Email: senate@unlinfo.unl.edu

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

UNL ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING MINUTES

East Campus Union, Great Plains Room

September 7, 1999

Presidents Gail Latta, and Sheila Scheideler Presiding

1.0 Call to Order

President Latta called the meeting to order at 2:36 p.m.

2.0 Announcements

2.1 Academic Senate Office Move

President Latta announced that the office of the Academic Senate was moved on August 16th to 420 University Terrace, Suite 202 and 203. She noted that there is a Lot 10 parking area directly across the street from the new location.

2.2 President Smith Speaking to the Distance Learning Discussion Faculty Group

President Latta reported that President Smith will be meeting with the Distance Learning Discussion Faculty Group on September 8th at 8:00 AM in the Selleck Dining Hall. She stated that President Smith has agreed to discuss his goals for the University of Nebraska and distance learning and extended education. She noted that this group meets once a month on a Wednesday morning.

2.3 Senate Sponsored Forums

President Latta announced that the Academic Senate, along with ASUN, is sponsoring a forum on the Freshmen Experience Task Force Recommendations on September 16th at the City Campus Union and September 17th at the East Campus Union. She noted that the task force is looking for suggestions and criticisms of their recommendations and she encouraged faculty to attend. Latta reported that Vice Chancellor Torr will be making a presentation to faculty on the research initiatives for UNL. This presentation will be held on September 29th at 2:30 at the City Campus Union Auditorium. Latta noted that this presentation will help faculty understand the context of the research initiative as well as inform faculty of new funding opportunities.

2.4 Establishing Program Priorities for the University of Nebraska

President Latta reported that the Board of Regents discussed the formation of a commission to establish program priorities for the University. She noted that all of the Academic Senate Presidents will be on this commission. She stated that President Smith has involved the Senate Presidents in these discussions since last May. She pointed out that he expects this to be a campus-based process with the intent of having faculty involved. She stated that the purpose of the commission is to provide oversight and a time line to coordinate efforts so that the Regents will get feedback from each of the campuses within a designated time period. She stated that the process will probably not move quickly enough for that process to have any impact on any reallocation that will take place this fiscal year. She stated that the work of the commission will effect the following fiscal year.

2.5 Update of Bylaw 4.3

President Latta reported that there is a new revision of the Bylaw which takes into account comments made at the end of last academic year. She noted that the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee are reviewing the revisions and that the final draft may be presented to the Senate at the October meeting.

3.0 Academic Senate President's Report (President Latta)

President Latta reported on the activities of the Executive Committee during the summer. She stated that the committee has had a number of discussions with many people this summer in regards to the reallocation and the planning process. She stated that core issues were discussed such as the level of faculty participation in identifying priorities for UNL, early involvement so that faculty can have meaningful input, and the assumptions that underlie the budget projections. She noted the committee met with Provost Lee Jones to discuss some of these assumptions, in particular, the faculty salary projections. She stated that discussions also included the decisions as to how the budget shortfalls will be handled. She pointed out that the committee stressed that more faculty input is needed in this area than last year. She stated that there needs to be a means to assess what the priorities are in the budget as opposed to what is being lost through reallocation. She stated that she met with President Smith and Provost Lee Jones this summer and she reported that they made it very clear that their expectations are that faculty input to the budget process will take place at the campus level. Latta reported that in meetings with President Smith she discussed the budget reallocation. She reported that he wants the faculty to understand that he was given a mandate from the Board of Regents to bring the four campuses closer together. She suggested that he speak with the Senate this fall rather than in the spring. She noted that the committee has been working with the Vice Chancellors to try to document the impact of the last reallocation. She stated that the Vice Chancellors have committed themselves to providing documentation of the impacts. Latta noted that the committee met with Vice President for External Affairs Kim Robak to discuss her position within the University and the public relations function she facilitates. The committee discussed the ways in which faculty can work with public relations to get more information out to the public on the work of faculty and the impact of their work on the people of the state. Latta stated that the committee met with Larry Routh, Interim Director of Admissions, to discuss current recruitment procedures and their plans for future recruitment. She pointed out that the Director of Admissions position is still open. Latta reported that Vice Chancellor Torr made a presentation to the committee to discuss her research initiatives. Latta stated that the presentation will be given to the faculty on September 29th at 2:30 in the City Campus Union and she encouraged faculty to attend. She reported that the Senate is sponsoring several faculty discussion forums outside of the regular meetings so that interested faculty can come together to discuss some of the initiatives on campus. Latta reported that she, and some members of the Executive Committee, met with Vice Chancellor Mel Jones, leaders of ASUN, UNOPA, and UAAD to discuss parking. She announced that it was decided that the issue of parking needed to go back to the Parking Advisory Committee for them to consider and make recommendations to the campus. Latta reported that the Executive Committee had an all day retreat at which a number of issues were discussed and priority areas were identified. She stated that the committee discussed activities that could take place during this year that would enable the faculty to move forward on these issues. She noted that two documents were produced from this retreat, the Academic Senate Priority Goals for 1999-2000 and the Academic Senate's Strategic Agenda for 1999-2001. Latta noted that President-Elect Scheideler suggested that the strategic agenda should cover a two-year planning process to provide continuation for the committee. She noted that priority issues included strengthening communication networks both from and to the senators and their constituents, the need to restore faculty participation in University planning and decision making, promote faculty discussion of issues affecting higher education, UNL, and the NU system, improve the quality of our campus environment and factors affecting faculty morale, and address the systemic sources of weakness within the Academic Senate. Latta welcomed any further suggestions from the Senators.

4.0 Chancellor Moeser

Chancellor Moeser thanked President Latta and the Executive Committee for their assistance in preparing the special presentation to the Board of Regents on the master plan of the campus and update on the strategic plan. He also thanked Jim Carr, Chair of the Academic Planning Committee. Chancellor Moeser stated that he understands that the commission being established to prioritize programs will not only establish the time line, but will also establish the general criteria by which the campuses will have to work. He noted that this presents a problem due to the differences of the missions of the four separate campuses. He stated that the criteria will need to be generic to deal with this problem. He stated that it is clear that under the UNL Bylaws it is the responsibility of the Academic Planning Committee to handle this kind of endeavor. He pointed out that they will be working closely with the committee to develop this process. He noted that we should focus on identifying our strengths rather than focusing on the negative process. Chancellor Moeser reported that during the next several months they will be identifying the priorities for the University budgetary proposal to the Nebraska legislature for 2001-03. He stated that he continues to put faculty and staff salaries as a top priority. He believes that we must remain committed to the four year plan. He stated that in discussions with Central Administration he was able to convince them to lay out multiple budget scenarios for the first four years rather than relying on a single scenario. Chancellor Moeser reported that he will be meeting with the Extended Education Council to discuss the expiration of Vice Chancellor Omtvedt's term as Vice Chancellor of Extended Education at the end of September. Professor van Roojen, Philosophy, stated that there is considerable concern over the recent policy of having mail screened by the mail department to determine whether it is business related. Chancellor Moeser agreed that this is a concern and that the intent was not to screen the mail but to eliminate bulk mailings. Van Roojen suggested that the U.S. Code should be reviewed before such policies are made. Chancellor Moeser stated that they are currently looking into this with the help of the Law College. Professor Keith, Entomology, stated that some faculty have been soliciting feedback from colleagues and there are indications that there are deep concerns about the leadership at this time. He stated that many people feel that the land grant mission of the University is not being as well represented as it should be. He noted that the institutional roles between the four campuses is not being made clear. He stated that it appears that more dollars are leaving here than are coming back. Chancellor Moeser stated that the Lincoln campus has and carries the historic land grant mission of the University. He pointed out that there is strong commitment to this mission on this campus. He noted that while there are differences of opinions as to whether the University consists of four separate campuses or whether it is one system, everyone agrees that each campus has its own role and mission. Keith asked the Chancellor if he thinks the reallocation proposals are reflective of those differences? Keith stated that faculty members can provide information that shows the negative impacts on teaching, research, and extension from reallocation. Chancellor Moeser responded that he does not believe the UNL campus has been disadvantaged in respect to the other campuses and that he believes we have been treated fairly. Professor Mientka, Mathematics and Statistics, stated that he does not believe people understand the difference between the J.D. Edwards Honors program and the I.S.& T. program in Omaha. Chancellor Moeser stated that the J.D. Edwards Honors program is a companion piece to the I.S & T. program. He noted that the Edwards program will be a smaller, more highly specialized program and that it will be a very strong and competitive program nationwide. He stated that due to the strong programs that are being built in the engineering college, it is now one of the top 45 Ph.D. granting colleges in the country and the College of Business Administration has one of the top 51 undergraduate programs. He believes that we will work through this short term financial problem. He noted that he has asked Central Administration to provide a tentative budget earlier this year so that they can then work on it with the Academic Planning Committee. Professor Mayo, Entomology, pointed out that the budget cuts are very painful and that for faculty to be more understanding, they need more detailed information as to where the funds are going. Chancellor Moeser agreed and stated that there are some on going costs such as information technology. He suggested that Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Kent Hendrickson be invited to speak to the Senate. Chancellor Moeser pointed out that enrollment is critical to the finances of the University. He stated that enrollment numbers are slowly starting to rise again and that the better prepared freshmen who are now entering the University should make a difference in the retention rate of students. He noted that we need to work harder on enrolling part time students. He stated that the next goal for the University is to be one of the top 50 public universities in the country.

5.0 Senior Vice Chancellor Edwards

5.1 Effects of Last Reallocation

Senior Vice Chancellor Edwards reported that the Future Nebraska Task Force will be distributing a report at the end of the semester which will be open to the campus for discussion. He stated that he is in the process of obtaining detailed information from the Deans on the effects of reallocation. He noted that this information will be provided to the campus community.

5.2 Intellectual Property Rights

Senior Vice Chancellor Edwards reported that the original draft policy on intellectual property rights is in the process of being rewritten. He pointed out that there needs to be an understanding that we are in a shared arrangement between the university and faculty. He noted that we want to stimulate and encourage incentives for people to create intellectual property.

6.0 Approval of 4/27/99 Minutes

Diffendal, Conservation and Survey Division, moved that the minutes be approved. Nielsen, Animal Science, seconded the motion. Motion approved.

7.0 Committee Reports

7.1 Executive Committee Summer Report (President Latta)

Latta noted that a copy of the report was distributed to the senators in their packets and asked whether there were any questions.

7.2 Commencement Committee (Professor McShane)

McShane, Chair of the Commencement Committee, noted that a copy of the report was distributed to senators in their packets and asked for any questions.

8.0 Unfinished Business

No unfinished business was discussed.

9.0 New Business

9.1 Resolution on Reallocation

Latta amended the agenda, with the approval of the Senate, to place the resolutions on Reallocation and Capital Construction Projects as emergency items. She stated that the Executive Committee has put forth the following resolution: "Given that the portion of the UNL budgetary reallocation assessed to academic programs for the fiscal year 1999-2000 was of sufficient significance that it should have gone through the Academic Program Committee for approval; and Given that faculty participation in determining the impact on the 1999-2000 reallocation on academic programs was minimized by not following APC's "Procedures to Be Invoked for Significant Budget Reallocations and Reductions; and Given that the "Procedures" were developed in order to allow faculty to have meaningful input into reallocation decisions; and Given that the University Nebraska Central Administration has projected similar reallocations for the coming three years; and Given that the NU Board of Regents has announced its intention to establish a commission to set in motion a process for establishing academic priorities for the NU campuses, be it resolved that significant reallocations from UNL academic programs be made in accordance with existing and approved APC procedures that provide for adequate faculty input and review, as well as the full protection of faculty rights and due process." Brookes, English, suggested correcting Academic Program Committee to Academic Planning Committee and recommended that Central Administration be clarified to President Smith. Latta accepted the friendly amendment. Motion approved unanimously.

9.2 Resolution on Capital Construction Projects

Latta presented the following motion from the Executive Committee as an emergency item. "In order to put the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a firmer financial footing, to allow future administrators to more accurately forecast budgetary needs, and to simplify the public funding process of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, be it hereby resolved that the Academic Senate expects the full cost of currently planned and future capital construction projects - including all indirect costs associated with infrastructure, operating expenses, depreciation and the replacement of displaced parking - will be fully disclosed, and the source of these funds secured and approved by the appropriate faculty governance bodies, prior to beginning construction; and we urge the NU Board of Regents to adopt a policy that prohibits commencement of any capital construction projects which do not comply with these expectations." Morris, Biological Sciences, pointed out that trying to give full disclosure on the costs of projects may make it too difficult for facilities management to be able to initiate any capital construction. Scheideler stated that the intent of the resolution is to insure that a full impact study is conducted to determine what the direct and indirect costs may be when donations are made to construct buildings. She noted that this is currently not done and that the cost of covering the maintenance of the buildings, the loss of parking and other costs are not included in these projects which results in funds being reallocated from other sources at a later time. Wise, Law, stated that we need to have a discussion on what the impacts of this would be on future donations. She stated that the resolution needs clarification. Kirk, Construction Management, pointed out that a legal issue would arise with the current wording of the resolution that could result in the costs doubling for these projects. Van Roojen made a motion to remove this item as an emergency. Kocher, Biological Systems Engineering, seconded the motion. Motion approved. Four opposed. Discussion continued. Zorn pointed out that a full study which would disclose the impacts of construction projects will make people aware of the full ramifications of these projects. Jensen, Psychology, suggested that the term the "full foreseeable costs" be used in place of fully disclosed. Morris stated that the issue needs much more input and he asked if the Senate will interfere with the process. Latta noted that the Senate is not a body that can review capital construction projects. Jaswal, Physics and Astronomy, pointed out that the resolution calls for the academic community to be aware of the ramifications of these projects. Latta stated that they will take all of the comments under consideration.

9.3 Vice Chancellor Mel Jones

Vice Chancellor Jones reported that the bookstore has had difficulty in providing all the texts for this semester. He stated that all faculty members who are experiencing difficulties will have texts in the bookstore in 24 hours. He pointed out that the recent take over of the bookstore by Follet has created some problems and he asked the faculty to allow enough time for submitting book adoptions.

VC Jones stated that the business and finance sector had to sustain reallocation as well as the academic sector and that mail distribution was identified as one area where cuts could be made. He stated that the once a day delivery is an attempt to cut costs. He stated that they are trying to eliminate bulk mail. He noted that Associate Vice Chancellor Jim Main is redrafting the policy with the help of the Dean of the Law College.

VC Jones reported that he met with a number of organizations on campus this past summer to discuss parking. He noted that he has given the Parking Advisory Committee a charge to develop a parking plan. He asked that everyone work with the committee.

Robertson, Mechanical Engineering, stated that the once a day mail service is disruptive to the work flow. He pointed out that this may not be a wise use of funds. VC Jones noted that this is called cost shifting and that they will be monitoring it to see how this is effecting academic departments. He noted that if this is a cost shift, they will reexamine this policy. Mientka, Mathematics & Statistics, pointed out that there may be some legal consequences if all mail is not delivered. He noted that the faculty were unaware of the change before it occurred. He stated that faculty should be allowed some time to allow notification of a change of address. Arth, Curriculum & Instruction, asked if the mail is picked up in the morning, will it go into the federal mail in the morning or the afternoon? VC Jones stated that all mail goes out once a day but that special mail goes out quickly. Wise asked if advertising for open support staff positions will now be the responsibility of the departments. VC Jones stated that they are currently reviewing the policies regarding these open positions. He stated that they are considering eliminating the employment office but that they will continue to operate as they have been doing in the past for the time being. He stated that the Business and Finance Office is reexamining the services being provided and he asked faculty to provide input.

9.4 Jim Carr, Chair, Academic Planning Committee

Carr, Chair of the Academic Planning Committee, stated that they will be spending a great deal of time on the reallocation issue this year. He stated that the reallocation process will be looking at areas that are doing well and also looking at areas that have been diminished. He stated that the committee will seek to ensure that APC procedures will be followed. Jensen asked if the committee has been involved prior to this time in the reallocation process and whether the APC has been involved in the prioritizing process? Carr stated that they were involved in one meeting. Jensen pointed out that there are a number of committees, who by their name and their prior actions, would have been naturals to be consulted with early in a number of the processes. He stated that he is delighted that the Parking Advisory is now being involved in the parking plan although he pointed out that it should have been done five months ago. He stated that we may need to consider how we are organized in terms of these committees, and consider the possibility that we should reorganize to make it more difficult for faculty committees to be ignored. He stated that we need to take action that will discourage such delays and encourage very early involvement of these committees with the administration in their planning. Latta stated that she appreciates his concerns. She stated that she is attempting to reinstate the full bylaws provisions for each of the committees. She stated that there is a shared responsibility of both the committee members, senate liaisons, and the senate to make certain that when there are variations from the charges of the committees that it be brought to the attention of the larger body so that we can take action. She pointed out that she has had a great deal of encouragement from administrators to get these committees involved. Carr pointed out that reorganizing now would be too late to take action now and that we need to use the structure that is in place now to its fullest. He stated that he will make sure that the faculty get copies of the minutes via the web.

9.5 Jim Specht, Chair, Parking Advisory Committee

Spect, Chair of Parking Advisory Committee, reported that the committee will be meeting on September 24th to discuss two items. They will look at the balance sheet for parking to determine whether resurfacing of lots and the building of garages should be funded entirely by parking fee revenue and whether UNL should compensate the parking budget for resurfacing lots and garages that are appropriated in the future for other purposes. The other issue they will discuss is the first element of the parking plan which is the parking garage. He pointed out that they have already lost several hundred parking spaces. He stated that the meetings are open but only those of the committee will be allowed to speak when they are conducting the business of the committee. He pointed out those with concerns need to contact their representatives on the committee or contact him directly. Latta asked whether the land that was acquired at the southwest corner of 18th and R will be used for parking. He stated that he does not know the status of this land at this time.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m. The next Senate meeting will be October 5, 1999 in the City Campus Union, Auditorium. Respectfully submitted, Miles Bryant, Secretary.