Faculty Senate Meeting

January 12, 2004

 

President Richard Wheet called the meeting order at 5:20 p.m.

 

Present:  all except those noted below

 

Absent:   Gerald Collum – secretary, Amy Patrick – academic chair, Walton Yantis – CNS, John Falkenbury – EHS, Dave Thomas - SBS

 

MINUTES

 

The December 2003 minutes were approved and accepted with no changes.

 

GUEST SPEAKER

 

Campus President Elton Stuckly was first on the agenda, giving a report of what has happened and will happen in the coming months:

 

·        Enrollment is up considerably, no final numbers yet, but is looking good on retention and new students.

·        Calendar will be three semesters of 15 weeks each. This was arrived after considering the pros and cons of other calendars.  The Faculty Senate Calendar Committee was recognized and given a round of applause.

·        John Connally Building, the ball is in the architect’s hands now. Estimated cost of repairs is in the neighborhood of one million dollars or more.  Forensic studies have been made on the building to see if it is safe to inhabit. It is for now, but another study will be done again in the near future.

·        ITC revamping Phase I nearing completion. Chet Edwards will be contacted for Federal funding possibilities for Phase II and III.  North entrance did not turnout looking very good, will be modified during Phase II.

·        COP 7.30 – Faculty Senate got all of the changes requested. At graduation, the faculty according to their degrees should wear proper garb. The board of Regents will be looking at some way to provide funding for all graduates to attend commencement exercises.

·        Mall area – GLM is working on ideas to improve the looks and alleviate the bird problem on the mall.

·        Increasing enrollment is everyone’s job, no exceptions.

·        Additional funding for Waco TSTC is being looked at by TSTC and the City of Waco.

·        Does anyone know how to get Stuckly a face-to-face meeting with Michael Dell?

·        The Baylor hanger will be re-leased for $21k per year plus utilities.

·        APT & Baylor have a problem. Airway management students at Baylor are essentially going 12 months of the year without a break due to differences in school calendars.  This will be looked at carefully.

·        Secret Service finally has begun paying their rent.

 

John Spradling V.P. Instruction made a brief appearance to say that there is no report from the V.P.’s meeting, they will convene again today and he will have a report later on.

 

PRESIDENT”S CABINET REPORT (Richard Wheet).

 

·        Faculty Productivity COP 7.30 was passed.

·        Student Graduation COP 7.37 – requires applications for graduation to include exit survey passed.

·        Village Oaks residents will be possibly be required to use TSTC broadband for $15 and other providers banned.  Discussion tended to indicate that they should be given it as an option or may choose a commercial provider based on market conditions. No decision was made.

·        Regent Circle will only take a 5% cut for donations that they obtain.  Donations made through the campus will not be charged the 5%.

 

FACULTY PRODUCTIVITY (COP 7.30)

 

The changes to COP 7.30 were discussed and there were no objections.

 

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

 

Request for input into System Operating Standards was discussed.

 

Administrations continued refusal to give reasons for faculty dismissals was discussed.

 

There being no new business a motion to adjourn was made and seconded. Passed without abstentions or nays. Meeting adjourned at 6:20pm