Faculty Senate Meeting
Minutes
December 8, 2003

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Waco TSTC Faculty Senate was called to order at 5:22 p.m.

Executive board members present were: Richard Wheet, Tom Dean, Robert Larsen.

Executive board members absent were: Gerald Collum, Tinker Clift, Jeff Looper.

Standing chairs present were: Steve Betros, Stephen Range

Standing chairs absent were: Amy Patrick, Joyce Spivey

Senators present were: Billy Ballard, Pat Markum, Mike Huneke, Roger Bowles, Aniruddh Hathi, Jean Norwood, Walton Yantis, Theresa Park, Roy Rost, Cecilio Acosta, Brandon Thomas, Linda Martin, Mark Long, Linda Jaster, Steve Betros, Mike Denn, Dick Day, Renelle Gray, Del Bullock.

Senators absent were: Tracy Marshall, Lee Poehls, Don Sharp, Brenda Niekamp, Bonnie Hopkins, Todd Ewing, John Falkenberry, Terry Erhardt, Steve Roessler, Frank Gentry, Ronald Neuman, Dave Thomas, Garnett Gilchrest.

The Senate President apologized for not having last months meeting minutes.  There was a comment that the Senate did not have any minutes from any of the meetings since the fall semester began. Question was what can be done about this lack of minutes. President stated that there was nothing in the constitution or bylaws for removing a senate officer who do not fulfill their duties.

Management Council Meeting

The Senate President then gave a report on the December 5, 2003 Management Council Meeting

There is a proposed $5 per semester hour increase in tuition for the Summer 2004 Semester and additional to fee for testing.

ES 1.0.2 Faculty Evaluation.  The 60-day evaluation for new hires at the was dropped.

The campus Presidents Waco, Sweetwater, Marshall, and Harlingen want a 15-15-15 week semester calendar.  Contact hour funding was the reason. Looks like we still will be starting before the high schools let out for the summer.  There was discussion how why the administration does not what to take a chance on increasing the enrollment but only maintaining the status quo.

Professional Development Release Time

 COP 2.26 had a proposed amendment added from SOS HR 2.3.19.

 “Employees may not enroll in courses within a department in which they are employed.  Those who wish to continue their education in that area of study may enroll in courses at another Texas State Technical College.  The alternate college must be separately accredited.”

This was not well received by the senate. The rationale is may be good but the wording should be changed to allow more flexibility. How will faculty get crossed trained within a department in order to cover when another instructor is ill or has to take vacation during the semester because of lack of time between semesters?

At this point in time, changes to COP 2.26 were rescinded until systems has time to reconsider the current wording in HR 2.3.19 and determine the ramifications this document has upon those employees and departments who actually work at the campus levels and not just system levels.

Faculty Productivity  COP 7.30

There are will be some proposed changes to COP 7.30, most of the change however will be  those changes recommended by the faculty senate.

There being no discussion of old or new business the meeting adjourned by motion at 6:05 pm.