General Faculty Meeting

August 20, 2003

Faculty Issues

Faculty raised the following issues at the general faculty meeting. After discussion of each issue the faculty voted for those issues that were of highest importance. The following list of issues is ranked according to priority.

1. Increase resources for faculty and distribute the resources equitably.

The highest priority within this category was given to travel, with funding for presentations given higher priority than for poster sessions.

Second within this category was upgrading computers. Many faculty were unable to respond to the Faculty Satisfaction Survey because their computers were too old to support the online survey. A plan should be developed to replace computers on a five year basis, with no one (administrators included) receiving a new computer sooner than five years.

Sabbaticals and funding for special projects, assistants, and research were ranked third and fourth.

2. Increase the number of faculty

Faculty growth should be tied to student growth with consideration given to a desirable faculty/student ratio. Faculty growth should be an integral part of the budget.

3. Class size

Classes should be capped based on pedagogy and room capacity to prevent overloading the faculty and overcrowding the students.

Policy should be developed to allow small classes for special purposes, such as starting new programs or supporting unique needs.

4. Harassment

Investigate the nature and extent of harassment (sexual, gender, misuse of power, etc) of faculty and students. Identify appropriate educational materials and intervention strategies.

5. Budget development & allocation of resources

Develop mechanism for faculty input in budget development and allocation of resources. Current role is limited to review of a budget already developed.

6. Faculty salaries

Develop formula to tie faculty salaries to the total compensation package for administrators.

7. Environmental responsibility

Develop sustainable habitat on campus that preserves remaining native plants, adds plants that sustain wildlife, especially the birds and butterflies that make south Texas unique, and removes plants that do not contribute.

Develop recycling plan that includes receptacles for specific products and educational materials to foster environmental responsibility.

8. Two track faculty

Clarify policies regarding mix of teaching and research/creative activities. Investigate possibility of creating two tracks for faculty: teaching or research/creative.

9. Standards for administrators holding faculty rank

Develop and uphold uniform standards for administrators who seek faculty personnel actions such as promotion and post tenure review.

10. Voting

Support efforts to encourage civic responsibility, such as voter registration and issues awareness.

11. Arena registration

Move arena registration to an earlier date.

12. Sick leave

Develop other alternatives for sick leave besides donation to a pool.