Attendance

Bobbette M. Morgan, Secretary (UT Brownsville), Murray Leaf (UT Dallas), Amy Jasperson (UT-San Antonio), Mansour El-Kikhia (UT-San Antonio), Karen Pawlowski (Southwestern), Sandy Norman (UT-San Antonio), John Priest (UT Arlington), Toni Sol (UT Arlington), Dean Neikirk (UT Austin), Janet Staiger (UT Austin), Elizabeth Heise (UT Brownsville), David Cordell (UT Dallas), John Wiebe (UT El Paso), Lawrence Ellzey (UT El Paso), Danika Brown (UT Pan American), Todd Richardson (UT Permian Basin), Carola Wenk (UT San Antonio), Danita Alfred (UT Tyler), Casey Mann (UT Tyler), Eugene Jones (Southwestern), Charlotte Wisnewski (UTMB Galveston), Carolyn Utsey (UTMB Galveston), Elmer Bernstam (UTHSC Houston), Bennett Amaechi (UTHSC San Antonio), Margaret Brackley (UTHSC San Antonio), Lance Pagliaro (UTMDACC Houston), Jim Klostergaard (UTMDACC Houston), Zissis Chroneos (UTHSC Tyler), Tim Allen (UTHSC Tyler), Rajiv Nambiar( UT Pan American)

Agenda/Issue 1.

Review of August Board of Regents Meeting

Murray Leaf –August Board of Regents Meeting

We tried to get a representative on the Board of Regents. We started about 3 years ago when the Student Regent was accepted. A three year term appointed by the Gov. with names suggested from the Chancellor proposed only for UT System. The definition of “Faculty” was not accepted (anyone below Dean). The Bill was buried at 200, the Gun Bill was buried at 270.

The Regents would like to have two faculty attend the Board of Regents, one from the academic institutions and one from the medical schools.

We will determine how to select our representatives.

Discussion:

Syllabi-Bill 2504

Legislature passed a state law that requires detailed syllabus with day by day plans. Also required vita and within three links of the home page.

This will be asked of Dr. Prior and Dan Branch, Chairman of House Higher Education Committee.

Agenda/Issue 2.

Chairman James Huffines, Board of Regents

Chairman James Huffines, Board of Regents, member since 2003 and reappointed by Governor. Selected as Chair by peers for the next six years.

Personal comments to new Regents always includes appreciation of faculty and recognizes your commitment to the institution.

This is a very good time for opportunity. Stars Recruitment money, $150,000,000 and just added $40,000,000 to hire and move toward greater excellence.

Teaching awards for 73 faculty members presented in August. $2,000,000 was given out. Awards were from $15,000 to $30,000 to recognize good teaching.

Recruitment is a priority.

Pan-Am is in the process of selecting a new President. Strong leadership teams are in place on all campuses.

$12-!5 billion shortfall in the legislature is projected for the next session. We are preparing now-18 months before the next session. We want to work for your benefit.

Handguns legislation -we did not support. Huffines did not receive support from any other universities in the state. Our Chancellor and representatives worked very hard to keep the bill from passing. The bill will be back next legislative session.

Tier One development-on ballot in November. We need to get support to send a message that Higher Education is an important issue.

System budget was flat versus last year. Downsizing was done at the System level. The Endowment Fund is down. We are doing better than many. UT Austin is the only one in the UT System that depends on endowment funds. We still have a Triple A rating for UT Austin. Many institutions across the nation have lost the status with the economic down turn.

No smoking policy on all campuses has been recommended from the FAC. We have not heard of response from the Regents. Chairman Huffines will do some research on the issue.

Brachenridge issue at UT Austin: field lab, decisions will not be voted on for 6 years. Any money generated goes to employees, faculty and students for 100 years.

MD Anderson: Reduction in force, -10% of budgets, do not meet definition of Financial Exigency. Chancellor has appointed a Task Force to review this issue.

Tenure: Anticlimatic—no notification from the Board of Regents. Response: There needs to be a clear instruction from the Board.

Representation on the Board of Regents: FAC representatives to join the BOR serve as a resource. No micromanaging. Perhaps a small group of faculty can meet with a couple of BOR members on a regular basis. Chairman Huffines volunteered to meet with us on a yearly basis.

Chairman Huffines asked for each institution to share their issues:

Tyler-Salary issues

Tyler Health Sci.-Hiring

UT Dallas-Funding, effectiveness of FAC, partnership, BOR extends the partnership, we aren’t as strong as the Calif. System., Tier One and becoming a traditional campus and not a commuter campus

Proposition 4 (Tier One Institutions proposed) November.

UT Arlington-Tier one push, compliance with evaluations and syllabi

UT Southwestern-growth and expansion, connectivity problems and safety issues. Health care reform is being watched very closely.

UT San Antonio: FAC presented information on costs of SACS. Costly and complex process. Micromanaging of legislators the campuses become stressed out.

Huffines: Legislature funds 17% of UT System budget. 150% control wanted.

MD Anderson: financial health of institution has helped to weather the downturn-research monies have been rerouted. Non-revenue generating is a new definition of research.

UT Pan-Am: We need a new President.

Health Sci. Center San Antonio: Retirement and recruiting are issues. Keeping new faculty is a problem. Tranfer from one institution to another –a task force exists to review this.

UT Permian Basin: Relying on lecturers and adjuncts because of rapid growth.

UT Austin: Brachenridge is a concern. Diversity and addition of faculty. Go after Star Professors. Requiring colleges to cut money. Increase faculty student ratios is being expected and needs to occur rapidly.

UTMB: A lot of distress that faculty have been rifted over the last year. How much influence does faculty have? Crime issues have increased. Nursing faculty shortage and legislature demands to increase graduates.

UT El Paso: Things are going well. Infrastructure additions are appreciated. Pressure to move to alternative forms of course delivery is occurring. Dual enrollment has been in the community college—and competition is to move it to other institutions. Increase stipends for graduate assistants.

UT Brownsville: Dual Enrollment, gender equity issues, lack of information available. Pedro Reyes can make available the information---also in terms of gender, diversity, etc. Heaf vs Puf.

Cost of Living---we do not receive. Pedro Reyes will provide information. Salary compression is an issue.

Huffines: Affordibility, improve graduation rates, course sequencing, accessibility, money to better communicate with academic , diversity, biggest issue is funding for the coming year. Lots of changes coming—especially for the medical schools.

Agenda/Issue 3.

Dan Branch, Chairman of the House Higher Education Committee

Dan Branch, Chairman of House Higher Education Committee:

He was actively involved in the Tier One Initiative for the State of Texas. The focus needs to be on students and teaching. We need to be better at educating students. Over 50% of our state budget is spent on education. Higher education in Texas is critical to the economy of the nation. Stimulus funds and state funds helped to make this session a positive one. 8% increase overall, $23 billion over 2 years. Tier One $800 million dollars---$400 millon in Proposition 4 to be voted on in November. Student Financial Aid increased, increased medical education, increased nursing funding, cancer research, and Higher Education Fund—commercial projects. Changed the top 10% rule---30,000 students per year. Three new universities to be established: New medical school in South Texas. Some bills didn’t make it-“chubbing”-discussion to slow down process. Tier One is HB 51. Seven emerging institutions are competing for funds: Texas Tech, University of Houston, UT-Dallas, UT-Arlington, UT- El Paso, UT- San Antonio. Unique moment to increase Tier One institutions when the universities across the nation are experiencing severe cuts.

Will we have the same Higher Education Committee in the next legislative session? Probably.

Education needs to be the focus in an intelligence economy. We need to make sure Texas is a great place to live in 2035.

Agenda/Issue 4.

Lisa Leiden, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Projects

Keith McDowell, Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer

Lisa Leiden, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Projects

Export control, bringing in individuals from other countries. The Obama administration is widening the scope. Electronic files, sensitive, not classified and a professor was arrested. Border guards can confiscate your laptops.

State of Texas and federal government are requiring, in some cases, weekly reporting. Information is required from PI for reports. Stimulus money has brought forward extensive reporting requirements. The State will be audited.

Human subjects research, Dr. Shine had a task force last year, and now the medical schools are working off a California plan. One school approval for research at two schools. IRB review is not needed for both institutions.

Social-behavioral science research: institutions can develop their own procedures for non-funded studies. Previous collected data under exempt status can be used and does not come under IRB. Ex.: Students collect data and report. Three years later they want to use the data. They can. Exempt study should not take more than two weeks. IRB Committees have extended beyond their area of responsibility “mission creep”. This is trying to be remedied.

IBC (institutional biosafety committee). Pathogens worked with on your campus. Reports required for all incidents.

Survey of institutions about IRB’s was taken last year. Much has been done in the last year. Comprehensive look at all UT entities-Research Assurance Plan-will be working on this for the next year.

Agenda/Issue 5.

Committee Meetings

Committee Meetings

It is passed that Academic Affairs and Faculty Quality Committees will be combined into one committee and will be know as Academic Affairs and Faculty Quality. John Wiebe made the motion for this to occur and Carolyn Utsey seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.

Agenda/Issue 6.

Campus Reports

Campus Reports

UT San Antonio Medical
UT Austin
UT Medical Branch at Galveston
UT Brownsville
MD Anderson
UT Dallas
UT Science Center Houston
UT El Paso
UT Tyler Medical
UT Pan American
UT Southwest Medical Center at Dallas
5:00 pm Close

Agenda/Issue 7.

Committee Meetings

Friday, October 2, 2009—Breakfast

Committee Meetings

Agenda/Issue 8.

Campus Reports

. Campus Reports:

UT Permian Basin
UT Tyler
UT Arlington
UT San Antonio

Agenda/Issue 9.

Barry McBee,

Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations

Barry McBee, Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations

Bills that passed in the last legislative session:

Budget-stimulus money, Governor designated oversight to Coordinating Board, slow process. Expenditures may not be approved until December.

Tuition-no reregulation, Board of Regents will revisit this in the spring. House sent forward a 3.9% cap per year or $280 which ever is greater.

Textbooks-no major regulations, reminder to make students aware that they can purchase other than at bookstore.

2011-2015 UT Austin will have 8% top Texas students. Not top 10%.

Top 10% of community college can go to another institution with top 10% rule.

Veterans, Firefighters, Police Officers, Foster Students are waived tuition.

New schools-creation of a medical school in the Valley.

48 universities increased from current 35. Tier One emerging institutions.

HB 2504—Syllabi—in place.

Teacher Evaluations are available to the public.

Students have to be vaccinated for meningitis.

Next session: Budget shortfalls up to $15 billion. Concerns about covering the budget just approved. Not a “rosey” picture. No stimulus money next time. General revenue money in second year if this biennium. Now is the time to invest in higher education. 2011-2012-2013 budget may be in better shape. New Governor (maybe) and many others are possible—so the cast of characters may change. We are courting potential finance committee candidates. It is also a redistricting session.

TRB (Tuition Revenue Bonds): Next session may not be good timing. Options are being explored about how to finance buildings.

Faculty workload—get more by squeezing the turnip. This will be at the top of the list for 2011.

Funding is being discussed, suggestions to fund based on classes completed.

Agenda/Issue 10.

Chancellor Cigarroa

Chancellor Cigarroa

He has visited most of the campuses in the past eight months. He expressed his gratitude to us for serving on the Faculty Senate. Shared governance in its most beautiful environment. Copies of his vision of the UT System of Texas were distributed. As large as we are, we always will provide a personal touch between faculty and students. He’s interested in student success. Student success and graduation rates are going to become very important. Tier One status will require that.

The BOR is very dedicated and listens to faculty and students. The economic session was pretty good. We averaged 7.6% increase at a time that many institutions across the nation are suffering. There is the possibility of a $15 billion reduction for the next session. Letter to Governor showing that we have saved $400 million in the last few years. He has pledged to the President’s that he will help them raise philanthropic funds. It is about good universities becoming great.

Issue before BOR Financial Exigency. Learn from UTMB situation. He wants to see those lessons be used to refine the Regent’s Rules. Three months from now we may have a preliminary report.

Murray : Educational quality, grow our own “Stars” is essential. A productive environment needs to be nurtured.

Murray : Moving from tenure track to tenured is important.

We need to mentor our new faculty.

No-Smoking issue was presented. Dr. Cigarroa will look into the issue.

Agenda/Issue 11.

David Prior, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

David Prior, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

We are blessed to have Chairman Huffines. He’s very engaged. Our Chancellor has been all over the state building relationships. Pan-Am is moving toward the final selection of their President. The BOR will make the decision on the 12 th of this month.

The BOR has accepted Dr. Cigarroa’s vision for the system. There is a great opportunity to move the system forward. All institutions have roles to play—not just the emerging Tier Ones. Strategic Planning becomes more important. There is a competitive advantage to recruit faculty in these economic times.

He has double the amount of “Stars” funding for this academic year. The new teaching awards this year were given to 73 faculty for $2,000,000. There is funding for 5 years. This formally recognizes about 1% of our faculty. Three of the winners were selected to address the BOR. It was very compelling.

House Bill 2504 requires us to put student evaluations of faculty and syllabi on the web. They had originally wanted each faculty member’s salary posted also.

Guidelines for Strategic Plans have been submitted to the THECB. Dr. Prior’s office has provided input and has reduced the bureaucratic language.

Workload: I believe that our faculty works damn hard. 72 hours a week the national average for academics. Data availability—UT Austin—data used to determine teaching loads. Dr. Prior has been tracking this for all faculty. Minimum of 18 hrs. per academic year. The average is 23, there has been no change over time. He will be working with the Provosts to compile this information down to the college level.

Q: Collaboration across institutions—what is in place?

A.: Proud of the relationships between UTSA and UT-Brownsville, UTSA with UT Permian Basin. We would like to see more of this happening. Next week he will be meeting with the Presidents and ask what are the 5-6 issues that the UT System wants to be known for.

Q/Comment: “We all know that it is easier to count than read”. We are being judged by how many students we bring in and how many graduate.

A. The quality of our students completing our programs is the important issue. It takes our students longer to complete the program because of life circumstances.

Q/Comment: Is there a way to get data bases for all the campuses as a group?

A.: Yes, and we are looking for a way to use our size to be able to get at this information.

Q.: Emerging Tier One institutions---how many?

A.: UT has four— Dallas, El Paso, San Antonio, and Arlington. Three others are Texas Tech., North Texas and Houston. Proposition 4 money ($400-$500 million) is available ( Duncan’s bill).

Agenda/Issue 12.

Minutes

Minutes from the May Faculty Advisory Council were presented for review. Murray Leaf made a motion to accept the minutes as presented and Lawrence Ellzey seconded the motion. The motion passed.

Agenda/Issue 13.

Committee Reports

Committee Reports were presented by the following individuals:

Governance-Murry Leaf
Health Affairs-Elmer V. Bernstam
Academic Affairs and Faculty Quality-David Cordell

Closure

Motion to adjourn by Elizabeth Heise, second by Murray Leaf, passed.