resume Executive
Committee duties on September 11.
8.0 Unfinished Business
* Narayanan, Electrical Engineering, asked about the
Nebraska legislative retirement contributions. Bleed stated
that university employees currently have a 7.5% contribution
rate.
9.0 New Business
* Deshayes noted that health plans were on the agenda for
the upcoming Board of Regents meeting. He questioned
whether the Senate had representation for this issue.
President Bleed stated that our Employee Benefits
Committee was our representative.
10.0 For the Good of the Order
The meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m. The next Senate meeting will
be October 8 at Architecture Hall, Room 127. Respectfully
submitted, Julie Albrecht, secretary.