Faculty Senate Meeting
April 9, 2001
Minutes


Attendees: Richard Wheet, Tinker Clift, Theresa Holmberg, Bob Larsen, Ben Matus, Tracy Marshall, Lee Poehls, Ken Tow, Aniruddh Hathi, Jean Turner, Gwenn Kelly, Susie Watkins, Kristi Todd, Manny Avila, Steve Betros, David Meine, David Junek, and Debi Cisneros.

Richard Wheet called the meeting to order and introduced the guest speaker.

Guest Speaker Jan Osborn
Jan spoke about graduation procedures. Where we are and what they would like to see in the future. The graduation was originally held in the Ferrell Center but they changed the dates of graduation three times and would not sign a contract in advance. Many times TSTC did not get the contract until the night of graduation. College Relations felt that it was time to look for different facilities. One of the places they looked at was the Heart of Texas Coliseum. It was newly renovated, but the problem was that if there was dirt on the floor, TSTC would have to pay $3500 to have the dirt removed. The Waco Convention Center was the only place that was big enough to hold commencement. Jan agreed that the first one was horrible. They paid to have extra sound and the big screens so that everyone could hear and see better. That will be something that will be continued. The problem with faculty going on stage to shake hands with the students is that there is just no room. There is a wide aisle in the middle and it could be done there as the students are returning to their seats. Jan said that they are open for any suggestions or comments. Jan opened the floor for Questions.

Q: Why were the faculty sat in the back and all the seats were empty in the front?
A: That was clearly a mistake. Faculty was supposed to be sat in the front rows and work back.
Q: What about portable bleachers to put up along the sides?
A: Not sure what the policies are but will check into that idea and cost.
Q: What about lining up of the students by technology so that they can be greeted?
A: That is the way that it is done now. There is just not a big enough area to do this. That is why they had the reception in a separate room this last time so that parents and students could see faculty before the graduation. Use to have the reception after graduation but most of the faculty left to get back to their families.
Q: How many chairs can the convention center hold?
A: 3200 chairs is the maximum to be in the guidelines of the Fire Marshall for that room.
Q: Does College Relations have any numbers on this past weekend College Preview?
A: Not yet. Had 32 buses on Friday. The senior/parents RSVP doubled from last year. 
Suggestion: How about having buttons made so that parents (faculty) that work concession stands at the High School can advertise College Preview. 
Jan: College Relations made ribbons to wear. She doesn't know about buttons but maybe they could come up with something similar to advertise.
Q: What about moving the flow in the Gym so that they go out the back doors?
A: Looking at the process to improve. 
Q: What about putting the entire computer related booths along the wall so that students won't be tripping over electrical cords. 
A: The booths are placed according to the need for electrical and networking needs. 
Jan asked that if there are any suggestions or comments they could be e-mailed to her at josborn@tstc.edu

Senate Meeting:

Tinker Clift wanted to remind everyone about the plant sale and that he has received 30 different species of herbs for the sale.

Approval of last meeting's minutes; a motion to approve was made, seconded and Faculty Senate voted unanimously to approve.

Officers Reports:
Treasurer (Tinker Clift )- $3600 left in budget
Ombudsman (Terry Holmberg) - no problems
Secretary (Debi Cisneros) - nothing

Chairs:
Communications (Bob Larsen) - There are 3 Technologies holding out. They don't want to be on the e-mail list. Richard asked if he had the name of the technologies with him. Bob will send that information to him.

General Faculty Meeting

Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 25, 2001 from 11am-2pm in the JCTC auditorium. All classes are to be dismissed during this time. If Wednesday is the only day that the class meets, you do not have to dismiss class. There was a question brought up about what if they are having a final that day. There should not be finals on that day. It is a week before the end of the semester. There will not be any food (editor note: as of 4/16/2001 there will be lunch provided for those who put their name on the list for lunch). Elton is not sure how many will actually show up to this meeting and he did not want to buy any more food than was needed. 
Q: Will we just vote and leave?
A: this is for questions and opinions.
Q: what about lunch?
A: there is no food or drinks allowed in the auditorium. 

Faculty Contracts

Faculty Contracts will be out May 7th. There is no budget in place. The contracts will be written with the current salary and if there is a state raise it will be applied to the contract in writing. Richard asked if the Senate wanted this to be done or wait. May 31st is the target date for the contracts next year.

Faculty Ranking current System Operation Standard

Changed after Management Council Meeting. It now agrees with what the committee had agreed upon. Richard feels that this should not be approved until the Compensation Plan and Evaluation Plan has been included. It should be all or nothing since the ranking goes along with both of the other plans. Systems have other priorities and these have been put on the back burner for now. If the Faculty Ranking plan is put into plan, this would eliminate any faculty means of obtaining a salary increase other than what is given by systems.

David Meine moved to reject with reservations stating that the Senate should wait until the Compensation/ Evaluation Plans are done. 
The motion was seconded.
Q: Will this put pressure on Systems to get it done?
A: Hope so. Will talk to them about this.
Q: On the Delegation of Authority it states that the President has delegated Authority over all, and on Item F next to last page of handout it states that the Dean of Instruction has the authority.
A: Explanation was that the plan system-wide for all campuses. This means the campus President has blanket authority over the campus' COP's but must follow the SOS guidelines.  The authority of the Dean of Instruction is approval of the ranking for an individual faculty member.
Q: Does this mean that the President has authority over the Faculty Senate to say "Thanks, but no thanks"?
A: COP must go to President Council & Faculty Senate President sits on this council.

The motion was passed unanimously.

President's Council Meeting

Parking TEL building will build a bridge across.

Students will be required to have immunizations before coming on campus with the exceptions of Distance Learning students that do not come on campus.

Search for new Dean of Instruction is going on. There are 24 applicants, 3 from TSTC.

Management Council Meeting

Was held in the DL center. Faculty Ranking was changed. Evaluation plan was not what was proposed by the faculty ranking and compensation committee. The compensation plan seems to have been reinterpreted from what the faculty ranking and compensation committee approved. Richard had to leave after the ranking compensation segment, Ed stayed for the rest of the meeting. Ed was not at the Senate meeting so we are not sure if there is anything that happened afterwards that was important.

New Business:

Q: What is the progress of the State Agency versus Higher education?
A: Kristi has some information that you are welcome to look at but there is so much legal jargon it is hard to understand.

Q: Is it true that if the state pay raise is approved that faculty will not receive? Article in paper.
A: Richard seems to think that if it is approved,  TSTC faculty will get it. If not, then that answers the question of if we are state employees or faculty.

Q: Are they going to ever replace the old signs with new ones?
A: Heard Dr. Ellis was out with a spray can. (joking) Will ask.

Q: Parking lot lighting is bad are they working on a solution?
A: will ask.

Security doesn't have keys to buildings and there is no contact person. Dr. Ellis cannot even get into some of the buildings. Working on getting the security alarms fixed.

Q: Are they doing anything about the environmental health of the faculty, such as some of the ventilation vents have never been cleaned?
Q: Fixing the holes in the parking lots?
A: Will put on the list of questions to ask.

Suggestion: Dia Techsana should be moved to the Spring Semester.

Meeting adjourned.