FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

OCTOBER 10, 2006

Present: Bandy, Bolter, Boniecki, Bradley, Bratton, Christman, Frederickson, Esteban, Holden, Horton, Lance, Lichtenstein, Mehta, McCullough, Murray, Musser, Parrack, Powers, Satterfield, Seifert, Wiedmaier, Wilmes

Absent: Johnson, Mosley, Thiher, Young

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

Minutes

On a motion by Horton with a second by Mehta the minutes of the September 28, 2006, meeting were unanimously approved with minor corrections.

President’s Report

President Bolter updated the Senate regarding the responses to queries and questions which arose during meetings with faculty members in August. While most of these items were a future meeting of an appropriate committee, there were a couple of results. UCA PD Chief reported that changing the location of a crosswalk near Mashburn would require “serious re-engineering” of the intersection and wasn’t feasible. He also cited regulations regarding a pedestrian’s right-of-way and didn’t feel that there was really a problem. Regarding the practice of admitting students to closed sections, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies reported that anyone “above” a departmental chair could do so. The Provost responded that he referred such requests back to departmental chairs. Finally, representatives of the Admissions Office will meet with the Senate on October 26 to discuss practices relative to admission.

President Bolter also reported that she has received numerous complaints regarding United Health Care.

Committee Reports

President Bolter reported on the Executive Committee’s luncheon with President Hardin and Provost Esteban on October 3. President Hardin discussed the upcoming election for the college bond issue proposal. Concurrent enrollment was discussed. President Hardin reiterated that UCA’s involvement was a “pilot” but that several other institutions were aggressively promoting concurrent enrollment programs which had the potential to result in “turf wars” and he cited several current examples. A committee of departmental Chairs has been convened to look at standards for courses and instructors. The Admissions Committee is to address standards for student enrollment.

Committee on Committees’ chair Powers moved suspension of the rules with a second by Seifert. With no opposition the rules were suspended and the following appointments to committees were approved: Hao Liu to Institutional Review Board, John Lowe to Fringe Benefits Committee, and Bill Kordsmeier to the Discipline Committee.

Christman reminded the Committee on Committees that an Instructor needs to be appointed to the Faculty Handbook Committee.

Faculty Affairs I and Faculty Affairs had no reports.

Chair Boniecki of Academic Affairs reported that 21% enrolled at UCA this fall had no ACT score and those individuals had an average GPA that was 0.1 below that of the students enrolled who had taken the ACT. He will present a full report at the next meeting.

Announcements and Concerns

President Bolter reported that the text of her remarks to the Board of Trustees is available on the Senate website.

Lichtenstein reported a concern from a constituent regarding the supplemental travel monies recently announced by President Hardin for tenure/tenure track faculty.

Murray expressed a concern about the heart screenings which are taking place on campus based on an article which appeared in the Democrat-Gazette.

Provost Esteban reported on Musser’s concern about direct deposit only being available to full-time faculty. He has contacted Human Resources regarding this matter.

Horton moved adjournment at 1:35 with a second by Powers.