Minutes of the November 15 meeting approved with corrections. 

MEMBERS PRESENT 

President: Homer Jones 
Salary Chair Committee: Don Kunze 
Committee on Committee Chair: Ed Price 
Academic Committee Chair: Tony Towery 
Secretary: Amy Patrick 

Meeting called to order by President Homer Jones at 4:00 p.m. 

OLD BUSINESS 

1. Front entrance of TSTC/Waco campus (FM2417 & Campus Drive) - Originally scheduled to install a traffic signal before the year 2006, the Texas Department of Transportation has updated importance of this project. They will begin taking bids in the spring of 2000 and estimate that the project will be operational by early fall 2000.

2. Staff Senate Proposed Gazebo - The Staff Senate has proposed that TSTC/Waco build a gazebo between the Student Center and the Library. The funds, from left/carried-over money, for the project would come from the Staff Senate, Faculty Senate, and another donator. Discussion ensued. The Executive Committee made no final decision but suggested that a faculty senate vote on the issue might be appropriate. 

3. Attendance Policy - After many concerns from students, the Retention Committee met to discuss the issue. The committee decided that no changes needed to be made at this time, as the "panic" of a new policy has not yet had time to settle. However, the committee did recommend that the following statement be added only to the COP7.9 on Student Attendance: 

"Class absences will be recorded and counted only from the actual day of enrollment for the individual student in that specific class." 

Discussion ensued. Committee members expressed concerns about student, faculty, and administrative responses. The Executive Committee decided to wait and see what happens and address the issue
in the future, if necessary. 

NEW BUSINESS 

1. NISOD - Administration wants TSTC to be more involved with NISOD. 

A. Administrators want faculty to present seminars and workshops to help with involvement in NISOD. 

B. Excellence in Teaching Awards - TheWaco campus needs to submit nominees. This would help TSTC become more involved with NISOD because the award is more prestigious than faculty awards, as it has specific guidelines for various criteria. Homer Jones will distribute nomination forms. If the nominee accepts, he/she can then submit the necessary documents. Faculty may decline nomination. 

2. Financial Issues - Discussion ensued concerning various financial issues, ranging from faculty salaries to distribution of funds to departments. Tony Towery made the suggestions that someone collect data on the history of the merit raise issue that seemed to disappear. The Executive Committee would like to know what happened. 

3. Homer Jones will continue to email faculty to solicit concerns/issues that the faculty wants/needs addressed. As to date, Homer has had no response. When issues arise, the Faculty Senate will meet to address those issues. Faculty members are encouraged to contact any faculty senate Executive Committee member to submit concerns/issues. 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.