NGCSU Faculty Senate Minutes for October 9, 2003

Call to order
CEO J. Woods called the October 9, 2003 faculty senate meeting to order at 12:30pm.
Senators present: K. Benton, K. Biddy, P. Buckheister, E. Combier, C. Chastain, B. Friedman, R. Fuller, A. Ghafarian, N. Hansford, K. Hislope, s. Irwin, A. Lu, K. Mace, G. Olsen, L. Reeves, A. Sampson, A. Schaffer, A. Stucke, A. Sumners, S. Wiedmann, J. Woods.
Senators excused: M. Gilbert, E. Lewis, G. Mann, D. Morris.
Senators absent: C. Dare, A. Gaillard, M. Pomphile, B. Reiselt, C. Powell, S. Smith.
Visitors: L. Roberts-B.
Minutes of September 11,2003:
CEO Woods submitted the minutes of the September 11, 2003 meeting for approval and called for any additions or corrections.  None notedoted.  B. Friedman moved to accept the minutes.  S. Wiedmann seconded it, and the minutes were approved.
Announcement:  Stan Allen of the Business Office reported a savings of $10,000 on mail and print costs by using email to bill students.  Asks for support from faculty to remind students to check their groupwise email.

President’s report:

1.  NGCSU’s museum: The president thanked Catherine Chastain and Linda Roberts-B. for the successful renovation.
2.  Budget: For the school year 2003-04, the budget was cut 2.5%. The Office of Planning and Budget (OPD) wanted specific items listed in the cut, but the Chancellor refused.  The Board of Regents accepted the 2.5% budget cut.  The Chancellor has submitted the 2005 Budget this week.  Adjustments to the cuts are pending.  Depending on tax revenues, the budget may not have too many cuts.  The BOR recommended a 10% special funding initiative.  Where the budget will be cut is not specified; that remains the prerogative of the institutions. We also have the option of going to legislature to get special funding.
Question: Weidemann inquired as to possible raises for 2005.  That decision remains within the purview of the governor’s office.
3. NCIA: No formal application has been made yet for NGCSU to join the NCIA.  The President firmly supports joining for the future of sports at NCSCU.
4.  Enrollment report clarification: The number of new fall freshman is up by 27, but this does not include summer freshmen who were counted as returning students.  In the future, all new freshmen from summer and fall will be counted together.  The number of transfer students and graduate students are up in number.  Total enrollment is 4,573.
5.  Faculty salaries:  The faculty passed a resolution in spring, 2003, to address discrepancies in salaries. A study resulted in showing that 24 faculty members have a salary $#3,000 below the regression line. Of these, 7 have retired, relocated, or been reassigned and the study demonstrated that a deviation is understandable in 3 other cases.  The VP of Academic Affairs will discuss the remaining 14 faculty salaries with the deans of those colleges.
Comment: Barry Friedmann points out that our alumnus, Marsha Harper Moore, has a key position with the Governor’s office.

Announcement:  DLynn Armstrong, the chair of the calendar committee, presented the calendar for the summer, 2004 through spring, 2006.  She explains the requirements of days and hours imposed by the BOR.  A few changes were highlighted:  Fall, 2005 requires classes the day before Thanksgiving, Honor’s Day will not always fall on Tuesday, and SGA requested that spring break be moved up one week, closer to mid-term.  Discussion follows about the lack of a fall break, while UGA--with the same schedule and requirements--has a 2-day fall break.  P. Buckheister will investigate.  P. Buckheister thanked DLynn for job well done.

CEO report:  Jimmy Woods appointed a committee for the discussion forum: B. Mann (chair), B. Friedman, C.Cavalli, C. Chastain, C. Roberson and T. Swaner.

President N. Hansford added that the staff council has developed plans for a bulletin board to address need for personal items for sale on campus.
Unfinished business:  A motion on the floor remained: to accept the five recommendations noted in the September 11,2003 minutes from the University Committee on Promotiuon & Tenure for the academic year 2002-2003 with change of number 3, to expertise in field.  B. Friedman moved that the recommendation be referred to the committee of faculty affairs. The motion was seconded.  C. Cavalli suggested that one of the senators attend their committee meeting to explain the issue.  J. Woods will double check.  The motion passed.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:25pm.

Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Combier

Appendix I:

President Hansford’s enrollment figures.
Undergraduate
Fall 2003 Fall 2002
New Freshmen 618 (+27) 591
Joint Enrollment 19 (+5) 14
New Transfer 473 (+37) 436
Transient 15 (+3) 12
Non-Degree 3 (-2) 5
Post-Bac 21 (+15) 6
Continuing/Returning 2844 (+188) 2656
TOTALS 3993 (+273) 3720
Graduate
Fall 2003 Fall 2002
New Graduate 114 (+10) 104
Ed. Specialist/Post-Grad 1 (-6) 7
Transient 1 (+1) 0
Continuing/Returning 464 (+75) 389
TOTALS 580 (+80) 500
Grand Totals
GRAND TOTALS 4573 (+353) 4220