Site Index

3:00 p.m.
Clayton Arnold Lounge, Claxton Hall
October 16, January 8, January 29, March 26, April 23, July 2

French reminded committee members of the luncheon with Systems officials on Monday, November 20.

French read as information an SGA request to the Chancellor for a committee to study South African investments. He also read the Chancellor's response to the letter.

A. In response to the Library committee report of last spring, the Executive Committee requests further clarification from the Library Committee with regard to their concerns about a) committee size and b) committee role (present and recommended) in Library budget allocation.

B. Pierce and Walker commented on the Faculty Counselors' meeting in Memphis in October. Issues discussed at that meeting included fringe benefits, sabbatical leave, tuition exemption for employees' dependents, uniformity of faculty handbooks, continuing education for non- traditional students, retirement legislation, and the impact of the "back-to-basics" movement.

The Executive Committee recommended that Faculty Counselors provide a Written report to the Senate after their second meeting in the spring.

C. Reed asked about implementation of the Senate's motion (spring 1978) to develop a faculty newsletter in coordination with the Campus Newsletter. The Executive Committee instructed the chairperson oil the Fringe Benefits Committee to meet with Senate officers to plan the first issue of the newsletter and to decide whose continuing responsibility this will be. Suggested items for inclusion in the first issue include significant aspects of the Faculty Handbook and the Senate's resolution on instructional improvement.

A. Discussion of the constitution of an ad hoc committee to study "University investment policies in light of ethical responsibilities" generated several issues to be resolved. The Executive Committee set another meeting for Monday November 27 to formalize this committee.

B. French announced that the Senate resolution on affirmative action would be transmitted to Chancellor Reese and Alan Lasater.

1) For a committee of 9 faculty members to be named by the Executive Committee, trying to obtain representation of the expertise which might be brought to bear on this issue; and of 3 students to be named by the SGA.

2) A substitute motion was made for a committee of 5 faculty and 2 students, with 1 student appointed by the SGA and I student appointed by the GSA.

3) An amendment motion was made and seconded to delete the student members.

A. Committee on Committee nominations will be made at the regular meeting of the Executive Committee on March 26.

B. The committee is invited to lunch with Chancellor Reese at the Faculty Club on March 29 at noon.

A. Faculty Counselors to the President

Pierce reported that budget information had been candidly shared-the Governor's recommendations and the President's response and assessment of impact. The administrators seemed despairing of any ability to stop legislative action to cut the motor pool. There was a favorable administrative response to the suggestion of seminars at Homecoming or some other academic initiative toward alumni.

Walker commented that in a period of fiscal austerity it becomes more important for faculty in general, not just department heads, to become involved in the budget process. He intends to ask Emerson Fly to recommend this kind of environment in the University.

B. Trustees meeting in Nashville, February 5

French noted that Alexander intends to be an active Chairman of the Board. Boling did a good job of making Alexander hear the specific impacts of his budget on the five UT campuses and of informing the Board that it will have to approve some drastic actions at its next meeting because of the proposed merger and the Peabody/Tennessee State proposal even makes it worse. UTN students are opposed to any merger.

C. UTK Budget

In the near future there will be a meeting between Chancellor Reese, the Executive Committee, Budget Committee, and possibly the deans to put forth a budget allocation plan which will try to absorb most of the cuts at the central level with the Colleges assuming varying proportions of the cut.

D. Legislative Committee.

Leuthold presented a copy of a statement on the motor pool which had been given to the Knox County Legislative Delegation by him on February 24. This statement did solidify the delegation to fight for the motor pool. If delayed further, the legislation may die. Even if the motor pool is salvaged this year, the University will have to show a good faith effort to cut abuse for future years. A statement of proper procedure has come from the Chancellor; what is needed is a similar statement from President Boling. French will send a letter supporting Reese's guidelines to the legislative delegation with a copy to Dr. Reese. The Executive Committee instructed the Legislative Committee to conduct a survey of faculty to identify use of the motor pool, amount of uncompensated travel, amount of uncompensated professional expenses. The resulting data will be reviewed by a subcommittee consisting of French, Reynolds, and Snider. The goal is to get pertinent data to the University administration and to the legislators before the end of the legislative session.

Russell French will give a statement to the legislative delegation on March 17 or at the legislative breakfast on April 6.

Summer Institute Proposal from Graduate School of Social Work.
The Senate, in its February 12 consideration of this proposal, had conveyed a desire for clarification of the program by the School of Social Work. Since that meeting Clark Roberts, Ben Granger, Betty Cleckley, Russell French, and Ralph Norman have met to discuss and clarify the proposal which had been passed by the Undergraduate Council but denied by the Senate. Cleckley defined the purpose of the institute as preparation of undergraduate minority students for the graduate program in social work at UTK. The National Institute for Mental Health has given a grant for a three-summer institute to supplement the work of these students at their home institutions, to help them qualify for the UTK graduate program, and ultimately to increase the diversity among social workers.

The program has been funded and will operate; the question before the Senate is whether the program is worthy of 9 hours of credit which the home institution will evaluate for acceptance.

Why is this program offered by the School of Social Work, a graduate school? Why has the program been established not to give credit to UTK students?

--Cooperation with small southeastern institutions has been difficult because of the suspicion that UTK will attract these students as undergraduate transfers. Since the program does not give UTK credit, the fears should be alleviated.

--Some of the courses are remedial, but most are not available at the home institution. They cover social work topics at a less advanced level. The School expects to attract a variety majors not only those in human services.

--This program offers exposure to a large, white, urban university, experiences with faculty (chosen for sensitivity to this type of student) and courses not uniformly available at their home institutions.

Various recommendations were made for granting credit within regular procedure as much as possible through topics courses listed in various departments, offering some courses without credit depending on the match with courses already in the curriculum, listing the courses having enrollment limited to institute students, etc.

Finally, the Executive Committee recommended that the proposal be brought back to the Senate with full clarification of the aims and restrictions of the institute. The Executive Committee recommended approval of the program as worthy of credit.

Dissemination of Senate agendas to all faculty
The Senate By-Laws require that the agenda for each meeting be sent to all faculty members. Because of new procedures this mailing is becoming difficult to send and very expensive, over $100 for each mailing. Since the meetings are announced in the Campus NEWSletter and in the UT Daily Beacon, and since the agenda along with minutes and all supporting documents are sent to each Faculty Senator and to each Department Head (-to be available to faculty), the agendas will not be mailed separately for the rest of this academic year. There may be a recommendation later for the By-Laws Committee to consider changing this requirement.

A. The Executive Committee along with the Budget Committee will be meeting with Chancellor Reese on Thursday, March 29 for lunch at the Faculty Club.

B. Frank Leuthold and the Legislative Committee are planning the annual breakfast for the Knox County Legislative Delegation on Saturday, April 7. It will be followed by the delegation meeting, and UT faculty are encouraged to attend. Russell French addressed the delegation at its last meeting, speaking to our concern with the proposed budget and its impact on higher education.

C. The Faculty Counselors to the President will be meeting in Knoxville on April 5.

A. The Ad Hoc Committee on Instructional Improvement will soon be making a proposal to Chancellor Reese for a fall seminar for graduate teaching assistants. The proposal will probably be jointly sponsored by this committee and the Council for Teaching and Learning. Funding may be available from undesignated Tennessee Tomorrow funds.

B. A question was raised concerning projected enrollment for summer and fall. Enrollment may be down, but the administration will have a better idea after the spring figures are in. The Summer School Committee has suggested monitoring during Spring Quarter to determine whether planning for summer school has been different this year and to measure the impact of such planning.

A. Pauline Bayne explained some of the current difficulties in mailing the Senate agenda to all faculty. The Committee recommended that the agenda be sent to departments where they will be placed in faculty mailboxes. This way the cost for computer-generated labels and mailroom cost will be eliminated and the procedure should be a little simpler. The Senate meetings are announced in the Campus NEWSletter, the Daily Beacon, and This Week on Campus.

A. The following nominations were made for the Committee on Committees:

Agriculture---Ron Hay, George Merriman
Architecture---Duane Grieve, William Benedict
Biomedical Sciences--Frank Gaertner, W. F. Barnett
Business--Norman Dittrich, Robert Woodruff
Communications---Sherilyn Ziegler, Darrel Holt
Education--Larry DeRidder, Lester Knight
Engineering---John Snider, Homer Johnson
Home Economics--Frances Andrews, Charles Noel
Law--Toxey Sewell, Forrest Lacey
Liberal Arts (Social Sci.)--Suzanne Kurth, Bill Calhoun
(Humanities)--Bruce Wheeler, Allan Yeomans
(Natural Sci.)--Bernard Silverstein, Dewey Bunting
Libraries--Aubrey Mitchell, Warner Granade
Library & Info. Sci.--George Sinkankas, William Robinson
Nursing--Kenneth Kant, Maureen Groer
Planning--George Bowen, Jim Spenser
Social Work--Ghassan Rubeiz, Alice Moses
Space Institute--James Maus, Ron Kohl
Veterinary Medicine---Sharon Patton, Gerald Bratton

Senators will elect members of the committee on April 9. The committee will operate during Spring Quarter to bring a slate of committee members before the Senate on July 16.

B. Carl Pierce asked that any suggestions for a new Secretary to the Faculty Senate would be welcome. Released time is available for the Secretary because of the on-going nature of the duties. The term of office is one year, but he is looking for someone who is willing to assume the duties for two years.

C. The Schools and Colleges have been informed of the need to elect new Senators during the month of April. They have been informed of the apportionment of Senators and the names of those who will be retiring.

D. A motion was passed which charged the By-Laws Committee to consider removal of the stipulation that the President-Elect be a member of the Senate at the time of nomination.

E. Status of the Faculty Handbook. The Handbook is in the proof stage; Ralph Norman is preparing an index to it. One member asked that the body of the Handbook be distributed as soon as possible with the index to follow as the first supplement.

F. Walter Herndon relayed some of the concerns expressed by faculty in regard to the review of serials in the Library and the problems with space and the erosion of the acquisitions budget due to inflation.

G. Frank Leuthold distributed the results of his survey of faculty concerning use of the motor pool, uncompensated travel, and professional expenses. The responses fell in almost equal thirds--those who don't use the motor pool, use it occasionally, use it heavily. Even if the legislation to abolish state cars fails this year, it will be a serious concern for the future.

A. A System-Campus meeting, to which the entire Faculty Senate is invited, will be held on May 30 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

B. Status of elections

1. Results of the Committee on Committees election will be listed in the minutes of the April 9 Senate meeting.

2. Only about one-third of the colleges have reported results of their Senatorial elections.

C. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be May 21 at 3:15 p.m.

A. The Committee on Instructional Improvement is working on a suggested use of unrestricted Tennessee Tomorrow funds. The committee will report at the May 21 Executive Committee meeting.

In response to a question concerning the use of international students as teaching assistants, Herndon stated that the agreement is that no TA will be hired without having a conversation with the department head and the department head's affirmation of the individual's ability to communicate effectively.

B. The Faculty Handbook should be ready for distribution during the first week of May.

C. Ken Walker requested that the status of part-time faculty be reviewed in terms of tenure, job security, fringe benefits. Herndon stated that the problems in this area are large and would take legislative action to change. Newer job options which are being exercised at other universities and in private industry such as position sharing by spouses and early retirement by moving to a half-time position are not yet feasible at UTK because of the restricted benefits for part-time personnel.

A. Faculty newsletter. No plan for implementation of the newsletter through the vehicle of the Campus NEWSletter has been developed. Reynolds suggested that a newsletter editor be appointed, that he/she by virtue of that office would be part of the Executive Committee, and that the newsletter be issued quarterly. It was suggested that what is to be communicated, the audience, need, and format must be decided. The officers (French, Pierce, Bayne) will bring plans for framing a newsletter to the Executive Committee on May 21. Swagler suggested that the first newsletter should appear close to the time of release of the Faculty Handbook. This would be a good time to comment on the amount of time and input of faculty at all levels in producing the Handbook, what it means, and what is different about it.

A. Charles Pfleeger of the Computer Science Department received the nomination for Secretary to the Faculty Senate. The Senate will vote on this nomination on May 7.

B. The committee discussed endorsing the Chancellor's guidelines on use of motor pool cars. A resolution will go before the Senate.

A. The System-Campus meeting scheduled for May 20 has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for early fall.

B. Members will be called with information about the meeting with Boling and Prados.

C. The interview sessions with candidates for the Dean of Graduate Studies are continuing. Call Pasqua for alternative times; communicate problems and responses to him.

A. Guidelines for the Faculty Newsletter will be presented on June 25.

B. Meeting of the officers with Prados.
The meeting on May 10 was held to gather information on the Agriculture Vice Presidential search procedure. The meeting was very satisfactory. The first committee meeting will be on May 11 at which time procedures will be established. If the pool is not of significant size or quality by May 25, the deadline will be extended. Lacking a recommendation on July 1, an interim appointment will be made (someone who is not a candidate for the position). Interviews will be held on campus with key groups besides the advisory committee. A statement of procedures and up-dates of activities of the committee will be communicated to all members of the Institute of Agriculture.

A. Reese and Fisher were present to discuss the plans for distribution of longevity pay. As the result of a compromise, higher education groups in the state will receive a sum of money to eliminate SREB differences in average salaries rather than longevity bonuses. UTK will receive $394,000 which is 1-1.5% of faculty salaries. There are no specific rules on how this sum is to be expended. The administrative decision is to use 2/3 to reduce discrepancy by rank and discipline compared to SREB averages and to use 1/3 to reduce discrepancy among various colleges on this campus. Dollar amounts will be specified by college and department, but merit can be applied in this plan. These additional raises will not go into effect until October but will be retroactive to July. The administration wishes to avoid lump sum payment so that the raises can be built into the salary base to continue the effect of raising salaries to meet SREB standards. Non-faculty will be covered as state employees in the state longevity bonus plan. Bonuses will be paid one month following their anniversary employment date.

B. John Larsen's request for more information on registration for graduate students will be forwarded to the Graduate Council for consideration.

A. Instructional Improvement (Russell French)
The Executive Committee was asked to study a document on faculty development and prepare to respond at the June 25 meeting. The document covers definition of faculty development, the process for using faculty development funds, criteria for awarding funds, and dissemination of results. Reynolds described two specific recommendations from the committee: 1) that a committee on faculty development be established as a Senate standing committee, and 2) that the role of this committee be clarified as well as its relationship with the Senate, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the Chancellor.

The Executive Committee requested that the report of the Task Force on Faculty Development (chaired by Lida Barrett) be distributed to its members and that the report of the Instructional Improvement Committee be shared with members of Barrett's task force.

The recommendation concerning the GTA seminar will be presented on June 25.

B. Final report of the Summer School Committee. (Ralph Norman)
Recommendations were made on ways to improve the general quality and size of our summer school: 1) better information to students, public relations and early communication of course offerings; 2) easier registration procedures; 3) changes in substance (offerings, planning, analysis of student needs, coordination of staffing) and changes in mechanisms (full summer school budget, evaluation, planning, reporting). Ralph Norman will have general oversight responsibilities for summer school. The Executive Committee will study the final report and make a response by fall. The Summer School Committee is now working on its other charge, student cultivation and retention, and expects to issue a preliminary report in September and a final report after Christmas.

C. The question of credit for life experiences will be given to the Student Affairs Committee for consideration.

D. The Fringe Benefits Committee will be asked to write other Senates in the state to locate individuals having specific areas of expertise and to further communications on matters that affect us all.

E. Faculty Affairs. Ken Walker noted that the first part of the Faculty Handbook needs revision now that some grievances have been handled. The role of the Faculty Affairs Committee needs to be reconsidered since handling grievances leaves little time for substantive issues to be considered. New committee structures, and/or by-laws changes should be considered.

F. Mac Simpson reminded the Executive Committee that its image and the image of the Senate needs attention. The faculty are not aware of the numerous actions being taken by the Executive Committee; non-Senators should be encouraged to bring comments to the Senate; we need to generate an attitude all over campus of seeking the best in all of our activities and all of our people.

A. Homer Fisher reported to the committee on several issues:

1. Final budget planning summary shows the re-allocation of funds from central administration cuts, shifts in funding in student health service and campus bus service, telephone reductions, etc. as had been described earlier by the Chancellor. Fisher noted that this year's efforts are a marked departure from the incremental budgeting which had been followed previously, and that greater input and planning has been sought from the deans and department heads.

Pierce requested that in the future the Executive Committee be given more information on budgetary actions as they impact the colleges, teaching, and research programs since this is the area of greatest concern for faculty. Faculty should be commenting on the small decisions since they eventually add up to a trend for the whole university.

2. SREB salary adjustments are somewhat uncertain right now because the Office of the Commissioner of Finance and Administration must write the guidelines for implementation of the legislation. The adjustments should occur around October 1, but they may or may not be retroactive.

A good sign: institutional type as a basis for comparison in regard to funding is a concept which the new Commissioner for Finance and Administration is going to investigate. If the THEC formula reflected UTK as a research university, reallocation of funds within the state might be a result. The Chancellor had a very good meeting with the Commissioner on this topic.

B. Faculty newsletter guidelines.
The Executive Committee approved the statement of purposes and guidelines for the faculty newsletter (see attachment for text). As agreed upon earlier in the Faculty Senate, the newsletter will be distributed and paid for as a special issue of the Chancellor's Campus Newsletter. WE! will ask that a different logo be used for the faculty newsletter issues. The editorial responsibility will rest jointly with the President and President-Elect with the latter having primary responsibility.

A. Carl Pierce sought the counsel of the Executive Committee on nominations for administrative committees. The following recommendations were made:

Faculty Councilors to the President--Wheeler and Humphreys
Committees of the Board of Trustees:
    Alumni, Development and Public Relations--Reed and Silverstein
    Health Affairs--Jolly, Groer, and Hugh Welch
    Public Service and Continuing Education--Welling, Ray, and Grayford Gray
    Student Affairs--Groer, Gaines, Clark, Reynolds

B. By-Laws changes. Several areas of the By-Laws need to be made consistent, and some sections, such as committee structure and charges, need considerable revamping. No action will be taken before the summer Senate meeting, but a strong charge will be given to the By-Laws Committee for immediate work this fall. Pierce may give notice of some specific amendments proposed by the Committee on Committees at the July 16 meeting.

C. Letter from President Boling following the meeting of the Executive Committee and in response to a letter from Russ French.

French's letter (June 5) reemphasized two major requests of the Executive Committee: 1) that the final list of candidates be interviewed by a broader range of faculty rather than just the members of the advisory committee, and 2) that the faculty be fully informed at each state of the search process. Boling's response did not speak to the specific requests of this letter. Luther Keller suggested that in the next meeting of the advisory committee the interview procedures would probably be worked out. The Executive Committee authorized French to try to get a response to the specific questions after the advisory committee has had a chance to meet.

D. Board of Trustees meeting: A new System-level position has been created and filled. The individual is to be responsible for enhancement of the humanities. The Executive Committee expressed concern because affirmative action policies were not followed; there was no consultation with any faculties; we do not know the impact, financially or academically, of such a Systems position on individual campuses. The Executive Committee authorized French and Pierce to write to President Boling to indicate where this action violates both the law and spirit of the 1974 agreement.

E. A letter will be sent to Chancellor Reese to review the process and role of the Senate in searches for administrative positions such as the recent search for the Dean of Graduate Studies. It was suggested that the Senate should take a position on its involvement in the process for filling deanship vacancies. Consultation is appropriate there, too. In recent years, there have been faculty members from other disciplines represented on dean search committees. Perhaps an officer of the Senate might regularly be appointed to such committees, perhaps the President-Elect.

A. Fringe benefits. A resolution to endorse the Legislature's move toward assuming a larger proportion of fringe benefits premiums and to encourage the Legislature to continue in a deliberate way to assume more of the fringe benefits costs was approved by a committee of the Board of Trustees. It came too late to be presented to the full board, but Al Auxier is consulting with Emerson Fly and Homer Fisher to assure that it will come up at the next meeting of the full Board of Trustees.

B. Instructional Improvement. The proposal for the Seminar for GTAs has the support of the Chancellor (for funding) and was approved by the Executive Committee. This program will involve 60 GTAs and 60 controls from a variety of departments and will include an intensive morning session for all GTAs (combined effort with the Council on Learning and Teaching). The program will be funded from faculty development funds this year, but the Chancellor will ask the Board of Deans for continuing support. At this point, department heads will be contacted to determine which departments might participate. The entire proposal will be brought before the Senate on July 16.

1. To inform faculty of significant Senate activities.

2. To encourage faculty to think about issues important to the campus and to respond to them.

3. To recognize institutional service and to introduce to the faculty members of the Senate and others who are serving the campus.

1. There should be at least one issue of the Newsletter each quarter except the Summer Quarter. Additional issues should be published as needed.

2. Most issues should be topical with focus on a single issue or related issues. This does not mean, however, that a section giving information about people and activities cannot be included, if appropriate.

3. The Newsletter should be edited by the President and President-Elect with primary editorial responsibilities falling to the President-Elect.

4. Material for the Newsletter should be solicited from and developed by committee chairpersons and others.