Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
May 6, 2003
Members Present: Abdul-Razzak, Anderson, Ayala-Schueneman, Barraza, Challoo, Davis, Domino, Downs, Ermis, Farahmand, Faruqi, Ferguson, Goode, Hays, Hempel, Hollingshead, C. Hunter, Kinkel, Land, Lukefahr, Melendy, Morgan, Pace, Patil, Phaup, Pierce, Ponder, Sabrio, Schueneman (ex officio), Sherman, Skaria, Thomas, G. Thompson, J. Thompson
Members Not Present: Faruqi, Halford, Omar, Rivera, Shorter,
1. The regularly scheduled faculty senate meeting was called to order by President
Farahmand at 2:30 p.m. in Sam Fore Hall, Blue Room.
2. Mr. Stanley J. Yuraitis, CIS Director addressed the Senate on issues concerning webmail and attachments.
3. Ms. Sandra Jefferson, Chief, University Police Department addressed the Faculty Senate on issues of the Emergency Management System.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
4. The minutes of the April 1, 2003 meeting were not approved but left for the Faculty Senate Executive Committee to approve during the Summer 2003 session.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
5. S-1, Alumni Awards Committee annual report was
approved by the Senate. A letter to the
Alumni Association concerning the presentation of awards will be submitted.
6.
S-2, Ethics Committee report was approved by the Senate.
7.
S-3, Piper Award
Committee annual report was not yet completed.
8.
S-4, Annual Faculty Lecture Committee annual report was not presented.
9.
S-5, Faculty
Professional Growth Committee annual report was not presented.
10.
S-6, Faculty
Grievance Committee annual report was approved by the Senate.
11.
A motion was made to insert in the Faculty Handbook a
rights and responsibilities statement with regard to faculty offices and
laboratories as exists for computers in faculty’s offices:
Materials in faculty offices and laboratories are considered
confidential materials. Any attempt to
access, monitor, read, copy, change, add, or remove materials from a faculty
member’s offices or laboratories without the explicit permission of the faculty
member is forbidden. The faculty member
is responsible for the appropriate use of offices / laboratories assigned to
them in accordance with any system regulations that may be in place. The University reserves the right to monitor
the offices and laboratories and /or examine the offices / laboratories in
cases of demonstrated just cause. (Such
just cause is to be communicated in writing to the faculty member. The faculty member should be present when
offices / laboratories are searched, and if materials are withdrawn from
offices/laboratories.) Normally just
cause is the reasonable suspicion of illegal or unethical behavior. Offices may be subject to search by court
order in cases where the faculty member’s materials are suspected of containing
information that could be used as evidence in a court of law.
12.
S-7, Benefits Committee annual report was approved with
exception of recommendations #4 and #2.
13.
S-8, Academic Administrators Evaluation Committee annual
report was approved with the exception that mistakes be corrected.
14.
S-9, Finance Review Committee annual report was not
presented.
15.
S-10, University Curriculum Committee annual report was not
presented.
16.
S-11, Faculty Handbook Committee annual report was
passed.
17.
A motion to allow the Faculty Senate Executive
Committee to approve the Faculty Handbook’s new revisions during the Summer
prior to the beginning of the Fall semester was passed.
18.
S-12, Faculty Evaluation Committee annual report was
approved.
19.
S-13, University Admissions and Academic Standards
Committee annual report was approved.
20.
S-14, Regents Professor Service Award Committee annual
report was approved.
21.
S-15, Educational Technology Committee annual report was
not ready.
22.
S-16, Information Clearinghouse Committee annual report was
not presented as Committee did not meet.
OTHER
BUSINESS
23.
A motion was made by
Senator Thomas to thank President Farahmand for his year of service as Faculty
Senate President, the motion was passed unanimously.
NEW OFFICERS
24. Senator Ferguson assumed office as President of the Faculty Senate at 3:55 p.m. and thanked the outgoing members for their service to the University as Faculty Senators.
25.
President Ferguson
appointed Dr. John Thompson as Faculty Senate Parliamentarian.
26.
Senator Challoo was
elected Vice President, President Elect by acclamation.
27.
Senator
Ayala-Schueneman was elected Secretary by acclamation.
28.
Other members of the Executive Committee elected were:
Senator Melendy, Senator Phaup, and Senator Pace.
29. Senator Pace moved that “a committee by formed to look into the change of the Faculty Emeritus status as it appears in the Faculty Handbook and in the rule 31.08.0 and to report in the Fall 2003.” The motion was passed.
REPORT OF OFFICERS
30. Past President Farahmand reported on two Academic Council meetings, one meeting with President Juarez, and one with Provost Clayton.
31. Past President Schueneman reported on one Academic Council meeting.
32. President Ferguson reported on one Academic Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
33. The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
María de Jesús Ayala-Schueneman