I.         CALL TO ORDER

II.        ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

III.      APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 3, 2003 FS MEETING

IV.      PRESIDENT’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

V.       ITEMS FOR FACULTY SENATE CONSIDERATION

VI.     CONSENT AGENDA

VII.    REPORTS FROM ADVISORY COMMITTEES

        A.     FAC to IBHE – Patricia Henry – report.

        B.     BOT Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Personnel Committee – Paul Loubere and William Tolhurst – no report.

        C.     BOT Finance, Facilities, and Operations Committee – Sue Willis and Xueshu Song – no report.

        D.     BOT Legislation, Audit and External Affairs Committee – Sara Clayton and Beverly Espe – report.

        E.     BOT – Sue Willis – report.

VIII.  REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES

        A.    Academic Affairs Committee – William Baker, Chair – The Academic Affairs Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 28th in room 303 of the
                Student Center.

        B.     Economic Status of the Profession Committee – Jim Lockard, Chair.

        C.     Resource, Space and Budget Committee – C. T. Lin, Chair

        D.     Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Committee – Ngoyi Bukonda, Chair

        E.     Rules and Governance Committee – Gretchen Bisplinghoff, Chair.

        F.     Elections and Legislative Oversight Committee – Stephen Nord, Chair.

IX.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

X.     NEW BUSINESS

A Framework for Comprehensive Athletics Reform, from the Coalition on Intercollegiate  Athletics.  (Pages 13-14) This is a coalition of faculty senate representatives from Group  IA, started by faculty at several BCS schools. They would now like to expand their  membership, and are requesting that schools in the MAC consider endorsing the  Framework. They are already using the Framework in discussions with the NCAA and its  Faculty Athletics Representatives Association, the Association of Governing Boards of  Colleges and Universities, the Knight Commission, and so on.

The Executive Committee presents this to the Senate for consideration. A majority voted  to recommend endorsement, although doubts were raised about its potential effectiveness.

XII.  INFORMATION ITEMS

        A.     Academic Planning Council minutes.  http://www.niu.edu/u_council/APC.html
        B.     Athletic Board minutes.  http://www.niu.edu/u_council/Athletic.htm
        C.     Campus Security and Environmental Quality minutes.  http://www.niu.edu/u_council/CSEQ.html
        D.     Committee on Initial Teacher Certification minutes.   http://www.niu.edu/u_council/CITC.html
        E.     Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum minutes.  http://www.niu.edu/u_council/CUC.html
        F.     Graduate Council minutes.  http://www.niu.edu/u_council/GC.html
        G.     University Assessment Panel minutes.  http://www.niu.edu/u_council/UAP.html
        H.     University Benefits Committee minutes.   http://www.niu.edu/u_council/Benefits.htm
        I.       Undergraduate Coordinating Council minutes.  http://www.niu.edu/u_council/UCC.html

XIII.  ADJOURNMENT