Minutes of the University Senate Meeting
3 May 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, Russ Muntifering, Larry Crowley, Bill Hardgrave, Gregg Newschwander, Betty Lou Whitford, Chuck Savrda, Timothy Boosinger, George Flowers, Mary Ellen Mazey, Kirby Turnage, Nidhi Sehgal, Seth Humphrey, Andrew Wohrley, Robin Jaffe, Nedret Billor, James Wright, Andrew McLelland, Norbert Wilson, Sondra Parmer, Scott McElroy, Werner Bergen, Gary Wagoner, Paul Swamidass, Anthony Moss, Daniel Phillips, Sanjeev Baskiyar, Wi-Suk Kwon, Michael Stern, Michael Baginski, James Goldstein, Russell Wright, John Mazaheri, Larry Teeter, Ruth Crocker, Fenny Dane, Shea Tillman, JerryDavis, Jared Russell, Pambanisha King, Bill Sauser, Herb Rotfeld, Tin-Yau Tam, Doug Rosener, Stuart Pope, Vicky van Santen, Jan Kavookjian, Wesley Lindsey, Guy Rohrbaugh, Mike Bozack, Steven Brown, Yasser Gowayed, Chris Correia, Annette Kluck, Joseph Fetsch, Richard Hoerner, Richard Fox, Emily Myers 
Absent, sending a substitute: Paul Patterson (for Bill Batchelor), Nancy Noe (for Bonnie MacEwan), Dean Schwartz (for Barbara Kemppainen), J. Mark Taylor (for Paul Holley), Wei Zhan (for Evert Duin), J. Brian Anderson (for Prabhakar Clement), Emmett Winn (for Robert Agne), Sue Barry (for Charles Eick), Maria Witte (for James Witte), Harris Hollons (for Keven Yost), Ramesh Jeganathan (for Suresh Matthews), Sue Duran (for Ralph Henderson)
Absent, no substitute: Ann Beth Presley, Kathryn Flynn, Anne-Katrin Gramberg, Lee Evans, NaKeisha Hicks, Winfred Foster, James Bannon, Jocelyn Zanzot, Yifen Wang, Ronald Neuman, Xing Ping Hu, David King, Ellen Abell, Bart Prorok, Monica DeTure, Forrest Smith, Heather May
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Call to Order:
-- Claire Crutchley called the meeting to order, and a quorum was confirmed.
-- Senators observed a moment of silence to reflect on victims of the recent tornado outbreak in Alabama.
-- Claire briefly reviewed rules of University Senate on matters of voting and speaking.
-- Minutes from the April 5, 2011 meeting were accepted as posted without change.

Remarks and Announcements:
Dr. Gogue (Office of the President) presented several items.
-- Dr. Gogue thanked everyone for their timely and generous response toward the relief effort following the previous week’s tornado outbreak across central and northern Alabama.
-- A number of items approved at the recent Board of Trustees meeting concerned academic matters.
-- Search for an interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is underway.
-- A national search for the position of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will commence in short order, starting with advertisement of the position announcement in May and followed by review of applications in Late July/early August, airport interviews immediately prior to the start of classes in Fall 2011 semester, and campus interviews in September.
-- The search for the Dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics is well underway.
-- Dr. Gogue expressed thanks to departmental faculty for their work on promotion and tenure and changes to Faculty Handbook.
-- Jim Groccia, Director of the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, is the recipient of a Fulbright Foundation award.
-- There are 6 nominations for reappointment and 3 nominations for new appointments to the Board of Trustees.
-- Dr. Gogue mentioned upcoming commencement ceremony and contingency plans in the event of inclement weather.

Dr. Mary Ellen Mazey expressed gratitude to everyone for their excellent work with her during her tenure as Auburn University’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Comments from the Chair:
-- Students affected by the tornado outbreak who have legitimate reasons for leaving campus and missing class, exams, etc. should contact the Office of Student Affairs.
-- The administrator evaluation proposal endorsed by the Senate at the April 5 meeting has been approved by central administration, but the frequency of comprehensive reviews has been changed from every 2–3 to every 3–5 years, with an opportunity for faculty to provide input to administrative performance evaluations every year.

Action Items:
-- Bob Smith, Chair of Non-Tenure Track Committee, presented a proposal on promotion of non-tenure track faculty that was moved for adoption and endorsed by a vote of 49 yes, 16 no.

-- Bill Sauser, Chair of Faculty Handbook Review Committee, motioned to establish the Faculty Handbook as the official policies and procedures manual of Auburn University faculty; motion passed 63 yes, 4 no.

-- Bill Sauser motioned to accept the “Phase One Handbook” as a transitional version of the Faculty Handbook; motion passed by a vote of 60 yes, 5 no.

-- Eric Smith, Director of the Health Promotion & Wellness Initiative, motioned for adoption of a proposal to create a smoke-free campus policy; motion passed by a vote of 43 yes, 20 no.

Information items:
-- George Flowers, Dean of The Graduate School, presented a proposal to create a new grade “GP” for “Graduate Project”.

Kevin Phelps, Chair of Teaching Effectiveness Committee, presented a proposed policy on student evaluation of courses.

-- Herb Rotfeld (Marketing) moved to defer voting on the proposed policy on student evaluation of courses to a meeting of University Senate during the Fall 2011 semester; motioned failed by a vote of 25 yes, 33 no. This item will be presented for voting by University Senate at the June 7 meeting.

Unfinished business:
None

New business:
None

The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.