The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College

Academic Senate Minutes

January 21, 2005

 

 

 

I.            Call to Order

 

Ms. Cantu called the January 21, 2005 meeting of the Academic Senate to order at 1:05 p.m. in SETB 2548.

 

Members of the Senate in attendance included:  Mr. Steve Benton (s), Ms. Ethel Cantu (*), Dr. Charles Dameron, Dr. William C. Davis (s), Mr. Doug Ferrier, Ms. Linda Fossen, Mr. Victor Fuhro, Dr. Therese Gallegos (s), Mr. William Harris (ex-officio), Dr. Gerald Hollier (s), Dr. Edward Hymson (*), Mr. Joe Lacher, Dr. Charles Lackey, Ms. Julie Larson (*). Dr. Emir Macari, Dr. Jose Martin, Mr. Domingo Molina, Dr. Eldon Nelson, Dr. Rafael Otero, Mr. Jay Phillips, Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland, Mr. Mahandran Radasuriar (*),  Dr. Renee Rubin (s), Dr. Carl Stockton, Ms. Mary Sullivan, Mr. Tom Welther (*), and Dr. Paul-Hermann Zieschang (s).

 

Visitors included:  Ms. Rogenna Provenzano.

 

 

 

II.           Review and Approval of the Minutes

 

Ms. Cantu called for a review of the minutes from the December 17, 2004 Academic Senate meeting.  Hearing no corrections or additions, the minutes were approved as written.

 

 

 

III.          Presentation/Discussion: Guidelines for Personnel Committees

 

Dr, Pearson, at the request of Ms. Cantu, presented a PowerPoint presentation on the work being done by the Academic Senate Committee on Guidance for Personnel Committees.  The following is a summary of Dr. Pearson’s presentation.

 

Dr. Pearson identified members of his committee.  Members included: Steve Benton, Mathematics; Suzanne Hardeback, Business Administration; John McCabe, Allied Health; David Pearson, Behavioral Sciences; Sylvia Pena, Education; Olivia Rivas, Education; Rodney Sullivan, Biological Sciences; and Terry Tomlin, Fine Arts.

 

Next, Dr. Pearson identified various concerns that the committee had generated.  Concerns included:

 

  • Faculty at UTB/TSC hold both technical and academic ranks.
  • The standards used for hiring faculty today differ from what they were in the past,
  • Exemplary performance involves more than publications.  It can be achieved in any of three areas:  instruction, scholarship or service.
  • Individual departments are the best judges of exemplary performance, yet do not have specified criteria for evaluation.
  • Annual merit pay increases represent a pay cut in real terms, whereas exceptional merit represents an actual pay increase.
  • Exceptional merit involves ten percent of FTEs each year.  A mechanism is required to ensure that it is available to the maximum number of faculty over time.
  • The current system for evaluating exceptional merit contains biases and conflicts of interest.
  • Faculty applying for exceptional merit should be informed why their application was approved or disapproved.

 

Last, Dr. Pearson said the committee generated the following recommendations:

  • All departments should establish criteria for exemplary performance.
  • Faculty applying for exceptional merit should submit a written statement identifying those areas in which performance has been exemplary.
  • Department personnel committees, Chairs and College/School personnel committees should produce a written rationale for their decision.
  • A separate Chairs merit process should be established.
  • Faculty who are themselves applying for exceptional merit should not participate in the evaluation of exceptional merit applications.
  • Exceptional merit may be received no more than once in any three year period.
  • Exceptional merit may not be received during the three years following successful application for tenure and/or promotion.

 

Dr. Pearson also reported that the committee looked at the HOOP policy addressing merit and exceptional merit.  He said that the committee has worked out proposed HOOP language.  He asked if it was the sense of the Senate that the committee put HOOP language together.  The Senate answered affirmatively.

 

A brief discussion followed Dr. Pearson’s presentation.  Ms. Cantu thanked Dr. Pearson for his presentation.

 

 

IV.           Senate President’s Report

 

Ms. Cantu had six items in her report.

 

  • HOOP 5.1.8- “Purpose and Responsibilities/Provost”- The appointment of Dr. Jose Martin to Provost and Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland to VPAA have been well received by the faculty.  Their work is recognized and appreciated, hence the flood of congratulations.  Some faculty, however, have raised questions about the role of the Academic Senate in this process, so I offer an explanation.  As Dr. Garcia said in her open letter the Academic Senate reviewed the policy establishing the purpose and responsibilities of the Provost as a separate office.  At the October 22, 2004 meeting, the Academic Senate passed HOOP 5.1.8 with an amendment to section A. Purpose, to read, the following describes generally the purpose and responsibilities of the office of the Provost, with the VPAA serving as Provost.  The intent of this amendment was to ensure that the chief academic officer would be the Provost.  This amendment to the HOOP policy was not accepted by President Garcia.  The Academic Senate had no role in the appointment process and Regent’s Rules allow for the President to make such administrative appointments.

 

  • Faculty Meeting January 12, 2005- I gave a report to the faculty on the work of the Academic Senate in addressing the issues faculty raised at the fall meeting.  The chairs of these Academic Senate committees gave brief progress reports:  David Pearson, Guidance for Personnel Committees; Steve Benton, Memorial Fund; Therese Gallegos, Academic Rank, Title & Standards; John Sutterby, Nontraditional Workload, and Rafael Otero, Welfare.  Faculty voted to allow Rafael Otero to attend the meeting to give the report and recognized his work on behalf of the faculty.  His attendance at the meeting was limited to that report since he is now an administrator.  Faculty expressed their views on the issues of election of department chairs and recognition of faculty who attain tenure, promotion, and exceptional merit.  Faculty voted to incorporate the following elements into the policy for the election of the department chairs:  1) 2/3 of the eligible faculty (tenured and tenure-track) constitute a quorum 2) a simple majority of those who participate in the election by submitting a ballot will determine the winner 3) ballots marked as abstentions count as ballots cast for determining a quorum 4) conduct the election with secret paper ballot distributed to eligible faculty with several days given for return 5) conduct a run-off election if a candidate does not receive a majority.  Faculty honored the wishes of the Staff Senate and voted to retain the current celebration of exceptional merit that recognizes the contributions of faculty and staff in a single celebration.  Faculty also voted to support a separate reception celebration to recognize the attainment of tenure and promotion.

 

  • TSC Board Meeting January 20, 2005-the Board first met in Executive Session to discuss real estate.  After reconvening, the Board approved the purchase of one Fort Brown Villa.  The Board heard a briefing from Carl Stockton, Dean of the School of Education, on the Pre-K to College initiatives on campus.  The Board expressed interest in hearing about the impact of these programs at a future meeting.  The Board then approved a resolution granting tax exemptions to 66 historic sites for a tax revenue loss of $4,378.  Board members gave reports from the Business Affairs, Student Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Committees. Details of those reports will be given by Academic Senate’s representatives at today’s meeting.  The First Quarter Financial and Investment Report was presented as an information item.  The construction report highlighted the completion of the Mexican Consulate Office in ITECC, the lighting of the Scorpion Field, the construction of the Fort Brown Golf Course clubhouse, and the progress on the Education and Business complex.  President Garcia announced the separation of the duties of the Provost and VPAA and the appointments of Dr. Martin as Provost and Dr. Ragland as VPAA.  She also announced the appointments of Mary Sullivan and Rafael Otero as interim co-deans of the School of Business.  She reported that unofficially, spring enrollment is close to 12,000 and she also asked for nominations for the distinguished alumnus award.  The Board will meet on January 22 for a workshop and on February 17 for the next regular meeting.

 

  • Bond Construction Workshop- I will attend a workshop for the TSC Board of Trustees on January 22 to consider construction projects to be funded by the November 2 Bond Issue.  The proposed construction package will then be presented for action at the February 17 TSC Board meeting.  President Garcia would like to present the proposed construction package to the Academic Senate and/or the faculty prior to February 17, does the Academic Senate want to schedule a special meeting of the Academic Senate or the general faculty or both?

 

  • Environmental Responsibility Report Follow-up- members of the Academic Senate Committee on Environmental Responsibility met on January 7 with Trustee Breedlove and VPAPA Ronnau for a tour of the Resaca behind the Business and Education complex.  Several recommendations were made, including 1) leave the Resaca in its natural state, ie, no dredging or tree removal from the Resaca, no bulk heading of the banks 2) create trails, picnic areas, and observation decks and towers at strategic locations 3) protect the native wildlife, including alligators and snakes 4) create a “destination” for wildlife observation and study 5) use the area for education of environmental responsibility.  The faculty involved have pledged their support for continued involvement and will meet again at VPAPA Ronnau’s office on Jan 28 at 2 pm to discuss the campus landscape plan.

 

  • Committee to review student evaluation forms- Bill Adams is the chair of a committee that will consider changes to the student evaluation forms.  He would like tow or three members of the Academic Senate to join him, Jay Philips, Mary Sullivan and Mrinal Mugdh.  Bill Davis and Therese Gallegos volunteered to serve on this committee.\

 

 

 

V.            Response to Coordinating Board re: Doctoral Programs

 

{Since this item was presented by Ms. Cantu, Vice President Welther presided over the Senate for this particular item.}

 

Ms. Cantu presented the following draft of a letter she composed in response to Jeffrey Phelps comments at the December FAC meeting.

 

“Dear Mr. Phelps:

 

I write to you to express my objection and that of our Academic Senate to a comment you made at the Faculty Advisory Council meeting in Austin on December 2, 2004, following your presentation on formula funding.

 

You said that ‘the Coordinating Board should not be approving doctoral programs, such as a PhD in Physics, on the fringes of Texas in a region that is not a large metropolitan area.’ While we admire your commitments to husband wisely the public resources for higher education, the decision for those investments should be based on objective criteria  and not geographical location.

 

Your comment was a global statement with no regard for the uniqueness of the program, its funding sources, or its distinguished faculty in a specific specialty of physics:  gravitational wave astronomy.  Such statements are reflective of an attitude of prejudice and a pattern of behavior that results in discrimination against institutions along the border that serve Hispanics.

 

We would hope for decision-making that is based on the criteria that the Coordinating Board already has developed for doctoral programs.  UT Brownsville deserves the opportunity to present programs that meet those criteria and to not to be pre-judged by irrelevant factors.

 

Attached is a resolution passed by the Academic Senate on January 21, 2005.

 

Respectfully,

 

Ethel Cantu, President

Academic Senate

 

Cc:

Mr. Jerry Farrington, Chairman, THECB

Mr. Robert Shepard. Vice Chairman, THECB

Dr. Ricardo Cigorroa, Member, THECB

Dr. Raymund Paredes, Commissioner, THECB

Mr. Marshall Hill, Deputy Commissioner, THECB

Dr. Teresa Sullivan, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UT System

Honorable Eddie Lucio, State Senator, District 27

Honorable Rene Oliveira, State Representative, District 27

 

 

Resolution

 

Whereas, the University of Texas at Brownsville in partnership with Texas Southmost College submits proposals for undergraduate and graduate programs, including doctoral programs that address the standards and criteria developed by THECB,

 

Whereas, decisions of the THECB should be based on the standards and criteria they have established; and

 

Whereas, discriminatory remarks are detrimental to the decision-making process,

 

Therefore, be it resolved that the Academic Senate of UTB/TSC recommends that the staff of the THECB make fair and equitable recommendations t the board members of the THECB, that the staff of the THECB in their public comments reflect the intent, standards and criteria set forth by the THECB, and that the staff of THECB refrain from discriminatory remarks.”

 

Following the reading into the record of the letter and resolution, Ms. Cantu opened the floor for discussion.  Ms. Harris said that the resolution puts the THECB on notice, Dr. Otero suggested that perhaps a reference in the resolution should be made to the comments of Mr. Phelps, and Ms. Mary Sullivan offered the following amendment:  “Whereas, discriminatory remarks such as the remarks of Mr. Phelps on December 2, 2004 at the FAC meeting in which he said ‘the Coordinating Board should not be approving doctoral programs, such as a PhD in Physics, on the fringes of Texas in a region that is not a large metropolitan area’  are detrimental to the decision-making process.”  Ms. Cantu accepted Ms. Mary Sullivan’s amendment.  Dr. Davis moved to accept the resolution as amended.  Dr. Hollier seconded the motion.  The motion carried.  Dr. Davis added that perhaps the resolution to several addition people not noted in the letter:  Provost Martin, President Garcia, and Chair of the TSC Board of Trustee Chester Gonzalez.  Ms. Cantu asked the Senate if they would like her to do this.  The Senate answered affirmatively.  Ms. Cantu will sent copies of the letter and resolution to the names added.

 

 

 

VI.           Partnership Committee Reports

 

A.     Business Affairs Partnership Committee- Dr. Hymson reported on the work of the Business Affairs Partnership Committee.  He reported that the committee approved the spending of money this year that wasn’t spend last year and that the committee was briefed on incidental fees.

 

B.     Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Committee- Mr. Harris reported on the work of the Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Committee.  He reported that, at the request of Dr. Garcia, the committee suspend its agenda and brainstorm on how our “unique” institution can report information to the state.  Mr. Harris said that in terms of statistics and other reporting information there is clearly a marked difference between us and the other UT components.  For example, the median income in Austin is $90,000 but the median income in Brownsville is $19,000- how does that compare?  He said $90,000 needs to be compared to $90,000 not $19,000.

 

C.     Student Affairs Partnership Committee- Mr. Welther reported on the work of the Student Affairs Partnership Committee.  He said that the committee discussed three items:  discussion of fees, the Leadership and Mentoring Program (LAMP), the mini recreation center located at Fort Brown.  Mr. Welther also said that he asked about the International Student Fee and he was told that it is a compulsory fee.

 

 

 

VII.          Academic Budget and Finance Review Committee

 

Dr. Hymson reported on the work of the Academic Budget and Finance Review Committee.  Dr. Hymson said the committee members wondered why they didn’t have the opportunity to make recommendations to the new budget.  Dr. Hymson suggested that we look at last year/s budget and see what we have leftover.  He said then the leftovers would be used to pay mandatory expensed- then to faculty salaries, faculty hires, staff salaries, and staff hires.

 

 

VIII.         HOOP Policy 7.3.1-   “Faculty Responsibilities and Workload”

 

Mr. Phillips presented HOOP 7.3.1-“Faculty Responsibilities and Workload” to the Senate for a second reading.  Mr. Phillips reported that the subtle but important change was made to Section “E” – the Joint Conference Procedure.  Mr. Phillips said that under the revised policy, the annual workload conference for tenured faculty members would be between the faculty member and the department chair.  Tenured faculty members, under the revised policy, do not have to meet with the dean- this meeting is optional, but shall occur upon the request of the faculty member, the Chair or the Dean.  A probationary faculty member would still have to meet with the Department Chair and Dean to discuss the faculty member’s workload. 

 

The Senate reviewed the revised policy.  Dr. Hymson moved to approve the policy, with a second from Mr. Welther.  The motion carried and the policy was approved.

 

 

 

X.            New Business

 

There was one item of “New Business”.

 

  • Mr. Rajasuriar voiced his concern over the amount of spam received on his office computer.  He asked how this matter has been addressed.

 

Mr. Ferrier responded to Mr. Rajajsuriar’s concern by saying that UTB/TSC is moving to a new email system that should reduce the amount of spam.  He said this new system should be implemented campus-wide in February.

 

XI.           Provost’s Report

 

Dr. Martin had ten items in his report.

 

  • Dr. Marshall Hill, Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), has resigned effective in late February.  He has accepted a similar job in Nebraska.  We wish him well.

 

  • As you know, Dr. Boze has stepped down as Dean of the School of Business and will return to the faculty next fall.  We want to thank Mary Sullivan and Rafael Otero for serving as acting Co-Deans in the School of Business until we have a new dean.  The search for the Dean of the School of Business is expected to begin right away.  Other searches are beginning for a Dean for the College of Liberal Arts, VP for Institutional Advancement and Director of Institutional Effectiveness.

 

  • We have more than 12,000 students enrolled for the spring semester.  Students are still enrolling.  This is an increase of almost 9% over the spring of last year.  Thank you for your cooperation in helping to accommodate these students.

 

  • We want to thank Dr. Deloria Nance-Davis and Mr. Jeffrey Coleman and others of you who worked to present our annual Martin Luther King Day celebration Wednesday evening.  The speaker, Dr. Edith Irby Jones, was the first African-American student to attend the University of Arkansas Medical School.  After her graduation in the late 1940s, she moved to Houston and had had an exceptional career in our state.

 

  • The new Business-Education Complex is coming along well.  There are 89 new faculty offices in this complex and all but two have windows.  We plan to have classes in there in the summer term.

 

  • The TSC Board will have a workshop tomorrow from 9-noon to discuss what will happen on the bond issue.  When do we start?  Which projects should we begin in what order? 

 

  • Next Friday, 25 or 30 Legislators are expected to be on campus as part of a visit to Brownsville. They’ll be here from about 10:30 until noon.  The Legislature is in session, and we don’t expect a large pot for higher education.  However, we’ll be fighting with all our might to bring back as much as possible.

 

  • Ads will run in the several weeks in various publications for 42 new faculty positions.

 

    

  • The Barnes and Nobles College Bookstore has been operating for a while.  Vice President Martinez is eliciting opinions and feedback regarding the bookstore.  In either case, specificity is appreciated.

 

  • The grant for University Park is one step closer to reality.  A major part of this grant is for a walking trail bordering the Resaca.  The trail will border both the “tamed” Resaca and the not-so-tamed Resaca, and every effort will be made to protect wildlife and the natural habitat.

 

 

 

XII.          Announcements

 

There were four announcements.

 

  • Ms. Cantu announced that the Welfare Committee will meet immediately following this meeting.

 

  • Ms. Cantu announced that elections will be conducted soon to fill the vacancies created with the appointments of Rafael Otero and Domingo Molina to administrative positions.  Elections for half the senators and all the officers will be conducted in April.

 

  • Ms. Cantu announced that the next Senate meeting is at 1 pm on February 11 in SETB 2548.

 

  • Dr. Nelson announced that the 7th Annual UTB/TSC Research Symposium will take place on Friday, April 15, 2005.  Faculty and students who have participated in scholarly research at UTB/TSC or other academic institutions are invited to present their work.

 

 

XIII.         Adjournment

 

The meeting stood adjourned at 3:50 pm.