Undergraduate curriculum and budget issues were the focus of thefirst meeting of The University of Memphis 2003-2004 Faculty Senateyesterday.
Concerns about the undergraduate curriculum consist of whocontrols it and issues with the budget consist of the number ofpossible position terminations, said new Senate President DavidCiscel, economics professor.
Ciscel added, however, "no permanent decisions have been made onany of these issues."
Tuesday's meeting also saw the election of new officers.
Senators chose David Wray president-elect over two otheropponents, Edwin Frank and John Petry.
Wray will serve as president-elect for one year before he takesover as president.
"It's probably good I have a year to learn the position," Wraysaid.
Wray is also the representative to the Faculty Sub-council ofthe Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). He serves as the firstpresident from a west Tennessee school of this council.
Wray said he would be able to benefit the Senate by having firsthand information on many issues through his role on the FacultySub-council for the TBR.
Voters also unanimously elected Larry Houk, professor ofchemistry, as Faculty Senate secretary.
Immediately following his confirmation, former secretary MaryBattle jokingly turned her legal pad over to Houk to record therest of the meeting.
Unanimously elected Parliamentarian was Michael O'Nele,assistant professor of theater and dance. O'Nele will be in chargeof ensuring the Faculty Senate runs according to the rules of theirconstitution, even interrupting proceedings that are not runningproperly.
"I don't mind speaking up in the meeting," O'Nele said.
Mary Battle, associate professor of English, and John Petry ofthe Department of Education, were both elected as at-large membersof the executive committee.
Unanimously chosen was the committee on committees. JohnCampbell, Monika Nenon, Charles Biggers, Travis Downing and EdStevens will all serve on the committee. Biggers will serve aschair.
Ciscel requested senate members begin sending in theirnominations for the different committees of the Faculty Senate.
"I'm excited about the new officers," he said. "We have achallenging year ahead of us both on the budget and theundergraduate curriculum," adding that the new officers "representa broad spectrum of The University and will help us make decisionson these critical issues."
