University of Florida Faculty Senate

Faculty-Senate Meeting AGENDA February 17, 2005 3:00 - 5:00 PM Reitz Union Auditorium
Meeting Agenda
Approval of January 20, 2005 Meeting Minutes	Pierre Ramond, Chair
• Chair's Report	Pierre Ramond, Chair
• Interdisciplinary Initiatives	Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources
ACTION ITEMS
• Proposed Constitutional Changes	Tim Taylor, Chair, Academic Freedom, Tenure, Professional Relations & Standards Committee
• New Degree College of Engineering - B.S. in Computer Science	Sheila Dickison, Chair, Curriculum Committee
• New Department C.O.M. - Department of Urology	Sheila Dickison, Chair, Curriculum Committee
• Proposed Constitutional Language - Academic & Professional Assembly Determination of Assistant In for Faculty Membership Determination of Full-time	Chris Snodgrass, Chair, Constitution Committee
INFORMATION ITEMS
• University Athletic Association & Academic Programs	Jeremy Foley, Athletic Director Albert Matheny, Chair, Intercollegiate Athletic Committee
• University Libraries Facilities University Characteristics Library Characteristics User Support Characteristics	Scott Nygren, Chair, Policy Council on Infrastructure & Support
Approval of January 20, 2005 Meeting Minutes	Pierre Ramond
Presentation: Minutes of the January 20, 2005 meeting were unanimously approved.
Action Taken: Minutes will be posted on the Faculty Senate website.	Next Action:
Reports
Chair's Report	Pierre Ramond
Presentation:The policy councils are all working hard and have all met with Interim Provost Glover. They have all received their charges and have all elected chairs. On the Senate web site there is form for self-nomination or nomination of others for university committees. Dr. Ramond encouraged everyone to give these nominations serious consideration. Procedures for election of senators have been sent to all deans. The Academic Council of Faculty Senates (ACFS) chair holds a seat on the Board of Governors (BOG). This position represents the faculty voice on the BOG.
Interdisciplinary Initiatives	Jimmy Cheek, Dean, Agricultural and Life Sciences
Presentation: Vice President Cheek believes UF is a great university and can be even greater through interdisciplinary efforts. The university currently has four interdisciplinary initiatives. One of the efforts is the School of Natural Resources and Environment. The program has progressed from an initial 30 graduate students to almost 100 graduate students and almost 100 undergraduate students. Another initiative is the Water Institute. A launch team is now in place. A third program is Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology. They have 35 graduate students. The fourth effort is Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology which is in the approval process.
Action Items
Proposed Constitutional Changes	Tim Taylor, Chair, Academic Freedom, Tenure, Professional Relations & Standards Committee
Presentation: Tim Taylor presented four constitutional changes which were prepared by the Committee on Academic Freedom, Tenure, Professional Relations & Standards Committee in coordination with President Machen. These proposed constitutional changes include: The number of faculty required for a full AFTPRS panel hearing should be reduced from the current number of five (5) to three (3). Upon the request of the Petitioner or Committee the University shall supply the Petitioner and Committee all relevant information pertinent to the petition No faculty member shall have tenure removed, be dismissed, or suspended without pay and benefits until the University administrative process has been exhausted Within 25 days of receipt of both the record 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. If the report is modified or rejected, the president shall furnish the parties specific reasons therefore. The decision by the President will be provided in writing to the parties. The President will meet with the Hearing Panel to discuss the decision.
Action Taken:Proposal #1 - was approved. Proposal #2 - was approved. Proposal #3 - was approved. Proposal #4 - was approved.	Next Action: All four approved proposals will be sent to the Constitution Committee for final wording.
New Degree College of Engineering- BS in Computer Science	Sheila Dickison, Chair, Curriculum Committee
Presentation: Associate Provost Dickison presented a proposed new degree from the College of Engineering, the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
Action Taken: The proposed new degree was approved.	Next Action:
New Department C.O.M. - Department of Urology	Sheila Dickison, Chair, Curriculum Committee
Presentation: Associate Provost Dickison presented the proposed new Department of Urology in the College of Medicine.
Action Taken: The proposed new department was approved.	Next Action:
Proposed Constitutional Changes - 1) Academic & Professional Assembly, 2) Determination of Assistant In for Faculty Membership, 3) Determination of Full-Time	Chris Snodgrass, Chair, Constitution Committee
Discussion: Chris Snodgrass reintroduced three proposed constitutional changes:
Conclusions: Senators expressed concern that the designation, TEAMS A, in the proposal on the Academic and Professional Assembly, was not adequately defined.
Action Taken: Proposal #1, which establishes the Academic and Professional Assembly, was tabled. The Constitution Committee will revise this item and return for presentation to the Faculty Senate. Proposal #2, which determines membership for the titles of Assistant In, Associate In and Senior Associate In, was approved. Proposal #3, which addressed the matter of full-time designation, was approved.	Next Action: The Constitution Committee will address the definition of TEAMS A in the APA proposal and resubmit the proposed change.
Information Items
University Athletic Association & Academic Programs	Jeremy Foley, Athletic Director Albert Matheny, Chair, Intercollegiate Athletic Committee
Albert Matheny and Jeremy Foley provided information on student athletes, the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee (IAC) and the University Athletic Association (UAA). The IAC is a bridge between the faculty and the UAA and reports to the president. The UAA is a private corporation that was established in 1929 to ensure that funds that could be used for academics were not directed to athletics. The athletic program receives no state money as part of its $60 million budget. The athletic director reports directly to the president. The UAA has donated $32 million to the university since 1990. All pay-per-view telecast receipts are given to the library system. Mr. Foley encourages feedback from the faculty.
University Library Facilities: (1) University Characteristics, (2) Library Characteristics, (3) User Support Characteristics	Scott Nygren, Chair, Policy Council on Academic Infrastructure & Support
Scott Nygren provided an overview of the UF library system and how it compares to the top ten public universities. UF is at or near the bottom in total library expenditures, volumes, staff, volumes per student and library staff members per student. If UF is going to move into the top ten public universities, the library must be a priority.
Additional Information
The meeting adjourned at 4:10 P.M.

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