• Title III funding is in for 2018/19. During a University Forum meeting, President Brown said that $100,000 is available for faculty travel. That fund should be available on a year-by-year basis. “Faculty Professional Travel Fund” is what it’s called – this is the Title III funds. Regarding how to obtain funds, he contacted Christian Jones, the new Title III Director; she said the process is the same as it has been.
  • He is still following up on the question that some faculty had about when Indirect Cost Recovery (IDCR) repayments will begin, as reported at the last Senate meeting. After that meeting, he and Deputy Provost Kim Sipes contacted Grants Director Derrick Gilmore about IDCR repayments, but Reilly has yet to get a specific date about when these repayments will begin. Those funds will be going into Professional Development Accounts, not directly to Faculty. Generally, faculty members are given some kind of access, like a card, to retrieve those funds on an as-needed basis. The process is not retroactive—which is also the case of T3 travel funding—faculty cannot apply for funding for travel to past conferences and past indirect costs.
  • He is meeting with President Brown tomorrow. He asked Senators to send him any questions they want him to ask the President.

10. Other Business:

  • A Senator noted that Title III encompasses more than just faculty Professional Development, for example, buying lab equipment. He asked if there is a pool of money set aside for PD purposes other than travel funding. Moffett replied that we can ask the T3 Director about that when she comes to the next Senate meeting. Reilly said that he did not know the amount available for lab equipment, but that he would ask.
  • A Guest asked if we can use T3 money to pay for students to take the Praxis. Reilly said no: it has to be travel, but IDCR money might be usable for that purpose.
  • 11. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 4:24pm.
  • A Senator asked about the possibility of taking indirect cost repayments and giving them to students for scholarships. Reilly responded that he will ask President Brown about this. Another Senator responded that the funds can be used at the faculty's discretion – to take students to conferences or to buy books for students. Reilly stated that “Professional Development” funds legally include student development. His thinking is that faulty should be able to use the fees as they see fit for any professional purpose, development or acquisition.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Helen Smith, Faculty Senate Secretary.