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2817 DOCUMENTS OF THE GENERAL FACULTY Following are the minutes of the regular Faculty Council meeting of December 8, 2003. <signed> John R. Durbin, Secretary The General Faculty MINUTES OF THE REGULAR FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 8, 2003 The fourth regular meeting of the Faculty Council for the academic year 2003-2004 was held in the Main Building, Room 212, Monday, December 8, 2003, at 2:15 P.M. ATTENDANCE. Present: Lawrence D. Abraham, Kamran S. Aghaie, Ricardo C. Ainslie, Urton L. Anderson, Marian J. Barber, David G. Bogard, Teresa Graham Brett, Jennifer S. Brodbelt, Neal M. Burns, Maggie Chiang, Michael J. Churgin, Melba M. Crawford, Janet M. Davis, Donald William Drumtra, John R. Durbin, Sheldon Ekland-Olson, Larry R. Faulkner, Kenneth Flamm, Wolfgang Frey, Alan W. Friedman, Charles N. Friedman, James D. Garrison, Michael H. Granof, Sue A. Greninger, Lita A. Guerra, Marvin L. Hackert, Brian J. Haley, Julie Hallmark, John J. Hasenbein, Susan S. Heinzelman, James L. Hill, Neville Hoad, Sharon D. Horner, Judith A. Jellison, Martin W. Kevorkian, Slyman M. Majid, Arthur B. Markman, Melvin E. L. Oakes, Edward W. (Ted) Odell, Thomas G. Palaima, Anthony J. Petrosino, Linda E. Reichl, Eric A. Renner, David B. Spence, Janet Staiger, Salomon A. Stavchansky, Sharon L. Strover, James W. Vick, John M. Weinstock, Darlene C. Wiley, Lynn R. Wilkinson, Paul B. Woodruff, James R. Yates. Absent: Dean J. Almy, Jacqueline L. Angel (excused), Daniela Bini (excused), Hans C. Boas, Daniel A. Bonevac, Johnny S. Butler (excused), Joshua S. Campbell, Alan K. Cline (excused), Patricia L. Clubb, Andrew P. Dillon, Edwin Dorn, Phillip L. Dubov, Robert Freeman, George W. Gau, Peter F. Green, Carl T. Haas, Susanne Hafner, Donald A. Hale, Michael P. Harney, Thomas M. Hatfield, Fred M. Heath, Kevin P. Hegarty, Kurt O. Heinzelman, Archie L. Holmes, Raymond Bert "Rusty" Ince III, Manuel J. Justiz (excused), Robert D. King (excused), Richard W. Lariviere, Steven W. Leslie, William S. Livingston, Amarante L. Lucero, Dean P. Neikirk (excused), Patricia C. Ohlendorf (excused), Marcus G. Pandy, Theodore E. Pfeifer, William C. Powers, Mary Ann R. Rankin, Johnnie D. Ray, Victoria Rodriguez, Charles R. Rossman (excused), David J. Saltman (excused), Juan M. Sanchez, Dolores Sands, Diane L. Schallert (excused), M. Michael Sharlot, Mark C. Smith (excused), David W. Springer (excused), Frederick R. Steiner, Ben G. Streetman, Daniel A. Updegrove, N. Bruce Walker, Ellen A. Wartella, Gwendolyn Webb-Johnson, Barbara W. White, Glen M. Worley. Voting Members: 48 present 26 absent 74 total Non-Voting Members: 5 present 29 absent 34 total Total Members: 53 present 55 absent 108 total 2818 I. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. The written report appears in D 2778-2783. There were no questions or comments. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. TThe minutes of the Faculty Council Meeting of November 17, 2003 (D 2784-2788) were approved by voice vote. This being the last meeting during the secretary’s tenure in the office, Chair Marvin Hackert thanked him for his contributions to faculty governance at the University, in particular, as secretary of the General Faculty 1975-76 and 1998-2003, and as chair of the Faculty Senate 1982-84 and 1991-92. He made special mention of the changes to electronic documents, use of the Web, and efforts to complete the files on faculty memorial resolutions. He also presented the secretary with a copy of each of the bound volumes of the General Faculty documents for the years 1998-2003. The secretary thanked the following persons for their support and assistance during his time as Faculty Senate chair and as secretary: Marla Crowder, Frieda Speck, Dorothea Adams, Elaine Ward, Teresa Acosta, Cheryl Fuller, Laura Kobler, Jenny Morgan, Debbie Roberts, Chris Marcin, and Jane Durbin. He also said that he felt fortunate to be associated with such a wonderful institution. III. COMMUNICATION WITH THE PRESIDENT. A. Comments by the President. President Faulkner joined the chair in thanking the secretary and made special mention of the work that had been done on faculty memorial resolutions. He said he believed the resolutions contributed to the identity and continuity of the institution. The president reviewed events in recent months relating to tuition deregulation, which involved the legislature, other state leaders, the Board of Regents, the administration, student leaders, and members of the faculty. He expressed special appreciation to the Tuition Policy Advisory Committee. He said their recommendations would guide the University in concentrating on three critical issues: preservation of physical facilities, expansion of the faculty, and improvement in compensation. He then discussed proposed changes in admission criteria, in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that would admit race as one of the criteria for admission to the University. He acknowledged the important roles played by Executive Vice President and Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson, Vice President and Dean of Graduate Studies Victoria Rodriguez, and Dean of the Law School William Powers. He said more details about changes in admission criteria would be worked out and made public in the coming months. B. Questions to the President. There were no questions. IV. REPORT OF THE CHAIR. Chair Hackert gave a brief report on a recent meeting of the UT System Faculty Advisory Committee, which he had attended along with Michael Granof, past chair of the Council. V. REPORT OF THE CHAIR ELECT. In his report as chair, on behalf of Chair Elect Linda Reichl, Chair Hackert announced that the annual meeting of the Council with members of the Faculty Senate of Texas A&M University would be held in College Station on February 23. 2819 VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS — None. VII. REPORTS OF THE GENERAL FACULTY, COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS, AND COMMITTEES — None. VIII. NEW BUSINESS. A. A. Protest to D 2770-2771, Proposed Change in the Fine Arts Registration Requirements in the College Of Fine Arts Chapter of The Undergraduate Catalog, 2004-2006 (D 2789). The proposed change and rationale for the protest may be found in the documents listed. Because the Committee on Undergraduate Degree Program Review had recommended approval of the proposal, this item was introduced as a motion to approve the proposal. The primary issue involved the question of restricting registration for certain courses to students majoring in the department offering the courses, especially when students in other majors were required to take courses in the area with the restrictions or might have a natural interest in that area. Speaking, in general, against the proposed catalog change, were Professors Larry Abraham (curriculum and instruction, kinesiology and health education), Paul Woodruff (philosophy), and Sue Greninger (human ecology), and Brian Haley (Student Government); the primary argument was that students should have the opportunity to take the courses they want or need. Defending the proposed change were Professors Lita Guerra (music) and Bill Wiman (art and art history); the primary argument was that the resources in the departments involved were limited. The motion to approve the proposed change was defeated by voice vote. B. Protest to D 2776-2777, Proposed Addition of Information for Non-Communication Studies Majors in the College of Communication Chapter of The Undergraduate Catalog, 2004-2006 (D 2790). As with the previous item, the proposed change and rationale for the protest may be found in the documents listed. Because the Committee on Undergraduate Degree Program Review had recommended approval of the proposal, this item was introduced as a motion to approve the proposal. Again, the issue was limited resources for offering courses versus student choice. Speaking either against the proposed catalog change or to suggest that the wording be revised, were Professors Abraham, Woodruff, Reichl, and Kenneth Flamm (LBJ), and Kamran Aghaie (Middle Eastern language and cultures), and Slyman Majid (Student Government). Speaking in favor of the proposal were Alda Gonzalez (communication studies advisor), and Professors Mark Knapp (interpersonal communications) and Urton Anderson (accounting). David Spence (MSIS) inquired about the nature of the discussion among those who recommended and supported the change. Professor Gary Hamrick (mathematics), acting chair of the Committee on Undergraduate Program Review, said the central issue occurred in many cases, that is, some departments, schools, and colleges placed limits on enrollment by non-majors because of limited resources for offering certain courses. C. Resolution Endorsing the Framework for Comprehensive Athletics Reform (D 2791). This item was introduced by Professor Michael Granof (accounting) on behalf of the Faculty Council Executive Committee. The chair called on Professor Granof to discuss the motions. Professor Granof pointed out that the items had been discussed previously in the Faculty Council. He said that the Women’s Athletics Council had also considered the proposal and supported the motions, subject to two amendments: amend the first motion to say that the Faculty Council endorsed “the spirit of” the framework; and amend the second motion by making the appointment by the Executive Committee be “with the approval of the Faculty Council.” Professor Granof believed that “the spirit” was implied, and did not favor making it 2820   more explicit. The secretary and Professor Judith Jellison (music) favored making “the spirit of” explicit, and after some discussion, this change was made. The Council then approved the motion saying that the Faculty Council approves the spirit of the Framework for Comprehensive Athletics Reform. Professor Granof supported the amendment to the second motion, and the Council approved the motion after insertion of the phrase “with the approval of the Faculty Council.” It was then agreed that Professor Granof would serve as the interim representative to COIA. IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS. A. The next meeting of the Faculty Council was scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2004. X. QUESTIONS TO THE CHAIR — None. XI. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting adjourned at 3:45 P.M. Distributed through the Faculty Council Web site on January 23, 2004. Copies are available on request from the Office of the General Faculty, FAC 22, F9500.