Approved Minutes
9 July 1997
1 and 2. Call to Order and of Roll
The regular meeting was called to order by Suzanne McGill, Chair, at 3:00 p.m.
in Library 5. The Secretary called the roll:
Present: Allison, Arata, Aucoin, Ballard,
Broadus, Chryslee, Cromwell, Daughenbaugh, Dilsaver, Dorman, Douglass,
Engebretson, Evans, Foster, Frederick, Hain, Haywick, Honkanen, Isom,
Kulkarni, Labbe, Lally, Langan, LeDoux, Martin, McAfee, McGill, McIver,
Mitchell, Moak, Moore, Mulekar, Prendergast, Rodgers, Sauer, Simpson, Sweet,
Sylvestre, Thurston, Tucker, VanHaneghan, Vetrosky, Vinson, Yeoman, Zhang
Absent (excused): Ardell, Bell, Brandon, DavidsonShivers, Donovan,
Fruh, Hamm, Izenburg, Krueger, Matthews, Moore, Nowackr Parker, Swint,
Weston, C. Wilson, G. Wilson
3. Completion of Pending Business
Minutes of regular meeting of 14 May 1997 were approved for distribution
to the University Faculty.
4. Report from the Chair
Suzanne McGill solicited corrections for senate records for senators'
e-mail and other addresses, and asked for feedback on standing
committee assignments.
She praised Sharon Fruh and the salary/fringe benefits standing
committee for organizing the successful first annual Faculty Fringe Benefits Forum.
McGill reported on developments in the general studies articulation
process. All two-year and four-year institutions appear to be coming to
agreement on parts I-IV, some 41 semester hours of A&S courses
(written composition\[6], humanities/fine arts [12], natural sciences/mathematics
[11], and history/social/behavioral sciences [12]). Difficulty remains for the
23 hours in part V (pre-professional, major, elective), which the sixteen four-year
institution presidents have gone on record as opposing. There are 22 legislators
who are also administrators in two-year institutions, so the resolution of the
issue remains to be played out. (br>
McGill distributed copies of her own study of the relative
commitments of classroom instruction time as it relates to rate of pay
for faculty in the current quarter and proposed semester systems,
including summer terms. For example, assuming a 12-hour teaching load,
total teaching time for three quarters is 16,650 minutes, but for two semesters
17,600 minutes--more time, same pay. And for the summer term, a three-hour
semester course pays 1.125 what a four-hour quarter course pays, but the time
factor is 1.1594. These issues were referred to the salary/fringe benefits committee.
McGill reported on an executive committee meeting with President Whiddon,
where McGill proposed that $400,000 in basic equipment would be needed to
create internet access for faculty and students. For faculty, a computer
in each office is a goal, and for students, 20 labs with 25 computers
in each lab. The president expressed interest in these goals. Currently
the Library offers students four terminals for internet access.
An inventory of existing faculty computer equipment is needed.
McGill praised Jan Sauer for her work in creating a faculty senate
web page at http://www.usouthal.edu/fsenate. Sauer demonstrated this
information feature to the senate.
McGill outlined current perceptions expressed to her by many faculty about a
philosophical difference that may exist about faculty role in the university
governance, a difference with Dr. Sylvester, the SrVPAA. By consensus the senate
decided to authorize McGill to distribute for consideration at the 13 August 1997
regular meeting of the senate a resolution expressing disapproval of certain
actions of the SrVPAA, should difficulties not be resolved by 16 July 1997.
5. Reports of Senate Standing Committees
Evaluation. Tom Hain reported that the results of the most recent evaluation
would be made available as soon as possible, and that his committee planned to refine
the evaluation instrument in anticipation of the next survey in Spring 1998.
[See 10th Annual Faculty Survey ]
Planning and Development. Douglas Haywick reported that his committee
planned to study space allocation and space adequacy in anticipation of the
proposed semester system conversion.
Policy/Handbook.
Richard Daughenbaugh reported that his committee would focus on an
agenda that included revision of the handbook in light of the semester conversion,
FSDA policy also with respect to the semester system, and placing the handbook
on the faculty senate web page.
Salaries/Benefits:
Phillip Bell, committee chair, was absent.
6. Election of Caucus Leaders
Suzanne McGill asked each caucus to report the election of a leader to her
as soon as possible.
7. New Business
The senate approved the following resolution unanimously:
WHEREAS the University of South Alabama recently awarded the first honorary
doctorate at the commencement exercises on 8 June 1997 and
WHEREAS the Honorary Doctorate Committee selected United States Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright, a distinguished scholar/teacher, who is also a high ranking
government official, as recipient of this degree, and
WHEREAS the U. S. Secretary of State honored the University, its faculty,
students, and alumni by accepting the degree, and
WHEREAS this award resulted in favorable local and national exposure for
the University, its faculty, students, and alumni,
THEREFORE be it resolved the Faculty Senate unanimously and proudly does
commend the actions of the Honorary Degree Committee, the President of the
University, the Board of Trustees, and the organizers of the 1997 commencement.
7. Adjournment
Suzanne McGill adjourned the meeting at 4:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
T. Lally, Secretary
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