Minutes of the University Senate Meeting
1 March 2011
3:00 p.m.
Broun Hall Auditorium
Submitted by
Russ Muntifering, Secretary
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A complete transcription of the meeting is available.
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Present: Claire Crutchley, Ann Beth Presley, Russ Muntifering, Larry Crowley, Kathryn Flynn, Bill Hardgrave, Chuck Savrda, Timothy Boosinger, Mary Ellen Mazey, Bonnie MacEwan, Joel Hunter, David Hennessey, Andrew Wohrley, Robin Jaffe, Nedret Billor, Andrew McLelland, Winfred Foster, Sondra Parmer, Scott McElroy, Werner Bergen, Barbara Kemppainen, Gary Wagoner, Paul Swamidass, Anthony Moss, Paul Holley, Evert Duin, Prabhakar Clement, Robert Agne, Daniel Phillips, Sanjeev Baskiyar, Wi-Suk Kwon, Charles Eick, Michael Stern, James Witte, Michael Baginski, James Goldstein, Xing Ping Hu, Russell Wright, John Mazaheri, Larry Teeter, David King, Ruth Crocker, Fenny Dane, Ellen Abell, Jerry Davis, Jared Russell, Pambanisha King, Bill Sauser, Herb Rotfeld, Tin-Yau Tam, Bart Prorok, Doug Rosener, Stuart Pope, Suresh Matthews, Vicky van Santen, Jan Kavookjian, Guy Rohrbaugh, Mike Bozack, Steven Brown, Yasser Gowayed, Shelly McKee, Chris Correia, Annette Kluck, Richard Fox, Emily Myers, Heather May, Ralph Henderson
Absent, sending a substitute: Michael Tullier (for Mary Lou Whitford), Constance Relihan (for Anne-Katrin Gramberg), Sushil Adhikari (for Yifen Wang), Harris Hollans (for Keven Yost), Nancy Noe (for Pambanisha King), Patrick Bass (for Joseph Fetsch)
Absent, no substitute: William Batchelor, Gregg Newschwander, Lee Evans, George Flowers, Kurt Sasser, Nidhi Sehgal, James Wright, Norbert Wilson, James Bannon, Jocelyn Zanzot, Ronald Neuman, Shea Tillman, Monica DeTure, Forrest Smith, Wesley Lindsey, Richard Hoerner
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Call to Order:
--Claire Crutchley called the meeting to order, and a quorum was confirmed.
-- Minutes from the February 8, 2011 meeting were accepted as posted without change.
Remarks and Announcements:
Dr. Gogue (Office of the President) presented several items.
-- Faida Mitifu, Ambassador of Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United States, is on campus and delivered a public lecture the previous day on political and economic ties between the United States and Africa. Ambassador Mitifu has a master’s degree in French from Auburn University.
-- The Alabama Education Trust Fund has been prorated by 3%.
-- A permanent solution to pedestrian and vehicle safety issues on Magnolia Ave. will be cost-shared with the City of Auburn and in place by this coming summer. Permanent, aesthetically pleasing crosswalks and lights will replace temporary fixtures currently in place.
-- New ethics legislation goes into effect on March 16, 2011. University employees making more than $50,000 annually will be required to undergo on-line ethics training, and should be sure to print and save a copy of the certificate of completion.
-- An update on the Strategic Plan will be presented at the Spring Meeting of University Faculty scheduled for Tuesday, March 8.
Comments from the Chair:
-- OIT will continue to offer Test Scoring & Scanning services from 107 Parker Hall until May 31, 2011 with no changes in service. By May 31, OIT will have a core campus location, with extended hours, where tests can be securely dropped off for scoring and retrieved. Scoring results will be emailed to faculty as soon as the tests are scored.
-- Suggestions are being solicited for Quality Enhancement Plans (QEP). Development of a QEP is a required for SACS reaffirmation of Auburn's accreditation that is scheduled for 2013. SACS defines the QEP as a "carefully designed and focused course of action that addresses a well-defined topic or issues directly related to improving student learning," and should be part of the university's ongoing planning and evaluation process.
-- The Spring Meeting of University Faculty is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in the Broun Hall auditorium.
Action Items:
-- Russ Muntifering, Secretary of University Senate, motioned to approve the slate of faculty for service on Rules Committee who had been nominated from the floor at the February 8 meeting of University Senate.
Fenny Dane’s nomination was endorsed by a vote of 50 yes, 3 no;
James Witte’s nomination was endorsed by a vote of 44 yes, 3 no; and
Shea Tillman’s nomination was endorsed by a vote of 43 yes, 1 no.
-- James Goldstein, Senator from the Department of English, presented background information and proposed changes to Chapter 3 of Faculty Handbook pertaining to Academic Freedom that were approved by a vote of 61 yes, 2 no.
Information items:
-- Mary Boudreaux, Chair of Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, presented an update on academic aspects of intercollegiate athletics.
-- Kathryn Flynn, Immediate Past Chair of University Senate, introduced a proposed resolution on departmental administrator reviews that was discussed and will be presented for action at the April 5 meeting of University Senate.
-- Ann Beth Presley, Chair-Elect of University Senate, introduced proposed modifications of the promotion and tenure process that were discussed and will be presented for action at the April 5 meeting of University Senate.
Unfinished business:
None
New business:
None
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.