The Faculty Senate unanimously voted to create a committee that will allocate Technology Enhancement and Management (TEAM) money Tuesday, but had disputes the money would be divided without faculty input.

TEAM is a source of support for professional development in the use of instructional technology for faculty and staff. It also supports initiatives for the development of technology-enhanced and delivered courses and programs.

The committee will have responsibility for recommending policies and procedures for the distribution of about $150,000. The structure will consist of a total of nine voting members and one non-voting member.

On that topic, Faculty Senate agreed, the disagreement is only who the money goes to.

Michael Hoadley, assistant vice president for Information Technology Services, said a change is needed from the current allocation system.

“It’s time to change the system,” Hoadley said. “Ultimately someone needs to be in charge of those funds set aside for utilization for technology.”

That someone, Hoadley suggests, is the deans of the four colleges.

To that, Faculty Senate Chair Anne Zahlan said she was under the impression the switch would only be in name and not in how grant funds will be awarded.

Barbara Lawrence, associate professor of chemistry and senate member, said she had concerns the deans would not have enough knowledge on certain courses to make allocation decisions.

“What we’re worried about is faculty input,” Lawrence said. “For the funds we use, the faculty knows what they need for the individual courses.

“I have no problem with the deans having the money, but we need to be integrally involved.”

Wilson Ogbomo, associate professor of African-American studies and senate member, also expressed concerns with a change in allocation when faculty members apply for TEAM grant money.

“It creates a sense of us against them,” he said. “I don’t see how we could separate funding faculty.”

David Carpenter, English professor and senate member, said how one dean handles the allocation of money will be different from another, which he said will result in one more layer of bureaucracy between the faculty and the university.

Lawrence couldn’t put a finger on how this decision will affect students, but said, “The faculty is the most involved with the students. We know the specific needs.”