University of Florida Faculty Senate

Senate Steering Committee

Minutes
January 13, 2005
3:00 - 5:00 PM
226 Tigert Hall

• Approval of December 10, 2004 Steering Meeting Minutes

Pierre Ramond

• Approval of December 16, 2004 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

Pierre Ramond

• Chair's Report

Pierre Ramond

• President's Report

Bernie Machen

Information Item:

• UF Branding

Jane Adams

• College of Engineering New Degree - BS with Major in Computer Science

Sheila Dickison

• New Department C.O.M. - Department of Urology

Sheila Dickison

• AFTPRS Recommendations

Tim Taylor

Action Item

• Vote on Upcoming Senate Agenda

Pierre Ramond

Officers:
Pierre Ramond, Chair
Kim Tanzer, Chair-Elect
Anthony Brennan, Past-Chair
Barbara Wingo, Parliamentarian
Rick Ragan, Secretary

Bernie Machen, President

Robert Cousins
Kim Emery
Saeed Khan
Pradeep Kumar

Jim Cusick, Interim Council Chair
Gene Hemp, Interim Council Chair
Mike Katovich, Interim Council Chair

Guests:
Jane Adams
Tim Taylor
Sheila Dickison
Karen Willis

Presentation: No changes were noted.

Action Taken: Minutes were approved unanimously.

Next Action: Minutes will be posted on the Faculty Senate website.

Approval of December 16, 2004 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

Presentation: No changes were noted.

Action Taken: Minutes were approved unanimously.

Next Action: Minutes will be posted on the Faculty Senate website.

Chair's Report

Discussion: Pierre Ramond updated the Committee on current events taking place.

He highlighted the recent Council elections and the participation of the Faculty Senate. 73% of Senators voted. Dr. Ramond also mentioned that University wide elections for vacant senate seats will be held by March 15th. He also noted the increased participation at the recent Senate meetings, including 94 Senators at the past (December) meeting.
Dr. Ramond advised the Committee that he submitted a formal letter to President Machen on behalf of the Faculty Senate asking the President to accept the proposed recommendations from the Tenure Committee, approved at the November and December Faculty Senate meetings.
Dr. Ramond addressed the need for academics to be included in Homecoming. Members of the Committee agreed that promoting students and Department work and faculty accomplishments is a great idea during Homecoming because of all of the Alumni and parents that are in attendance that weekend. It is important to integrate Academia into Homecoming events.
He reminded members that the newsletter can be found online at www.senate.ufl.edu.

President's Report

Presentation: President Machen congratulated senators for their participation in the recent elections and thanked those who served during the Interim term.

President Machen updated the Committee members on the current ongoing searches for the positions of Provost and VP of HR. The Provost Search Committee has selected 6 candidates who will be interviewed, three of whose names will be sent forward to President Machen for his selection. The Committee is being headed by Doug Barrett, and information is available on the Provost website at, http://www.aa.ufl.edu/provost_search/. The Council on Academic Freedom, Faculty Quality & Faculty Welfare will be involved in the interview process for the position of VP of HR. The current information can be found here.
President Machen addressed the changes that will be presented by the AFTPRS Committee and advised that a meeting was held at which time the President and Committee members agreed on some small modifications. These will be presented to the Faculty Senate at the next meeting as information items. President Machen endorses these recommendations.
President Machen addressed the issue of problematic Alcohol and Substance Use among College Students as well as within the Community. A meeting involving the Chief of Police, Campus Police, Community Officials, School Officials, etc. will be held on January 19th. President Machen encouraged all to attend to address this matter.

UF Branding

Presentation: Jane Adams discussed Branding at UF. This involves creating an identity and communicating this identity to the right audiences. Branding for UF involves:

Attracting the Best & Brightest Students,
Attracting the most qualified Faculty,
Increasing and optimizing government relations and funding,
Enhancing UF's prestige.

Currently individuals have been brought in to hold individual and focus group interviews among the Students and Faculty. In February/March they will present the outcome of these interviews. These outcomes will then be implemented during the Creative Phase to create UF's vision, mission, and Foundation, including a marketing campaign and logo.

New Degree - College of Engineering BS with Major in Computer Science

Presentation: Sheila Dickison presented a proposal for a new degree in the College of Engineering.

Discussion: Members of the Steering Committee inquired whether this degree was present at other institutions. Dr. Dickison advised that it is. This will be an eight semester track and was approved unanimously within the College of Engineering and by the University Curriculum Committee. All information can be found on the Faculty Senate website at

Action Taken: Gene Hemp proposed that this be presented to the Faculty Senate. Saeed Khan seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously.

Next Action: This item will be presented at the Faculty Senate meeting on January 20, 2005.

New Department C.O. M. - Department of Urology

Presentation: Sheila Dickison presented a proposal from the College of Medicine for a new department in Urology.

Discussion: Committee members inquired where the funding for this department would come from and whether it would impact other Colleges. Dr. Dickison advised that the funding has already been allocated within the College of Medicine and would not affect any other Colleges.

Action Taken: Kim Tanzer proposed that this be presented to the Faculty Senate. Tony Brennan seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously.

Next Action: This item will be presented at the Faculty Senate meeting on January 20, 2005.

AFTPRS Recommendations

Presentation: Tim Taylor, Chair of the AFTPRS Committee, proposed that the following recommendations be sent forward for presentation to the Faculty Senate:

The number of faculty required for a full AFTPRS panel hearing should be reduced from the current number of five to three.
Upon the request of the petitioner or committee the University shall supply the petitioner and committee all relevant information pertinent to the petition.
Within 25 days of receipt of both the records and report, or as soon thereafter as possible, the President shall: 1) adopt the conclusions of law and recommendations in the panel's report and implement as deemed appropriate; or 2) modify the conclusions of law and recommendations in the Hearing Panel's report and implement as deemed appropriate; or 3) reject the report in its entirety. In taking action the President may not rely on ex-parte communications and may not reject or modify findings of fact if they are supported by competent substantial evidence in the record. The President will meet with the Hearing Panel to discuss the decision. The decision by the President will be provided in writing to the parties. If the report is modified or rejected, the president shall furnish the parties specific reasons therefore.
No faculty member shall have tenure removed, be dismissed, or suspended without pay and benefits until the University administrative process has been exhausted.

Discussion: A meeting was held with President Machen and the members of the AFTPRS committee to revise the recommendations to meet the approval of all parties. The meeting was held and the following are the finalized recommendations.

One member suggested that in Item # 3, the following be moved to the last sentence, "The President will meet with the Hearing Panel to discuss the decision."

It was also suggested that at the Faculty Senate meeting the recommendations be presented with the original proposals and those revisions (after the meeting with President Machen) that are being presented for approval.

Action Taken: Mike Katovich proposed that this be presented to the Faculty Senate. Gene Hemp seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously.

Next Action: This item will be presented at the Faculty Senate meeting on January 20, 2005.

Policy Councils

Presentation: Each Chair of the Interim Councils was asked to provide a brief overview to the Committee identifying the status of the Council.

Jim Cusick, Council on Academic Planning, Budgeting and Resource Allocation stated that during the interim period the Council was working to identify the necessary steps and procedures to work with Administration and bring forth the faculty voice. Had several meetings at which Sheri Austin and Gene Hemp educated the Council members on the budget cycle and planning in the past, including what has changed, what are the priorities and what are the goals/recommendations.
Gene Hemp, Council on Academic Infrastructure & Support provided a resolution of the Libraries Committee. It stated that the Policy Council or the University Libraries Committee report to the Senate to move library funding at UF higher among peer institutions. Emphasized the need for broader support for Research & Teaching. Members of the Steering Committee agreed that Dale Canelas and the Chair of the Libraries Committee should do so. Interim Council members concluded that six chairs of Committees be made full members. Those committees are (1) Land Use & Facilities Planning, (2) Lakes, Vegetation & Landscape, (3) University Libraries, (4) Preservation of Historic Building & Sites, (5) Parking & Transportation, (6) Information Technology.
Mike Katovich, Council on Academic Freedom, Faculty Quality & Faculty Welfare stated that they had been reviewing the Quality of Life Report as well as the Compensation Report. Worked with the AFTPRS Committee and President to revise their proposals. Have three interim members returning. Discussed the Faculty Survey results and will look into getting a detailed breakdown.
Saeed Khan, Council on Academic Research & Scholarship stated that they had worked to develop a mission statement and matrix of contributing committees. Have three interim members returning for membership.

All Councils will be meeting with Interim Provost Glover and Pierre Ramond for an informal luncheon this month, including the interim members as well as the newly elected members.

Approval of Senate Meeting Agenda

Discussion: None.

Action Taken: Agenda with noted change approved unanimously.

Next Action: Agenda will be posted on the Faculty Senate website. A copy will be emailed to Listserve.

Meeting was adjourned at 4:35pm.

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