Faculty Senate Meeting
March 12, 2001
Minutes

Attendees: Richard Wheet, Ed Price, Tinker Clift, Theresa Holmberg, Jeff Looper, Bob Larsen, Greg Poston, Lee Poehls, Ken Tow, Aniruddh Hathi, Jean Turner, Gwenn Kelly, Susie Watkins, Manny Avila, Martin Knudsen, David Junek, Garry Sigler, David Thomas, Ruth Gray, and Debi Cisneros.

Richard Wheet called the meeting to order.

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

Ed Price asked to have the Faculty Senate make a motion that Richard Wheet stay on as President for another year to smooth the transition and continue the outstanding work that he has done and stay on the Faculty Compensation/Ranking Plan to its conclusion. Richard was concerned about the Faculty Senate bylaws. The motion was made, later in discussion at the end of the Faculty Senate meeting it was decided that this would be taken to the Full Faculty General Meeting for approval by the Faculty.

Presidents Council Report

• Microsoft Software License agreement has been approved. Instructors are now able to use Microsoft Software used by TSTC on their home PC's, and laptops. 
• Staff evaluations will start March 15th.
• Jay Teakell - they will be doing painting, fixing frozen water lines that were broken, and that the roofing contracts for Family Housing have been denied due to cost being too high. 
• There is a need for Faculty on Campus Committees. Richard specified that Jeff Looper is trying to get volunteers first so if any are interested let him know. The following are committees needing volunteers: Library (2), Risk Management, Recreational, and Scholarship (2). The President usually appoints these positions.
• Dr. Ellis was concerned that all Faculty should take a Lunch break; i.e. get away from your desk. She is also concerned about computer games being played . 
• COP's they all passed, the only one that was a concern to the Faculty was that of Computer Standards. There is no support for NT. Richard asked if CNS is teaching NT, Debi Cisneros replied that we use to but are now teaching Windows 2000. There is a question of whether to get support from INS or outside source. 

Committee Progress Report

Faculty e-mail (Bob Larsen)
There are 35 technologies, 5 not represented, 27 have given e-mail addresses of all full-time faculty members, 3 more to go and hope to have by the end of the week. 
Question: Ed Price asked why there were 5 not represented. 
Answer: That the technologies felt that it was a big gripe session and nothing was getting accomplished.
Ed Price asked for a list of all technologies not represented.

State Agency versus higher education (Kristi Todd)
Not Present

Set Date for Full Faculty Meeting (dismiss classes)

Richard explained that this is for the chance for Faculty to ask questions of Members of the Faculty Compensation/Ranking Committee and Dr. Ellis. Richard wanted to set the date for April 6th but that is registration and many felt that was impossible. The next date of April 16th is also the start of registration for new students, but Richard expressed that it needed to set before the next board meeting. So at the present it is set for April 16th in the JCTC Auditorium from 3pm-5pm or longer if needed. 

Faculty Ranking and Compensation

Richard informed the Faculty Senate of the meeting here on campus on March 2nd, which included mostly Deans. 

Faculty Ranking

• The Assistant Professor was replace by Associate Professor.
• Dr. Lease wanted to include the +30 hours for Technical as well as Academic, Richard opposed and it was eliminated, so now there is no +30 for Academic or Technical.
• The Activities to be done for ranking have been reduced from 5 to 3.
• A Satisfactory Evaluation has to be maintained during the course of the Ranking process.
• President can appoint Rank in exceptional situations (example: PhD with 20 years experience as a professor at UT could give rank).
• Systems will use Richard's FAQ format as a base.
• Only Permanent Faculty may go for ranking not Temporary Faculty.
• There is an appeal process in place. Ombudsman from Faculty Senate may be given this responsibility.

Faculty Compensation

• The market base will be reviewed every 2 years. This is on top of the base salary used by TSTC. The market value will be based on input from Faculty, Department Chairs, Human Resourses and outside sources. The calculations for the base, midpoint 100% and maximum 150% for example BASE 30,000 MIDPOINT 60,000 MAXIMUM 90,000. If a salary is over maximum and they receive an exceptional evaluation there will be a 1 time bonus of say 4%, if you are between midpoint and maximum, the 4% would be a continuous inclusion in the salary, if you are below midpoint then the % would be higher to compensate.
• Question was raised on if a Faculty member was teaching in 2 departments? The Deans suggested the department with the higher market value prevail.
• On certifications, there will be input from the departments as to how valuable, length to receive and compensation for obtaining. If the department requires a certification for employment then TSTC will not reimburse for the certification, if not required for the position then it will reimburse you for completion. This must be approved in advance with department chair.
• HR sees no reason that there could not be a 2-year contract
• There are no hard numbers since Systems is still working on the budget and does not know how much they will receive from the State.

Faculty Evaluations

• 
  All the corrections that were asked for were approved.
• Form is the same. It was asked for a time frame for pop-in visits, which was approved.
• Peer evaluations will not go to HR.
• Item 2 handout the 1st day moved to by the 5th day (or 5th class period).
• Item 7 changed to as appropriate.
• Permanent and part-time faculty will be evaluated.
• Adjunct faculty will be evaluated through department chair tools.
• Peers will evaluate department Chairs teaching.
• Current evaluations will start now.
• Student evaluations were not reviewed due to not having a copy. Not approved and they will be taking the environment out of these evaluations.

Nomination Committee

Richard was concerned on following the bylaws set for the Faculty Senate. There was a motion to delay until this can be taken to the Full Faculty Meeting in April. All approved.