Faculty Senate - March 2025 Minutes

* Proxy for Dr. Dawn Slavens

Call to Order: 3:31 p.m.

Housekeeping

• Approval of Agenda - Dr. Stiles motioned, and Dr. Fisher seconded. All approved.
• Approval of Minutes - Dr. Stiles motioned that they be approved, and Dr. Fisher seconded. All approved.

Current Business/Information Sharing: None

New Business

1. Joint Meeting with Student Government and Staff Senate
   • Mr. Jefferson indicated that the joint session will be April 1 at 7 p.m. in BAC Lone Star Room. Dr. Capps explained that this will be an opportunity to gather info about barriers to access and success for students. Seven to eight senators RSVPd by a show of hands.
2. Turnitin Decision
   • Dr. Capps indicated that Turnitin is now $33,110 per year. Dr. Capps takes a poll of who uses it. Majority raise their hands and express that their departments use it at high rates. Dr. Groth explains that SafeAssign is another option, but it is not known whether it integrates with D2L and how accurate it is comparatively. Faculty don’t find the AI tracker to be reliable, but many do use it.
3. T&P Panel
   • Dr. Capps indicated that this topic doesn’t align with TLRC’s mission and purpose, but they are happy to provide funds for snacks. Dr. Nivens, Dr. Capps, Dr. Olson, and others have volunteered to contribute to a panel. Dr. Coenen suggests making it available on Zoom and recording it. Dr. Capps will send a poll to individuals going up for tenure to determine the best dates.
4. Suspension/Probation Review
   • Dr. Capps explained the suspension/probation policy review with the Readmission Committee under the direction of Ashley Hurst, who provided a review of TTU System schools and other comparable institutions’ policies. The review showed that our policies were more restrictive and complex. The committee proposed a simplification of the procedures and policies, and a review process that would implement earlier intervention to support students before they are put on probation.
   • Dr. Vandehey and Dr. Stiles asked why we suspend them at all instead of providing them with conditions/requirements. Dr. Coenen explained that the suspension process is how conditions and requirements are implemented. Faculty express concerns that the label of “suspension,” which goes on their transcript, might be detrimental for students’ morale and may lead them to go elsewhere.
   • Dr. Frazier explained that the limit of one appeal per student is also a major problem. Dr. Coenen said that this was a concern that the committee plans to address by allowing additional appeals.
   • Dr. Case says that the moving of drop dates should reduce suspension rates.
5. Vacancies
   • Dr. Capps explained that there’s an alarming number of faculty vacancies, and it’s affecting enrollment and opportunities for students taking core classes. Dr. Brown Marsden admitted this problem, and it should be addressed soon. Pay is a major factor in these departures and difficulties filling positions, but Mr. Magee says that the timelines for hiring are also a major deterrent. Dr. Frazier asks why the timelines are slow. Dr. Brown Marsden does meet with final applicants for all faculty positions, which could slow process. Dr. Henschel indicated that Dr. Brown Marsden responded quickly and with multiple options to her request for candidate meetings.

Unfinished Business

1. Course Evaluation - Resolution
   • Dr. Coenen, Dr. Slavens, Dr. Dillard, and Dr. Shawver drafted the resolution. Senators recommended that accommodations be made for faculty up for tenure and promotion who had low response rates. Chairs indicate that they don’t want to incentivize non-completion. Some senators indicate that they want a paper evaluation option, but Dr. Capps reminded senators that online evaluations are by Faculty Senate request. Once again, senators express a strong desire to be able to view completion rates and to incentivize completion for students.
2. Legislative Session - Raises
   • Raises are still contingent upon state funding and retention and enrollment numbers. The proposal is for a 3% raise this year and another 3% raise the following year.
3. Election of 2025-2026 Representatives
   • Dr. Capps provides updates on next year’s senators and elections, which will enable opportunities to nominate and vote for Executive Committee positions.
4. Emergency Response Flyer
   • Dr. Capps explained that Dr. Brown Marsden, Dr. Lamb, and Chief Callarman produced a guide and plan to create stickers for each classroom in each building with instructions for getting assistance. Intramural fields should be included in the sticker distribution because they are used as classrooms.
5. Faculty Morale (link to survey to follow)
   • Dr. Coenen said that the previously discussed survey to assess morale of faculty across campus will not be implemented because HR is conducting a “Great Colleges to Work For” survey at random.

Announcements: None

Committee and Other Reports

1. Academic Council - Dr. Randy Case
   Dr. Case explains that the Academic Council reviewed over 50 pages of name and course number changes, which are all approved. The process seems archaic and arbitrary.
2. Administrative Council - Dr. Matthew Capps
   No report. Has not met.
3. Allocation Advisory Council - Dr. Matthew Capps
   No report. Has not met.
4. Athletics Council - Dr. Catherine Gaharan
   No report. Has not met.
5. Faculty Grievance Committee - Dr. Vicki Dillard
   No report. Has not met.
6. Student Affairs Council - Dr. Randy Case
   No report. Has not met.
7. University Celebration of Scholarship - Dr. Darla Diltz
   No report. Has not met.
8. Emergency Management Committee - Dr. Tammy Kurszewski
   No report. Has not met.
9. Other Committee Reports - None

The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m. Dr. Case made a motion to adjourn, and Dr. Vandehey seconded.
The motion to adjourn passed unanimously.

Submitted,
Dr. Hillary Coenen, Faculty Senate Secretary
Dr. Matthew Capps, Faculty Senate Chair

Next Meetings:
The next Executive Committee meeting with the President is April 25.
The next Executive Committee meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 via Zoom.
The next Faculty Senate meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. on April 10 in Bridwell Hall 204.