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MINUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE, OCTOBER 8, l990

The University Senate met in regular session at 3:00 p.m., Monday, October
8, l990, in Room ll5 of the Nursing Health Sciences Learning Center Building.

Carolyn S. Bratt, Chair of the Senate Council, presided.

Members absent were: Barry Applegate, Jim Arnett, Carl Baker, Harry V.
Barnard, Mark C. Berger*, James D. Birchfield*, Dan A. Black*, T. Earle Bowen,
Douglas Boyd, Kelly Breitenstein, David Brickeen*, D. Allan Butterfield*,
Rutheford B Campbell, Jr., Bradley C. Canon, Ben W. Carr, Edward A. Carter,
Jordan L. Cohen, Audrey L. Companion, Clifford J. Cremers, Richard C. Domek,
Paul M. Eakin, William H. Fortune, Michael B. Freeman*, Richard W. Furst, Hans
Gesund*, Philip A. Greasley*, Brian Gullette, Marilyn C. Hamann, J. John
Harris, Laurie R. Hatch*, Donald L. Hochstrasser*, Micki King Hogue, Richard
A. Jensen*, Edward J. Kasarskis, Kim Kells, Kenneth K. Kubota, Gerald Lemons,
Thomas W. Lester, C. Oran Little, Sean Lohman, Jill Lowry*, Richard V.
McDouglass, Shawn Meaux*, Ernest J. Middleton, Roy L. Moore*, Clayton P.
Omvig, Jose 0ubrerie*, Clayton R. Paul, Barbara Phillips, John J. Piecoro,
Jr.*, Ronald Polly, Thomas R. Pope, Daniel R. Reedy, Robert E. Rhoads, Thomas
C. Robinson, JoAnn V. Rogers*, Arturo A. Sandoval, Frank A. Scott*, Michael C.

'Shannon*, Timothy Sineath*, Mike Sparkman*, Louis J. Swift*, John S.
Thompson*, Michael A. Webb, Jesse L. Weil*, Ervy Whitaker, Eugene Williams,
Emery A. Wilson, W. Douglas Wilson, Alfred D. Winer, Peter Wong, and Louise J.
Zegeer*.

The Chair stated that once a year the President of the University formally
addresses the University Senate. Professor Bratt introduced President Charles
T. Wethington who shared some remarks with the Senate. President Wethington
was given a round of applause.

A summary of President Wethington's remarks follows:

President Wethington expressed his appreciation to those
who sent notes of congratulations. Many also sent notes of
condolences on the death of his father. Both of them are very
much appreciated by Dr. Wethington and his family and he wanted
to publicly express his appreciation. He also expressed his
appreciation to Carolyn Bratt, Sean Lohman, Ray Betts and to
others who by their statements, after the decision was made
about the presidency, clearly indicated that all of us are
interested in the best interests of the University of Kentucky
and that everything would be done to see that the University
moves forward.

The President stated that his comments would be different
than if he had spoken in September. He indicated that the
Senate already knew the facts, figures, and statistics on
enrollment. From the President's perspective the semester is
off to a good beginning with a good enrollment, with an
increasingly effective higher academic quality student body.

*Absence explained

 

 Minutes, University Senate, October 8, l990

There is a slight enrollment increase on this campus and a
considerable increase in the Community College System.

The first topic which the President discussed and one he
considers to be very important is that he believes the faculty
at the University of Kentucky is the ”heart of this Institution"
and will always be that. He believes that an excellent faculty
is absolutely essential to having an excellent University, and
he believes UK has an excellent faculty as represented by those
in the Senate, by the faculty throughout the Community Colleges,
Medical Center and Lexington Campus. He is dedicated to insur-
ing the excellence of that faculty and to providing the kind of
support that is essential to see the faculty remain an excellent
one and indeed an even better one than it is today. He knows
the faculty works hard, works long hours, is not always appre—
ciated, not paid as well as they or he would like to see, but
their role continues to be an exceedingly important one in the
University of Kentucky.

In the President‘s perspective he feels it is his job to
try to help in any way he can to provide the faculty with the
resources, with the support staff, support services, competitive
salaries, and working environment that lets the faculty do the
kind of job that they are uniquely qualified to do. He believes
that in his role as President and believed that in the role of
Chancellor of the Community College System. He believes the
Office of the President is the office of “last resort.” It is
his hope and desire that the vast majority of problems inside
the University can get solved at much different levels, as
closely as possible to where the problems lie. He would like to
see them solved as quickly and expeditiously as possible. He
stated that he wants the faculty to know that he accepts the
responsibility, he will be accessible, and if problems cannot
get resolved in some other fashion then he is there. He may not
always solve the problem in the manner the faculty might like it
to be solved, but he stated that he would listen and respect the
faculty's point of view. He asked to be supported in those
decisions as the University moves ahead.

President Nethington's first point was to get across to the
faculty his sincere belief in the vital role that the faculty
plays in the University and to let them know that he has an
understanding of that faculty role. He will work to have an
even better understanding of that faculty role and to try to
convince the faculty that his administrative style will be one
that recognizes and supports the role of the faculty in the job
they must do inside the University of Kentucky.

President Wethington feels the University has a very good
strategic plan -— one which he and many others have participated
in developing for the University. He believes the plan is
sound, but he feels it can be improved. For a first effort, he
feels it is an exceptionally good one. He stated that the

 

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Minutes, University Senate, October 8, l990

”Strategic Plan” says that we all want to see developed a
modern, comprehensive University that is known nationally and
internationally, we hope, for the quality of its scholarship,
its graduates, service, its students and teaching. He hopes
there is complete agreement that everyone is working toward that
goal.

President Nethington has a particular point of view that he
thinks the time is right to pursue. To become a nationally
recognized University then it has to truly become one Univer-
sity. He realizes the strength of the University T§_in its
diversity, and it always will be. To be most effective he feels
that diversity should be coordinated and move in one direction.
He is committed to doing that and trying to avoid the ”splinter
group mentality.” He stated that across the University from the
Medical Center to Community Colleges to Lexington Campus, ath-
letics, hospital, and agriculture, there are groups or units
that tend to have the opportunity to be more autonomous than
others. He feels that autonomy is good, sound, and solid but
the University needs to have all of those units ”pushing,
pulling, shoving" and taking the University forward by working
together. President Wethington's dedication and goal is going
to be to establish one UK. He stated that everyone working
together could do more than the various units could by working
separately.

President Nethington wants the University to keep the
designation that everyone has helped to earn and that is that
the University has become a research University of the first
class. He feels everyone is committed to seeing that continue
and even improve. He feels the research program can be im—
proved and stregthened, and he wants to keep the Vice President
for Research position. He will actively work to fill that
position within the next few months and will seek faculty advice
on the candidates in order to fill the position with the best
possible person who will be a member of the President's Cabinet.
He wants that position recognized as well as that of the
Chancellors because in his opinion the research program to be
most successful and grow must have the active and close involve-
ment of the Vice President for Research, the Chancellors and the
other Vice Presidential positions. President Wethington com—
mitted that he would move ahead as rapidly as possible to keep
the Vice President for Research position in the forefront and
work to fill it with the best possible person that can be found.

President Methington stated that to have an excellent
University there has to be the same kind of excellence in
teaching as there is in research. He has never considered these
to be working at cross-purposes with each other. He feels they
must mutually support each other. He hoped the faculty and he
would both agree that the University will be looking for the
ideal faculty candidate who is an excellent researcher and who
is also dedicated to excellence in teaching. His emphasis, if

 

 Minutes, University Senate, October 8, l990

he were going to reword the University's global mission
statement, is that the word teaching or instruction would be
there. He feels everyone should work at ways to recognize
excellent teaching in the same fashion that excellent research
is recognized. He stated that everyone should work at pro-
viding quality instruction at the undergraduate, professional
and graduate level that is the same kind of excellence that is
looked for in research. He feels that it is exceedingly impor—
tant to the undergraduate students. He feels the efforts which
Chancellor Hemenway has made in reestablishing the Dean of
Undergraduate Studies and focusing more attention on graduate
assistants are things which indicate that the University is
sincerely interested and dedicated to the teaching profession.
The President hopes that everyone agrees with him in putting
emphasis on teaching that does not detract but helps with the
University's development as a nationally recognized University.

President Hethington wants the University to reach out and
serve the state in more and better ways than it ever has. With
this year's l990—9l budget there were some dollars approved to
take some doctoral level instruction and professional engineer-
ing courses to other areas of the state. He truly believes the
University is the one principal institution in the state for
teaching, research and service. He stated that the University
is the only institution in Kentucky that can play the state-wide
role. In his opinion that state-wide role must not slip. He
stated there are two reasons for that. One, the state deserves
that kind of service and instruction. Two is that the Univer-
sity has a vested interest in protecting that state—wide role
and mission. He believes the resources should be taken to the
extent that the University can to other places in the state but
do it with the same kind of quality and excellence that is done
on this campus. He is dedicated to the furthering of service to
the state that says, "Let's take programs out.“ He stated this
initial effort was started in Western Kentucky because that
seemed to be the primary interest of the Council on Higher
Education and the needs of the state. The University's back has
not been turned on Eastern Kentucky in terms of graduate pro-
grams. There is graduate emphasis in the rural health initia—
tive which is being planned. This gives the University excel—
lent opportunities to utilize the resources of this state to
help solve some of the problems that are in the Commonwealth
which only the University of Kentucky can help resolve.

The President wants to see the University provide state—
wide leadership in minority affairs. He feels the state
deserves no less and that this institution should be expected to
be a leader in that arena. He supports the hiring of additional
black faculty and staff, recruitment of additional black stu-
dents to the University, the retention of those students and the
establishment of an environment that is conducive to cultural
diversity. He believes this says to everyone, ”Here is a place
that recognizes and does hold valuable cultural diversity.“ He

 

 Minutes, University Senate, October 8, l990

feels we must knock down whatever barriers might exist that
cause a black student to say, "Here is a problem that I would
like to see solved in order for this Institution to be more
hospitable to black students, to minority students generally, or
to international students."

President Wethington is most appreciative of the students'
efforts that have recognized some of the problems faced in
establishing the kind of environment he would like to see. The
students have willingly accepted a role in helping to work with
faculty, administration and fellow students to determine how to
make this a better environment in which to live and work and to
say to the rest of the state and hopefully beyond the state's
borders that this is an institution that does value cultural
diversity and is bound and determined to make this a place that
does recognize that.

The President emphasized the University's need to be a
leader in computer technology and information systems. The
University has made great headway in the last five years. The
University has moved computing technology to the point where
this institution is one of the best in the country. He stated
that we had begun to lose some ground, but some of the faculty
were instrumental in convincing the President that in terms of
priorities for University dollars there was a need to upgrade

the super computer to keep the University at a level of technol-
ogy to say that the University is serious about providing the
kind of resources in computing that will help the faculty do the
job they want to do. He feels Kentucky is in the forefront and
he wants to see it stay there.

President Hethington encouraged an international emphasis
for the University. He stated there is a group that has begun
to work on putting a better focus on our international expertise
and resources at the University. He believes that includes
international students, faculty exchanges, academic programs,
and the kind of service role that this institution may play
whether it is in Agriculture or some other part of the Univer—
sity. He stated that the University is a resource to the state
in being able to help others with international service kinds of
problems. He believes the University can put more emphasis,
attention, and focus on the International Programs in which the
office acts as a broker across the entire span of the
University. He feels it is absolutely essential that the
University push to have the students when they leave here have a
”global perspective.“

President Nethington believes that the Medical Center is a
valuable part of the University -— one which gives many advan—
tages that some other institutions do not have. Obviously, one
of them is the sort of possibilities that exist for interdisci—
plinary kinds of efforts. He is pleased with what he knows is
happening at this University in comparison with that of other

 

 Minutes, University Senate, October 8, l990

institutions. One of the reasons is the attitude of the
Chancellors who have clearly pushed the business of cooperation.
He stated that the Medical Center gives this view an advantage
over other institutions where the medical centers are located
separate from the university. He wants to see the Medical
Center stay a part of the University of Kentucky. He wants to
see its excellence continue. Everyone knows the University has
been recognized nationally for the Pharmacy School, Dental
School, Center on Aging, and for other programs in the College
of Medicine. He feels it is an advantage for the University to
have a Medical Center here and not a disadvantage. He thinks
there is a unique opportunity to develop excellence across the
”waterfront" in the Medical Center and teaching hospital.

President Methington stated that everyone knows how he
feels about the Community Colleges and his feeling that they
must continue to be the vehicle for providing access to higher
education throughout the state and must provide excellence in
academic instruction and must provide the kind of service to
this state that only an institution can if it is located in some
of the more rural areas. The Community College System has been
‘nationally recognized, and he wants to see it continue in that
direction. He wants to see the system reach out, broaden, and
even better serve tomorrow the Commonwealth of Kentucky than it
does today.

The President stated that there is an opportunity at the
University of Kentucky to have a model athletics program. He
does not apologize for his interest in intercollegiate ath—
letics, because he clearly has been interested in athletics for
a number of years, and he is a participant in terms of being a
fan and has been supportive of the University of Kentucky's
athletics programs. In his opinion with the leadership in place
the University can play a national leadership role in athletics
to develop the kind of program which he thinks everyone would
like to see that puts the student athlete first and does not
tolerate any breaking of SEC and NCAA Rules and Regulations. He
believes the University of Kentucky is one of the few institu—
tions that really has an opportunity with the leadership,
interest, and financial soundness to be able to say to the rest
of the country, "Look, we are going to develop a program here
that is right.“ He is aware that this is much easier said than
done. He has let athletics know in no uncertain terms the kinds
of expectations he has in having a program that emphasizes
putting the student-athletes first. Win, but be consistent with
the rules and regulations of the conferences and association.

The President hopes the faculty will expect from him his
interest in accountability. He is interested in institutional
effectiveness. He does not mind to demonstrate to the outside
world that the University is doing reasonably well what it says
it is doing. If he were worried about the institution and did
not think it was doing the kind of job that should be done, he

 

 Minutes, University Senate, October 8, l990

might feel a little differently. He has never worried about
being accountable. He has felt the institution can stand on its
own merits and can provide information about the use of the
state's resources that will make people understand and make
people more supportive rather than less.

In the next few months the President will be taking a look
at the administrative structure in the University, making any
necessary changes that he feels must be made in order to make
the institution be as lean and as able to move ahead as it
possibly can. He wants the administrative organization of the
Institution to be well understood by all those who work within
it, and by those outside who see the University and are able to
help the Institution in its funding. He wants them to feel they
can come to the University for information, reporting, or what-
ever it may be. He wants to say to those people that the
University has taken dollars, used them in the manner antici-
pated, and the University believes it is doing an excellent job
with what it has. He does not feel that it is too much for
University supporters to ask, and he knows it is not too much
for the state legislators and executive branch officials to
ask. He wants to be proud of the effectiveness with which the
University operates and wants to demonstrate to the world that
the University can be the kind of excellent institution that
everyone envisions and at the same time be perceived to be
accountable to the inside and outside constituencies.

The last item President Hethington talked about concerned
the fund raising effort to build up an endowment to improve the
humanities collection -- the King Library collection that will
benefit the humanities. He thinks that is an extremely impor—
tant kick off for the University, and he is strongly behind and
supportive of and would like to see that effort brought to a
successful fruition.

President Hethington stated that the University has a
facility problem in terms of the library. He thinks many would
agree not to have to go several miles to access some of the
resources of the King Library. He stated that all would agree
if they saw some of the library facilities around the country
that the University might not have one that is quite up—to—date.
He personally believes that a library facility on a university
campus is extremely vital, important, and critical because the
library is obviously not only the repository of books and other
kinds of services, but it also ought to be perceived as the
"heart of the Institution.” He feels the library at this
University is a good one in terms of collection and ought not to
be allowed to go down but be on the up swing in terms of support
and collections. He feels there should be an expansion of the
present library facilities. He asked the faculty, staff,
students, Board of Trustees, alumni, athletics, and the private
sector to join with him to work toward the building of a new
library for the University of Kentucky. He stated that he does

 

 Minutes, University Senate, October 8, 1990

not want to tear down the King Library. He thinks there is
always a place for the present library facility and is vitally
interested in maintaining it. The administration has looked at
the possibility of expanding the King Library or seeking a new
location. President Wethington's feeling is that the University
ought to move to a new location, build a new facility that would
be state—of-the—art to indicate to the rest of the world the
value this University places on the library. He stated that if
the University seeks support of the private sector as well as
the public sector, then the University has an excellent oppor—
tunity to do something over the next few years that will be
exceedingly important for the future of the University of
Kentucky. He stated that the planning would involve the
faculty. He feels that within the next few months a decision
should be made, and the President plans to appoint a steering
committee in the next few weeks to work with him on the plans
for developing a first-rate proposal for a first-rate library
facility that can supplement, assist, and help in every way to
demonstrate to the rest of the world that the University is very
serious about the library, and that there is an excellent place
to house what he believes is an excellent collection.

President Nethington's final word was that as faculty
leaders he knew they were often not understood, often not
appreciated, but he will work with them and together they can
push the University ahead, move it forward to even greater
heights than it has ever been moved before. He stated that he
truly believes that the University is great and can be even
better. He feels the opportunity is there in this Commonwealth.
He says no other institution has that opportunity in this
Commonwealth, and if that is seized, then the University has
failed not only themselves but the Commonwealth as well and even
beyond its borders.

President Wethington said that he is a person very positive
by nature and is upbeat about the University's prospects. He
knows that the base is solid and sound and that the heart is
there. He also believes the resources are here if they are
focused to move the University forward to even greater heights.
He expressed his appreciation to everyone for their attendance
and for listening to his thoughts and ideas about the University
of Kentucky. He told the Senate that he would be pleased to
come back again to talk about statistics or he would be pleased
to talk about other topics. He feels it is helpful to him to
have the Senate hear about what he feels about faculty in the
University and then to hear from him what he considers to be
some of his priorities and plans for the University of Kentucky.
He asked the Senate to join with him in what he considers to be
a very important project as plans are made to push for the
funding for a first—class library facility that will make
everyone inside the University of Kentucky even prouder than
they are today. The President thanked the Senate for having him
speak.

 

 -9-

Minutes, University Senate, October 8, l990
President Methington was given a round of applause.

The Chair thanked the President for being with the Senate and told him he
would be invited back because there would be questions and other issues they
would want to hear from him. The Chair stated that the University has been
through a difficult time in the past month. Some people have said to her that
it is now over and some have said it has just begun. She is not sure which is
right and which is wrong. She feels that perhaps both are correct. She does
know this is the time to lower voices but not the goals. It is the time to
continue doing those tasks that the University does so well and are the “heart
of the University" which are teaching, research and service. On behalf of
herself, Ray Betts, William Lyons, and Loys Mather, Professor Bratt thanked
the Senate for the opportunity to represent the Senate's views. The Chair
stated that the four of them appreciated their words of wisdom and support
during the time period.

The Chair stated that Professor Daniel Fulks suggested that the
Ombudsman's report be attached to the Minutes rather than his reading the
report at the meeting. She asked for any objections. Hearing none, she
directed that the report be attached to the Minutes to be circulated. [The
AcademicJOmbudsman's Report for l989—l990 is attached at the end of these
Minutes.

The Chair introduced the new Ombudsperson for this year, Dr. Gretchen
Lagonda (Nursing).

The Chair stated that two years ago the Senate Council appointed an ad hoc
Committee on the Status of Minorities Employed at UK and another one on the
Status of Women Employed at UK. Professor Juanita Fleming asked Professor
James Hells (Mathematics), a member of the Minority Committee to give the
report. The Chair recognized Professor Hells.

A summary of Professor Wells' report follows:

Professor Wells stated that the committee was appointed
almost two years ago, and he assured the Senate it did feel like
two years. He recognized the members of that committee who are
Darwin Allen, James Applegate, Anne Boling from the Dean of
Students Office, Pete Middelton, Associate Dean of the Graduate
School, and Juanita Fleeming who was the Chair. He also
acknowledged the generous support and counsel of Nancy Ray.

Professor Hells stated that he would not list all the
recommendations of the committee but he did want to give "some
of the flavor” of what it meant to serve on the committee. He
feels that each of the committee members is more sensitive to
the problems which were charged to the committee mainly to
investigate the economic, cultural and political status of black
and other minority faculty members and employees of the Univer—
sity of Kentucky. The primary mission of the committee is to
identify methods for eliminating impediments to the full and
equal participation of Blacks and other minorities in the
University community.

 

 Minutes, University Senate, October 8, l990

Professor Hells stated that the committee in carrying out
the charge worked with the ad hoc Committee on the Status of
Women and developed three surveys. The committee surveyed the
faculty, professional staff, and the hourly employees. They
interviewed minority faculty who had left the University. They
surveyed and spoke with minority alumni. They reviewed statis-
tical data on minority employees. Professor Hells stated there
were only l3 black administrators and two Asian administrators
in the l988-89 statistics. There were l5 Black male faculty,
four Hispanic, 65 Asians. There were 7 Black women faculty, no
Hispanic and 7 Asians. In the service maintenance area there
were 47l Black, 4 Hispanic, 23 Asians, 279 women, l Hispanic,
and l Asian. Professor Wells stated that the majority of
minority employment at the University is concentrated in the
clerical and maintenance area.

Professor Hells felt it should come as no surprise that the
Black minority employees of the University of Kentucky as well
as the Black alumni do not regard this institution with great
affection. Fifty~one black alumni were interviewed. Professor
Wells personally read and analyzed the reports that came in from
those people. The older ones do not look upon this University
as a pleasant place to be, and they don't have great affection
for a certain member of the Board of Trustees. Professor Wells
stated that most of the Black alumni of the University look back

upon their experience here as mostly negative, interspersed with
a few doctored lines with a few caring teachers, but Black
alumni say they are proud of the education they received from
the University of Kentucky. Many of them responded that they
would send their children to this institution even despite

their memories are not very positive.

It was a new experience for Professor Wells to sit across
the table from a Black employee of the University and hear de-
tailed stories about discrimination and sexism. He stated that
would elevate one's sensitivity very fast. He feels that is
something which the University cannot ignore. He did not say
the University is worse than other institutions, but he did say
that the faculty should acknowledge that discrepancy.

Professor Hells feels that the main problem is not at the
faculty level but with the secretarial and maintenance and
operations area of the University. In that area there are very
few Black supervisors. Professor Wells stated that Blacks have
a great lack of mobility in their employment opportunity. In
the maintenance area there is a great lack of Black in-service
training. The minorities view their opportunities as inverted.
That is if one goes to work as a janitor, they will die as a
janitor. There are no opportunities for movement to better
positions. Professor Wells believes the University has been
seriously neglectful in the past in providing opportunities for
in-service training. He urged the University to get serious
about the training of minority employees and giving them broader
opportunities.

 

 Minutes, University Senate, October 8, l990

The committee was astonished to learn that many of the
minority employees are having a terrible time paying for medical
coverage. This looms large in their view. Professor Wells
stated that many of them are finding it difficult or even
impossible to carry the University's health care. One of the
recommendations of the committee is that the University‘s
contribution to its employee health costs and employees' cost of
day care be scaled to reflect ability to pay. Another recommen-
dation is that the Personnel Division expand the number and
scope of its training activities particularly workshops to give
minorities opportunity for more mobility.

The committee believes that the University should continue
to have a very vigorous program for the recruitment of minority
employees. The committee hopes the University gives every
possible concern they can to that end, particularly with respect
to putting some energy into the next generation of minorities.
Many people believe that this generation of minorities is lost
in so far as providing professional people at the University
level.

The committee believes their recommendations stand to bene—
fit the entire University.

Professor Wells thanked the Senate, and they gave him a round of applause.
The Chair thanked Professor Wells and stated the University owes a very deep
debt of gratitude t