UNF Faculty Association Bylaws

I.		Call to Order
		President Steve Shapiro called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m.

II.		Approval of Minutes - JUNE 3, 1999
		The minutes of the June meeting were approved as published on the Faculty Association web site.

III.		Announcements
		Hank Camp: The Asheville Report on General Education has been sent via Outlook and hard copies will be available to faculty. Feedback on the report and General Education is requested. General Education should be more than a 2-year program; Camp challenged faculty to think about how to implement the report's suggestions in your department. Direct comments to him by e-mail, print or phone. Henry Thomas: The UNF Masters in Public Administration program has been accredited for seven years. Steve Shapiro: At the last meeting, Janet Owen mentioned that the state's contribution to the optional retirement program had been reduced. A report on that development is on the Faculty Association web site.

IV.		Standing Committee Reports

		Academic Programs Committee - Joyce Jones
		No report.
		Academic Standards Committee - Simin Vaghefi
		No report.
		Academic Technology and Support Services Committee - Dennis Gay
		No report.
		Adjunct Affairs - Allen Tilley
		No report.
		Faculty Affairs Committee - Judy Solano
		The committee has one item on today's agenda.
		Nominations and Elections Committee - Diane Tanner
		Two vacancies on the Sabbatical Selection Committee, representing the College of Arts and Sciences, still need to be filled. Please see Steve Shapiro to volunteer.
		Promotion and Tenure Committee - Bill Slaughter
		No report.
		Executive Committee - Kathleen Cohen
		The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be on Thursday, August 19.

V.		Other University Committee Reports

		Graduate Council - Cheryl Fountain
		No report.
		Safety Advisory Council - Ted Stumm
		The committee will meet the third Monday of August.

VI.		Special Reports

		Legislative Liaison Report - Janet Owen
		Bright Futures, K-12, and Community Colleges are on the legislature's interim agenda. Dr. Brian Hanes is the new Vice Chancellor of Student Academic Affairs at the BOR.
		President - Anne Hopkins
		The recent article in the Times-Union about priorities at UNF was incomplete, only about one part of moneys we have received. We received a 10.7 % increase in overall "E and G" budget; while we lost $950,000 from the veto, we were still left well off. Preliminary allocation figures promise approximately 50 new permanent faculty lines, a 14% increase in faculty size plus twenty-three additional staff positions. There is a 2.1% operating expense increase for all units. Besides UNF's 5% tuition increase, there are other sources (for instance, undergraduate and graduate enhancement funds) of our financing to help improve the quality of education at UNF. President Hopkins wants to find ways to improve the budget process and thinks most in the UNF community will be relatively pleased with the new budget.
		United Faculty of Florida - Gary Harmon
		Gary applauds the good news on resources, but hopes that next year faculty salary conditions will also be improved. The NEA meeting in Orlando starts today and Gary will be there for UFF. Efforts to join AFT and NEA will be addressed and should be advantageous to UFF.
		Steve asked for reports from two temporary committees.
		Faculty Enhancement Position - Allen Tilley
		The committee is searching for candidates now and hopes to be on target for fall opening.
		Search Committee for Associate Vice-president for Academic Affairs - Pam Chally
		Eighty-four applications have been received; the search just closed.

VIII.		Legislative Items
		Item 1 - FA 99-28: Submitted by the Faculty Affairs Committee. (Revision of Sustained Performance Evaluation (SPE) Appeals Process); Judy Solano moved the item and explained the rationale. The Sustained Performance Evaluation procedure needs to have a time line and terminal date for the appeals process. The Committee added language specifying the period of time for appeals. The motion passed unanimously.

VII.		Question and Answer Period (out of agenda order)
		Steve Shapiro (for anonymous travel reimbursement question): "In our college, we have several potential faculty who have traveled here for interviews. Some of these people are still waiting for their reimbursement checks for over two months. UNF Faculty who have taken approved trips are also experiencing over two month delays in receiving their checks. What can be done to speed up the reimbursement of travel?" President Anne Hopkins responded: We are adding an additional accountant to handle these submissions and will try to correct the problem. Remember to submit your documents on time to expedite matters. Steve Shapiro for two questions from Elinor Scheirer: She received a 1998 W-2 revision postmarked June 9. "How many such forms were sent out and why were such errors made in the first place? Will UNF pay for any tax penalties that result?" Richard Crosby, Associate VP for Administration: stated that he would like the questions in writing and will respond in kind. Susan Wallace: How can health insurance (rates, benefits, etc.) change in the middle of a contract year? We sign up for a calendar year, but the insurance companies change things at the end of the fiscal year. Cannot we require a contract that meets our year? Could this go on the legislative agenda? Joanne Campbell: The issue has been raised with the Board of Regents benefits person, but we have no answer yet.

IX.		Adjournment
		With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, _________________________________ Elizabeth Lane Furdell, Secretary