Volume 32,

Number 1

August 19, 2004

Regular Meeting Minutes of the Faculty Senate

Approved: September 23, 2004

SENATORS, ALTERNATES, AND OFFICERS PRESENT

Mark Allee

A.F. Al-Assaf

Stacy Anderson

Jo Azzarello

Steve Blevins

Frank Boutsen

Gay Bryant

Sarah Christman

Elena Cuaderes

Nancy Chu

David Garrison

Susan Gilmore

Kevin Haney

Holly Hoffman

Sharukh Khajotia

Satish Kumar

Linda Machado

Mike McShan

Milton Olsen

Su Phipps

Toni Ripley

Madeline Robertson

Nathan Shankar

Robert Wild

William Yarborough

SENATORS, ALTERNATES, AND OFFICERS ABSENT

Greg Brooks

Doug Carroll

Vicki Coury

Andy Goldbeck

Amir Khaliq

Betty Kupperschmidt

Phillip McHale

C. Lynn Montgomery

Jeanne Panza

Leonard Slater

E. Michael Smith

EX-OFFICIOS AND GUESTS PRESENT

Kathy Walker

I. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Chair, Dr. A.F. Al-Assaf, at 5:05 p.m.

II. GUEST SPEAKER

Dr. Mike Crutcher, Commissioner of Health, spoke to the Senate about the State of the State’s Health.  He informed the Senate that a life expectancy in the U.S. has improved from 47 years to 76 over the last 100 years.  He also indicated that a good measure of a state’s health is its death rate.  Oklahoma’s mortality rate has increased since 1990 and the state ranks among the top five for highest mortality.  Oklahoma’s infant mortality rate is also among the nation’s highest, with a ranking of 40.  Dr. Crutcher explained that the leading cause of death in Oklahoma is heart disease and that the state ranks 49th in the nation for deaths caused by heart disease.  He stated that smoking is related to these deaths and the Health Department is advocating legislation that will decrease the smoking rate in Oklahoma.  Dr. Crutcher explained that public health intervention is only one way to increase the health of Oklahoma, that economic intervention is necessary also.  Handouts from Dr. Crutcher’s presentation are available in the Faculty Senate Office.

III. APPROVAL OF JUNE 2004 MINUTES

The June 2004 Minutes were approved as circulated.

IV. CHAIR’S REPORT

Dr. Al-Assaf stated that the Executive Committee’s meeting with Dr. Ferretti had been cancelled and that they would meet with him next month.  The Executive Committee met with Julius Hilburn, Director of Human Resources, to discuss the outcome of the health and dental insurance review.  Mr. Hilburn indicated that Aetna offers the best option for medical and dental coverage and that the Employee Benefits Committee will continue to examine that option.  A benefits representative will be at the September Faculty Senate meeting to discuss the outcome of the review.

Dr. Al-Assaf welcomed the new Senators and Alternates to the Faculty Senate and introduced the 2004-2005 members of the Executive Committee: Chair-Elect Nancy Chu, Secretary Toni Ripley, Secretary-Elect Stacy Anderson, and Past Chair Sharukh Khajotia.

V. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Committee on Committees

Nancy Chu presented the Committee on Committees report.  It was passed as presented.

VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None. 

VII. NEW BUSINESS 

Dr. Al-Assaf presented the Senate with an issue brought by a faculty member concerning the University’s policy on harassment.  Dr. Al-Assaf requested volunteers to examine the current policy and present a recommendation to the Senate to pursue changing the policy or to leave the policy as is.  There were no volunteers and the issue was tabled.

VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dr. Al-Assaf announced again that Julius Hilburn would be the guest speaker at the September meeting.  He asked the Senate to forward any suggestions for future speakers to him or to Jennifer Nelson, the office assistant.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

The Chair asked for a motion to adjourn.  The motion was approved.  The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

_________________________

Toni Ripley

Secretary

Handouts:

August 2004 Agenda

August 2004 Committee on Committees Report

June 2004 Meeting Minutes (Draft)