Legislation for 2018-2019

LEGISLATION COMPLETED, WITHDRAWN, OR CLOSED in 2018-2019

Update to the Core Curriculum Course Lists for the 2018-2019 General Information Catalog (D 15557-15562).       

Distributed through the Faculty Council Wiki site on November 7, 2017, and classified as legislation of general interest to more than one college or school. On November 20, 2017, the Faculty Council approved the legislation on a no-protest basis. On November 27, 2017, it was transmitted to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for her information. The School of Undergraduate Studies transmitted the legislation to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for final approval. On April 8, 2018, the THECB informed The University that fourteen of the proposed additions to the list of courses in the core curriculum would require additional documentation.  On May 8, 2018 a response was sent by the School of Undergraduate Studies providing the requested additional information.  As of September 27, 2018, no further response from the THECB has been received.

Resolution on Academic Analytics from the Committee of Counsel on Academic Freedom and Responsibility (D 15879-15881).

Distributed through the Faculty Council Wiki site on January 19, 2018. On January 22, 2018, the Faculty Council unanimously endorsed the resolution and it was transmitted to the Provost on January 23, 2018. The Provost, in consultation with Steven D. Hoelscher, formed a faculty working group to develop guidelines for the use of Academic Analytics and to advise on its use, including how the service can assist UT Austin with strategic planning. The first meeting of this working group took place on February 9, 2018, followed by another on March 21 and May 9. The Faculty Council awaits the report of the investigating committee on which Faculty Council Chair Charlotte Canning serves. On December 10,  2018, the Task Force recommendations and guidelines were posted on the Faculty Council’s website. On June 4 2019, the Faculty Council Executive Committee requested a response from Provost McInnis concerning the recommendations made by the Academic Analytics Task Force in their report. On June 20, 2019, Provost McInnis responded to the Faculty Council Executive Committee's request that included a presentation from Academic Analytics that provides an overview of the analytics suite and how information is derived from public sources. 

Report of The Committee to Nominate Faculty Members for Appointment to the Intercollegiate Athletics Councils for Men and for Women (D 16265-16266). 

Distributed through the Faculty Council Wiki site on March 20, 2018. On March 26, 2018, the Faculty Council approved the panel by no-protest. The nominees for the Intercollegiate Athletics Council for Men were Lynn A. Baker, Professor, Law; Pamela S. Buchanan, Lecturer, Kinesiology and Health Education; Louis Harrison, Professor, Curriculum and Instruction; and Stephen H. Marshall, Associate Professor, American Studies. The nominees for the Intercollegiate Athletics Council for Women were Gayle J. Acton, Associate Professor, Nursing; Daniel J. Birkholz, Associate Professor, English; Anthony L. Brown, Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction; Neville Hoad, Associate Professor, English; and Tasha S. Phiilpot, Associate Professor, Government. On March 27, 2018, the panels were transmitted to President Gregory L. Fenves for his consideration. On September 17, 2018, the President’s office informed the Faculty Council Executive Committee that the two Intercollegiate Athletics Councils (IAC) had been merged. The merging of the IACs reduced the number of faculty from ten to eight; however, it increased the percentage of members who are faculty to 61% (from 50%).

Resolution from the Faculty Council Executive Committee Regarding Conferral of Degrees (D 16734).

Distributed through the Faculty Council Wiki site on August 31, 2018. On September 7, 2018, the Faculty Council endorsed the resolution on a no-protest basis. No further action is required.

Resolution from the Faculty Council Executive Committee Concerning Fields of Study Requirements Promulgated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (D 16797-16799).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on October 1, 2018. Emended on October 4, 2018. At its meeting on October 8, 2018, the Faculty Council endorsed the resolution. On October 15, 2018, the resolution was transmitted to the President. No further action is required

Update to the Core Curriculum Course Lists for the 2019-2020 General Information Catalog (D 16800-16805).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on October 1, 2018, and classified as legislation of general interest to more than one college or school. On October 12, 2018, the Faculty Council approved the legislation on a no-protest basis. On October 15, 2018, it was transmitted to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for her information. On January 16, 2019, the School of Undergraduate Studies transmitted the legislation to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for final approval. On February 12, 2019, the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost received final approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. On behalf of the University, the School of Undergraduate Studies continues ongoing negotiations for some of the courses included in the legislation.

Resolution in Response to the Trump Administration's Initiatie to Redefine Gender (D 16831).

 Distributed through the Faculty Council website on November 7, 2018 and unanimously endorsed by the Faculty Council at its meeting on November 12, 2018. The resolution was transmitted to the President on November 16, 2018. No further action is required.

Resolution to Redesign Student Course Exit Surveys and Reinvent the Evaluation of an Instructor’s Impact on Academic Learning and Engagement (D 16845-16846).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on November 27, 2018. On December 10, 2018, the Faculty Council unanimously endorsed the resolution. The Faculty Council unanimously endorsed the resolution at its meeting on December 10, 2018. The resolution was transmitted to the President and Provost on December 17, 2018. The formation of the resolution’s two task forces by the Education Policy Committee has been completed. The membership lists are available from the Office of the General Faculty.

Proposed Changes to the General Faculty Standing Committees in the Handbook of Operating Procedures 2-1050-PM, 2-1060-PM, and 2-1060-PM (D 16888-16915).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on January 18, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On February 8, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the legislation on a no-protest basis. On February 12, 2019, the legislative items were transmitted to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for consideration with a request to submit her recommendations for approval or disapproval to President Gregory L. Fenves.  The Provost’s office provided feedback recommending changes. Revisions to Proposals D 16888-16894b, D 16895-16909a, and D 16910-16915 were distributed through the Faculty Council website on April 2, 2019 on a no-protest basis with a deadline of April 15, 2019. The Secretary classified the reivisons as legislation of general interest . For reference see D 16976-16984, D 16985-17002, and D 17003-17008. 

• Handbook Of Operating Procedures 2-1050-PM Standing Committees of the General-Faculty Affairs Committees (D 16888-16894b)
• Handbook Of Operating Procedures 2-1060-PM Standing Committees of the General-Institutional Policy or Governance Committees (D 16895-16909a)
• Handbook Of Operating Procedures 2-1070-PM Standing Committees of the General-Student Services and Activities Committees (D 16910-16915)

Addition of New Instructor Titles to the Criteria Used to Determine Voting Members of the General Faculty in the Handbook of Operating Procedures 2-1010, General Faculty Membership (D 16925-16927).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on February 11, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On February 25, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the legislation on a no-protest basis. On February 26, 2019, it was transmitted to the Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for review and recommendations to the President. On February 28, 2019, Provost McInnis transmitted the legislation to President Gregory L. Fenves recommending approval. On March 6, 2019, President Fenves granted final approval.

Report of the Committee to Nominate Faculty Members for Appointment to the University Co-op Board of Directors (D 16955).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on March 14, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On March 26, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the panel by no-protest. On March 27, 2018, it was transmitted to President Gregory L. Fenves for his consideration. On April 4, 2019, President Fenves appointed Professor Diane Bryant (Special Education) for a four-year term from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2023.

Report of the Committee to Nominate Faculty Members for Appointment to the Intercollegiate Athletics Council (D 16956).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on March 14, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On March 26, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the panel by no-protest. On March 27, 2018, it was transmitted to President Gregory L. Fenves for his consideration. On April 10, 2019, President Fenves appointed Gayle J. Acton (Associate Professor, Nursing), and John M. Gonzalez (Professor, English) to the Intercollegiate Athletics Council each for a four-year term beginning September 1, 2019, and lasting through August 31, 2023.

Report of the Committee to Nominate Faculty Members for Appointment to the University Police Oversight Committee (D 16957).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on March 14, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On March 26, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the panel by no-protest. On March 27, 2018, it was transmitted to President Gregory L. Fenves for his consideration. On August 12, 2019, President Fenves appointed Professor William G. Spelman (LBJ School of Public Affairs) to serve a three-year term through August 31, 2022, and a one-year term as committee chair for 2019-20.

Proposed Change to the Retroactive Withdrawal Policy in the Academic Policies and Procedures Section of the General Information 2019-2020 Catalog (D 16958-16960).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on March 14, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On March 26, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the proposal by no-protest. On March 27, 2019, it was transmitted to the Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for review and recommendations to the President. On April 17, 2019, Provost McInnis transmitted her recommendation for approval to President Fenves. On April 19, 2019, President Fenves granted final approval.

Revisions to Proposals D 16888-16894b, D 16895-16909a, and D 16910- -17002 that Recommend Changes to the General Faculty Standing Committees in the Handbook of Operating Procedures 2-1050-PM, 2-1060-PM, and 2-1070-PM  (D 16976-17008).Distributed through the Faculty Council website on April 2, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On April 15, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the proposals on a no-protest basis. On April 16, 2019, they were transmitted to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for review and recommendations to the President. On April 17, 2019, Provost McInnis transmitted her recommendations for approval to President Fenves and signed the required impact statements. On April 19, 2019, President Fenves granted final approval.

• Handbook of Operating Procedures 2-1050-PM Standing Committee of the General Faculty-Faculty Affairs Committees (D 16976-16984)
• Handbook of Operating Procedures 2-1060-PM Standing Committee of the General Faculty-Institutional Policy or Governance Committees (D 16985-17002)
• Handbook of Operating Procedures 2-1070-PM Standing Committee of the General Faculty-Student Services and Activities Committees (D 17003-17008)

Cancellation of 2019 Summer Meeting of the Faculty Council (D 17009).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on April 2, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On April 15, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the cancellation of the summer meetings on a no-protest basis. On April 16, 2019, it was transmitted to President Gregory L. Fenves for his information. No further action is required.



Schedule for Meeting of the Faculty Council in 2019-2020 (D 17010).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on April 2, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On April 15, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the meeting schedule on a no-protest basis. On April 16, 2019, it was transmitted to President Gregory L. Fenves for his information. No further action is required.

Proposed Changes to the Honors Day Criteria for Selecting College Scholars and Distinguished College Scholars in the General Information Catalog (D 17014-17015).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on April 22, 2019, and classified as legislation of general interest. On May 3, 2019, the Faculty Council  approved the legislation on a no-protest basis. On May 7, 2019, it was transmitted to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for review and recommendations to the President. On May 10, 2019, editorial changes were made that were not substantive. On May 17, 2019, Provost McInnis transmitted the emended legislation to President Fenves recommending approval. On May 23, 2019, President Fenves granted final approval.

Proposal to Create an Undergraduate Curriculum Changes Committee in the Handbook of Operating Procedures 2-1060-PM Standing Committees of the General Faculty-Institutional Policy or Governance Committees (D 17016-17018).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on April 9, 2019, and classified as emergency legislation On April 15, 2019, the Faculty Council approved the proposal, and on April 16, 2019, it was transmitted to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for review and recommendations to the President. On April 22, 2019, Provost McInnis transmitted her recommendation for approval to President Fenves. On April 23, 2019, President Fenves granted final approval.

Resolution of Appreciation for UT Austin’s Administrative Professionals (D 17023).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on April 22, 2019. The Faculty Council unanimously endorsed the resolution at its meeting on May 6, 2019. On May 14, 2019, it was transmitted to the President for his information. In a letter dated May 20, 2019, President Fenves expressed his approval of the resolution. 

Resolution to Gather Best Practices on Tackling Difficult Dialogues and Trauma-Informed Pedagogy in Classrooms (D 17024).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website https://facultycouncil.utexas.edu on April 24, 2019. On May 3, 2019, the Faculty Council endorsed the resolution on a no-protest basis. 2019-20 Chair Brian Evans asked the Student Life Committee and the Educational Policy Committee to form a joint task force to address the concerns of the students. The work of the task force will get underway in early fall 2019. The appointed members are Anthony Brown (2019-20 Faculty Council Chair Elect and Professor, Curriculum and Instruction); Catherine E. Weaver (Graduate Assembly Chair and Associate Professor, Public Affairs); Pauline T. Strong (Committee of Counsel on Academic Freedom and Responsibility Chair and Professor, Anthropology); Christine L. Julien (Educational Policy Committee Chair and Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering); Thea Woodruff (Director of Well-Being in Learning Environments and Lecturer, Education); Student Life Committee Chair (to be determined in early fall); an undergraduate student representative serving on the Student Life Committee (to de determined in early fall); a graduate student representative serving on the Responsibilities, Rights, and Welfare of Graduate Student Academic Employees Committee (to be determined in early fall).

Proposal to Change the Policy for Retaining the Symbol X (Temporary Delay of Course Grade) after Assignment of Final Grade in the Academic Policies And Procedures Section in the General Information Catalog (D 17025-17029).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on April 24 2019. On May 6, 2019, the Faculty Council unanimously approved the legislation. On May 7, 2019, it was transmitted to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for review and recommendations to the President. On May 10, 2019, editorial changes were made that were not substantive. On May 14, 2019, Provost McInnis transmitted the emended legislation to President Fenves recommending approval. On May 16, 2019, President Fenves granted final approval.

Improving Financial Aid to Students at UT Austin (D 17032-17035).

Distributed through the Faculty Council website on April 22, 2019. On May 6, 2019, the Faculty Council unanimously endorsed the resolution. On May 7, 2019, it was transmitted to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for review and recommendations to the President. On May 30, 2019, Provost McInnis transmitted her recommendation of approval of the committee's suggestions to President Fenves. On July 9, 2019, President Fenves announced that the UT System Board of Regents — under the leadership of Chairman Kevin Eltife — has voted unanimously to establish a $160 million endowment to expand financial aid for middle- and low-income UT Austin students beginning next year, fall 2020.On November 29, 2019, the Committee on Financial Aid to Students tramsmitted a letter to President Fenves thanking him for his "initiatives to improval financial aid to students at UT Austin.

Report of the Committee to Nominate Faculty Council Officers for 2019-2020 (D 17055-17056).

Distributed through the Faculty Council Wiki site on May 3, 2019. On May 6, 2019, voting members of the 2019-20 Faculty Council elected its officers for next year. Members of the 2018-19 Faculty Council Executive Committee are Brian L. Evans, Chair Elect and Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Charlotte Canning, Past Chair and Professor, Theatre and Dance; Anthony L. Browne, Chair Elect and Professor, Curriculum and Instruction; Alan W. Friedman, Secretary and Professor, English; Catherine E. Weaver, Graduate Assembly Chair and Associate Professor, Public Affairs; Rowena Fong, Professor, Social Work; Amanda Hager, Associate Professor of Instruction, Mathematics; John Yancy, Professor, Art and Art History. On May 7, 2019, President Fenves was notified of the election results.

Graduate Student Funding Resolution (D 17075).

Posted on the Faculty Council website on May 21, 2019. The Executive Committees of the Faculty Council and the Graduate Assembly unanimously endorsed the resolution on May 17, 2019. On May 22, 2019, it was distributed to the Faculty Council membership via email. On May 23, 2019, it was transmitted to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis for her information.