MEMBERS PRESENT: G. Avent, E. Bateman, D. Borino, L. Brown, B. Byram, J. Cox, K. Dannehl, P. Fox, S. Garcia, G. Goicoechea, E. Henderson, L. Hyslop, P. Josey, M. Kucherawy, M. Kuhl, M. McFarlane, J. McNally, R. McNally, B. Murphy, M. Myrhow, R. O'Shea-Hockett, L. Owens, C. Pyatt, N. Remington, J. Rice, J. Shaw, J. Shrock, R. Siler, G. Smith, P. Smith, G. Tenney, P. Warren

OTHERS PRESENT: S. Aiazzi, G. Heberer, L. Mahlberg

1. ATTENDANCE: Silent roll was taken. Chair Eric Bateman declared a quorum present.
2. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 1:17 p.m.
3. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS : Chair Eric Bateman welcomed everyone to Senate.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the December 10, 1999, meeting were unanimously approved.
5. SENATE CHAIR REPORT: Chair Eric Bateman reported the following:
   1. College Drop Policy- Past concern with the current policy has warranted discussion. Students voiced disapproval for needing an instructor's signature in order to drop a course. It has been difficult for students to find an instructor, especially part-time instructors. A motion was made and unanimously passed to drop the requirement of an instructor signature during the refund period. Following that time, the student will be required to attain the signature of the instructor or the department chair.
      1. Faculty are reminded students may not take a withdrawal after the end of the 13th week
   2. Board of Regents -
      1. Fire Science Academy - The school is losing money; however, Joe Crowley assured the BoR that the problem will be solved. A group of auditors and consultants will be brought in to oversee the situation.
      2. Finance and Planning Committee - A Blue Ribbon Committee will be established to study and evaluate the salaries of faculty in technical areas compared with those in the private sector. Two community college faculty will sit on the committee.
      3. Jim Randolph, the Interim Chancellor for Finance, passed away a few weeks ago.
      4. Joint Compensation and Benefits Committee - GBC is still looking for volunteers. If interested, please contact Chair Eric Bateman.
6. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
   1. Academic Standards - No report
   2. Budget - Written; approved. The report provided recommended expenditures for the equipment funds to be allocated around February. For the allotment for the Child and Family Center, the computer listed will be a donated item and given necessary upgrades. The Electrical Program questioned the funding allotted for their program; however, a committee member met with the department individually and explained the determination. The amount allotted to the automotive department was also questioned as the program is currently considered a hobby course as opposed to a specific program area. Vice President Carl Diekhans, Vice President Betty Elliott and President Ron Remington will have final approval and changes could be made.
   3. Compensation and Benefits -No report
   4. Curriculum and Articulation - No report; there will be a committee meeting Thursday, January 27.
   5. Distance Learning - Verbal; approved. The separate policies have been reviewed and condensed. The committee will now begin to analyze the entire structure.
   6. Facilities Committee - No report
   7. Faculty and Administrative Evaluations - No report
   8. General Education -Written; approved 30:1. Five recommendations were given which addressed committee status, freshman seminar requirement, the Wellness requirement, upper division general education requirements and the strength of objectives in syllabi. Opposition to the required 0.5 credit Freshman seminar was voiced; however, stance on the requirement was not reversed though implementation and content are still under consideration.
   9. Personnel Committee - Verbal; approved. The committee is actively working on the Instructional Technologist position. Several additional positions will surface during the semester.
   10. Scholarships and Awards - No report
   11. Student Relations Committee - None
7. OLD BUSINESS:
   1. Senate requested that the four-year degree programs be added to the agenda on a regular basis.
   2. Bachelor of Applied Science in Management Technology - A very rough outline of the complete degree program was given to VP Betty Elliott. Emphasis areas will be developed in addition to the general education requirements which currently include management, technology and education. The addition of the education area of this degree will allow GBC to be approved for the K-12 and special education endorsements. The committee will not continue work until an affirmative response is given by Administration.
8. NEW BUSINESS:
   1. 2000-2002 Academic Calendar - Dean of Enrollment Management Lynn Mahlberg addressed senate concerning the set up of the dates. The calendar was approved 19:4 with the amendment that post mini-term session dates be included.
      1. Other institutions in the system were contacted to coordinate activity to serve distance education courses.
      2. All dates are based on an August 28 start date. A sixteen-week semester is determined by holidays and start dates for distance education classes within the system. Earlier start dates in January may hamper the popular mini-term sessions. The ability of GBC to collect class fees also factors into start dates; i.e., students right after Christmas may have a hard time paying for their tuition right away. The start date was originally pushed back due to the rotation in the calendar. It may be appropriate to move it ahead once again for a certain period of time. Senate would like Administration to research this stance with possible movement.
      3. The end date for Spring 2002 should be 5/19 not 5/24.
      4. The switch from the semester system to the trimester has been discussed in the past with no formal action taken. A lot of the decision relies on state funding.
      5. Senate would like the dates for the late-spring mini-term advertised.
      6. There are concerns for graduation ceremonies. Currently, 100 students have applied for graduation with an anticipated 20%-30% of potential graduates applying late. To better facilitate graduates and their guests, faculty are asked to consider holding two separate ceremonies. Alternative suggestions are welcome. The issue will be reconsidered by Senate at a later date.
9. OUTSTANDING FACULTY, STUDENT AND STAFF AWARDS:
   1. The Regent Scholar Award which carries a $5,000 scholarship is due January 21with an extension to January 25 at midnight given. Nominations need not be brought through Senate. Nominations are submitted to President Remington's office with a committee review of all applications to determine a school candidate. Volunteers for this committee are being sought.
   2. No nominations were brought forward.
10. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
    1. The Cowboy Poetry Gathering is still looking for volunteers. If interested, please contact Jeannette at the Western Folklife Center.
    2. The Speech and Theatre Department is presenting "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." The cast has been set with the prestigious Dr. Jack Smith portraying Senex, the ever-suffering husband of Dominia. As a side-note, it is understood that in his Scottish youth, Dr. Smith was known as "Little Jackie Smith with the Flashing Feet" as he dazzled audiences with a well-rehearsed soft-shoe number. The play will be presented in March.
    3. The Speech and Theatre Department is presenting a Senior Production Project. The class is open to senior citizens only with the production to appear at the end of the semester. Recruitment is being held through the media and department visits to the Senior Citizen's Center.
    4. UNR Medical School is presenting a Pharmacology Program. It is unique in that it is a system degree with pre-approved entrance as a sophomore or junior.
11. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 2:52 p.m.