BRADLEY UNIVERSITY SENATE 1999-2000 SESSION
MINUTES
FIFTH REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 17, 2000
The meeting was called to order in the Robert H. Michel Student Center, Ballroom C, at 3:15 P.M.
The March 23 University Senate Meeting will be in the Marty Theatre. All reports are due by March 10 for distribution to the Senators
Alan Galsky moved approval of the minutes for the December 8 meeting. Fred Tayyari seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as distributed.
No items were added to the agenda. Item A.2. Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements Subcommittee (pp.8-9), under VI. was moved to be the first item under VI.
In mid-December, the University Board of Trustees held their annual meeting. The Board re-elected Mrs. Carlotta Bielfeldt to a second six-year term as Trustee. Three University Trustees who are all alumni were elected to the Board. They are Mr. Robert Clanin, Chief Financial Officer of United Parcel Service, Mr. James C. Kenny, V.P. of Kenny Construction in Chicago, both elected as regular trustees, and Mrs. Nancy M. Hinrichs Proehl, elected as alumni trustee for a six-year term. While Mrs. Ellen Foster is in the second year of her two-year term as Chair of the Board, the following slate of officers is an annual appointment and were approved: Mr. Glen Barton, Chairman of Caterpillar Inc., Vice Chair, Mrs. Carlotta Bielfeldt, President of the Fielfeldt Foundation, Secretary, and Mr. Gary Anna, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.
University development efforts continue with vigor. The "Pearl Alumni Challenge" is a program to maintain or improve the good Bradley alumni giving participation. With the conclusion of the Centennial Campaign, the staff and volunteers are working hard to maintain strong alumni relations. Also, while not yet publicly announced, congratulations to the Foster College of Business on the support received from Robert and Carolyn Turner and the naming of the Center for Entrepreneurial and Family Business. Mr. Turner is a University Trustee.
As of December 31, 1999, the University's endowment exceeded $172 million in value. This amount includes irrevocable trusts and annuities for which the University is beneficiary. While the value declined to $165 million at the end of January, this "dip" was to be expected given performance of the market.
The increase in endowment continues to play an important role in the development of the campus and many initiatives. As the capital base for the University, the endowment has facilitated borrowing to assist with the planned Olin, Bradley and Westlake facility improvements. The endowment continues to significantly support student scholarship activities and has also helped to support the campus technology initiative. In addition many college and support units see improving levels of assistance due to endowed funding. There continue to be a variety of fiscal challenges and opportunities facing the University but the endowment of today is far superior to that of 15 years ago.
In early February, the University held Homecoming Weekend. The Bradley Alumni Association Board held meetings and so did the Parents' Board. Both are important campus advisory groups and feedback from both reflected well on the continuing efforts of the faculty.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education recently approved an historic budget that reflected an overall increase exceeding six percent. While this increase, if fully funded, will disproportionately impact the public universities and community colleges of the State, there are benefits to private universities and Bradley. The Monetary Assistance Program (which provides over $5.8 million to Bradley students), and a variety of special grants and initiatives also favorably impact Bradley. The University's academic areas have recently been spending considerable efforts on data collection and analyses of faculty salary comparisons. These comparisons are very important to retaining Bradley faculty and understanding competitive market forces when recruiting. It should be noted that the Board of Higher Education budget includes considerable provisions of salary budgets earmarked for faculty retention and recruitment.
The library collection is being addressed. The current state occurred over time and it will take several years to turn it around. Interim President Anna has already deployed some resources, which will become part of the base budget.
Provost Liberty and James Ballowe visited the NCA staff. There is an oral agreement that the outcome of the visit will be based on compliance of standards. The special emphasis is not evaluated until the next visit in 2010.
With regard to the special emphasis, former President Brazil thought the special emphasis should involve embedding mechanisms in our curriculum and the learning environment at Bradley University so that any graduate of Bradley would have mastery of certain generic competencies. Through several meetings and collection of information, definitions of generic competencies were developed. These competencies included communication, connectivity, creative and critical thinking. However due to the discomfort with the special emphasis information by faculty on campus and feedback from NCA regarding the vagueness of these competencies, Provost Liberty suggested the next step should be a shorter term objective which may eventually lead to the previously mentioned competencies. The short-term goal is to select a specific form of connectivity of student/faculty collaborative activities. NCA was in favor of this approach to a special emphasis.
Nina Collins moved to approve the proposal for a revised description, list of approved courses, procedures and effective date. John Williams seconded the motion. According to Jerome Hahn the category of Western Civilization courses should see an increase in proposals. The motion passed.
No comment was made on the report.
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No old business was presented.
Joe Felder asked if insurance would be covered in special circumstances such as traveling to a country in which travel is dangerous. Ms. Gandhi stated it needed to be pre-approved by the appropriate individuals, and then it could be approved for reimbursement. One senator asked if an accident, which occurred while traveling in a rental automobile would be covered. Ms. Gandhi stated that the University insurance covers one as long as the accident occurs while on Bradley University business. If the rental agency placed additional charges such as rental for the weeks the car would be out-of-service, the University would work with the rental agency, as long as the University is aware of the situation. The faculty member needs to keep the contract signed at the time of obtaining the rental. Another question was asked regarding long distance calls to obtain e-mail or voice mail and whether reimbursement was available. Ms. Gandhi stated that this is really up to the Chair of the department to approve or to not approve. There was discussion regarding per diem. The University does not have a per diem. Even if one does not have receipts for meals, one needs to give time, location, and who was present for the meals to receive the University's rate. When asked about travel which occurs across the end of one year and the beginning of the next fiscal year, Interim President Anna stated that if the significant portion of the travel occurred at the end of the fiscal year, the reimbursement would be provided from the end of the fiscal year budget. If the significant portion of travel occurred at the beginning of the next fiscal year, the reimbursement would come from the next fiscal year budget.
Brian Weidner, Student Senator, reported that the Student Senate had passed a resolution that if the University were to close Harper/Wycoff cafeteria facility that a cardiovascular workout room be provided. All school elections are in April. "Let's Chat" is scheduled for March 8 at 5:00 P.M. in the Robert Michel Student Center ballroom. Faculty are invited. The Student Senate has started an all school organization forum. This is a chance for all organizations to come together and discuss issues they have and to seek feedback. The Student Senate is working closely with Calvin Coolidge Jr. High School's Student Council and sharing ways to improve their Council.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jo Mays, Secretary
Bradley University Senate