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