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16887-16895a
DOCUMENTS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE FACULTY
COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES
OF THE GENERAL FACULTY FOR 1997-1998
The Standing Committees
of the General Faculty designated below have submitted their Annual
Reports for the academic year 1997-1998, in accordance with a
motion adopted by the University Council earlier and President
Berdahl's request of February 17, 1995. These reports are being
distributed for the information of the Faculty Council.
/Signed/
John R. Durbin, Secretary
The Faculty Council
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES
OF THE GENERAL FACULTY FOR 1997-1998
The Annual Reports of the Standing Committees of
the General Faculty for 1997-1998 received to date are reproduced
below.
| A. |
FACULTY AFFAIRS COMMITTEES
| 1. |
Committee of Counsel on Academic Freedom and
Responsibility
The Committee has not taken up any new business.
Karl Galinsky, Chair
|
| 2. |
Faculty Advisory Committee on Budgets
The Faculty Advisory Committee on Budgets submitted
its report earlier. It can be found in Documents and Proceedings
of the Faculty Council D&P 16691-16692.
Michael H. Granof Chair
|
| 3. |
Faculty Committee on Committees
During the 1997-1998
Academic Year, the Committee on Committees developed and recommended
the following actions:
1. |
Selected a Vice Chair, Linda Ferreira-Buckley. |
2. |
Recommended nominees to the President's
Office for two committees: the Information Technology Advisory
Committee (ITAC); and the Information Technology Coordinating
Committee (ITCC). At present, neither of these is listed as a
Standing Committee of the General Faculty. The former committee
is being considered for standing committee status, and the latter
committee was established early in the academic year. |
3. |
Recommended to the Faculty Council
that the Secretary of the General Faculty be an ex officio member
of the Committee and that chairs of Standing Committees be limited
to General Faculty members. Both recommendations were approved
by the Council on March 23, 1998, and by the President on April
10, 1998. |
4. |
During the Spring 1998 semester,
solicited nominations for Standing Committees of the General Faculty,
used those nominations to recommend nominees for each Standing
Committee for which nominees were needed, and submitted the lists
of nominees to the President's Office on April 27, 1998. |
5. |
Considered a recommendation from
Peggy Kramer, President of the University Staff Association, for
more representation of staff on Standing Committees, namely, at
least two staff representatives on all Group B and Group C committees.
Following discussions with the chairs of those committees, the
Committee recommended representation changes on one committee,
the Parking and Traffic Appeals Committee. |
6. |
Recommended that the Faculty Council
Executive Committee consider appointing chairs for Standing Committees. |
7. |
Delayed until the 1998-99 Academic
Year review of Committee charges and the recommendation from Peggy
Kramer that a Staff Grievance Committee and Staff Welfare Committee
be established. |
8. |
Determined that a faculty member may effectively chair two committees. |
9. |
Recommended a wording change to enable the Committee on Committees, on request, to nominate members
for committees other than Standing Committees. |
Neal A. Armstrong, Chair
|
|
| 4. |
Faculty Grievance Committee
The Faculty Council
passed at its 23 March 1998 meeting the Grievance Committee's
proposal to create an elected position of chair-elect who would
serve one year and then assume the position of chair in the following
year. This legislation provides continuity to the committee's
work.
A proposal for an ombudsperson will
be discussed this summer, with possible legislation submitted
early in Fall 1998.
Members of the Grievance Committee
are working on four active faculty grievances.
Janet Staiger, Chair
|
| 5. |
Faculty Welfare Committee
The Faculty Welfare Committee submitted its report
earlier. It can be found in Documents and Proceedings of the
Faculty Council D&P 16693-16699.
Sue A. Greninger, Chair
|
| 6. |
Rules Committee of the General Faculty
The Rules Committee completed the business initiated
by the 1996-1997 committee to clarify the procedures for membership
in standing committees and the Faculty Council. Most of the resulting
rule changes were approved by the committee and presented at the
October 1997 meeting of the General Faculty. Remaining items
of business were considered at an April meeting of the committee,
and there were no new rules changes recommended.
Ann Cvetkovich, Chair
|
| 7. |
University of Texas Press Advisory Committee
1. |
Legislation referred to, or in preparation
for, the Faculty Council.
The Committee has not had any legislation
referred to it by the Faculty Council nor has any legislation
in preparation. |
2. |
Activities of the Committee during
the 1997-1998 Year
A written progress report was filed
during the fall semester (1997) on the work of the Committee.
The usual responsibility of the Committee is to meet with the
Director of the Press and Senior Editorial Staff and in those
meetings to review readers' reports of manuscripts under consideration
by the Press. The Committee then votes to recommend or not recommend
each manuscript under review for publication by the Press. There
are two or three meetings during each of the long semesters and
usually one or two meetings during the summer. The frequency and
length of meetings is a function of when sufficient readers' reports
are ready for Committee consideration. Three meetings were held
during the fall semester of the Committee and three during the
spring semester. One meeting will be scheduled in June and one
in August.
In addition to attention to manuscripts,
the Committee has discussed with Press staff publishing priorities
and had presentations by several Committee members on how the
resources of the Press can best meet scholarly needs in the Committee
members' respective fields. This is an activity that was begun
in the previous year and continued through this year.
Joanna Hitchcock, the Editor of the
Press, has made a point of inviting faculty advisory board members
to functions of the Press's external advisory board. These meetings
have permitted those persons on the external advisory board to
achieve a better understanding of the variety of roles that faculty
play in their university responsibilities including service on
the Press Faculty Advisory Committee. Faculty members, in turn,
have an opportunity to see how the books of the Press are viewed
by citizens who have special concerns and support for scholarship.
The exchange has been highly advantageous to the Press and something
that should continue.
Michael L. Lauderdale, Chair
|
|
|
| B. |
STUDENT SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES COMMITTEES
| 1. |
Committee on Financial Aid to Students
This committee met eight times from,
September 1997 to present, and will meet one more time before
the close of the academic year. The minutes of each meeting are
attached.
Throughout the year the committee discussed
a variety of issues regarding student financial aid. Below are
the highlighted issues:
15
Staff Salaries
One of the most important issues for
this committee is the effect of low staff salaries. The turnover
rate for entry level staff is accelerating whereas the training
for new staff is becoming even more time-consuming and complex.
Hiring someone without experience means a lengthy training period,
yet hiring experienced staff is not possible given the University's
compensation levels. It was noted that two years ago the Faculty
Budget Committee began recommending that staff be given preferential
treatment for salary increases. Committee members suggested sending
a memo to Vice President Sharpe supporting creation of a proposed
campus-wide committee to study compensation problems. This committee
felt compelled to comment on this issue.
Presidential Achievement Scholarship
On January 15, 1998, Office of Student
Financial Services (OSFS) Director Larry Burt met with Executive
Officers regarding funding needs for the President's Achievement
Scholarship (PAS) program and the National Merit Scholarship program.
Current cost for the Texas Achievement Award (TAA), Texas Achievement
Honors Award (TAHA) and the PAS was $5 million. However, the allocation
was only $4.9 million.
National Merit Scholarships
Current cost for the National Merit
Program is approximately $1.9 million a year. The University of
Texas at Austin ranks second to Harvard in the number of National
Merit Finalists. It was noted that University policy calls for
the financial aid office to reduce awards to students whenever
they receive a scholarship from an academic department. This situation
comes about because the OSFS is not allocated enough money to
cover full tuition and fees for all National Merit scholarship
winners. Academic Departments sometimes attempt to award scholarships,
only to be frustrated in their efforts when the Office of Student
Financial Services reduces its commitment. In order for the OSFS
to be able to cover these costs, it would need an annual increase
in funding of approximately $500,000 to $600,000. For the first
time ever, stacking will be allowed for fall 1999. Stacking allows
the student to keep any extra scholarship funds they receive from
departments without having their National Merit scholarship reduced
by the same amount. Each student may receive $3,000 as well as
any departmental funds.
Capital Campaign Fund
A continuing problem is the extent
of unmet financial need and borrowing by students. Last academic
year the committee wrote to President Robert Berdahl suggesting
that a Capital Campaign Endowment be created to address this student
need. Committee members authorized Dr. Burt to send another letter
along with updated accompanying data to President Flawn in order
to assure that this issue is addressed as part of the Capital
Campaign. Funding for need-based scholarships is third on the
list of the Capital Campaign priorities. The committee had hoped
that it would receive a higher priority.
OSFS Publications
The committee addressed concerns regarding
the degree, clarity and ease of communication to students via
OSFS publications. Our goal was to assist in improving ways to
increase information and increase quality of publications going
out to students. Students can receive information using the World
Wide Web, OSFS mail outs, e-mails and pamphlets located in the office. Information is clear and
concise; we concluded that the accuracy of the materials is of
high quality. The committee felt that little or no changes are
needed at this time.
Unified Undergraduate Scholarship Policy
The committee addressed the issue
of unified undergraduate scholarships. The issue was brought to
the attention of the Executive Officers. They approved the handling
of processing of all freshman scholarship awards by the OSFS.
Dr. Larry Burt will make a presentation to the Deans Council to
secure their support and provide answers to the deans' questions.
ROSE (Registration on-line System)
The committee addressed the issue
of the ROSE with regard to payment of tuition and fees. Some students
expressed concern with the difficulty of on-line web fee payment
procedures. Plans are underway to establish a link from the OSFS
and payment of tuition and fees through internet registration
for all students. Target date is set for Fall of 1998.
Ron Brown Scholarships
The committee evaluated the applicants
for the Ron Brown Scholarship in May. This scholarship is awarded
to dependents of employees of the University of Texas System.
The scholarship award is $1,000.00 and will be awarded for the
1998-1999 school year. The following recipients are:
Dawn Mudie Cathleen Padden Emily Hueski Michael Demkowicz Citalli Phillips Nicole Hurley 1st alternate is Peter McGuire, and
2nd alternate is Sarah Faulkner Martin E. Chapa, Chair
|
| 2. |
Recreational Sports Committee
I am writing
to provide you the annual report of the Recreational Sports Committee
for 1997-98. The Recreational Sports Committee is a standing committee
of The University of Texas. It advises the Division of Recreational
Sports on matters of policy, provides input on facility construction
and expansion, hears appeals from various councils, and promulgates
regulations for participation in non-student programs. The Committee
met monthly during the Fall and Spring semesters of 1996-1997.
In the area of facility development,
the Committee monitored the completion of the Gregory Gym Renovation
Project. In that connection the Committee advised the Division
of Recreational Sports with respect to a number of issues that
arose as students, faculty and staff began to use the newly completed
facility. The Committee has also provided advice to the Division
of Recreational Sports regarding the Campus Master Plan.
The Committee once again expressed
its strong support for a payroll deduction plan for faculty and
staff that would allow the costs of membership to be spread throughout
an entire year. The Committee also continues to support the idea
of financial support from the University for faculty and staff
desiring to participate in recreational sports programs. It was noted that many corporations provided
financial support for various fitness programs, and the University
might elect to pursue a similar course of action.
Finally, the Committee offered advice
to the Division of Recreational Sports concerning its budget request.
The Committee concluded that increases in funding are necessary
to provide adequate personnel and higher salaries for existing
personnel.
As in the past, the staff of the Division
of Recreational Sports was exceedingly well prepared and helpful.
The Division is very receptive to all input from faculty, staff
and students. The Committee was very favorably impressed by the
performance of the staff during the sometimes trying early stages
of adjustment to the new Gregory Gym facility. The entire staff
devoted time and attention to implementation during this sensitive
period that went well beyond the call of duty.
The Committee believes that the University
of Texas has an outstanding recreational sports program and hopes
that it will continue to improve.
Thomas O. McGarity, Chair
|
| 3. |
Committee on Student Affairs
After a meeting with Dr. James Vick,
Committee on Student Affairs accepted as its charge this year
the task of obtaining feedback from faculty concerning the construction
of new dormitories on campus. After two meetings with representatives
from Housing, two written descriptions of model dorms were prepared
and with the aid of student leaders around campus a list of approximately
50 faculty members has been constructed. Focus groups will be
held this summer or early next fall to obtain feedback concerning
these two dorm "concepts."
Eli P. Cox III, Chair
|
|
| C. |
INSTITUTIONAL POLICY OR GOVERNANCE
1. |
Admissions and Registration Committee
No report submitted
Joseph M. Horn, Chair
|
2. |
Calendar Committee
The Calendar Committee met on February
4th. We took the following actions:
1. |
Approved the calendar for 1999-2000
as presented by June Burke, Associate Registrar. |
2. |
Decided to withdraw the proposal
submitted in Spring 1997 to the Faculty Council to extend the
length of class sessions in the summer from 75 to 90 minutes.
The proposal appears to lack the support necessary for approval. |
3. |
Decided to postpone further consideration
of a proposed two-day, mid-Fall semester break until we are presented
with additional evidence of student support for it.
|
Michael Granof, Chair
|
3. |
Commencement and Academic Ceremonies Committee
Plans for the graduation ceremony are
similar to those used last year.. If changes occur, they will
be addressed at the May 11 meeting.
R. Rolando Hinojosa-Smith,
Chair
|
4. |
Educational Policy Committee
The Educational Policy Committee held
10 meetings during the 1997-1998 academic year, during which the
topics outlined below were addressed.
The Committee revised and submitted
to the Council a set of recommendations formulated by the 1996-1997
Educational Policy Committee regarding Obstacles to Timely Graduation
by Undergraduates. The Committee's recommendations were approved
by the Council.
The Committee reviewed a proposal by
the UT System Student Advisory Group for a so-called Student Exchange
Program among Component Institutions of the UT System, and formulated
a written response that was forwarded to the Board of Regents.
The Committee developed a proposal
to permit undergraduate students' simultaneous enrollment in two
degree programs (i.e., two majors). The Committee's proposal
was approved by the Council.
The Committee, at the request of the
Council, reviewed a proposal submitted by the Calendar Committee
regarding changes in the summer course schedule. The Calendar
Committee's recommendations were subsequently withdrawn from consideration.
The Committee submitted a proposal
regarding the signatures required for dropping a course after
the fourth week of classes. The Committee's proposal was approved
by the Council.
The Committee met with Vice-Provost
Chris Maziar regarding the proposed 42-hour liberal arts Core
Curriculum being considered by the Legislature.
The Committee developed a resolution
urging faculty to include a university-wide syllabus statement
concerning students with disabilities and procedures for accommodating
students' special needs in university coursework. The resolution
was approved by the Council.
The Committee voted to present to the
Council legislation regarding the inclusion of grades earned through
credit-by-examination in UT-Austin grade point averages. The
legislation will be considered at the first Council meeting of
the 1998-1999 academic year.
Items to be forwarded to the next academic
year:
The Committee will review the current
university policies related to students' concurrent enrollment
in UT and other institutions and will make recommendations to
the Council.
The Committee will consider university
policy regarding the minimum number of students that must be enrolled
in a Substantial Writing Component Course in order for the course
instructor to receive 4.5 teaching load credits, and will make
recommendations to the Council. The Committee will participate in the
implementation of the 42-hour liberal arts Core Curriculum.
Robert A. Duke, Chair
|
5.
5.
Faculty Building Advisory Committee
No report submitted.
Austin M. Gleeson, Chair
|
|
6. |
International Programs and Studies Committee
The International Programs Committee
met twice during the Fall 1997 semester. At those meetings the
items to be pursued for the year were discussed, and two issues
were selected by the Committee for further investigation. The
first issue regarded the funding of the Study Abroad Office, specifically
obtaining support for the student vote that had tentatively been
scheduled in which students would vote on a proposed increase
in fees that would be directed toward the Study Abroad Office.
The second issue concerned admissions of international students.
Anecdotal evidence suggested there are many delays in the consideration
of foreign applicants to graduate programs at the University.
Upon contacting Bill Paver, we were told that this criticism has
been heard from time to time, and that the Admissions Office is
genuinely concerned about its occurrence. They need to know specific
cases, however, in order to track the purported problems involved.
The International Programs Committee
provides a faculty forum to serve as a conduit between faculty,
students and administration. It also will serve to advise and
react to internationally-oriented issues facing the University
that are brought to it by the Administration.
Robert T.
Green, Chair
|
7. |
Library Committee
The Library Committee met twice in
the fall semester and three times in the spring semester. A major
item of business was the resubmission to the Faculty Council of
a tabled proposal to amend the charge and membership of the Committee
so as to reflect the new responsibility of the Committee to provide
recommendations on how student library fee money should be allocated.
In the spring semester the Committee submitted its recommended
revisions to the Faculty Council for approval. The Committee's
recommendations were approved by the Council at its meeting of
March 23 with one amendment, to increase the graduate student
representation on the Committee from one to two.
The Committee also discussed ways to
secure increased funding for Library acquisitions and staff salaries.
State funding for the General Libraries has not increased in ten
years, despite drastic inflation in the cost of serials and other
materials and the eroding value of employee salaries. The Committee
received a report from the Director of the General Libraries on
current plans to include the libraries in the Capital Campaign
and on ongoing strategies being developed in the ARL to combat
the spiraling costs of serials acquisitions. Library funding will
continue to be a major topic of discussion in the Committee in
the year ahead.
The Committee also received and discussed
reports on the results of a student use survey, the allocation
of student library fee money, and enhancements to UT's digital
library capability, which facilitates electronic access to UT
system libraries statewide. The Committee will continue to discuss the implications of expanding demand
for digital information technology for the future growth and development
of the General Libraries.
Reflecting the central importance of
library and information services to the basic mission of the University,
the faculty and student members of the Library Committee undertook
their responsibilities this year with enthusiasm and dedication.
The Chair is grateful for their support.
Carolyn P. Boyd, Chair
|
8.
8.
Parking and Traffic Appeals Panel
My committee reviewed 38 appeals over
the year and rendered decisions concerning them.
Earle F. McBride, Chair
|
|
9. |
Parking and Traffic Policies Committee
No report submitted.
William Myers, Chair
|
10. |
Recruitment and Retention Committee
During the year a number of focus
groups and task forces met throughout the University, each of
which dealt with issues related to recruitment and retention of
students, either at the undergraduate or graduate level. A number
of members of the Recruitment and Retention Committee participated
in these discussion groups and it is expected that those members
will share the results of their activities and recommendations
with the new Committee during the coming academic year, for possible
action.
Three activities which the Committee
recommends as worthy of further support from higher administrative
levels are the ongoing admissions and outreach efforts, the continuation
of the Student Success Conference on Retention, and the development
of programs which enrich the Freshman year experience.
Despite the clear disadvantage in
recruitment due to the Hopwood decision under which the University
operates, initial evidence suggests that the 10% admissions law
may help obviate some of those disadvantages. Nevertheless, the
necessity of maintaining and even expanding recruitment efforts
centered around admissions centers in the major urban areas of
San Antonio, Dallas and Houston is evident; such centers represent
an aggressive effort to encourage participation in the University
experience from a diverse population.
The Retention conference brought together
campus leaders and provided a forum to discuss and provide possible
avenues through which the University can enhance its retention
efforts. Evaluation by participants indicates that subsequent
conferences on this topic should be held,
A significant component of retention
is the enhancement of the freshman year experience. The University
has a significant lack of congregating places, small classes at
this level and residential colleges. Long-term planning is required
to overcome many of these deficiencies. However, in the short-term,
programs such as Freshman Interest Groups and special programs
within Colleges which have provided significant small class experience
are to be encouraged and supported to their fullest. In particular, an effort should be made
to identify and coordinate all such efforts to ensure fuller participation
by entering freshman.
Efraim Armendariz, Chair
|
| 11. |
Committee on Responsibilities, Rights, and Welfare of Teaching Assistants and Assistant Instructors
No report submitted.
Daniel A. Bonevac, Chair |
|
This document was placed on
the Faculty Council web site, www.utexas.edu/faculty council/, on May 25 1999.
Paper copies are available on request from the Office of the
General Faculty, FAC 22, F9500. |
