Visitors: Camille Serchuk (UCF), Ed Harris (CITO), Hugh Davis (History)

• Technology Office will work towards establishing Departmental rotations regarding 3-year upgrades of computers. Ideally, all computers in a given department will be replaced at the same time, which should alleviate any problems of compatibility.
• Faculty should be involved with software selection, though this is complicated by the various needs of different disciplines regarding specialized software.
• The highest Technology priority at the moment regards security. A CCSU hacker caused this concern. Second priority is continued Y2K compliance concerns in regards to software.
• The Help Desk has been approved and space has been allocated. The new Manager will be an AFSCME employee. The position will be posted internally prior to the end of the semester.
• It is against State Policy to maintain software that has not been authorized or approved. If faculty install software that they personally own, there should be no problem.

Minutes of the Special Faculty Senate Meeting of May 17,1999 were approved with deletions and corrections. Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting of September 8,1999 were approved with corrections.
 

Announcements:
 

• Hard copies of Approved Minutes will be sent to Faculty Senators and Department Chairs. Senators are reminded to report regularly to their constituents.

Standing Committee Reports:

Personnel Policy: Continues to review P & T Document including the provision for a Hardship DEC, and will initiate Administration Evaluation

Finance: The Senate Budget for the year is $5,000. $1,000 is budgeted for the summer retreat. The Budget Committee may recommend that AAUP travel money be made available on the fiscal year as opposed to the academic year. It was noted that AAUP did not receive a report from the Finance Committee as stated in the minutes of 8 September 1999.

Elections: Will be holding elections for three part-time Faculty Senators

Student Policy: Results are in from survey of Academic Advisement. They will be available in draft form next meeting.

Ad hoc Technology. No report.

Currently discussing issues surrounding remedial courses and placement. The English Department is actively involved as their participation is crucial. UCF will be requesting that BANNER be installed in a way that effectively screens for pre-requisites.
 

Old Business: Discussion was held regarding the Proposed Constitution of  the University Library Committee. Hugh Davis (History), Chair of the current library committee, raised several objections; Why should the ULC become a Standing Committee of the Senate? The existing Library Committee has be working efficiently and effectively for 5 years – why should it be changed? The current committee has representatives from Administration and the Student Body. The Library has a new Director that has no interest in being micro-managed.

Three suggestions were made by Dr. Davis:

1. Have a Senate Representative appointed to the ULC
2. Have the Senate suggest procedures for the current ULC and/or
3. Have the Senate hold elections for the faculty on the ULC

The Academic Policy Committee’s proposal was cited as being outrageous. To suggest that the Senate should establish procedures for the Library should be opposed, the same way it would be opposed if the Senate were to try to establish procedures for individual departments. Disapproval was expressed on behalf of Librarians.

It was stated that the Proposal is not intended to take away any responsibility from the Director or the Librarians.

The question was raised, again, as to what is currently so wrong with the Library that would demand such a change as is proposed?

Suggestion was made to adopt all three of Hugh Davis’ suggestions in lieu of creating the new Standing Committee. We would have a liaison for the Library just as we currently do for UCF.

Failure of the previous Library Director to effectively manage the move to Wintergreen and back again following asbestos abatement many years ago was brought forward as a point of concern.