MEMBERS PRESENT: G. Avent, P. Bagley, E. Bateman, J. Blach, B. Byram, J. Cox, F. Daniels, K. Dannehl, P. Fox, S. Garcia, G. Goicoechea, E. Henderson, P. Josey, M. Kucherawy, M. Kuhl, K. Martin, M. McFarlane, R. McNally, M. Myrhow, E. Nickel, L. Ohlin, L. Owens, M. Ports, C. Pyatt, L. Reber, B. Robertson, J. Shaw, J. Shrock, R. Siler, G. Smith, J. Smith, P. Smith, S. Sweetwater, G. Tenney, S. Thomson, M. Van de Ven, P. Warren, G. Whitcomb, J. Williams, M. Wise

OTHERS PRESENT: T. Anderes, B. Elliott, D. Gonzales, G. Heberer, C. Holt, L. Mahlberg, R. O'Shea-Hockett, R. Remington

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 and introduced Interim Chancellor Tom Anderes.
4. INTERIM CHANCELLOR TOM ANDERES:
   1. Replacement Search - The search for a permanent Chancellor will be underway in a couple of weeks. The Board of Regents will redefine the job description followed by two months of marketing for the position and another two months of interviewing candidates. July will be the earliest guess at a date of hire. The Board of Regents will meet on February 19 to establish the search process and a time line.
   2. Henderson State College - There is a legislative advisory committee in place which contains two regents. A determination on feasibility should be completed within the next month. This committee will bring the findings to the BoR. If the findings are in favor of the establishment of a state college in Henderson, the committee must also develop an implementation plan for the board's review. This is proposed as a four-year state college. A mission statement is being drafted with the help of community input. An approval for the institution will impact the BoR budgeting in approximately two biennia.
   3. Funding Formulas - The state funding committee is reviewing the current funding formulas for higher education. The broad-based committee will make recommendations regarding projected need for funding at each of the UCCSN institutions. Recommended changes or updates to the current formulas will also be researched. This includes the education formula for GBC to meet the needs of the developing four-year programs.
   4. Strategic Planning - This is a process focused on four areas 1)dealing with undergraduate access and growth in order to create a rough projection for UCCSN direction by 2010; 2) taking enrollment information in ratio to projected facility, capital and maintenance needs by 2010; 3)research and graduate education - how much funding they were realizing, what the programs were and where they were headed by 2010 as well as changes to these programs; 4) how individual institution programs meet needs prioritized by the state either directly or indirectly. These will give a platform for the biennial budget taking effect in July 2001. The budget planning approval is set for the August BoR meeting. The equity study findings and the issue of the estate tax will be involved in the approval process.
   5. Dental School - Clinics have been leased from existing dentists with existing patients and "profits" from the clinic and funds from medicaid will determine the schools' survival. There is no state money dedicated to this venture. The clinics are leased on a yearly basis giving a safety net for disposal if necessary operating funds are not generated.
   6. Uniform Course Numbering - This proposal was brought forth at the last BoR meeting to ease transfer difficulties. Jane Nichols will speak with Academic Vice Presidents of each institution and identify specific transfer problems as well as identify successes working within established transfer agreements. Using this information, the BoR will mandate a solution.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the September 17, 1999, meeting were approved with the following corrections and clarifications:
   1. Item VII.A. - Clarification given on the last sentence of the item. Sentence will read, "Senate directed the committee to ask the Dean of Enrollment on recommendations to make the process more efficient."
   2. Item VII.D.1. - Delete the last sentence of the item.
   3. Joel Shrock was in attendance, Eric Henderson was not in attendance.
6. SENATE CHAIR REPORT: Chair Eric Bateman reported the following:
   1. Board of Regents -
      1. Uniform Course Numbering - The proposal was brought forward without addressing the unique situation incorporated through GBC. The statement gives decision authority on course level determination to the universities without input from the community colleges. Furthermore, the statement language does not appear to reflect any solution to ease transfer issues. The proposed motion reads as follows:
         "The universities and community colleges in the UCCSN will establish a uniform numbering system for all Baccalaureate Degree courses and report the new numbering system to the Regents by the September 2000 meeting for adoption and implementation in the Spring of 2001(the time line may have been changed through discussion). Courses offered at the Community Colleges that are equivalent to upper division university courses will be evaluated to determine whether they should be upper or lower division courses. If a course is determined to appropriately upper division it will be dropped from the community college curriculum. If a course is determined to be appropriately lower division, it will reclassified as such. Any issues unresolved by the universities and community colleges will be reported to the Regents at the September 2000 meeting and decided by the Regents at the October 2000 meeting."
      2. Technology Fee - Approved without the incorporation of a sunset clause. The fee is set at $4 per credit. If the Finance Committee can establish a funding formula for equipment, the fee may eventually be dropped. Individual departments should get their prioritized equipment requests to Vice President Carl Diekhans by November 15 in anticipation of fee disbursements to begin next semester.
      3. Tenure-on-Hire Policy - A change has been proposed to the system code strengthening the faculty involvement in the process. Another change will allow part-time employees to teach up to ten credits. The policy will go through final revision and will be voted on at the next meeting.
      4. Spousal Hires - The Campus Environment Committee is studying the issue of job placement for a spouse of a newly appointed employee. There is currently no policy stating that another institution or the same institution can or cannot hire a spouse of an employee dealing with the office of the institutional president wherein the BoR is requested to give the institution compensation for the hire.
   2. Institutional Retreat - President Remington gathered the various areas together in early October to share information. The retreat was beneficial for the new members of the college.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
   1. Academic Standards - Written; three separate reports were brought forward for approval.
      1. Academic Advisement - The committee was asked to review and revise the current process. The committee recommends that a specific individual, not necessarily a new hire, be in charge of the advisement process for each semester. Under this, information will be broken out by major which will be distributed to department chairs or education center directors who will then appoint advisors for the various students. Such items as workload, sabbatical, etc., will be taken into consideration. This policy does not vary from the current process, it does however define responsibilities. Such issues as token compensation for faculty with a certain number of advisees, the contingency of advisement messaging during telephone and web registration, advisement packets and possible penalties or warnings for students not seeking advisement will be explored. A motion was made to approve the general structure of the advisement process. The motion passed 13:8.
      2. Request for Non-traditional credit - Written report submitted and unanimously approved.
      3. Grade Inflation Report - The Dean of Enrollment Management produced a report showing grade completion. The reports give a broad analysis of grade data. Items such as individual grade scales and withdraws due to failure versus withdraws due to inability to attend cannot be specifically determined. The report does show passing grades are substantially consistent through semesters with full-time faculty having awarded more A's as compared to part-time faculty. Grades in telecourses are generally lower then live classes. A more accurate view of core classes may be shown by removing 'B' designated courses and separating the withdraw - failing from withdraw - passing grades. Overall, it is the determination of the committee that there is no viable statement for grade inflation. Departments should create an orientation packet department specific to individual courses for part-time faculty containing material conducive to the learning standards of full-time faculty. A motion was made and unanimously passed to accept the recommendations of the committee with the exception of designating withdraws as pass or fail.
   2. Budget - None. Prioritized equipment requests are due by November 15, 1999. A projected $79,000 will be dispersed next semester.
   3. Compensation and Benefits - Verbal; approved. Two travel requests were reviewed and accepted. One of the two was unusual as it dealt with a faculty member currently on sabbatical. It is the view of the committee that similar requests are not policy. Two other travel requests have been received along with a consideration for movement on the salary schedule and are pending action. Out-of-state travel funds are limited to $300, there is currently $1,400 left for the spring semester. The committee currently consists of four members. The committee would like to urge more participation from the faculty.
   4. Curriculum and Articulation - Written; approved.
      1. HEC 223 was approved with the change of the course prefix to NUTR 223.
      2. A discussion regarding the Microsoft Certification Program will be heard next week.
   5. Distance Learning - Verbal; approved. The committee is still gathering information regarding the various modes of distance education. It is concentrating on pinpointing problems. The committee will be participating with the Personnel Department in the hiring of the instructional technology position.
   6. Facilities Committee - Verbal; approved. The committee has reviewed the plans for the joint venture high technical center. This facility will be shared with the high school. Plans should be complete by late winter with plans going out for bid in early spring. Construction should begin in late summer with occupancy planned for the following year. Any and all comments are welcome.
   7. Faculty and Administrative Evaluations - None
   8. General Education -Written; approved.
      1. The committee recommends mandatory student orientation for all Freshman. Nursing and MTC departments have orientations which will fulfill this requirement. Possible .5 credit designation may or may not be attached.
      2. The constitutions requirement has been incorporated into the social science category.
      3. AAS Degree -
         1. The human relations requirement has been incorporated into the social science category.
         2. It is the feeling of the committee and the faculty that the AAS degree should hold certain qualifications; therefore, a minimum requirement of English 107 or 108 and a minimum requirement of math 110 will be reinstated. Those individuals wishing training for employment purposes only can achieve a certificate.
         3. PSC 103 is under discussion by the appropriate department. PSC 103 or an equivalent class will be offered.
      4. AA/AS - The BoR have mandated certain credit areas. The same general outline has been maintained with the student choosing courses to fulfill their degree requirements.
         1. A misprint was found in the current course catalog. Biology 190 should be a prerequisite for Biology 191.
         2. Areas of transfer requirements need to be further addressed among certain departments. The focus has been to offer worth while courses to satisfy the core requirements. Faculty is reminded that this is not the final revision for the core curriculum outline. It is meant to change and evolve.
      5. Faculty are reminded of the deadline for course syllabi.
   9. Personnel Committee - Verbal; approved.
      1. Instructional Technology Position - no acceptable candidates were found. The committee reviewed the job description to gain a better understanding of the position needed and the skills required of a candidate.
      2. Elementary Education faculty position should be interviewed within the next month. Candidates must be doctorally prepared. The projected hire date is for January.
      3. Judy Harris will not be returning next year. A position description will be sent out in December or January. This position must be doctorally prepared.
      4. Emergency hire as replacement for Jack Smith's history position as he will begin work on the four-year liberal arts degree. A recommendation has been made to Vice President Elliott with anticipated hire for the spring semester.
      5. There are other positions to be hired in the spring which have already been funded. Information on these hires will be reported at a later date.
   10. Scholarships and Awards - Written; approved. The committee re-awarded the scholarships for the fall semester. If there is any input from Faculty regarding possible changes, please contact a committee member.
   11. Student Relations Committee - None
8. OLD BUSINESS:
   1. Part-time Faculty Representatives -Regina O'Shea-Hocket was unanimously approved as a part-time faculty representative.
9. NEW BUSINESS: No new business was brought forward.
10. OUTSTANDING FACULTY, STUDENT AND STAFF AWARDS: No nominations were brought forward.
11. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: No information items were brought forward.
12. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 3:42 p.m.