xt75x63b2v72 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt75x63b2v72/data/mets.xml University of Kentucky. University Senate University of Kentucky. Faculty Senate Kentucky University of Kentucky. University Senate University of Kentucky. Faculty Senate 1990-03-05  minutes 2004ua061 English   Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Special Collections Research Center. University of Kentucky. University Senate (Faculty Senate) records Minutes (Records) Universities and colleges -- Faculty University of Kentucky University Senate (Faculty Senate) meeting minutes, March 5, 1990 text University of Kentucky University Senate (Faculty Senate) meeting minutes, March 5, 1990 1990 1990-03-05 2020 true xt75x63b2v72 section xt75x63b2v72 MINUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE, MARCH 5, 1990

The University Senate met in regular session at 3:00 p.m., Monday, March
5, 1990, in Room 106 of the Classroom Building.

Donald C. Leigh, Chairman of the Senate Council, presided.

Members absent were: Michael Baer, Raymond Betts, James D. Birchfield,
George E. Blandford, Susannah Bobys, Peter P. Bosomworth, T. Earle Bowen,
Michael W. Bowling, Stanley D. Brunn*, Joan C. Callahan*, Rutheford B
Campbell, Jr., Ben W. Carr, Edward A. Carter, Jeff Carver, Michael L. Cibull*,
W. Harry Clarke, Jordan L. Cohen, Mary Sue Coleman, Ann Davidson, Ronald
Dillehay*, James Drummond*, Bruce S. Eastwood*, Charles W. Ellinger, Rob
Followell, Walter C. Foreman, Raymond E. Forgue*, J. Brauch Fugate, Daniel L.
Fulks*, Richard W. Furst, Philip A. Greasley, John R. Groves*, Marilyn C.
Hamann*, Zafar Hasan*, Laurie R. Hatch, Robert E. Hemenway, Micki King Hogue*,
Tony Holloway*, Alfred S. L. Hu, Bruce Hunt, Craig L. Infanger, David C.
Johnson*, John Paul Jones, Richard I. Kermode, Kenneth K. Kubota, Gerald
Lemons, Linda Levstik*, Scott Lewis, Thomas Lindlof, C. Oran Little*, Beth
Loafman*, Ken Lovins, Bruce A. Lucas*, Paul Mandelstam*, James R. Marsden*,
Richard V. McDougall, Peggy Meszaros, Ernest Middleton, William G. Moody, Jim
Musser*, David A. Nash*, Robert C. Noble*, Melody Noland, Dennis T. Officer, ‘
Jose Oubrerie*, Deborah E. Powe11*, Nicholas Rast*, Doug Reed, Thomas C.
Robinson, Edgar L. Sagan, Edward C. Scheiner, Fred Schwendeman*, Michael C.
Shannon*, Steven J. Skinner*, M. Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stivers*, Dennis M.
TeKrony, Ann R. Tickamyer, Kimberly F. Townley, Richard H. Underwood, Marie C.
Vittetoe*, Thomas J. Waldhart, Steven C. Weisenburger*, Carolyn A. Williams*,
Eugene Williams, Paul A. Willis, Constance P. Wilson, Emery A. Wilson and Mary
L. Witt*.

The Minutes of the meetings of December 4, 1989, and December 19, 1989,
were approved as circulated.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

I would like to call your attention to the fact that the Senate
Rules call for a poll of the faculty to be conducted in the Spring of
every other year. Since the last one was done in 1988, one is due
now. However, the Institution is required as part of the current
self-study process to obtain the views and attitudes of the faculty.
As I understand it, this will be done in the Fa11. In order to avoid
duplication the Senate Council is going to work with the Self—study
Steering Committee in that effort in the Fall.

Item 5 on the agenda was to be Russ Groves to present a talk on
"Campus Planning", and there was a scheduling conflict that was my
fault. He will be here at our next meeting on April 9.

The day after Charles Wethington was named Interim President
three of us from the Senate Council had a long meeting with him. One
of the things we mutually agreed on was that it would be a good idea
for him to come to a Senate meeting and talk to the Senate.

*Absence explained.

MAR 21990
AFR 21990

 

 The Chair welcomed Dr. Wethington who made the following remarks.

Dr. Wethington stated that it was everyone's intention that he
try to talk with the Senate in February rather than March but in the
press of things the meeting got delayed. He stated that as he talked
with the Council leadership shortly after being approved as Interim
President, he told them about some things on his mind that are high
on his agenda for the University of Kentucky. Dr. Nethington feels
that obviously at the top of that list is to do something to improve
the funding base of this Institution. In his opinion a top priority
is to work with the Governor and General Assembly in every way to
help bring about a budget recommendation and approval for the
University of Kentucky that would help stop 'the erosion in the
financial base of this place.I He feels that clearly such erosion
has been underway for sometime and there are few things more
important than trying to get that stopped since many of the things
the faculty want to do is absolutely dependent upon that state
appropriation base.

A second piece of his agenda is to begin to try to pull together
various facets of the University to move the University ahead during
this interim period. He describes this as not the usual interim
period. It is a time, not of his choosing or the faculty's choosing,
when the University was going into a General Assembly session after
David Roselle's announcement of his resignation. He stated that if
the announcement had been at a different time there possibly would

have been an opportunity for a much more 'usual kind of interim
period.‘ Beginning with the Senate Council leadership he wanted to
try to pull together various facets of the University from faculty to
board to lay leadership throughout the state to help with the
problems facing the University.

A third objective is to help further increase improved relation—
ships between the University system and the Community College
system. He feels he is likely the one person who is in the best
situation to try to work with Community College faculty and others to
try to bring about some healing and get the University System and the
Community College System moving all in the same direction at a very
critical period of time.

He stated that a lot has been done and yet nothing has been done
in getting something completely accomplished in Frankfort. He feels
that it is very easy for him to characterize the next three weeks as
the most critical we have seen in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for a
long time and not just for the University of Kentucky. Dr.
Wethington pointed out that as we look at an education reform effort
and improvement package in the state, which has pretty good consen-
sus, but with about three weeks left in the session has not yet come
out in bill form. It is likely to be dropped in the 'hopper' this
week. This will represent a massive change in the elementary and
secondary education system in this state. In his opinion that bill
has the potential of turning around a perception and reality of an
elementary and secondary system in this state which really does need
significant overhaul and improvement in financing. He feels that

 

 passage is critical to move the state forward educationally and
economically.

The second part of that, he stated, is that at this time there
is a significant revenue measure proposed by the Governor. He added
that it is very seldom in this state that there is a chance to even
talk about voting up or down a billion dollar tax increase. He
assured the Senators that some significant revenue increase like this
is critical if major improvements are going to be made for elemen-
tary, secondary, higher education, human services and other state
services which need significant improvement in the revenue base. Dr.
Wethington stated that the size of the tax increase and the relation-
ships between the executive and legislative branches have made this a
much tougher process than usual when a governor has made his or her
budget proposal. He added that no revenue package has yet been put
together in the house which must have 51 votes to get something
moving. His appeal to the Senate was for them to urge the General
Assembly members to get behind the revenue proposal. He stated that
the University's position is not one to determine what the revenue
package is but to urge the passage of a bill to fund the proposal
which the governor has made. He asked the Senators to help in any
way they can to support the budget proposal which will make consider-
able difference in the University of Kentucky and in education
generally in the state. He added this is the best budget proposal
the University of Kentucky has had in the 80's. It is the best
proposal the Community College system has ever had. He feels this is
a result of the Council on Higher Education changing the formula use
policy which makes it more beneficial to those institutions that are
farthest behind in the formula and the fact that the Governor has
recommended considerable additional funding for higher education. He
stated there are some facilities that have been proposed for funding,
some renovations, and deferred maintenance items, which are very
important for the University of Kentucky. In his opinion, all of
these are contingent upon there being a significant revenue proposal
passed in the General Assembly.

Dr. Hethington stated that whatever happened in Frankfort there
must be a l990-9l operating budget for the University of Kentucky.
There are already sessions inside the cabinet to look at budget
issues and concerns for l990-9l without knowing what the dollars are
going to be, but he has asked groups to let the Chancellors and Vice
Presidents know about those issues that need to get to the top of the
list. He stated that obviously faculty and staff salaries are at the
top of the list of priorities and hopefully some salary catchup
depending on the dollars available. He is aware, as he meets with
various groups on the campus, of the sincere expressions that budget
decisions should help improve the competitiveness which the Univer-
sity must have in the graduate area whether it be additional graduate
assistants, salaries, fellowships or tuition matters that deal with
the whole question of making the graduate program and graduate
student issues come to the forefront.

Dr. Hethington stated that a major project for the University is
the Institutional Self-Study. His approach to the Interim Presidency

 

 is not to delay anything that does not have to be delayed. Because
of the nature of the task he feels the Self—Study is one that should
move ahead. With the assistance of Loys Mather, who agreed to head
the project, Jim Hoagland and David Nash as Chair and Vice-chair, the
Self-study is underway. Dr. Wethington has asked the Chancellors and
Vice Presidents to choose their best people to be a part of a steer-
ing committee. He feels the Self—study is an important project for
the University, especially at this time. Because of the size he said
that there would be a lot of time and effort devoted to the study.

He encouraged getting good people for the various committees and
steering committee, getting the Chancellors and Vice Presidents
involved and making it an institutional self—study, not a faculty or
administration self-study. He assured the Senate that during the
time he works with the process he will try to get involvement, to get
good support for the project, and that the kinds of efforts made will
get disseminated in order that faculty will know what is going on in
the process.

One of the things Interim President Wethington did delay is the
capital campaign. He believes that an interim president should not
initiate a capital campaign and that a new person coming into the
presidency would not want to take on a capital campaign during his or
her first year. He assured the Senate that the University is moving
ahead in the process of encouraging and pushing private fund raising
in every way during this time. The University has been successful at
private fund raising even without a capital campaign and will
continue to do so.

Another thing he delayed with good advice from everyone is the
search for a Vice President for Research. The decision was that the
search should not go on during the interim presidency because the
person chosen would want to know who the president is going to be.
The search will be continued at the proper time.

Dr. Wethington stated that one of the issues coming up at the
Board of Trustees meeting is the issue of the Robinson Forest which
continues to be almost an annual event. He stated that the new
effort involves the application for a permit for mining, not in
Robinson Forest but in an area adjacent to it. He will take a report
to the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees and will ask the
Finance Committee to address specifically the issue in question. He
assured the Senators that as interim president he would not propose
any change in the University's position which is not to mine Robinson
Forest.

Dr. Hethington stated that jointly between the administration of
President Roselle and the Senate Council there were committees
appointed looking at the minority issues on the campus, particularly
black issues and concerns and at women's issues and concerns. He has
assured the Senate Council Leadership early in his term that these
are two matters that much concern him. He stated that he would
support the efforts of the committees just as they had been supported
during the time President Roselle was here. He has met with Dr.
Bosomworth and some of his staff to look at the whole question and

 

 issue of cultural diversity and concerns about making this a better
work environment that is very sensitive to those kinds of issues and
matters that deal with cultural diversity. He was much impressed
with what he saw happening there and his understanding is that this
is just one of several efforts that are ongoing both in the Medical
Center and throughout the Lexington campus. He stated that Peter
Bosomworth, Bob Hemenway and Ben Carr in the Community College System
are dealing with issues and concerns that try to make all of us more
sensitive to matters which may impact a particular group of employees
in this place. He wants to add his support and strong backing for
trying to make this an even better place to work than it is today.

Dr. Nethington stated that as he came into the role he knew
there were many individuals across the campus he knew well and with
whom he could work. He is doubly convinced of that today. He
assured the Senate that in whatever he has gone about he has received
excellent cooperation. He stated that such cooperation speaks very
well for the entire University of Kentucky. He expressed his deep
appreciation for that. He believes this is a time when the Univer—
sity must put its best foot forward and try to move along in the best
possible way. He said that together with faculty, staff, administra-
tion, the Board and external support there is a chance to keep the
University moving in the direction that has been set in the last few
years. He believes there is an excellent strategic plan in place.

He thinks the University's direction is set very well, but that does
not mean it cannot be improved or changed. Dr. Hethington stated
that he will be supportive and add his voice to trying to get done
that which the University has determined to be important. He
expressed his deep appreciation to the Senate for their support,
encouragement, and willingness to work with him. He dedicated and
pledged to the Senate to do everything he could to work well with
them and move the University of Kentucky toward the future during
this interim period.

The Senate gave Dr. Hethington a round of applause.

The Chairman asked if there were any questions. Professor Hans Gesund
(Civil Engineering) stated this seems to be a uniquely propitious time for the
University to pull together the Lexington Campus and the Community College
System. He added that Dr. Hethington had spoken about the communication
between the two systems. He would like to see more students, particularly
those that are not academically strong, to go to the Community Colleges for
two years and then transfer into the College of Engineering. He said that he
had run into difficulty with the Admissions Office because they do not seem to
want to integrate the admissions process of the two systems. He stated there
are certain impediments to the students who may want to later transfer. He is
looking toward trying to integrate the academic preparation of pre-engineering
students in the Community Colleges. He wanted to know if there is some way
Dr. Hethington could help. Dr. Hethington stated that there is an experi-
mental process at Elizabethtown which was designed to make the flow from the
Community Colleges into the University System a much easier one. He added
that he gets the same kinds of questions from the Community College faculty
and there is a plea for a better relationship generally and part of that
involves transfer students. He is well aware that there are enough things to

 

 be done that no one individual or part of the entire University needs to be
blamed. Dr. Hethington is committed to trying to help with improving the
process in any way he can.

Professor K. R. Subbaswamy (Physics and Astronomy) asked what Dr.
Nethington's plans are for the Office of the Vice-President for Research
during the interim period beginning July l. Dr. Hethington has not made a
decision on that, but he has been getting a lot of advice. He has had several
sessions with Professor Royster and one or two sessions with Drs. Bosomworth
and Hemenway. He has in mind some kind of interim arrangement that would
bring someone into that position during the time there is an interim presi-
dent. Dr. Hethington stated that he had not made a decision as yet, but he
will be getting the proper people involved in making that decision with him.
He has some ideas and the one thing he wants is to assure everyone that there
will be no back off in the commitment of the University to move forward with
support for its graduate and research programs. He stated that he would work
to insure that what is done in this interim period is truly the best in order
to keep the focus on research and on graduate students that the University of
Kentucky needs.

Professor Marcus McEllistrem (Physics and Astronomy) stated that he had
heard mining in the forest would provide something like a five cent per ton
fee that would amount to about one and three-quarter million dollars for the
University of Kentucky. He did not know if that meant mining adjacent to the
forest or mining in the forest. He wanted to know if the opposition was to
mining in the forest or mining adjacent to the forest. Dr. Hethington stated
there are no plans to mine any part of Robinson Forest which the University of
Kentucky owns. The proposal is mining land adjacent to Robinson Forest which
the University owns, the impact of which does, Dr. Hethington believes,
present some threat to the water sheds and research efforts which the
University has undertaken during the last thirty years. So far as Dr.
Wethington knows, there is no proposal by anyone to mine land which is
actually owned by the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Nethington told the Senate he appreciated their time and would come
again upon their invitation. Again he was given a round of applause.

The Chair recognized Professor Carolyn Bratt (Law) for a report on the
Presidential Search Committee.

A Summary of Professor Bratt's remarks follow:

Professor Bratt stated that William Lyons, Loys Mather and she
are the faculty representatives on the Presidential Search
Committee. Since Professor Lyons' report at the last Senate meeting,
the committee has met twice. She stated that the committee is
getting a lot of press coverage, so everyone should be aware the
committee is meeting. The first time they met was primarily an
organizational meeting in which Dr. Paul Sears was elected to
function as the secretary for the committee to keep track of the
various applications that would be coming in and also to take care of
the advertising of the position. She stated that Edythe Hayes is the
only member of the Presidential Search Committee who has been through
a presidential search. Dr. Sears shared with the committee the

 

 chronological timeline that the last Presidential Search Committee
used in searching for candidates and interviewing them.

Professor Bratt reported that the committee met again on March 2
to do some substantive work as opposed to getting a sense of what the
committee is supposed to do. The committee approved unanimously a
statement of required qualifications that they would like to have in
a new president for the University. The qualifications are the same
ones the Board of Trustees approved the last time when the search
resulted in the selection of David Roselle. The ideal candidate
would have academic qualifications of a distinquished record of
scholarly achievement, leadership abilities, and the candidate would
have public projection. Public projection means the candidate could
articulate the mission and the goals of the University not only in
the University community but to various constituent groups and the
legislature.

Professor Bratt stated that after approving those criteria that
the committee felt necessary for a candidate to meet, they approved
the text of an advertisement for the position that will run in the
Chronicle of Higher Education either March 14 or March 2l. The ad
will also run in Black Issues which is an attempt to indicate the
University's commitment to recruiting a diverse candidate pool and
also in a publication called Initiatives which is aimed at women who
are in academic leadership pOSitions. lhe committee also talked
about other ways of making it known that the position is available
and that the University is seeking candidates.

Professor Bratt stated that one of the first things the commit-
tee will do is to send a letter to every member of the faculty and
administrator in the UK system soliciting nominees. Letters will
also go to the chief executive officers of institutions belonging to
the National Association of Land Grant Universities and to the
National Association of Research Libraries. The committee will
solicit nominees from the chief executive officers of well—estab-
lished, four—year, liberal arts colleges. She added that there will
be an open letter in the Kentucky Open Door to reach all of UK's
alumni telling them about the process.

Professor Bratt reported there would not be a firm cutoff date
for applications from prospective candidates. There are recommen—
dations against having a firm cutoff date because very often the best
candidates show up further along in the process. However, the ad
will have a statement that the committee will begin reviewing
applications on May ll.

Professor Bratt told the Senators their role was more than
merely sending names across campus to the committee. The committee
wants help with the process of not only identifying who would be
outstanding nominees for the position but help with the 'courting' of
those people so as to convince them that they ought to apply, stay in
the pool, and to give the University serious consideration. She
feels that is a critical role because the committee does not have
enough people to be able to do that with everybody that might be a

 

 really viable candidate. She suggested going beyond just merely
identifying candidates and playing a part in the process of
encouraging the people nominated to be serious and stay through the
process.

Professor Bratt stated that the committee would not be able to
discuss individual applicants for the position. The committee has
agreed those names cannot be circulated because it scares off some of
the very best candidates. When the candidates are brought on campus,
obviously their names will become known;

Professor Bratt asked for any questions or suggestions to carry back to
the committee. Professor Lester Goldstein (Biological Sciences) stated that
he had heard reservations about the openness of the search. Because of that,
faculty here will not ask their colleagues from other institutions to apply
for the position. He wanted to know if Professor Bratt could give any
assurance about the openness of the search. Professor Bratt stated that she
could not speak for anyone other than herself and the other two faculty
members. She believes that the three of them are committed to an open
national search. Her own feelings are that until proven otherwise, she will
assume the committee is doing a full, fair, national search. She assured the
Senate that the three faculty members are watching very carefully to make sure
that in the initial stages everything is done correctly. She stated that she
cannot guarantee that the Board of Trustees will select the right candidate or
the one someone might want, but the committee has to go forward with the idea
that this is what is going to happen until proven otherwise.

Professor Marcus McEllistrem (Physics and Astronomy) wanted to know if all
members of the Search Committee had been able to participate fully so far.
Professor Bratt stated that Judge Hilhoit has not been at either one of the
meetings. Her understanding is that he has been ill, but the committee has
been assured that he will be participating at all meetings after May ll when
candidates will be reviewed. Professor McEllistrem wanted to know if any
consulting firms had been involved and how they would be used. Professor
Bratt stated there seems to be a majority sentiment among the committee
members to use a professional firm to assist in the search. The experience
last time was that the firm did not do very much to identify candidates other
than those identified already. The firm did not really add very much to the
pool by way of suggesting significant candidates. What the consulting firm
does is background checks on the various candidates that the committee is
seriously interested. The committee needs to make sure that the candidates
have the degrees they claim to have. Professor Bratt does not feel it is
important for the consultants to provide names of candidates.

The Chair reminded the Senate and the news media that the list of candi-
dates for Honorary Degrees is to remain confidential until approved by the
Board of Trustees. Chairman Leigh recognized Professor George Herring, Chair
of the Committee on Honorary Degrees, to submit the names of the nominees for
approval by the Senate. Professor Herring read a brief biography of each of
the nominees.

After the presentation, Chairman Leigh asked for a motion to approve the
candidates. Motion was moved and seconded. There was no discussion and the
motion carried.

 

 Student Senator Rob Lohman ca11ed for a quorum. There were 34 in
attendance. The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 4:05 p.m.

Randail w. Dah]
Secretary, University Senate