Faculty Senate Meeting Sept 20, 2021

President's Report:

1. Remind all to treat folks with kindness - it has been difficult times and we don't always know what our colleagues have been dealing with. 

2. I thank Beth, Shawn, Brooke, Rob and Millie for all their guidance as I stepped back into the President's role. They are a phenomenal team of colleagues.

3. Officers - 

Professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology Ernest Bernard has agreed to continue for one more year as Parliamentarian

The Exec Council nominated and approved Senior Lecturer of English Rob Spirko to continue as Information Officer and nominated and approved Associate Professor of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures Millie Gimmel as the Secretary. You will be asked to formally approve these under New Business

4. As per tradition ver the past several years, we have invited Vice President Linda Martin in her role as Interim Senior Vice Chancellor of the UT Institute of Agriculture to present to the Senate meetings - she is unable to attend today but will be with us next month. 

5. I have appointed a number of individuals to serve on various Committees however I do not yet have a complete accounting of what campus administrative committees require Senate representation. If you have any interest in serving on the Executive Academic Calendar Committee for a 2-year appointment, or as our representative to COIA - Coalition for Intercollegiate Athletics for a 2-year term please send me a note.   

6. We are in the process of hiring a full-time administrative assistant and hope to complete the offer process very soon. This position will be providing additional assistance to Senate Committees than we have been able to do in the past. 

7. My activities as President have included participation the Alumni Board, Chancellors associates, UFC meetings, UTK Leadership Council, and the Provost's academic leadership retreat. I have given a welcome to new faculty and addressed the Undergraduate Student Senate. We have weekly meetings of the Senate officers and if there are items that you wish to bring to us please let me know. 

8. In response to President Boyd's emphasis on a Transparent UT, I have been posting to the President's website material related to a host of issues that the Senate is involved with that I consider to be of broad interest to the faculty. I encourage you to inform me if there are other issues you'd like addressed. 

9. Finally, the B&P Committee as arranged a forum regarding BAM with Senior VC Cimino to address questions from the Senate Retreat - this will be 4-5PM on this Thursday Sept 23 from 4-5 PM Co-Chair of B&P Phillip Daves will post the zoom link in the chat. This is open to any faculty member who would like to learn more about this major change to budget planning here and afterwards you can go the Faculty Pub sponsored by the Provost.