One of the chief concerns of the senate was whether bi-monthly paychecks could be direct deposited at local banks. The senate voted in favor of sending the results of the survey to Human Resources Director Steve Wood to gather more information about the possibility of bi-monthly pay before voting on the issue.

In other business the senate:

-Accepted the resignation of Lisa Shoemake, who was recently named interim director for International Programs.

-Assigned the Scholarship Committee to gather information about endowment-level scholarships.

-Agreed to look through the staff handbook and make recommendations on revisions.

-Discussed the formation of a new campus-wide Ecology Committee that will replace the Arboretum Committee.

-Discussed making recommendations for changes to next year’s service awards program.

Faculty Senate discusses parking concerns
A concern that spaces for faculty/staff parking will be excluded from a new parking lot being built on Western Avenue was at the top of the agenda during the Faculty Senate meeting last Tuesday.

Dr. Gaylon Ross, a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, told the senate that a faculty member in his college had asked the faculty senate to investigate the matter. According to Ross, one of his colleagues had been told by an unnamed source at the Physical Plant that none of the spaces were being designated as faculty/staff slots.

The senate voted to assign the Faculty Affairs II Committee to investigate the issue and report back to the senate once more information had been gathered.

The second item on the agenda was a request for a retraction in the February 7 issue of The Echo. According to Mary Mosley, a faculty member in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, several colleagues had approached her with concern about what The Echo had reported as a responsibility of the Academic Assessment Committee.

Mosley said The Echo incorrectly reported that the Academic Assessment Committee would be "responsible for reviewing and approving all major changes in curriculum." The senators discussed the probability that The Echo reporter misinterpreted a portion of the responsibilities for the newly formed committee. According to the outline one of the responsibilities of the Academic Assessment Committee is to "review and approve all major changes in assessment plans for existing programs." The senate voted on a motion to request a retraction be printed in the next issue of The Echo.

Faculty Senate President Jim Bell announced that President John W. Smith would attend next week’s meeting, which is scheduled for February 28. Bell said Dr. Smith and Interim Provost Samual P. Buchanan would discuss finances with the senate.

    Mayor speaks at High Table

   Conway Mayor Tab Townsell, BA-'84, discussed city budgeting woes during the High Table forum on Wednesday. Townsell discussed problems and possible solutions for funding street improvement and expansion projects, parks and recreation projects and economic development.

Scholarship money donated to  College of Business

   Dr. Gabriel Esteban, dean of college of business, accepted a $1,000 
   check from William Weiler, regional vice president of Travelers Property
   Casualty Insurance. The money will go towards a scholarship for a student
   majoring in the Insurance and Risk Management program.

Who's Who students honored at reception
The University of Central Arkansas recently selected its 2002 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. The Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges was established in 1934, and exists as one of the most highly regarded and long standing honor programs in the nation. Inclusion in Who's Who is based on superior academic achievement and co-curricular contributions to the campus and the community.

The 2002 UCA Who’s Who students are:
Beth Becker
Susan N. Erwin
Serena Jeffery
Charity Hallman
Hal Jones
Kasi Jones
Jason Kaundart
Scott Kiehn
Laura F. Livesay
Christopher T. McKenney
Lisa Pesek
Carrie L. Rector
Stacy Shumate
Joel Smith
Amanda Stouppe
Britani Teale
Rhonda Wallace


  Stepping into the Future
Provost Dr. Samual P. Buchanan (left) listens to Dr. Ron Toll, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, as he describes the layout   of the new Math and Technology Building during a tour last Thursday. The building, which will house the departments of mathematics and computer science, is scheduled to be open for fall classes.