Minutes of the University Senate Meeting
4 May 2010
3:00 p.m.
Broun Hall Auditorium
Submitted by
Dennis DeVries, Secretary
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(for a complete transcription of the meeting)
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Present: Kathryn Flynn, Claire Crutchley, Dennis Devries, Russ Muntifering, Robert Locy, Richard Guthrie, Jeff McNeil, Ainsley Carry, John Mason, Mary Ellen Mazey, Bonnie MacEwan, April Staton, Andrew McLelland, Winfred Foster, Norbert Wilson, Charles Mitchell, Barbara Kemppainen, Michael Clay, Christopher McNulty, Paul Swamidass, Yifen Wang, Paul Holley, Eduardus Duin, Prabhakar Clement, Hollie Lavenstein, Daniel Phillips, Sanjeev Baskiyar, Wi-Suk Kwon, Charles Eick, Michael Stern, Michael Baginski, James Goldstein, Keven Yost, Allen Davis, John Mazaheri, Larry Teeter, Mark Fischman, Jennifer Brooks, Ellen Abell, Shea Tillman, Robert Bulfin, Andrew Wohrley, Herb Rotfeld, Steve Stuckwisch, Bart Prorok, Howard Goldstein, Constance Hendricks, Claire Zizza, Monica DeTure, Jim Wright, Daniel Parson, Jan Kavookjian, Wesley Lindsey, Guy Rohrbaugh, Mike Bozack, Steven P. Brown, Yasser Gowayed, Chris Correia, Rebecca Curtis, Emily Myers, Heather May
Absent, sending a substitute: Joe Morgan (for Larry Benefield), George Flowers (for Richard Brinker), J. Emmett Winn (for Anne-Katrin Gramberg), Kimberly Braxton Lloyd (for R. Lee Evans), Robert Agne (for Stewart Schneller), Spencer Moore (for Jacob Watkins), Maria Witte (for James Witte), Keith Pickens (for Jon Segars)
Absent, no substitute: James Winfield, Judy Woodrow, Larry Crowley, David Shannon , Bill Hames, Sondra Parmer, Werner Bergen, Anthony Moss, Ronald Neuman, Xing Ping Hu, David King, Raymond Kessler, Casey Cegielski, Robert Voitle, Scott Lewis, Del Epperson, Ralph Henderson
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Call to Order:
Kathryn Flynn called the meeting to order at 3:01 PM
She briefly reviewed procedural rules for the meeting.
There were no comments or changes on the minutes from the 6 April 2010 University Senate meeting, so they were approved as posted to the web.
Remarks and Announcements:
Kathryn Flynn (Faculty Chair) invited Dr. Gogue, President, to present comments from the President's office.
Dr. Gogue had several items to mention.
--The budget was signed by the Governor, and the current year prorated by 7.5%. It is not clear whether they will prorate more. The General Fund has been prorated at 12%, and if the Educational Trust Fund is prorated, it will likely be at 2.5%.
--Re the PACT program, tuition was not capped.
--Thanks to all for participation in the Deans searches.
--Don Large addressed health insurance coverage for older dependents. As per the 23 March legislation, dependents can be covered up until age 26. Insurers are required to have this done by 1 January 2011. It could be done through the open enrollment period, but Dr. Gogue would like to do this earlier. They are currently aiming toward 1 October.
--He commended the Senate for looking at the handbook changes to be considered today.
Questions for Dr. Gogue:
--There were no questions for Dr. Gogue.
Comments from the Chair:
--As per the Senate documents establishing the Ombudsman's position, it will be brought back to the Senate in June. The Rules Committee will request nominations in June, giving the 3 months that are required before the current 2-year term ends.
--Kathryn invited Bruce Smith (Chair, Faculty Research Committee) to come forward. Bruce noted that there is a revamping of 4 current funding programs into a single competitive program. Copies of the document concerning this are on the back table and are linked here.
--Kathryn invited Bliss Bailey to come forward to discuss changes to the faculty e-mail platform. A pdf of the PowerPoint file of his e-mail presentation can be found here.
Questions for Dr. Flynn:
--There were no questions for Dr. Flynn.
Action Items:
--Before beginning, Kathryn Flynn provided some background information concerning the proposed changes to the Faculty Handbook.
Approval of proposed changes to the Faculty Handbook (Russ Muntifering, Secretary-elect)
--The proposed changes are at: https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/proposedFHchangesApr.html and will be considered one at a time. All require a 2/3 majority vote of all Senators, which is 2/3*87=58.
--P&T Committee structure (change to include all Colleges/Schools)-- approved (63 votes)
--Chapter 2.5.B, 2nd paragraph (selection of dept. heads/chairs)-- approved (voice vote, only 1 nay)
--Chapter 3.7, 3rd paragraph (copy of FAR to Provost office)-- approved (unanimous voice vote)
--Chapter 3.10, 4th paragraph (notice of noncontinuation to come from Dean)-- approved (unanimous voice vote)
--Chapter 3.13.D, 2nd paragraph (alternative for Emeritus status vote)-- not approved (only 43 votes)
--Chapter 3.15, 1st paragraph (appeal of noncontinuation to an elected appellate body)-- approved (unanimous voice vote)
--Chapter 8.1, 3rd paragraph (wording change re summer)-- approved (unanimous voice vote)
--Chapter 3.7, 4th paragraph (time of 3rd year review)-- not approved (voice vote)
--Chapter 3.9, 1st paragraph (tenure versus promotion)
--amendment to change "therefore" to "for example"
--additional amendment to delete "different in kind"
--amendments approved by voice vote
--main motion not approved (only 43 votes)
--motion to change original faculty handbook wording-- not approved (only 56 votes)
--Chapter 3.9 (collegiality definition)-- not approved
--Chapter 3.10, 2nd paragraph (time for "normal" tenure consideration)-- approved (unanimous voice vote)
--Chapter 3.10, 3rd paragraph (counting of partial years toward probationary period)-- approved (unanimous voice vote)
--Chapter 3.10, 4th paragraph (waiving of right to consideration forever)-- approved (voice vote, only 1 nay)
--Chapter 3.10 (defacto tenure policy revision)-- approved (voice vote, only 2 nays)
--Chapter 3.11.3.D.1 (require external letters for promotion to Assoc. Prof.)
--amendment to delete "equal or"; amendment approved by unanimous voice vote
--amendment to delete "and/or tenure". amendment withdrawn after discussion
--main motion not approved by voice vote
--Chapter 3.11.E, 2nd paragraph (faculty limited to 1 vote, dept head not vote)
--motion to split main motion into two motions-- one re dept head not voting, one to limit faculty to 1 vote; motion approved by unanimous voice vote
--amendment to vote at higher level only; approved by unanimous voice vote
--amendment to vote at lower level only; approved by voice vote
--first motion (dept head not vote) not approved by voice vote
--second motion (vote at lower level) not approved by voice vote
--Chapter 3.11.E, 2nd paragraph (immediate family members excused from discussion)
--amendment to modify the language was passed by voice vote
--main motion defeated
--Chapter 3.11.E, 5th and 6th paragraphs (individual letters replaced with consensus letter)-- motion defeated
At this point, there were less than 58 Senators present, so no further items could be passed for changes to the Constitution. There were three items that were not considered:
--Chapter 3.11.E, last paragraph
--Chapter 3.11.H, 4th paragraph
--Chapter 3.14, 6th paragraph
These items will be brought back to the June meeting for consideration at that time.
Unfinished Business:
There was no unfinished business.
New Business:
There was no new business.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:52 PM.