UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

Faculty Senate

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Faculty Senate Chair’s Year-End Report, 2007/08

The Senate has covered a lot of ground over this past year. Some of the highlights of our accomplishments are:

·  Passed a resolution endorsing the modification of the “Late Course Withdrawal Policy” which included the requirement that a student seeking a late-in-the-semester course withdrawal be required to obtain the signature of the course instructor. While this change in policy did not win support from the Registrar and other administrators, it was presented to the Deans Council and to the Academic Affairs Policy Council. A compromise which would move the withdrawal deadline up to the end of the 10th week of classes is being considered.

·  Drew up a list of responsibilities of elected officers and department caucus leaders which were approved by the executive committee. The intent was to help senate leaders understand their responsibilities and the requirements for fulfilling their duties as officers. The responsibilities are posted on the senate website.

·  Conducted four “Town Meetings” to solicit suggestions for issues that were of concern of the faculty at large. Many of the issues that were presented in the meetings were pursued and brought to the university administration for their response. Summaries of the issues from the meetings were posted on our website.

·  Received support by the university administration for increasing the increments for promotion raises for Assistant to Associate from $3,000 to $4,000, and for Associate to Full from $5,000 to $6,000. These increases are the first raises in increments in over 15 years.

·  Passed a resolution endorsing the revision of the “Policy and Procedures for Probationary Faculty Non-Reappointment” which addressed the issue that non-tenured faculty who are not reappointed should have the right to receive, upon request and in writing, a statement of the reasons which contributed to that decision. Furthermore, they should have, upon appeal, the possibility of a review by a faculty review committee composed solely of elected members of the faculty body to review allegations of inadequate consideration in such cases. This was an effort to bring the USA Faculty Handbook up to date with current AAUP guidelines, upon which our handbook is based. The issue was brought to the Deans Council and is currently under consideration by the Academic Affairs Policy Council.

·  And, for better or for worse, addressed the issue of football at USA. In our October meeting a straw vote was taken with the Faculty Senate supporting the addition of a football team to the USA athletic programs, if it were done in a fiscally responsible way (i.e., with minimal financial support from the USA’s general operating budget). Because of the compressed time frame (less than 2 months) the faculty did not have ample opportunity for input on the issue, though the executive committee did write a letter to Pres. Moulton outlining our concerns, and we did conduct a quick survey with the results showing that 70% of the faculty supported adding football while 26% opposed it. Both efforts are available for viewing on the faculty senate web page.

Vicki L. Tate, Chair of Faculty Senate (2007/08)

University Library, University of South Alabama

307 University Blvd. N., Mobile, AL 36688-0002

Phone: (251) 460-7024; Fax: (251) 461-1628; e-mail: