Minutes of the University Senate Meeting
9 June 2009
3:00 p.m.
Broun Hall Auditorium
Submitted by
Dennis DeVries, Secretary
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(for a complete transcription of the meeting, go to https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/website/transcripts/TrScrpt2008-2009/transcript_06_09_09.html)
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Present: Kathryn Flynn, Claire Crutchley, Dennis Devries, Russ Muntifering, Robert Locy, Richard Brinker, Timothy Boosinger, R. Lee Evans, Anne-Katrin Gramberg, John Mason, Bonnie MacEwan, April Staton, Andrew McLelland, Norbert Wilson, Charles Mitchell, Werner Bergen, Barbara Kemppainen, Michael Clay, Christopher McNulty, Paul Swamidass, Paul Holley, Ronald Neuman, Rik Blumenthal, Larry Crowley, Brigitta Brunner, John Saye, Michael Stern, Michael Baginski, James Goldstein, Robin Huettel, Allen Davis, Larry Teeter, Mark Fischman, David Carter, Raymond Kessler, Ellen Abell, Shea Tillman, Andrew Wohrley, Edith Davidson, Bart Prorok, Howard Goldstein, Constance Hendricks, Claire Zizza, Don-Terry Veal, Jim Wright, Daniel Parson, Jan Kavookjian, Bernie Olin, Guy Rohrbaugh, Mike Bozack, Robert Voitle, Chris Correia, Del Epperson, Emily Myers, Gwen Thomas, M. Scott Phillips
Absent, sending a substitute: Joe Hutner (for Judy Woodrow), Daun Tucker (for Sondra Parmer), Rebekah Pindzola (for Laura Plexico), Wi-suk Kwon (for Carol Centrallo), Sara Wolf (for James Witte), Robert Lawson (for Kevin Yost), Mike Raby (for John Mazaheri), Keith Pickens (for Jon Segars), Michael Tillson (for R.D. Montgomery)
Absent, no substitute: Larry Benefield, Paul Bobrowski, Barbara Witt, Jeff McNeil, Mary Ellen Mazey, Jacob Watkins, James Winfield, Larry Crowley, Joe Molnar, Bill Hames, Ruth Crocker, Winfred Foster, Anthony Moss, Yifen Wang, Sanjeev Baskiyar, Jim Saunders, Robert Bulfin, Casey Cegielski, Steve Stuckwisch, Changhoon Jung, Peggy Shippen, Scott Lewis
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Call to Order:
Kathryn Flynn called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
The minutes of the 5 May 2009 University Senate meeting were approved without change.
Remarks and Announcements:
Kathryn Flynn (Faculty Chair) invited Dr. Jay Gogue, President for his comments.
Dr. Gogue had several items to mention.
--At the end of the legislative session, a resolution passed relative to the PACT program. The resolution called for the Alabama Retirement System to look at the situation. Dr. Gogue has met with Mr. Bronner (Alabama Retirement System) and the University of Alabama. They will have a report within a month with recommendations to the Governor. A special session may be needed to address this issue.
--Relative to stimulus money. Alabama received $3 billion and the Governor said there will be no allocation until October 2010. The tentative numbers for Auburn (all divisions) are $26 million on 1 October of both years, for a total of $52 million.
--The Board of Trustees meeting will begin at 10:00 AM on Thursday of next week. This will be a longer meeting, starting with a budget workshop. In the afternoon on Thursday, there will be discussion of tuition, and the principles to put together the budget. On the academic side there are proposed names changes to add Evolution to Wildlife Sciences, and the addition of MS and PhD degrees in Biosystems Engineering.
--On the international front, the Council General from Brazil will be here this week, the President of the University of Albania was here this week, and the Chinese ambassador will be here in the fall.
Questions for Dr. Gogue:
--Conner Bailey (Ag Econ/Rural Soc; not a Senator) noted that in the paper it said that the SEC was handing an increased amount of money, presumably going to athletic programs, and asked if there was an imbalance between athletics and academics.
--Dr. Gogue responded that television proceeds are up, which has created additional money. Athletic programs will be putting some money to the academic side.
Comments from the Chair:
--The position announcement for the Associate Provost search went out via the AU Profs email list, Auburn Daily, and is on the Provost's web page. The deadline is 19 June, with the review to begin shortly after that. Russ Muntifering (Senate Secretary-Elect) is the chair of the search committee, with Lee Evans, Rick Cook, and Kerry Ransell as members. There are plans to have public forums, and candidates will meet with Dr. Mazey and the deans.
--Relative to the consulting resolution, it was sent to the Provost office prior to Dr. Mazey's arrival, but upon review the University Counsel concluded that it could not be approved. Dr. Mazey has worked with the Senate leadership to develop a procedure that would address many of the concerns with the current policy without having to change the policy. A link to a memo describing this (https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/website/agendas/2008_2009/June09_agenda%20items/Consulting%20memo.pdf) was distributed with the agenda for today's meeting. Dr. Mazey is aware of what the resolution was trying to accomplish, that is to clarify and streamline the process. The Faculty Welfare and Faculty Research committees will address the conflict of interest policy.
--Dr. Flynn introduced Dr. Bruce Smith, the chair of the newly formed Faculty Research Committee. Dr. Smith noted the committee members on an overhead, that the committee has had one meeting, and that not all Colleges/Schools will be represented so they plan to rotate their membership through the colleges and schools through time. They plan to meet on a monthly basis, and their current charge is broad and they plan to focus it.
--Dr. Flynn encouraged everyone to bring topics of concern to the Senate Executive or Steering committees.
--The Rules Committee continues to work at staffing University and Senate committees, and Senators should thank the faculty in their units for volunteering.
Action Items:
--None.
Information Items:
An update from the Provost (Mary Ellen Mazey, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs)
--Relative to the Associate Provost search, the position is currently filled on an interim basis. The search will be seeking an individual who can do a lot of different activities, has leadership skills, believes in and practices shared governance, can help with implementation of the strategic plan, work with other units (e.g., the art museum), is candid, honest, will work with promotion and tenure improvements, and with training to chairs/heads. As far as personal style, the person should be collaborative, facilitative, a good listener, and makes good decisions. The goal is to have the position filled by 1 August.
--As far as the promotion and tenure process, there have been two forums, and the Provost has met with the P&T committee chair. There is now a new calendar to allow a bit more time. We need to be more specific in terms of our expectations in offer letters, and annual reviews are important to the process. Departments need to have guidelines and the third year review is very important. We need greater consistency in the external letters. The work with the P&T process will be a work of shared governance. There will be a retreat of Department heads/chairs, deans, University P&T committee members on 11 August.
Questions for Dr. Mazey:
--Richard Penaskovic (Philosophy, not a Senator) noted that he was glad to hear that guidelines will be clearer in the offer letters.
--Dr. Mazey also noted that the University Assessment Council has been set up with Drew Clark as its chair, and they will hold a retreat in late July.
--Finally, Dr. Mazey said that the faculty evaluation of administrators is complete, there was a 34% return rate which was higher than in the past. She has asked the deans for a list of accomplishments for the previous year and goals/plans for next year, and will use all of that information as part of her assessment. When she meets with the deans, she is giving them survey results for all who report to them, plus all of the written comments.
Questions for Dr. Mazey:
--James Goldstein (English) said that there was an email on Friday about long term lectureships, and he said that it is a good idea, but it could lead to decreases in the number of tenure track lines.
--Dr. Mazey responded that she is very interested in this and concerned with the large number of instructors, but if they are doing a good job, they are not able to stay here for more than 5 years. She is concerned for them right now. The AAUP says to limit non tenure track faculty to <25% of the faculty, and we are not even close to that value right now.
--Conner Bailey (Ag Econ/Rural Soc., not a Senator) said that at least one department had up to 50% non tenure track faculty after creation of clinical and research tracks, and in Pharmacy, when a tenure track faculty left, they were replaced with clinical track faculty. We need to be careful without a path for the future.
--Ric Blumenthal (Chemistry/Biochem) is bothered by the non tenure track faculty lines. In Chemistry/Biochemistry non tenure track lines are filled without a national search. If these are not to be second class citizens, then pay them the same, treat them the same. If you want them to be permanent, then they shouldn't be paid at lower salaries. But if you are going to pay them the same, then why not do so in a tenure-track line?
--Dr. Mazey responded that historically they have been paid at approximately 70% of tenure track levels and they should go through searches.
--Bernie Olin (Pharmacy) noted that roughly 50% of faculty in Pharmacy were not tenure track, but were clinical track, which is at the national average.
--Bob Locy (Past Chair) asked how we value teaching faculty, regardless of whether they are tenure track or non tenure track. They should be evaluated on the basis of their appointment when it comes time for promotion and tenure.
--Dr. Mazey agreed, and is talking of term appointments.
Report from the Service Learning Task Force (Ralph Foster, Task Force Chair and Director/CEU Officer, Outreach Information and Program Certification)
--link to summary of Task Force report: https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/website/agendas/2008_2009/June09_agenda%20items/Senate_SLbriefing_6-09_revised.pdf
Questions re the Service Learning Task Force Report:
--David Carter (History) endorsed how important this could be for students. He provided an example from his living/learning community about the views of or interest in diversity. Another example of a learning community specifically targeting service learning is very important. A main concern is funding, which is lacking in the report. He encouraged support.
Unfinished Business:
There was no unfinished business.
New Business:
There was no new business.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:57 PM.