March 5, 2007 Minutes

The sixth regular meeting of the University Senate was held on Monday, March 5, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. in Rooms 314-315 of the University Union.

Absent were Senators Guerrero, Leshnoff, Roberge, Wengert, Goins, and Moore. President Caret was also absent.

The budget for FY 08 was submitted on 2/19. The budget has been submitted to RPAC (Research Planning and Advisory Committee). The Provost noted that he’s looking forward to discussion of budget, because of how TU has benchmarked some accounts in terms of the U of Delaware study.

TU will probably be more selective this year than in the past year, because the recruitment strategy is planning on an increase of only about 100 Freshmen (as opposed to the 300 Freshmen for which we were initially planning). This will bring us to about 2600 in the Freshman class for next year.

There are 22 faculty being considered for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor, one to Clinical, 14 to Full Professor and 24 post-tenure reviews that he has been reviewing.

There are about 65 searches now ongoing across the university, at various stages of completion. There have been a couple of problem areas related to facilities, salaries, and workload.

Vice President Rubin reported that we have about 4 ½ months to go in this year’s fundraising effort. He encouraged faculty to contribute if they have not yet done so. He predicted that we would exceed the 50 million dollar goal at the end of this five year cycle.

Towson has been getting strong feedback on the Cherry Hill advertisements on television.

Endowment Spendable Income is calculated using a formula approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The approved spending rate is currently 5%. This percentage compares very favorably to our peer institutions.

To determine the amount available in a given year, effectively, each endowment fund’s June 30th market value is multiplied by 5% to arrive at the spending amount for the fiscal year that begins the following July 1. However, at no time is spending of the original gift dollars permitted. Spending can only come from accumulated earnings (Realized and Unrealized). The exact formula is somewhat more complicated and we would be happy to discuss the intricacies of the formula if you desire a more detailed explanation.

Purpose	FY 2007	FY 2008
Academic Programs*	$41,037	$130, 157
Alumni Association	2, 870	3,966
Athletics	1,709	2,675
Facilities	2,018	2,990
Faculty Support**	77,752	157,883
Library	3,887	5,968
Public Service	1,750	4,065
Research	296	508
Scholarships	252,341	400,893
Special Projects	2,108	3,132
Student Activities	253	1,967
University Advancement	5,743	10,193
Totals	$391,764	$724,397

Prof. Brennan asked if the advertising spots are available online. Rubin affirmed that they can be accessed via the home page.

The Economic Advancement conference was very successful: it sold out. Funding was provided for 8 students to attend.

On 4/3 at 7 p.m., the next speaker in the series for Homeland Security will appear, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger.

Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum just gave TU money to provide PDAs to 40 high school students in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

DECO has provided some support for the Multicultural Conference at Towson. They’re also helping with the Sports and Marketing Conference in April.

Vice President Moriarty addressed the media coverage as follow-up to death of a student two weeks ago. Because such things typically don’t happen on campus, she explained, TU gets little information. Rather than asking about the cause of death, TU does outreach to family, helping with closing student accounts. TU provides support to student organizations and notifies current related faculty. TU typically doesn’t focus on the cause of death, though death by drink or drugs creates concern across campus. Student Affairs has fostered lively discussions with the Council of Student Leaders about the problems of alcohol and drugs. TU is interested in increasing alcohol education. Incoming first-year students take a 2 hour course on alcohol awareness. Two months after arriving on campus, TU surveys students about their alcohol consumption and behaviors. TU also conducts several other surveys addressing both alcohol and drug use. TU has alcohol treatment programs available at the counseling center. These programs are very busy. TU also has an alcohol awareness week. TU wants to keep students safe as they engage in dangerous behaviors. TU would like to fund a full-time alcohol educator on campus.

Prof. Little asked what the legal right of the university is to deal with the press in this situation. V. P. Moriarty said that the press is a “sticky wicket” in this regard. TU tried to simply address TUs work on alcohol abuse prevention, rather than discussing the student’s death.

Prof. Sullivan suggested putting together a pamphlet for how to deal with the press.

V.P. Rubin suggested that calls from the press should be directed to Carol Dunsworth of the University Relations office.

Prof. Vatz suggested that the press had no physical rights beyond that of an ordinary citizen to enter a classroom or campus.

CUSF is still looking at issues involving full-time non-tenure-track faculty, and discussing the possibility of putting together some kind of retirement benefit system for them. At TU, lecturers are not considered state employees, though they are at some other USM schools.

A committee of several USM Provosts and CUSF representatives put together a proposal for flexible tenure. Provost Brennan clarified that the policy is a very modest tweaking of the existing policy.

Prof. Sullivan asked if the state has determined that USM new faculty will get a housing allowance. There is a rumor that there is a state policy which TU elects not to participate in. Provost Brennan clarified that there is a state policy that the university could match, which would enable new professors to place a down payment on a house. This would involve university resources; no decision has yet been made to commit those funds.

Prof. McLucas reported that the All-faculty e-mail list is up and running. He’s going to use that to send out an announcement for the next meeting. Wed. April 11, 3:30 the Junior faculty will meet with President Caret. An AAUP meeting for all faculty will follow, from 4-5.

Prof. McLucas reported that he’s heard from several faculty about problems with tenure and promotion. He is going to work to make sure these problems are caught earlier, so that faculty are not surprised. In particular, the idea of “collegiality” needs to be clarified.

On Tiger Pride day, students went down to lobby with legislators. The SGA is particularly interested in advocating for legislation that would make it easier for students to vote from campus. Students also showed support for TUs budget request, and the “tuition affordability act.”

Prof. Little asked if SGA has been discussing the issue of providing free tuition to immigrants. Prof. Dieguez said people have been discussing it.

Prof. Sullivan handed out a list of committees and asked for clarification of the details regarding term endings, etc.

Vice President Moriarty asked if the website had information on what these committees are for and suggested that there ought to be.

Prof. Sullivan announced that there is a subcommittee on Salary at the University. It is the intention of that committee to return to the Senate in April with a report and recommendations.

Prof. Vatz reminded the Senate of the salary disparities created by the fact that Merit is based upon a departmental mean salary.

Revised copy of Chapter 3 of the Faculty Handbook, including all revisions and changes suggested by the Senate and Provost.

Prof. Sullivan thanked Profs. McLucas, Siegel, Pitcher, and Vatz for their work on the document.

Provost Brennan clarified that once the document is given in its official form to his office, it will go through the University Council, and then return to his office, and then be referred to the President.

Prof. Sullivan urged Senate members to e-mail him by the end of this week for approval/disapproval of the document.

Prof. Pitcher clarified that in the original document, the AR had to be turned in by June, but then faculty could add things through the beginning of September. The committee clarified that the date has been changed to September.

Provost Brennan confirmed that TU must continue to operate under the current document until the President approves the new document.

Prof. Siegel suggested that the document should be sent as an information item, approved by the Senate, to the PTRM Committee. Prof. Zimmerman disagreed. Prof. McLucas agreed that the Senate should vote on the document and then, as a point of courtesy, inform the PTRM committee. Prof. Pitcher also urged that the rest of the process should be clarified to the committee.

Prof. Pitcher moved to accept the report, Prof. Webster seconded. The Senate voted unanimously to accept the report, 17-0-0.

Senator Oppenheimer moved to accept, Prof. Tabak seconded. The Senate voted unanimously to accept the report, 17-0-0.