FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

AUGUST 24, 2006

 

Present:  Bandy, Bolter, Boniecki, Bradley, Bratton, Christman, Frederickson, Esteban, Horton, Johnson, Lance, Lichtenstein, McCullough, Mosley, Murray, Parrack, Powers, Satterfield, Seifert, Thiher, Wiedmaier, Wilmes, Young

 

Absent:  Holden, Mehta

 

President Bolter called the meeting to order at 12:46 pm.

 

Minutes

 

On a motion by Mosley with a second by Frederickson the minutes of the April 27, 2006 meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.  On a motion by Wilmes with a second by Bradley the minutes of the May 2, 2006 meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.

 

President’s Report:

 

  1. President Bolter reminded the members that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of a Faculty Senate at UCA.  She thanked Provost Esteban for providing refreshments to mark this occasion.

 

  1. President Bolter explained to the senate an issue related to Classroom Response Systems which are being used in a number of classes.  Currently, a student may need to purchase several CRS devices since there is no standardization of type across the campus.  She has referred this issue to the Computing and Information Technology Committee.

 

  1. President Bolter charged the Academic Affairs Committee.  “Determine how many students are admitted to the university without having taken the ACT, analyze the effects, and make a recommendation regarding the issue if you deem action is necessary.”

 

Committee Reports

 

1.      On behalf of the Executive Committee Parlimentarian Parrack briefly reviewed Roberts Rules of Order and distributed copies of the Senate Constitution and By-Laws to the members.

 

2.      Committee on Committees Chair Powers moved with a second by Bradley to appoint Amanda Doyle as the graduate student member to the Graduate Council.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

 

 

Announcements and Concerns

 

1.      President Bolter reminded the members of their introduction at the General Faculty meeting on August 29 and the meetings of senators with their respective colleges on August 31.

 

2.      A concern regarding payments on pharmacy claims by United Health Care is to be forwarded to the Fringe Benefits committee for consideration.  During that discussion a question arose regarding whether or not any entity within the university monitors our health care provider.  Senator Johnson reported that no one evaluates the performance of any particular provider and cost is the factor with determines the awarding of the contract.

 

President Bolter charged Faculty Affairs I.  “Determine the answer to these questions and make a recommendation concerning this issue if you deem action is necessary:  What is the recourse that we have when our ‘health care provider’ doesn’t provide?  With our present contract with UHC do we know whether or not this recourse is providing acceptable results, that is, how are we recording/relaying problems with coverage – particularly coverage of prescription drugs – in order to determine if we are actually getting what we are paying for?  What kind of on-going assessment of our health care plan do we have?  What vehicles for feedback have HR and the Fringe Benefits Committee put into place?”

 

Adjournment

 

            On a motion by Mosley with a second by Frederickson the Senate adjourned at 1:12 pm.