UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON FACULTY SENATE MINUTES – October 18, 2006 

President Craig called the October 18, 2006 Faculty Senate meeting to order in the Rockwell Pavilion of the MD Anderson Library at 12:15 p.m. 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  [29] 
ARCH:  D. Kacmar
BUS:    R. DeFrank, C. Pirrong
CLASS: E. Brown-Guillory, B. Byrnes, S. Craig, W. Herendeen, N. Houston, J. Kotarba, D. Mazella, D. Papell, G. Trail
EDU:    M. Clarke, J. Freiberg, S. McNeil, A. Warner
ENGR:  R. Willson
HRM:    K. Titz
LAW:    S. Huber
LIB:      D. Camille, S. Ferimer, N. Linden
NSM:    P. Copeland, J. Eichberg, G. Johnson, T.R. Lee, J. Subhlok, D. Wells
TECH:   K. Greenwood
                                                              
MEMBERS ABSENT:  [21]
BUS:    W. Chin (Note:  M. Parks attended in Sen. Chin’s place), S. Kadipasaoglu
CLASS: V. Brady, M. Haun, G. Jowett, T. Karner, J. Middents, F. Schiff
ENGR:  J. Richardson, W. Rixey (w/ notice), D. Zimmerman                                                                                                             
GCSW: A. Achenbaum (w/ notice)                                                                                                                            
LAW:    M. Duncan, P. Linzer                                                                                                                    
LIB:       S. Ferimer                                           
NSM:    T. Albright, D. Blecher, A. Ignatiev
OPT:     R. Manny (w/ notice), S. Quintero,                                                                                                                                                    
PHA     C. Pedemonte                                                                                                                                               

VACANT SEAT:  [2]
CLASS:  Term through 2007
NSM:      Term through 2007                                           

VISITORS:   
Jay Gogue (UHS Chancellor and UH President), Don Foss (UHS Senior Vice Chancellor and UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost), John Rudley (UHS Vice Chancellor and UH Vice President for Administration & Finance), Dona Hamilton (UHS Vice Chancellor and UH Vice President for Legal Affairs/General Counsel), Elwyn Lee (UHS Vice Chancellor and UH Vice President for Student Affairs), Ed Hugetz (UHS Assistant Vice Chancellor and UH Assistant Vice President for Planning & University Outreach), John Powell (Assistant to the Chancellor/President, Communications),Oscar Gutierrez (Assistant to the Vice Chancellor/Vice President for University Advancement), Paul Janicke (Professor, LAW), Michael Parks (Associate Professor, DISC) Miranda Bennett (Assistant Librarian, University Libraries), Patrick Fairman (Student), Kelsie Hahn (Daily Cougar)

MINUTES:  The minutes for the September 20, 2006 Senate meeting were approved.

REPORT FROM AND DISCUSSION WITH THE FACULTY SENATE PRESIDENT:  Steven Craig
            Pres. Craig talked about: (1) the Quality Enhancement Plan selection process and the QEP ideas that were raised at the Senate Retreat, including a five year Bachelors/Masters program, support for undergraduate research, and themed housing for residential living.  (2) an article on textbooks and his visit to the Student Government Association meeting in the Daily Cougar.  (3) Pres. Craig stated that at its November 15 meeting the Senate will vote on the Textbook and Educational Materials Policy drafted by the Provost in response to discussions held with the Senate and its committees.  (4) Nominations for the Deans Review Committees need to be turned into the Faculty Senate Office no later than Wednesday, November 1, 2006.

REPORT FROM AND DISCUSSION WITH THE UH SYSTEM CHANCELLOR AND UH PRESIDENT: Jay Gogue      
            Dr. Gogue provided a brief explanation about why UH withdrew its proposal for a Northwest Campus.  Due to Prairie View A & M and Sam Houston State University registering concerns about losing students to the new Northwest campus, the Coordinating Board made stipulations on the proposal that made the project unfeasible for UH.  Pres. Gogue expressed his appreciation to the community and business leaders who showed strong support for the original proposal.  
            Sen. Copeland asked about the Senate resolution requesting additional support for the VP for Research.  Dr. Gogue replied that the administration is working to make sure that there is adequate funds for start up.
            Sen. Huber congratulated the President and Board of Regents for making the initial decision and, when others changed the plan, for withdrawing it and moving on 

REPORT FROM AND DISCUSSION WITH THE UH SYSTEM SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR AND UH SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT:  Don Foss
            Dr. Foss reported that he will respond to the Extension of the Probationary Period Policy in writing after consultation with the General Counsel.  He also stated that he is working with Don Birx in order to streamline the process to approve new positions and start up funding. The Provost also reported on (1) the administration has been in contact with the Northwest Citizens Group following the withdrawal of the campus plan.  There is no new plan yet.  (2) The Texas Medical Center Initiative is still progressing.  (3) The Scholarship Report will be released at Homecoming as part of President Gogue’s Report. 

FACULTY SENATE COMMITTEES REPORTS
            The complete reports from the Faculty Senate committees are available on-line at:  http://www.uh.edu/fs/FS_Committees_Reports_101806.html.  Action taken by the Faculty Senate on items brought forward by the committees include:

    1.  Resolution in Support of the University Framework Plan

        This resolution, brought forward by the Budget & Facilities Committee, was approved by a unanimous vote of the Senate.

    2.  Resolution in Support of the Adoption of the Copyrights in Works of Authorship

        This document, brought forward by the Faculty Affairs Committee, was approved by majority vote of the Senate.

    3.  Proposed Revision of UH Mission Statement

        The Scholarship & Community Committee proposed a revision of the UH Mission Statement, which the Senate
        approved by unanimous vote.

Other topics covered in the full reports include :

    1.  Budget & Facilities Committee
            Salary Data
            Classroom Capacity Utilization

    2.  Committee on Committees
            Nomination procedure for External Faculty Member of the Deans Review Committees

    3.  Educational Policies & Student Affairs Committee
            Concerns about the proposed Textbook Policy

    4.  Faculty Affairs Committee
            A written explanation from Prof. Paul Janicke of the proposed Copyrights in Works of Authorship

    5.  Scholarship & Community Committee
            The Faculty Recognition Dinner

REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY COORDINATING COMMISSION (UCC), CHAIR:  Joseph Kotarba
            Sen. Kotarba reported that the UCC (University Coordination Commission) had completed the review process for the revision of the Extension of the Probationary Period Policy and had sent it to the Provost.  The Parking Policy for Graduate Students is currently being circulated for comment.  At the next meeting of the UCC, the MAPPS process will be reviewed. 
            Sen. Kotarba said that he would be meeting with the Undergraduate Council to discuss the UCC.  He stated that he is willing to meet with any group that would like to talk about the UCC.

RESOLUTION ON TIMELY TEXTBOOK ORDERS
            Pres. Craig said he had met with the Student Government Association to discuss the importance of faculty placing their textbook orders for the next semester in a timely way.  If faculty plan to use the same textbook next semester and if they meet the deadline for placing the order, students will receive 50% of the textbook price instead of 20%.  The Resolution in Support of Timely Textbook Ordering  is to encourage faculty to meet the deadlines.
            The Staff Associate pointed out that the deadlines for ordering were a part of the formal contract the University has with the Bookstore.  Sen. Wells suggested the Senate formally request a copy of the Bookstore contract.
            After a brief discussion, the Senate amended the resolution to specify that the support was for the “following” SGA resolution on textbooks.
      

NEW BUSINESS:  None

 
The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.