1. CALL TO ORDER

   The fifth regular meeting of the 1998-99 University Senate was called to order by Kurt Field in Baker Hall Room 51 at 3:13 P.M.

2. ANNOUNCEMENTS

   The Financial Status of the University will be presented following the February Meeting. The next meeting will be February 18 in the Marty Theater.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

   Suzanne Anderson moved approval of the minutes of the fourth regular meeting of the 1998-99 Session, November 19, 1998. Alan Galsky seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as distributed.

4. CALL FOR ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO AGENDA

   No items were added to the agenda.

5. REPORTS FROM ADMINISTRATORS
   
   1. President Brazil stated that the City Planning Commission passed the proposal for St. James Place. The proposal will go to the City Council, next week. Benefits include stabilization of the neighborhood, addition of recreational and athletic facilities for use by the students on campus, and construction of a new alternative housing unit for some of the Bradley students. The reality of the proposal will not have an impact on the University's operating budget and has the potential of adding modest returns in the future.

      IBHE passed the HECA grant, which has funded the degree completion program. Initially, the degree completion portion of the grant was stricken. It was reinstated after the University Administration demonstrated to the Board that the State could not provide the same access for the same cost.

      Chronicle Philanthropy publishes the top 400 philanthropic organizations, which received funds. Bradley University for the first time was on the list, at number 311.

      A twenty-page summary of the Amendments to the Higher Education Act 1998, covering all of the titles, e.g., federal aid to historically Black and Hispanic institutions, etc.

   2. Provost Liberty shared the need to gather information from the units for achieving strengthened fiscal planning. His objective is to get the salary information to the units by Monday, December 14.
      
      Regarding the technology plan he reiterated that many of the infrastructure components of the plan had been implemented. He stated that there would be careful study of the other components of the plan prior to a decision being made.
      
      Specifically related to the students receiving laptops, Provost Liberty stated that further analysis was needed. Members of the Learning Task Force will visit units they represent to seek information related to utilization.
      
6. REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
   
   1. Curriculum and Regulations, subcommittee on Curriculum presented their report. Jeff Huberman moved to approve the major program modification in Political Science to substitute BME 272 for BMA 172. Claire Etaugh seconded the motion. The motion passed.

      Kurt Field was asked by Provost Liberty to postpone Senate action until the next meeting on the material from the College of Engineering and Technology. The request was made because there is a course, related to the Engineering materials but not from the College of Engineering and Technology, on which the Curriculum and Regulations Committee needs to take action. Action will occur at the February meeting.

   2. Larry Aspin, Committee on Contractual Arrangements presented wording for the Tuition Exchange Program. He reminded the senators of the procedures used in Process 2. He stated that the wording was not being presented for action nor announcing the language. However, he did want the senators to look at the wording and to discuss it with friends and colleagues on campus to see if there are any problems. If so, to make recommendations for solutions. Once the Committee believes that the wording meets the concerns they will announce the language.

      Discussion was held encouraging to the Committee to make the policy broad and if the Committee believes there is abuse of the policy that consideration be on a case by case basis. Discussion included the concept of a benefit for faculty versus a benefit for the students of faculty as well as the basic spirit of intent.

   3. Committee on Affirmative Action provided a semi-annual report. Larry Aspin moved acceptance of the report. Joan Sattler seconded the motion. The motion passed.
      
7. OLD BUSINESS

   No old business was presented.

8. REPORTS FROM AD HOC COMMITTEES

   No reports were received.

9. NEW BUSINESS

   No new business was presented.

10. OTHER BUSINESS

    Claire Etaugh gave an update on the NCA reaccreditation of Bradley University. She thanked those who responded to the initial list of objectives, initially presented. The Committee hopes to come to closure by the end of this semester on the objectives. Next semester will be spent identifying some of the aspects of the special emphasis.

11. ADJOURNMENT
    President Brazil moved for adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 3:48 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo Mays, Secretary

Bradley University Senate