1. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 3:10 P.M. in the Student Center Marty Theater.

 

2. ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. University Senate Membership 1999-2000

Kurt Field referred the Senate to pages 2 and 3 of the attachments to the Agenda, to see the list of members for this academic year. The student list has the name Brian Weidner as the senior senator, the other student senators will be named by the Student Senate next week.

 

2. Meeting Schedule and Due Dates

Kurt Field referred the Senate to look at page 4 for the meeting schedule for the Senate, the Senate Executive Committee, and due dates for reports for the academic year.

 

3. Kurt Field directed the senators to the new WEB page for the Senate. He also indicated that he sent a reminder by e-mail to all senators. He asked that all who did not receive the message to get back to him.

 

4. Kurt Field recognized Ms. Gay Leathers as a new senator, replacing Peggy Carter in the English Department. He also introduced Richard Johnson, Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology and Katherine Beaty, our new Registrar, and Dawn Roberts from the Department of Psychology.

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes were approved as corrected. Under the Presidents Report, in the Ninth Regular Senate Meeting minutes, the name Louis was changed to Lewis and an indication was made that both Lewis Burger and Robert Michel are honorary trustees. In addition, in line one President Brazil announced the naming of one building, the Robert Michel Student Center. In line 2, the complete name of the center named for Lewis Burger was The Center for Student Leadership and Public Service.

 

Nina Collins moved approval of the minutes for the Ninth Regular Meeting of the Bradley University Senate, as corrected. Fred Tayyari seconded the motion. The motion passed.

 

Fred Tayyari moved approval of the minutes for the Special Meeting of the 1999-2000 Bradley University Senate as distributed. Larry Aspin seconded the motion. The motion passed.

 

2. CALL FOR ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA

The Senate Executive Committee added X.C. Report from Faculty Handbook Editor.

 

3. REPORTS FROM ADMINISTRATORS

1. Interim-President Gary Anna shared that several meetings were occurring this week, involving external constituencies, including but not limited to the University Council, appreciation dinner to recognize major donors, and a Board of Trustees meeting. He considers the University Senate meetings important. He attributed many of the successes of Bradley University to the deliberations by the Senators, committee contributions, and actions taken through the body as well as some not formally acted on through the Senate.

 

Mr. Anna stated the new initiatives presented at the University retreat would be very productive for the University and will be articulated more completely as this semester continues. He believes they will focus on a broader and more satisfactory support of the faculty. Mr. Anna indicated that many new initiatives will take time to execute.

 

We were reminded that Michael Cullinan had been elected to the Board of Trustees. He has been on the Engineering Advisory Council. Dr. Liberty, Dr. Friedhoff and Interim-President Anna presented to Standard and Poor's with the result being a University stand alone credit rating of A- which is enhanced with insurance of bonds carrying a triple A rating on the market. Proceeds were placed in an escrow account. Some of those proceeds will be used to pay for the early construction costs of St. James Place Apartments. The remainder of those bonds, about $25 million, will be used as a primary source, but not complete source, for some of the academic improvements. Olin Hall will be the first initiative to be addressed. Bradley University expects to break ground in the spring, at the completion of the semester. In the meantime, while there are carrying costs to the bonds, the University is earning interest rates, which offset the carrying costs. The University will not move ahead haphazardly for any of the three projects: Olin Hall, Bradley Hall, and Westlake Hall.

 

Bradley University has been recognized in the Pederson's Guide and in U.S. News and World Report. We have also had a positive admissions report. The freshman class is among the best to ever attend Bradley University. There will be more effort made to increase retention from the freshman to the sophomore class.

Senators were alerted to important and positive events occurring in the near future. These include Founders Day on October 1, recognition of Caterpillar's support of the University's Centennial Campaign on October 7, addressing previous announcements of the Caterpillar professorship program and the Bradley Fellows program. Also, there will be a dinner with the emeritus faculty.

 

2. Provost Liberty reminded the Senators that St. James Place Apartments would be self-supporting and would not be drawing funds from academic resources.

 

Provost Liberty has met with all except 13 BNI proposal groups. He plans to meet with the last 13 groups during the month of October. There was one proposal to form the technology assistance center. It was to absorb what used to be the asynchronous learning center activity under Nial Johnson. That proposal was rescoped, which resulted in internal reallocation within IRT. In addition new resources have been designated for ITAC (Instructional Technology Assistance Center). This was one of those proposals the University thought it should be doing to enhance the quality of our academic environment. He will have additional announcements to make, later, related to the BNI proposals.

 

The Interconnected Learning Committee is finalizing recommendations for Phase II of the computer acquisition. It will occur twice, late Fall semester and late Spring semester.

 

The call for nominations for Caterpillar Professorships will occur in October. Administration is going to embark on the faculty salary initiative. It will be funded from operating revenues. Retention is a key component of operating revenues. Provost Liberty stated that advising could have a significant effect on retention. He encouraged advisors to intervene if they perceived a student was having a problem and help prevent the loss of students from the University.

 

3. Presidential Search

1. REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES

The Senate Executive Committee discussed the possibility of the Elections Committee of the Senate - Tenure and Promotion and Dismissal, Faculty Grievance, Contractual Arrangements, and Strategic Planning - hold elections in April rather than September. The time for elections is in the Faculty Handbook. The reason for the discussion is that the Tenure, Promotion and Dismissal Committee and Faculty Grievance Committee needed to be activated this Fall semester and it is taking time to get these Committees staffed and active. John Haverhals stated that he would like to see the Student Grievance Committee elected in the Spring. Kurt Field indicated it would be possible to change the Handbook so that all Senate Committees would be elected in the Spring. He encouraged senators to let the Executive Committee know their thoughts.

 

2. OLD BUSINESS

No old business.

 

3. REPORTS FROM AD HOC COMMITTEES

No reports.

 

4. NEW BUSINESS

1. Robert Podlasek raised a concern about travel vouchers and the documentation required to obtain reimbursement. Among other suggestions was to have a per diem. Interim-President Anna indicated that the Controller's Office was working on evaluating the current system and addressing the concern, to simplify the process. He suggested administration could work through the Senate Executive Committee or the Contractual Arrangements Committee. There will be a report at the next meeting.

 

2. RATIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS TO STANDING COMMITTEES

1. HONORARY DEGREES

Sandra Perry moved to approve the nominations of Chuck Stoner and Robert Fuller for the Honorary Degrees Committee. Joe Felder seconded the motion. The motion passed.

 

2. UNIVERSITY RESOURCES

Alan Galsky moved to approve Brian Huggins for a return appointment and Michael McAsey for a first term to the University Resources Committee. John Haverhals seconded the motion. The motion passed.

 

3. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Joan Sattler moved the approval of B.J. Lawrence and Bernard Goitein to the Affirmative Action Committee. Mary Jane Sterling seconded the motion. The motion passed. B.J. Lawrence will Chair of the Committee.

 

 

4. RETIREMENT ADVISORY

1. NOTIFICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS - Mr. Wolffe had nominating forms for the remaining committees. The

1. OTHER BUSINESS

1. NCA REACCREDITATION UPDATE (Dean Etaugh)

Provost Liberty reported that there have been changes in the liaison between NCA and Bradley University. That person has never been on the campus. The individual will be on campus next Thursday.

 

2. REPORT FROM STUDENT SENATOR

Brian Weidner is a student representative of the Student Senate. He will be giving a report at each University Senate meeting. He will communicate with each Student Committee to stay informed of what each is doing. He will also communicate with the University Senate Executive Committee on a regular basis. He stated that Student Senate was selected as the Student Organization of the year. They wanted to continue that reputation.

 

Kurt Field shared his appreciation for the leadership of Mark Adelman, Finn Christensen, and Brian Widner. He indicated that Student Senate was proactive and had many positive accomplishments.

 

3. UNIVERSITY HANDBOOK EDITOR

1. ADJOURNMENT

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo Mays, Secretary

Bradley University Senate