Faculty Senate

of the

University of Nebraska at Omaha

 

2001-2002 Senate Minutes

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Attendees: N. Bacon, W. Bacon, Bishop, Blair, Bragg, Bruckner, J. Carroll, M. Carroll, Coyne, Dickson, Engelmann, Fawcett, File, Hagen, Helm, Littrell, Mande, Mitchell, Nazem, Neathery-Castro, O'Connell, Sadlek, Schulte, Shroder, E. Williams

Excused: Carlson, Mande, S. Williams, Wolcott

Absent: Chung, Dufner, Johnson, Landis, Pederson, Ryalls, Smallwood, Thompson, Tuan, Zhao

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I Senator W. Bacon called the meeting to order at 2:20 pm.

II. Senator W. Bacon introduced guests, Steve Kuss, Chairperson, Staff Advisory Council, and Carmen Polk, Media Relations Coordinator, UNO University Affairs.

III The minutes were approved as written.

IV Officers Reports

A. President W. Bacon reported that the Chancellor's Council met on Thursday, December 20, 2001:

1. UNOmaha's budget reduction will be $1,640,000 for AY 2002-2003, substantially more than this year's cuts. We will have our proposed cuts to the base prepared by February and the BOR will take up the system's proposals in April. In all likelihood this will mean that more faculty lines will remain vacant. Some lines may be cut.



2. Vice Chancellor Mudd presented a report on housing which included revealing data demonstrating that UNOmaha needs additional space.



3. UNOmaha has made significant progress in faculty diversity. In fact, 68% of the system's increase in minority hiring is attributed to UNOmaha while we receive only 22% of the minority hiring incentive monies. Chancellor Belck thanked the faculty for our support for the University's objectives.



4. Dr. Robert Chrisman, Chair of Black Studies, is organizing a "Malcom X Festival" for February 7-9, 2002. Many of the leading lights in Black Studies nationally have indicated they will attend.
   
   

5. Vice Chancellor Hodgson gave a report on enrollment trends. The fall semester again demonstrated growth. Admission documents requests are up 33% for the fall semester of 2002. The question of whether growth was too fast, given current space, faculty and budget constraints, was posed.

6. Unfortunately and despite my vigorous objections, the spring commencement will again be held on Friday. Chancellor Belck asserts that the faculty gave its consent to the change to Friday some time ago. The main reason for the change to Friday seems to be the savings in personnel costs.
   
   
7. The Dean of the Library regrets to announce that $100,000 will be cut from the serials budget because of overall budget cuts. Unfortunately, the serials budget will take a bigger hit at UN-L which houses many important serials for the entire system.
   
   B. Secretary-Treasurer's Report: Senator Bruckner submitted the December, 2001, budget report.
   
   Executive Committee Report: Senator Coyne:
   
   
1. Noted that the AFCON Annual 2001 Report and AFCON Sentinel (Quarterly Newsletter) were attached to the agenda.



2. Resolution 2610, 01/09/02, a Resolution regarding Dr. Lee Jones, brought to the Senate on behalf of the Executive Committee and Cabinet:




WHEREAS, Dr. Lee B. Jones has served as the University of Nebraska's Vice President and Provost with distinction for more than a decade, and


WHEREAS, Dr. Jones will retire in March,


THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha expresses its appreciation for his service and wishes him well in his retirement.

The resolution passed.

VI Standing Committee Reports

A. Committee on Academic and Curricular Affairs: Senator N. Bacon reported that the committee did not meet in December. On December 13, the committee chairs (Nora Bacon and Melodee Landis) attended a two-hour meeting with Vice Chancellor Hodgson, Wade Robinson, and senate president Wally Bacon. We discussed the vice chancellor's questions about senate resolution 2600 (revising catalog copy to accommodate minus grading) and resolution 2604 (establishing a policy for calculating GPA when courses are repeated). The committee will consider these issues during our next meeting and, if new resolutions are warranted, will bring them to the senate for consideration.

B. Committee on Rules: Senator File asked for volunteers to serve on the review committee for Professorships. Senators Shroder and Nazem volunteered.

VII Non-Senate Committee Reports

A. Alumni Association, Board of Directors: Senator Bruckner reported:

1. The Alumni Board of Directors met on November 20 at the Alumni House. 16 members were present. Don Smith, President of the Scott Technology Center gave an update on developments at the center. The slate of officers for 2002 was approved, as were Board nominations for 2002-2004. Board members heard initial discussion of proposed advertising for the UNO Alum. The Board will meet again on December 18.
   
   
2. The Board of Directors for the UNO Alumni Association met at 5:00 on Tuesday, December 18. Members were informed about an alumni outreach program in Ralston Schools in January and about plans for future meetings. The board approved a motion to include advertising in the ALUM in future issues. The advertising will allow the Alumni Association to publish 6 issues each year instead of the current 4. At the conclusion of the regular meeting, the annual meeting of the Alumni Association was held. After election of 2002-2004 board members and recognition of retiring board members, Chancellor Nancy Belck presented her yearly update of UNOmaha activities. The meeting adjourned at 6:20.
   
   B. American Association of University Professors (AAUP): Senator Sadlek reported that the Executive Committee of the UNO AAUP met on December 14, 2001, and again on January 7, 2002.

   Senator O'Connell reported that the AAUP is developing a survey of faculty which would identify skills which might be drawn upon for AAUP to better serve its constituents. There are two grievances pending.
   
   C. Graduate Council: Senator Valle is on leave for Spring 2002. During her absence, Senator Tom Bragg volunteered to be the representative to the Graduate Council for the Faculty Senate.

D. Strategic Planning Steering Committee: Senator Thompson submitted a summary of the November 28, 2002, meeting.

VIII Old Business: None

IX New Business: None

X. The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 pm.