Faculty Senate :: The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Faculty Senate

Faculty Senators, 2009-1010. Front row: Jeannine Hurst, Joanna Hadjicostandi, Gae Kovalick, Linda Autry, Shirley Davenport, Prakash Pai, Rachel Juarez-Torres. Back row: Paul Feit, Michael Robinson, Derek Catsam (Vice President), Chad Vanderford (Secretary), Todd Richardson (President), Jim Olson, Joe Stauffer.

The UTPB Faculty Senate represents the faculty of the College of Arts & Science, The School of Business and The School of Education. The UTPB Faculty Senate Governing Body is comprised of the President, the Vice President , Senators and Six Subcommittees. The six subcommittees are: The General Education Oversight Committee, The Curriculum Committee, The Faculty Affairs Committee, The Academic Affairs Committee, The Budget & Governance Committee, and the Student Affairs Committee. Items and Issues brought forth to the senate are referred by the Senate President to the appropriate subcommittee for review and recommendations to be voted upon by the Senate Members.

Current Chairs of the subcommittees are:

General Education Oversight Committee – Gae Kovalick; Kovalick_g@utpb.edu
University Curriculum Committee – Michael Robinson; Robinson_m@utpb.edu
Faculty Affairs Committee -- Derek Catsam; catsam_d@utpb.edu
Academic Affairs Committee – Joanna Hadjicostandi; Hadjicostandi_j@utpb.edu
Budget & Governance Committee – Pai_p@utpb.edu
Student Affairs Committee - Marianne Woods; woods_m@utpb.edu

Senate Minutes:

Pending Issues:

A. November 2009

Retroactive to September 1, 2009, establish a “care and nurturing” process where Student Clubs may receive seed monies for their campus activities as follows:

$50 for Student Clubs who participate all day during Club Day.
$25 for each of two executive officers and the faculty supervisor of a Student Club on the Leadership Training Weekend, up to $75 maximum.
$50 for each booth a Student Club staffs during the Halloween carnival, which is largely a community event designed to bring local citizens on campus; $100 maximum.

Dr. Watts informed the Faculty Senate on December 8, 2009 that he has forwarded this motion to Susan Lara, Jessica Martinez and Student Senate for their review and comment

B. September 2008

1. Strategic Plan

Senate changed wording to includes faculty from other disciplines besides STEM. Senate will ensure that changes have been implemented.

B. March 2008

1. Campus paper and cardboard recycling

Dr. Watts approved plan to resume recycling on campus; senate president has been given assurances in November that recycling will resume in the Spring 2010 semester. Senate faculty await implementation by Physical Plant. Lail Grant informed Senate president on December 8, 2009 that new recycling bins will arrive in January.

2. Parking Issues

Senate voted that the parking spaces besides the GAB building should become handicapped spaces. They also voted that signs warning drivers to slow down should be placed nearby. Finally, they held that the handicapped spaces in the faculty lot should be reserved for general faculty parking. Lail Grant, interim director of Physical Plant, indicated in November 2009 that it is not practical at this time to transform these places into handicap spots.

C. January 2007

Online course evaluations

Dr. Fannin has approved transfer of course evaluations to an online medium, academic affairs committee currently developing a working plan.

D. April 2006

Changes to HOP and/or catalogue regarding minimum GPA required for graduation. Senate President will check history of this senate action for possible resubmission to Dr. Watts.

E. March 2006

Child Care Center

There will be a child care center in the new student center. Faculty likely will not be able to make use of the facility because the student center was built with student funds. If student use is low after two years in operation, faculty then may be allowed to make use of the facility, according to Dr. Watts on October 26, 2009. The development office is still trying to raise funds for a free-standing child care center which faculty may use.

F. November 2005

1. Labor reimbursements for Physical Plant

Senate argued that student activities should receive a waiver for these fees. On October 26, 2009, Dr. Watts has asked that Dr. Chris Forrest review these policies for possible revision. In November, the Senate President was informed that fees charged student clubs would be rescinded.

G. October 2004

1. Faculty development leave

Administration has approved; faculty awaits implementation. Senate President emailed Dr. Fannin on December 8, 2009 for a status report.

2. Faculty work load

Senate requested that this load be changed to 3/3. Administration plans to keep it at 4/4.