Faculty Senate

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

Presentation: Pierre Ramond congratulated the Senate on it increased attendance at meetings. He also stated how pleased he was that 110 senators participated in the recent council elections.

Dr. Ramond presented the Faculty Senate newsletter. He emphasized the new section titled Laudeamus. Stated that next month (February) CALS will be spotlighted, then in March, Medicine and then in April CLAS will be highlighted.

Presentation: President Machen praised the work of the ad hoc Committee on Tenure. He remains unsure about allowing colleges to decide whether the tenure period is six or seven years.

The president reviewed the budget recently released by the governor. Some areas of responsibility for tuition were given to the Boards of Trustees. The budget allows for fully funding the matching gifts backlog. There is no money in the budget for salaries.

Next Action:
 

Next Action: The Ad Hoc Committee will meet to identify the next steps during the interim period when the office is being setup. President Machen will meet with the Council on Academic Freedom, Faculty Quality & Faculty Welfare to identify the funding source and get the office set up.

Presentation: Tim Taylor, Chair of the AFTPRS Committee, presented the following recommendations for the Faculty Senate to consider:

• 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

Presentation: Sheila Dickison presented a request for new degree proposal, a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Computer Science, College of Engineering (CIP 11.0701)

Discussion: Danaya Wright presented three proposed constitutional changes.

• University employees who hold the academic titles of Senior Associate In, Associate In, or Assistant In, are considered members of the faculty unless the appointing college certifies their primary assignment to be in administrative support areas of the University instead of in direct pursuit of the teaching, research and academic service missions of the University.
• Persons employed by the University of Florida during the regular academic year are members of the faculty if they hold one of the following academic titles:
  
  
  1. Eminent Scholar
  2. Graduate Research Professor
  3. Distinguished Service Professor, Distinguished Research Curator
  4. Distinguished Professor
  5. Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor
  6. Curator, Associate Curator, or Assistant Curator
  7. Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist, or Assistant Research Scientist
  8. Scholar, Associate Scholar, or Assistant Scholar
  9. Engineer, Associate Engineer, or Assistant Engineer
  10. Extension Scientist, Associate Extension Scientist, or Assistant Extension Scientist
  11. University Librarian, Associate University Librarian, or Assistant University Librarian
  12. Master Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, or Lecturer
  13. PKY University Developmental Research School Professor, PKY Associate Professor, PKY Assistant Professor, or PKY Instructor
  14. County Extension Agent IV, County Extension Agent III, County Extension Agent II, County Extension Agent I
  15. Any of the above titles modified only by clinical, research, or extension.
  
  
• References to full-time employment were deleted.