MINUTES
MEETING OF THE FULL FACULTY
September 12, 2006
Call to Order and Introductions
President Gavin Townsend called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m. He
introduced the 2006-07 Faculty Senate officers: Richard Rice, (immediate
past president); Gretchen Potts (secretary), Joe Wilferth (second vice
president), Joanie Sompayrac (first vice-president), Jim Hiestand
(parliamentarian), and Marcia Noe, who is not a Faculty Senate officer, but
is Secretary of the Faculty.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the April 25, 2006 meeting were approved. (Fanning/ Rutledge)
FARC Election
Greg O'Dea (English), Steve Kuhn (Mathematics), Karen McGuffey (Legal
Assistant Studies), and Leila Pratt (Eonomics) were nominated to serve on
the Faculty Administrative Relations Committee. Steve Kuhn was elected to
the Faculty Administrative Relations Committee.
Women's Caucus Resolution
Motion: To re-classify the Women's Caucus resolution as a nonmajor item.
(McCullough/Van Ness). The resolution passed on voice vote. This action has
the effect of passing the Women's Caucus resolution that was acted on
affirmatively at the April full faculty meeting:
The UTC faculty is fully committed to an educational environment and
experiences for students that prepare students to become well-educated,
ethical, and active leaders throughout their lives. Accordingly, the UTC
faculty condemns exploitative forms of sexual conduct, such as stalking,
aggravated assault, sexual harassment, rape, date rape, acquaintance rape,
and gang rape. To that end, the University shall take whatever steps
necessary, within its role and jurisdiction, to prevent and penalize
occurrence of such behavior among UTC students and to educate the student
body more broadly about these issues.
Technology Resolution
Motion: To re-classify the Technology Resolution as a nonmajor item.
(Mies/Sompayrac) The resolution to reclassify failed 33-68.
Bruce Hutchinson (Economics) objected to the reclassification because this
action changes the rules in the middle of the process. At the first vote we
were told there would be two votes. Now we're being told there is one
vote. Some might have voted differently if they had known there would not
be a second vote.
Jim Hiestand (Engineering) clarified that what we are effectively voting on
now is whether we want to appeal the previous Chair's ruling that the
resolution was major.
Joe Dumas (Computer Science) said that the Women's Caucus resolutions was
expressing the opinion of the faculty while this resolution will effect a
major reallocation of funds, and this is why it should have a second vote.
Motion: To pass the Technology resolution: (McCullough/Sompayrac)
Joe Wilferth (English) stated that the Technology resolution came from the
Technology Committee. They consulted with the IT people and brought the
resolution to the full faculty meeting last April, at which time it passed
with about 108 people voting for it. At that meeting, one faculty member
compared moving technology on to the E and G budget to moving electricity
onto the E and G budget back in the day. Some items currently funded by the
student technology fee that do not seem appropriately assessed through this
fee (e.g.licensing for Black board) should be moved to the E and G budget.
Theresa Liedtka (Dean of the Library) stated that databases have not gone
onto the E and G budget at this time; they are planning this for next time.
Joe Dumas stated that moving these technology expenses to the E and G
budget is a good thing if we can do it, but we don't know what the E and G
budget will look like next year, let alone in the next five years, and if
we pass this resolution, we are prioritizing technology for E and G funding
ahead of other things, including faculty salaries and we should be very
cautious about doing so.
Gretchen Potts (Chemistry) stated that this is only a recommendation to the
administration; the faculty does not have the power to move technology
expenses to the E and G budget..
Gail Meyer (Chemistry) stated that she would not want to give up the
technology we have and she doesn't see how we can expect student technology
fees to fund things like the maintenance on the Lupton podiums * and other
technology needs.
Matt Greenwell (Art) stated that he doesn't think that, as he reads this
resolution, our voting to support it is the same as putting technology in
some sort of rank or priority order. The point of the resolution is that
we all rely close to completely on the technological infrastructure. He
has sat on the committee that allocates money from the student technology
fee and he knows that that money is gone. This resolution is articulating
the need to get such ongoing costs onto a state budget. The administration
can take the resolution and say, this is coming from the faculty speaking,
with one voice.
The Resolution passed on voice vote:
We, the faculty at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, recognize
the problem of using grant resources, gifts, and endowments, and/or the
Student Technology Fee to fund instructional technologies now essential to
UTC's mission and infrastructure. We therefore support permanent funding.
Because classroom technologies and instructional resources are currently
funded by grants, endowments, or the Student Technology Fee, few funds
remain to address issues of deferred maintenance or to initiate new
resources/projects on our campus. We therefore recommend that UTC develop
a five-year plan to move items to the E &G [Education and General] budget.
Such a request, we understand, requires that we evaluate and potentially
revise the way we currently operate.
Introduction of New Faculty
Charles Nelson introduced new faculty from the College of Arts and
Sciences: Nandini Makrandi (Art); Thomas Wilson (Biology); Mechor De
Guzman, Christopher Hensley, Gale Iles, Criminal Justice); Brian Hooper,
Michael Jay;nes, Gale Mauk, Andrew Najberg, Susan North, Coral Norwood,
Jane Sutton, Leslie Taylor, (English); Hilary Browder and Lynn Purky
(Foreign Language); Harry Hays (History); Nora Del Cul (Mathematics); Ron
Ulen (Music); John Fitzpatrick (Philosophy and Religion); James Gumnick
and Wayne Williams (Physics, Geology, and Astronomy); Jamie Shapiro
(Psychology); Marissa Nesbitt (Southeastern Center for
Education Arts.)
Richard Casavant introduced new faculty from the School of Business. Stan
Davis and Christi Wann (Accounting); Taffe Bishop and Robert Koplowski
(Management); Beverly Brockman and Charles Ragland (Marketing and
Entrepreneurship),
Andy Novobilski introduced new faculty from the School of Engineering and
Computer Science: Mina Sartipi and Chad Burdyshaw.
Mary Tanner introduced new faculty from the College of Health, Education,
and Professional Studies. Cynthia Morgan, Lisa Muirhead, Sandra Walker,
and Miriam Zwitter (Nursing); Jeremiah Tate (Physical Therapy); Scott Bruce
and MacKenzie McDonald, (Health and Human Performance); Cathy Ann Cornell
(Social Work); John Freeman, Peggy Roblyer, Jesse Register and Mary Lynn
Williamson (Education).
Theresa Liedtka introduced a new faculty member from the Lupton Library:
Virgina Cairns.
Report from the Faculty Senate
Richard Brown has been working with the faculty over the summer to develop
some kind of new Faculty Association that would work with the new
University Club. The Senate Executive Committee proposed a 50 for 50 Plan:
for $50.00 a year, a faculty member would become a member of the University
Club, receive a 50% discount on snacks served at the
Club, a 50% discount on Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and Patten Series
tickets, and a 50% discount for academic regalia at the bookstore. Joe
Dumas chairs the Faculty Association Committee.
Bob Swansbrough (Political Science): There are some problems with this
plan: members used to be able to hold events at the Club at no cost; now
they will be charged $500.00; members used to be able to bring their own
liquor; now they will be required to use liquor provided by Airmark; Will
President Townsend have the committee address those issues? Yes.
Claire McCullough (Engineering): a discount on the events at the Club would
be more attractive than the academic regalia discount.
Marcia Noe (English): Where will the $500 go? Richard Brown responded that
it will go to defray the operation of the Club.
President Townsend urged all university units to use the approved template
for websites.
Report from the Provost
We have added 227 new students and some new faculty to teach them. We are
paying particular attention this year to the internationalization of the
campus. Through the offices of Irv Resnick, we now have access to some
permanent space in Oxford England, and we will b e able to get this program
off the ground next summer, beginning with a program in Jewish Studies for
25 students.
We are looking at our recruitment of international students and have worked
cooperatively with UT Martin. We will be making enhanced used of brokers
and doing some travel in search of international students. We need to know
more about faculty interests and abilities in international studies.
We are also interested in enhancing our efforts in distance learning and
have worked out with Business and Financial Affairs a plan that should not
involve putting any more E and G money into it up front while still
expanding technology and continuing our relationship with New College at UT
Martin, which helps us solve our problem with out-of-state tuition
We have secured an informal commitment from the Tennessee National Guard to
reinstitute ROTC on our campus, initially as a satellite program attached
to the Knoxsville campus. We will be doing an interest assessment of the
student in English composition classes and plan to go to the Curriculum
Committee within the next month or so.
Report from the Chancellor
Chancellor Brown welcomed the new faculty and warned that all faculty
meetings are not hilarious. He thanked everyone for their part in the
smooth start up of this school year which boasts a record enrollment in the
history of the University. He recognizes the fact that our housing, which
was a challenge last year because new apartments were not at capacity, are
now at 90 per cent occupancy and will meet the requirements for the bond
debt service with no penalty. We will be talking about new housing in the
near future.
There will be a national search for a provost this fall. The members of
the Provost Search Committee are Fran Bender, chair; Matt Greenwell, Sean
Richards, Andy Novobilski, Gail Dawson, Theresa Liedtka, Lydia Grafton,
Stephanie Bellar, Karen Adsit, Deborah Bell, Jeff Bergen, Jimmy Hill, and
Jim Scales (Superintendent, Hamilton County Schools).
In the next few days a subcommittee of that group will review applications
from national search firms that would like this contract.
As far as strategic planning is concerned, President Peterson has
established the following areas of emphasis: student access, student
success, research, economic development, outreach, and globalization, We
will be dovetailing with the system plan and distinguishing ourselves and
our future plans with input from the faculty. The underlying premises of
the system plan affect us; Tennessee's need for more baccalaureate-trained
individuals, (we are 44 out of 50 for citizens who hold the bachelor's
degree or greater) so that we can be more competitive in the new economy
and also to promote the visibility of the UT system as an entity. When
comparing the UT system with other great university systems, the UT system
does not have great public visibility. A branding campaign is being put
together to let everyone know what UT as a system values. On September 19
there will be in the University Center auditorium a statewide video
conference that will show a video spot about UTC produced by University
Relations followed by a presentation by Dr. Peterson that will unveil
materials that will be part of the branding campaign; these materials will
be used statewide and nationally. There will be refreshments and prizes.
UTC will also be kicking off a major strategic planning effort within the
system effort. A consulting firm will be helping us with the process of
gathering ideas into a format that can be used. All of us need to be
involved in this effort.
The internationalization and distance learning initiatives will be
implemented, along with our K-12 partnerships with public and private
schools and community colleges in the region to build a seamless process of
matriculation from the public schools to the community colleges and/or to
the university. Private agencies, such as the Benwood Foundation, will be
involved also.
The Chancellor has been asked to join the Chamber of Commerce's Can Do
Campaign to promote economic development. He solicits ideas about how
higher education should be involved in the economic development of the area.
The Chancellor will host a Convocation Ceremony this fall on October 3 at
12:15 in the UC auditorium. Some of the ideas from the installation
address will be brought into sharper focus and action steps will be added.
The university community will be invited but classes will not be dismissed.
Academic regalia will not be worn. A reception will follow the convocation.
Richard Rice (History): Will the branding process involve the purchase of
large amounts of orange?
Chancellor: The UT symbol will be used on printed materials throughout the
system regardless of campus. We have been given considerable latitude as
to how we apply the logo on our campus. Nothing regarding athletic
marketing will be affected, but letterhead will look somewhat different.
Mike Russell (History): Will our stationery have to be orange?
Chancellor: There will be options. We will be able to use the UT symbol
in gold or black for a number of applications.
Bob Boyer presented a list of nonathletic events on campus, such as music
and theatre. The Patten Performances will begin on September 19 with A
Midsummer Night's Dream. A seven show subscription will give you a 50%
discount; the regular faculty ticket price is $13.00. Boyer urged the
faculty to take a look at the many entertainment options around campus.
Verbie Prevost (English) announced Herbert Woodward Martin's Paul Laurence
Dunbar show on Wednesday, October 4th at7:30 p.m. in the Roland Hayes
Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Center. This event commemorates the
centenary of African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar's death. The
campus community is invited.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Marcia Noe
Secretary of the Faculty