FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
FOR JUNE 16, 1999
(Vol. xxviii, No. 29)

I. Call to order by James Tidwell at 1:00 p.m. (Buzzard Hall 2504)

Present: J. Allison, J. Coons, P. Fewell, G. Foster, N. Furumo, R. Gholson, B. Irwin, G. Lockart, N. Marlow, J. Tidwell, M. Toosi, L. Walker, A. Zahlan. Guests: T. Abebe, J. Nilsen.

II. Approval of the minutes of April 27, 1999

Motion (Walker/Foster) to approve the minutes of April 27, 1999.

Yes: Allison, Coons, Fewell, Foster, Furumo, Gholson, Irwin, Lockart, Marlow, Tidwell, Toosi, Walker, Zahlan.

III. Communications

A. Minutes of Council on Academic Affairs-April 22 and April 29, 1999.

B. Minutes of COEPS Curriculum Committee-April 26, 1999.

C. Minutes of Intercollegiate Athletic Board-May 6, 1999.

D. 1999-2000 Library Calendar

E. Memo from Dean Allen Lanham concerning unavailability of BOG Room-May 3, 1999.

F. Thank you note from Richard White for retirement gift.

G. Memo to Shirley Stewart from Chair Tidwell concerning placement of Distinguished Faculty Award plaque-May 25, 1999.

H. Letter from President Surles responding to Senate resolution on "surcharges"-May 28, 1999.

I. Faculty Senate Account Statement-May 31, 1999

J. Intercollegiate Athletic Board 1998-99 Annual Report to Faculty Senate.

IV. New Business

A. 1999 Illinois General Assembly-Jill Nilsen. This was the 91st General Assembly; each one lasts two years. This was the substantive year, when most bills were introduced. The environment was different because of the new governor. Ryan is very much a politician. There is also a new lieutenant governor, the first woman. She and the governor are very interested in education, but most of the talk centered on K-12. There was also talk about community-school partnerships and seamless K-16 education. Although the Senate is controlled by the Republicans and the House by the Democrats, there is much controversy between the Governor and the Senate. Our area representatives are both freshman legislators; this puts a different tenor on their ability to work in the legislature. There were 4000 bills introduced this session. Those bills that appear to impact Eastern are studied on campus; we followed about 200 bills. The most important bill was Senate Bill 371 (appropriations bill). The University has to appear in front of the Appropriations Committee. Eight days after Surles arrived on campus she had to go to Springfield and present Eastern's case. Eastern did very well-a 6.6% increase over FY99. Higher education as a whole saw a 5.7% increase; public universities received 4.4%. In the discussion that accompanied Nilsen's presentation, the following points were made:

Eastern's base is smaller; in terms of dollars we still are not great. Until the state looks at parity increases we will not see a difference.

Capital budgets were signed into public acts (Senate Bill 630); overall this was $317 million. There was a lot of confusion at the end of the session about what was funded by Illinois First and what was not.

Among the issues raised by legislators were income fund accountability, sabbaticals, import/export of students, part-time faculty, and deferred maintenance.

There were about 25 bills related to higher education that made it to the Governor's desk. Most were not controversial. One bill that did pass was the one that allowed us to sell the President's house and keep the money to invest in another reception facility. Bill 2013 increased ROTC tuition waivers that can be granted by universities.

The Illinois Commitment and its six goals did not permeate the legislative activities, but it has been an important part of IBHE discussions.

The IBHE website summarizes the 200 bills followed. The Illinois General Assembly also has a website that allows the tracking of bills.

Eastern has had great success with the individual that we are using as a lobbyist. This has been a fruitful partnership. This past year we paid them $40,000; we have had excellent access to them. Many lobbyists receive $70,000-$75,000; that does not include benefits and housing.

V. Old Business

A. Committee Reports

1. Executive Committee. In their meeting with the president they discussed the surcharge issue and development. The President is still looking at how to handle fund raising. She will talk with the BOT about this. A person who goes out to raise funds should have an appropriate title. The Committee got the impression that the strategic planning process will change. The Illinois Commitment and the six goals will be an important part of this. The President prefers not to preside over CUPB but she will attend the meetings and participate in discussions. She felt presiding would limit her effectiveness; she could better ask questions if she is a part of the body. The Committee also discussed her lobbying experience and the session with the Senate.

2. Nominations Committee. Two alternates are needed for IAB. The Committee proposes waiting until fall to send out a request. We also need to appoint a Faculty Senate representative to ATAC; this too will wait until the first session in the fall.

3. Elections Committee. Eleanor Midkiff has resigned from the University; Lankford Walker will continue to be her replacement.

4. Ad Hoc Drafting Committee. The survey was distributed and discussed.

Motion (Allison/Walker) to approve the survey for distribution at the beginning of fall semester 1999.

Yes: Allison, Coons, Fewell, Foster, Furumo, Gholson, Irwin, Lockart, Marlow, Tidwell, Toosi, Walker, Zahlan.

5. Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee. The installation will be on October 29. Bonnie Irwin is the Faculty Senate representative to the Committee. There will be an update in the fall.

6. Chair Tidwell showed the very impressive Distinguished Faculty Award plaque to the Senate. He hopes to have it placed in the foyer of the University Union.

VI. New Business (continued from above)

B. Appointment to search committee for Assistant Director of Financial Aid.

Motion (Foster/Allison) to nominate Lankford Walker.

Yes: Allison, Coons, Fewell, Foster, Furumo, Gholson, Irwin, Lockart, Marlow, Tidwell, Toosi, Zahlan. Abstentions: Walker.

C. Report from VPAA Abebe. The University and UPI are working to hammer out the contract. Last week there was a Chairs' retreat at which two chairs were recognized for their work over the past years: Ellen Keiter and Kathlene Shank. He would like to have a number of academic programs tied to the Inauguration; the Centennial committee will be planning parallel events. He is also planning a number of faculty gatherings, including a faculty reception, faculty recognition dinner, roundtable discussion on research and instructional technology. He also will be submitting to the IBHE the institutional best practices of Eastern, our core competencies; this includes the entire residential learning community. The budget priorities for 2001 will address the priorities of the IBHE Illinois Commitment. We will be identifying four or five new things for additional resources from the IBHE; one of these will be dealing with alternative certification. He has observed over the last few months that people are more supportive and looking forward to a new era. He thanked all of Faculty Senate for their role in that.

D. Chair Tidwell presented a summary report of Faculty Senate activities over the 1998-99 academic year. He recognized those members who are leaving the Senate: Norbert Furumo, Ron Gholson, and Anne Zahlan. The Senate thanked James Tidwell for chairing the Senate during the 1998-99 academic year.

VII. Adjourn at 2:50 p.m. (Walker)

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy D. Marlow, Recorder