Minutes for Aug. 27, 2004

1. Dr. Ferris Byxbe called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

2. The minutes from the June 25, 2004 meeting were approved.

3. Dr. Randal Stitts nominated Dr. William Tindol as president, his nomination was seconded and the senate voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The senate elected Dr. Tindol as president. According to the newly revised Faculty Senate Constitution, a vice-president was needed. Dr. Robert Overfelt was nominated, the nomination was seconded, and the senate unanimously voted in favor. Dr. Don Walden nominated Dr. Sally Moreman as secretary, the nomination was seconded and the faculty was in favor of the nomination.

4. Dr. Overfelt thanked Dr. Byxbe for serving as president and the senate applauded.

5. Dr. Byxbe reviewed the Faculty Senate Financial Report for 2003-2004.

6. Dr. Byxbe then directed faculty to the revised Faculty Senate Constitution and to the Texas Council of Faculty Senates Handbook.

8. Dr. Tindol assumed duties of president and asked if there were any questions. Dr. Tindol expressed his concern about students registering for classes without counseling and consequently enrolling in classes for which they are not qualified. Dr. Barbara Tyler mentioned that she had talked with Ms. Claudia Wright and that in future faculty should be given PIN numbers for advisees before they go online to register. Dr. Tindol concluded that if this does not happen, the faculty would need to react.

9. Dr. Tindol then asked Dr. Byxbe for an update on faculty terms on Rio Grande College committees. The following changes were made.

Access and Equity Committee: Dr. Janelle Taylor Garcia's and Dr. Tim Wilson's terms expired; Dr. Don Walden offered to serve and Dr. Tim Wilson offered to remain on the committee.

Graduate Council: Dr. James Wood's term expired and he offered to remain on the committee.

Registration: Dr. Ferris Byxbe's term expired and he offered to remain on the committee.

Research and Faculty Development Council: Dr. Ferris Byxbe's and Dr. Randall Stitts' terms expired and Dr. Wesley Wynne, representing Liberal Arts, and Dr. Terry Carson, representing Business, offered to serve.

University Scholarship Committee: Dr. Miriam Muniz-Quiz's term expired and she offered to remain on the committee.

Undergraduate Admissions and Retention Council: Dr. Tim Wilson's term expired and Dr. Randal Stitts offered to serve.

10. Dr. Overfelt asked Dr. Byxbe how his serving as Vice President of the West Region of the Texas Regions and Council Officers would impact his involvement with the faculty senate. Dr. Byxbe explained that he serves as the liaison for state universities in the west region until May 2006, and that he will, along with the faculty senate officers, attend the Fall and Spring Texas Council of Faculty Senates conferences in Austin, Texas. Dr. Byxbe mentioned that the conferences are a pipeline to the Chancellor and legislators and are opportunities for bringing up concerns with the Chancellor.

11. Dr. Tindol mentioned Mayor Dora Alcala's new position on the Board of Regents and the senate expressed hope that good would come out that.

12. Having asked if there were any new business, Dr. Tindoll asked the senate if it would meet collectively or by teleconference if and when it should have occasion to meet again. The senate voted to meet by teleconference.

The meeting adjourned at 9:40 a.m.