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After introductions, Lee Humphreys proposed a series of open discussions involving the Senate and faculty to obtain suggestions and comments early in the development of semester transition policies. The first meeting will focus on General Education. All formal curriculum proposals to the Senate will come through the Undergraduate and Graduate Councils.

The campus administration has asked the Senate to participate in the development of procedures to evaluate instruction. A joint Senate- Provost committee, drawn front the Educational Policy Committee, the Professional Development Committee, the Faculty Affairs Committee, and the Executive Committee, will be established to pursue this topic.

Ralph Norman addressed the promotion/tenure policy passed last spring by the Senate, which now has been slightly modified by the system administration. This material will be shared with the full Senate at its October meeting. If all the changes are approved by the Board of Trustees, then these sections will be reprinted in a new Faculty Handbook.

Marian Moffett reported that the Senate Executive Committee participated this past summer in the selection of Susan Becker as Director of the University Honors Program and Doug Dickey as UT Athletic Director.

It was pointed out that the leaders of the Student Government Association, the Undergraduate Academic Council, and Graduate Student Council are welcome at Senate Executive Committee meetings.

Marian Moffett will be sending letters to each committee chairman outlining their tasks for the 1985-86 year. Suggested charges will be incorporated in the letters.

Fred Venditti announced that the new Tennessee Higher Education Assembly will meet October 19 in Murfreesboro and that several representatives of the Senate will attend.

The next Executive Committee meeting will be 21 October; the next Senate meeting is scheduled for 7 October.

The Committee heard a brief presentation by Elizabeth Jones, representing University Studies, about the proposed course 1001, Learning, Thinking, and Creating which was approved by the Undergraduate Council at its July meeting. Since the Senate has changed to a schedule of considering curricular material only once a quarter, the material from the July Council meeting will not come to the Senate until November 4, after the preregistration period for Winter quarter is over. Whether University Studies 1001 can be offered or not in Winter 1986 depends on the Senate vote at its next meeting.

Bernard Silverstein reported that he, Henry Fribourg, and Marian Moffett attended the Tennessee Higher Education Assembly meeting in Murfreesboro on October 19. Fred Venditti was elected president of the organization to serve until Spring 1987. Agenda items included discussion of remedial and developmental programs now functioning at many colleges across the state (not including UTK) to increase the graduation rate of entering freshmen; the State Regents Board move to have tenure held in departments, not in the institution; and faculty participation in the selection of presidents and chancellors. Resolutions endorsing full formula funding and reciprocity between State Board of Regents and UT systems schools in tuition discount programs were passed. Increasing the discount to 50% and having it extend to graduate work were also encouraged. Tennessee Higher Education Assembly will become more active in sharing information and action on benefits for higher education faculty and staff.

Marian Moffett recommended that the Senate's five representatives on this eight-member committee be: Henry Frandsen, Dorothy Hable, John Morrow, Ellie Moses, and Dan Ream.

Marian Moffett sought nominations for a representative on the committee which deals primarily with the problems encountered by handicapped people in pursuing their education at UTK.

Philip Schaefer volunteered to serve on the UTK Calendar Committee.

Marian Moffett and Bernard Silverstein reported on their attendance at the Student Leadership Retreat. These students will be encouraged to attend appropriate Senate and committee meetings.

This matter was discussed in general with concern about a perceived lack of flexibility at the college or departmental level, with particular concern about the resulting faculty loads in required courses.

The next Executive Council Meeting is 18 November; the next Senate meeting is 4 November.

David Lee from the UTK Chapter of American Association of University Professors shared with the committee information about tax law changes currently being considered in the House Ways and Means Committee. Of particular concern are sections which:

1. Would effectively eliminate the portability of pensions now available to faculty under tax-sheltered annuity programs like TIAA/CREF.

2. Could require that all institutional employees be included in one pension plan (which would be the state plan, not TIAA/CREF).

3. Would put a cap of $7,000 per year on contributions to all tax deferred retirement plans (including IRAs, SRAs, etc.). Your employer's contribution would count towards the total.

4. Would establish a maximum limit on annual contributions by institutions to tax-sheltered annuity programs and thus prevent institutions from providing "catch up" contributions to supplement benefits under a tax-sheltered defined contribution plan. (Revision of this provision now permits a one-time catch up contribution, which is useful for highly paid business executives but not for faculty.)

5. Would raise from 10% to 15% the tax on individuals for funds distributed to a participant in a tax-sheltered annuity program prior to age 59-1/2 or prior to death or disability.

6. Would remove the tax-exempt status of TIAA-CREF and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, thus generating higher maintenance fees.

Given the projected time-schedule for reporting this bill out of committee, an event that could come as early as November 27, it was resolved that the Senate Executive Committee would send a letter expressing its grave concerns to the Tennessee congressmen on the Ways and Means Committee, John Duncan and Harold Ford, and encourage individual members and colleagues to do likewise. [The address is Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515.] In addition, an appropriate resolution endorsing this action would be presented for a vote at the December 2 Senate Faculty meeting. David Lee has shared this information with the Faculty and Staff Benefits Committee and the Legislative Committee.

Lorayne Lester, chair of the Ad-Hoc Senate Committee on Salary Allocation, presented a draft of that committee's final report, which will be condensed for distribution to the entire Senate for consideration at its January 27 meeting.

Marian Moffett and Bernie Silverstein will. be joining other Faculty Counselors to President Poling for a meeting this week in Memphis. Suggested topics include a sharing of concerns about tax law changes on faculty pensions.

The Executive Committee is one of many faculty groups participating in the search process, and all members were encouraged to take part in the interviews with candidates for this important campus position.

In changing the Senate's January meeting from the 20th to the 27th, we have run into a previously-scheduled event in the Shiloh Room. The Tennessee Auditorium, also in the University Center, has been reserved for our January meeting, although Marian Moffett will inquire about other campus locations that might be more suitable and available.

Marian Moffett presented a letter and statement sent from the Faculty Senate of Auburn University, which has been forwarded to our Athletics Committee for consideration. There was general support for the policy, with some discussion of item 7 which states: "No contests should be scheduled or accepted, that interfere with final examinations."

Marian Moffett presented a copy of the letter sent to Representatives Ford and Duncan. It was suggested that the Legislative Committee look into ways, such as letters and resolutions, to let our concerns be known to the U.S. Senate.

Bernie Silverstein commented on the meeting in Memphis in November between the faculty counselors and the President's staff. Approximately twenty issues were discussed, such as insurance for early and/or regular retired faculty and increasing the tuition discount from one-third to one-half. It was suggested that the Senate issue a resolution supporting this. Reciprocity with the Regents system schools was discussed, as was the possibility of extending this to graduate students. Affirmative action at the system level was considered as was the possibility of recognizing faculty for long service by having books placed in the library with appropriate bookplates., Faculty and Senators were encouraged to submit to the counselors any items they would like to have brought up at future meetings.

From discussions at both the Tennessee Higher Education Assembly and Presidential Counselors meetings, the desirability of a campus- wide review of formal and informal policies affecting families of faculty who die before retirement was raised. Bernard Silverstein has volunteered to chair an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate UTK provisions for survivors, including such matters as access to the Faculty Club, Student Store, and libraries. President Boling's staff has already decided that the tuition discount will be extended to children of deceased faculty.

It was encouraged that representatives of Senate attend this open meeting which is in Nashville January 23-24.

George Wheeler indicated that the possibility of renting off-campus space for research is being considered. This is in addition to renovations and long-term additional buildings and additions.

The next meeting which was 20 January has been moved to 27 January in the Tennessee Auditorium of the University Center, not the usual Shiloh Room.

Gary Schneider, chair of the joint Senate-Provost Committee to Evaluate Instruction, gave an interim report on the work done since January. Comments and suggestions made by the Executive Committee will be considered, and another progress report is planned for presentation to the Senate at its meeting in May.

Kathleen Emmett reported on the activities of a white supremacists group, the White Patriot's Party, which has planned a rally in Knoxville for May 24. Together with others in a university-community coalition, she is working to draft a resolution opposing the racist aims of the White Patriots; it is hoped that the resolution will be endorsed by a broad spectrum of Knoxville organizations and individuals. The Senate will be asked to approve this resolution at its next meeting. (A copy of the resolution is included with these minutes.)

George Wheeler made a preliminary report on the effect of the tenure and promotion policies passed by the Senate last year. He indicated that the cases presented to his office this year are better than in the past, and he credited the revised policies with encouraging this improvement.

At this point, the budget proposals are moving without problem through legislative channels. Full formula funding appears to be on track for the coming year. Wheeler cautioned that federal cutbacks necessitated by Gramm-Rudman may force reduction in some areas.

Wheeler indicated the need to keep the total number of tenure-track and tenured faculty at the present level over the foreseeable future. Holding this number relatively constant and using part-time or term appointments to respond to increased enrollments should insure that no tenured positions would be cut due to fluctuating student demand.

Marian Moffett reported briefly on several matters discussed at the meeting of Faculty Counselors to President Boling. The signatures of the Chancellor and the appropriate academic dean do not appear on UTK diplomas because the Board of Trustees wants degrees to be granted by The University of Tennessee, not by its individual campuses. Holidays to be observed, such as Good Friday, are determined by individual campuses, not by the system administration.

Carolyn Hodges reported for the Committee on its investigations into faculty-based programs to improve teaching. Materials at the Learning Research Center consist chiefly of literature on teaching, and assistance of a more practical nature in the model of existing GTA seminars would be desirable. Before evaluation of teaching effectiveness is implemented, resources for faculty to improve their teaching should be available. The Committee recommends that a joint Senate-Provost committee be established to make proposals for implementing this. Fred Venditti suggested possible coordination with the College of Education.

Bernie Silverstein presented a tentative ballot for the Committee On Committees, which will be presented to the full Senate at its next meeting.

Marian Moffett summarized several topics which were discussed at the meeting of Faculty Counselors to President Boling. These included the relative importance of teaching, research, and public service in promotion, tenure, and salary decisions; liability insurance for UT employees carrying out official duties; faculty participation in the selection of administrative appointments; publication dates for faculty handbooks; the possibility of increasing faculty/staff tuition discounts from 33% to 50%; and faculty/staff discounts for bookstore purchases, theatre tickets, and athletic events.

The legislature's landmark achievement of full formula funding was praised; and faculty were especially asked to express appreciation to key senators, including Knox County's Ben Atchley, for keeping higher education funding intact through any eleventh-hour compromise. Bernie Silverstein will draft a resolution for consideration by the Senate to commend the legislature.

Fred Venditti asked what progress has been made towards implementation of phased retirement. This matter will be brought up at the next counselors' meeting. Marian Moffett will take the Senate's resolution on faculty participation in the selection of administrators to the June meeting of the Board of Trustees.

George Wheeler indicated that his decisions on tenure and promotion will be announced soon, and again he commented on the improved quality of the materials presented this year. He emphasized the importance of the tenure decision in controlling the quality of the institution and the need to keep high standards in this area.

George Wheeler reported that Step II budget information will be released to the deans this week. Every department will receive money for 5% salary increases, to be distributed entirely on the basis of merit. Despite this being the largest budget in the history of the university, there will not be much money to improve operating budgets, given certain commitments such as SAMS, the moving of the library, and the new Ph.D. program in Computer Science which are expensive undertakings essential to the university.

Bernie Silverstein suggested that plaques be prepared and placed in the Shiloh Room to recognize past presidents and secretaries of the Faculty Senate. Fred Venditti moved that the Executive Committee authorize Silverstein to explore the cost, design, and location of two permanent plaques to recognize past presidents and secretaries of the Senate for their service to the Senate and the University. The motion passed without dissent.

Silverstein indicated that most of the Committee's work has been completed except for some committee chairs. A tentative list of committee assignments has been circulated to members of the Committee, and a final list will be available at the July Senate meeting.

Silverstein offered to draft a resolution thanking the Board of Trustees for increasing the tuition discount for staff and faculty to 50%. This will be presented to the Senate at the July meeting.

George Wheeler praised the improved quality of materials submitted to document promotion and tenure cases. As a result of these reviews, tenure was granted to 9 full professors, 8 associate professors, and 26 assistant professors. There were three denials of tenure. Sixteen faculty were promoted to full professor rank, 25 to associate professor, and 6 to assistant professor.

Problems encountered during this year's reviews will be addressed by improved instructions to be issued before the next annual cycle of tenure reviews. The Provost intends to focus more closely on retention reviews with probationary faculty; each probationary faculty member is to have an assigned mentor from the tenured faculty.

Fred Venditti asked that an annual report on the outcomes of the tenure and promotion process be given to the Executive Committee or the Faculty Affairs Committee, and Wheeler indicated that this could indeed be done.

Marian Moffett reported that faculty had expressed concern over the disruption of library services during the move into the new building. She has received assurance from the library staff planning the move and from the Provost that the move will be handled with as little inconvenience to patrons as is possible. The Library will not close for six months, as some people had understood.

Moffett reported briefly on the June meeting of the Board of Trustees, at which approval for increasing the tuition discount for faculty and staff to 50% was approved. Emerson Fly had displayed there the following information regarding faculty salaries at the various UT campuses: