FACULTY MEETING, MAY 9, 2003

ATTENDEES: Drs. Boucias, Buss, Butler, Capinera, Choate, Fasulo, Foltz, D. Hall, Hoy, Koehler, Leppla, Liburd, Lloyd, Maruniak, McAuslane, McSorley, Nation, Oi, Slansky, Smart, Walker, Webb, Yu; and Rebecca Baldwin, Cynthia Tucker, and M. Litchfield.

Meeting convened at 10:00 AM..

Don Hall presented a plaque for the Most Outstanding Department Display at Gator Encounter honoring the outreach program of the department headed by Justin Harbison. He was assisted by Scott Weihman and Cynthia Tucker. The Dean bought pizza for 70 students in recognition of them winning this award.

In-House Tenure and Promotion was discussed. Capinera mentioned that Gregg Nuessly and Jim Cuda were both eligible for promotion and Jim is also eligible for tenure this year. Capinera mentioned that IFAS had come up with a three year review by the deans for new faculty. This would give new faculty a chance to see where their strengths and weaknesses are and what areas they need to work for improvement before submitting the final packet. Hoy suggested that the chair assign an ad-hoc committee that was knowledgeable in the field of the candidate. The committee would review the packet, evaluate it and make a report to be submitted to the candidate and the chair. Discussion followed with pros and cons of this procedure. Majority of faculty felt that some sort of review should be done prior to candidate submitting the packet and the faculty vote. This internal review should be done one month before the packet is due. The results of the internal review should not be included in the packet but for the candidate's use only. Packets should be due in June for internal review, July could then be used to make changes before packet is due in August for faculty review and vote before final submission.

Tom Walker presented an overview of the proposed road to be built through the Natural Area Teaching Lab. For more information you could visit the website: http://natl.ifas.ufl.edu/. Butler Enterprises is recommending to the UF that this would be beneficial because it would relieve some of the traffic flow off 34th and Archer road and also be an easier access to Butler Plaza. Tom went over the procedure that was followed and the many committees that were involved in order for permission to be granted to build this road. Tom felt that this was not handled properly and he is very concerned that it will disrupt the Natural Area Teaching Lab. This has political and scientific issues and Tom was requesting that if the faculty wished to contest the building of this road they should submit their concerns and complaints to the Faculty Senate. He recommended that the UF faculty needs to research this more carefully before final approval is granted. It was suggested that maybe an environmental lawyer should be contacted to see if there are any issues that could be addressed to block the building of the road. After some discussion the consensus was that this road would not be good for the NATL or the UF.

Don Hall thanked the Search Committee (Rebecca Baldwin, Susan Halbert, Oscar Liburd, Jim Lloyd and Faith Oi) for their time and hard work in selecting the candidates that were interviewed. He also thanked certain members of the committee for escorting the candidates around and meeting them at the airport. The committee did an outstanding job.

Don Hall handed out the position description and gave a concise description of each candidate's background and their strengths and weaknesses. There were 32 well qualified applicants, committee picked the top four to interview. The position is a 70% teaching and 30% research and closely resembles John Zenger's position. When John Zenger resigned it left a big hole in the teaching program. Skip Choate took over the Insect Classification course, which is taught 3 times a year, and the Student Teaching Assistants took over the Immature Insect course which is taught twice a year. These courses are required for all graduate and many undergraduate students as well as the DPM students. The person filling this position will also be responsible for development of distance education courses.

The candidates were chosen to coincide with the job description. Duties and Responsibilities: 70% Teaching: 1) Chair graduate committees; 2) Teach courses: Insect Classification (twice/yr); Immature Insects (twice/yr); General Ent. (e.g. Insect diagnostics, behavioral ecology); Teaching will include distance education methodologies as well as classroom presentations. 30% Research: 1) Conduct and publish research on issues related to insect taxonomy, natural history, and conservation of Florida arthropods. 2) Solicit extramural funds to support research programs.

Capinera asked for comments from the faculty. Most felt that the candidate should have excellent teaching credentials with research being secondary. There was some concern expressed about whether or not the individual hired would be able to survive the system with the teaching load at 70%, would this allow enough time for research and publications. After some further discussion the top three were chosen. Capinera then called for a vote from the faculty.

Capinera presented the fact that Proctor and Gamble had offered patents and financial aid to research organic derivatives. He talked to Richard Jones who offered $50,000 to hire a non-tenured track faculty to work on it. There would be an open search for a prospective colleague with the possibility of becoming permanent. Capinera asked how the faculty felt about this. Some wanted to know what we are looking for and who will write the job description. Capinera said he would write most of the job description with input from faculty and the search committee would refine it. There was some concern expressed about a 'conflict of interest'. Capinera stated that there was that possibility but the contract could be worded as such that this could be avoided. Faculty felt that this would be good for the department.

Capinera stated that there is a good possibility that some space will be converted into a large teaching lab. Does not know which lab or where at this time but should be a lab near the other teaching labs. Capinera announced that the carpet in some of the hallways will be replaced.

Meeting adjourned at 12:10