082609_mins

President Wells called the August 26, 2009 Faculty Senate meeting to order in the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion of the M. D. Anderson Library at 12:15 p.m.

ARCH: M. Sabatino
BUS:     W. Chin, R. Keller
CLASS: A. Bencomo, M. Haun, M. Hernandez, P. Howard, J. Kotarba, D. Mazella, D. Montoya, D. Phillips, H. Rodgers, F. Schiff, J. Sposato, S. Wallace
EDU:     M. Clarke, C. Craig, J. Freiberg, A. Warner
ENGR:    J. Charlson, A. Kamrani, R. Willson
GCSW: A. Achenbaum
LAW:     S. Chandler, R. Palmer
LIB:      M. Bennett, D. Camille, S. Ferimer
NSM:    E. Carrasquillo-Molina, P. Copeland, A. Ignatiev, G. Johnson, K. Kadish, T.R. Lee, M. Rea, D. Wells
PHA:    T. Hussain, S. Sansgiry
OPT:    R. Manny
TECH:   K. Greenwood

Renu Khator (UHS Chancellor and UH President), John Antel (UHS Senior Vice Chancellor and UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost), Donald Birx (UHS Vice Chancellor and UH Vice President for Research), Elwyn Lee (UHS Vice Chancellor and UH Vice President for Student Affairs), Elaine Charlson (UHS Executive Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and UH Executive Associate Vice President for Academic and Faculty Affairs), Teri Longacre (Ombudsperson and Associate Professor, MANA), Ed Hugetz (UHS Associate Vice Chancellor and UH Associate Vice President for Planning and University Outreach), Spencer Yantis (Associate Vice Chancellor and UH Associate Vice President for University Advancement), Marco Mariotto (Dean, Graduate & Professional Studies), Brian McKinney (Assistant Vice Chancellor/Vice President, Academic Program Management), Elizabeth Anderson Fletcher (Associate Vice President for Research Operations), Kathryn Peek (Associate Associate Vice President, University Health Initiatives), Oscar Gutierrez (Assistant to the Chancellor/President, Communications), Barbara Stanley (Assistant to the Vice Chancellor/Vice President for Governmental Relations), Libby Barlow (Executive Director, Institutional Research and Effectiveness), Richard Bonnin (Director, Media Relations), Ann McFarland (Director, Office of Community Projects and President, Staff Council), John Powell (Director, Communications), Latha Ramchand (Associate Dean, BUS), Chuck Layne (Chair and Professor, HHP), Joseph Eichberg (Professor, BIO-BCHS), James Garson (Professor, PHILO and Chair, Research Council), Kamel Salama (Professor, ME), Theresa Monaco (Professor, CUIN), Evelyn Brass (Associate Librarian, University Libraries), Rebecca Lee (Associate Professor, HHP), Marilyn Myers (Associate Librarian, University Libraries), Kerry Creelman (Assistant Librarian, University Libraries), Jamison Kovach (Assistant Professor, ILT), Bradley McConnell (Assistant Professor, LAW), Monica Perales (Assistant Professor, HIST), Todd Romero (Assistant Professor, HIST), Aymara Boggiano (Instructional Assistant Professor, HISP), Mike Emery (Rep, Media Relations), Bryant Quiroga (Reporter, Daily Cougar)

REPORT FROM AND DISCUSSION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM CHANCELLOR AND UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON PRESIDENT: Renu Khator

Dr. Khator reported: (1) She has visited 18-20 classes since the semester started and will be visiting Law, Pharmacy and Social Work in the coming days; (2) She has asked students to register to vote and to honor their professors by wearing red on Fridays; (3) She visited the Welcome Center and noted a big difference with things going smoother and no long lines. Dr. Khator asked students about the issues they were facing and most were worried about when money would show up in their account. The students are also concerned about improving the environment in classroom and parking. (4) She thanked everyone involved in the PAL program; it is making a difference in student success. (5) The University is making progress on all levels, except the graduation rate. Currently the university is 10 points below its peer institutions. The graduation rate will take time to change, beginning with a move to strengthen admission standards. (6) The three new members of the Board of Regents are: Nandita Berry, Jarvis Hollingsworth and Tilman Fertitta. (7) Two UH alumni are new members of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: Dennis Golden and Durga Agrawal. (8) Now that the legislative session is things are quiet over in Austin. On September 15, Regent Carol Robertson Ray will be hosting a reception in her home to thank the legislators for their hard work. (9) The Provost and Ed Hugetz are in sync with the on plans for the $6 million matching grant from the Texas Research Incentive Program. (10) Dr. Khator reminded everyone to vote on November 3. There is a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot that will help emerging research universities in Texas, including UH. She said that while UH employees cannot tell people how to vote, they can tell people how they plan to vote and why. (11) Last year UH received $600,000 from the federal government. This year the University is looking for more. Dr. Khator, Grover Campbell, UH System Vice Chancellor and UH Vice President for Governmental Relations, and members of the Board of Regents will be taking five proposals to Washington, D.C. worth more than $10 million. (12) There will be a University-wide commencement ceremony this Fall because students should graduate from the University, not just a college. Dr. Khator encouraged the faculty to participate.

REPORT FROM AND DISCUSSION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR AND UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND PROVOST: John Antel

Dr. Antel reported: There Is good and bad news about the budget. The good news includes a $10 million increase in budget funding from legislative and enrollment is up 4%, including graduate students. The bad news is this was off-set by the endowment loss of $10 million that went to support scholarships and operating money. The reason for the limited raise pool (a one-time stipend of $300 to all faculty and staff who earn less than $50,000 annually) was that much of the new money came from the stimulus package and will be one-time only funds. The administration decided to use the money to cover scholarships and operational shortfalls from the endowment, to build up the infrastructure and to improve the working environment, such as money for start-up packages, child care issues, and campus safety. The Provost warned that unless the economy bounces back, the legislature might cut the budget next year and UH would have to return some funds.

Current expenditures include: (1) Faculty hiring, which includes sweetening some faculty lines to bring replacement hires up to market salary. Hires include tenure-track and instructional faculty. (2) Faculty compensation. In addition to the $300 bonus for faculty earning less than $50,000, there is a pool of money to target faculty that the University wants to retain. When asked about the transparency of process for these raises, Dr. Antel said there will be significant input from the deans and chairs, but the Provost will use activity reports and peer reviews to decide. The most productive faculty will be targeted. Target raises might go to assistant professors who have had an astounding third-year review or associate professors who have attained international stature. The target raises will be decided in the next 30-40 days. Dr. Antel said there would be no administrative raises. He pointed out that many universities across the country are cutting budgets 20% to 40%. (3) Promotion and Tenure Raises are in the budget with $7,000 for associate professors and $10,000 for professors. The Provost added that UH may need to consider moving to a percentage raise base so that promotion raises keep up with market prices. (4) $500,000 is going toward resolving Child Care issues. (5) $500,000 is going toward research and start-up packages. The Provost added he is working Dr. Carlucci and Dr. Birx to improve coordination in new hires, not just salary, but start-ups and facility needs. (6) Campus Safety includes hiring more officers and security as well as technology.

Dr. Antel said the budget hearings for next year will be held early. He added the hearings will be held in two or three months. Dr. Warner requested as much advanced notice as possible to arrange for Budget & Facilities Committee members to attend.

REPORT FROM AND DISCUSSION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM VICE CHANCELLOR AND UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH: Don Birx

Dr. Birx gave an update on research, saying it has been a great year. The awards totaled about $93 million at the end of July and should exceed $100 million by the end of August. There has been a 25-30% increase of awards. New faculty grants, small grants, books and papers are up across the board. He mentioned various faculty accomplishments. The PowerPoint Presentation is on-line at http://www.uh.edu/fs/VP_Research_FS_Report_082609.pdf.

The SERC building update shows the first floor is three-quarters complete, the fifth floor is complete and the third floor is half complete. When asked about the proposed Research Park build-out, Dr. Birx said there is lots of room, but the challenge is getting the resources to renovate. Dr. Antel added that is cost $27 million to buy and 70% is leased to other businesses, which will provide money for upkeep.

Dr. Kathryn Peek, the new Assistant Vice President for University Health Initiatives, responded to a question about the New Cancer Fund, which only allowed two proposals from UH. She said all universities were given a quota based on NCI grants.

The Task Force was formed in response to concerns about the Governor’s Higher Education Reforms and is now working on the implementation of HB 2504 which requires universities to put information on-line. The ATF is working to make compliance have as little impact on faculty as possible. The group is working on templates for mini-CVs and syllabi. The group is also working on expanding and increasing teaching awards. The Provost has provided $200,000 toward this effort. Any suggestions can be sent to Dr. Antel or the Task Force.

Pres. Wells reported that the Faculty Senate has been working on: (1) The college budget hearings; (2) Passed a resolution to support Phi Beta Kappa; (3 Expanded the Spring & Fall Assemblies; (4) Passed a resolution to discourage guns on campus; (5) The Scholarship and Community Conference on November 13 will be focusing on Energy; (6) The Faculty Affairs Committee has been focusing on benefits; (7) The Faculty Senate website is being improving; (8) The Climate Survey is being developed. (9) Hosted an Assistant Professors Forum to get input from the University’s future. (10) Continued working on a Faculty Club.

The FGC is developing the faculty governance aspect and forming closer ties with the Council Chairs. During the Spring, the FGC Chair worked with the UFEC (United Faculty Executive Council) to produce a system-wide conference on Student Success.

Because the Child Care Center is funded from student fees, faculty are not a priority. FAC met with Dr. Carlucci and Dr. Antel to discuss how child care should be a benefit to faculty recruitment and retention. Sen. Freiberg added that the budget reflects the concern of the faculty and shows that having faculty involved makes a significant difference.

EPSAC worked over the summer, focusing on student success. There are a number of areas involved, including (1) raising admission criteria to raise the academic profile without impacting enrollment or diversity; (2) looking at student services; (3) developing a proposal for a Center for Teaching Excellence; and (4) planning a formal gathering for Teaching Excellence Award winners to discuss QEP proposals and teaching and learning conditions around campus.

BFC has a representative at all of the college budget hearings and is working on a follow-up to the Salary Data Report.

The SCC hosted the first Assistant Professor Speakers Series on July 9 with over 80 people attending. The committee has developed a proposal for a Faculty/Librarian Service Award,