Minutes of the University Senate Meeting
24 August 2010
3:00 p.m.
Broun Hall Auditorium
Submitted by
Russ Muntifering, Secretary
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(for a complete transcription of the meeting, go to
https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/website/transcripts/TrScrpt2010-2011/transcript_08_24_10.html
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Present: Claire Crutchley, Ann Beth Presley, Russ Muntifering, Larry Crowley, Kathryn Flynn, Bill Hardgrave, Gregg Newschwander, Betty Lou Whitford, Lee Evans, Marie Wooten, Mary Ellen Mazey, Bonnie MacEwan, Kurt Sasser, Nidhi Sehgal, Joel Hunter, David Hennessey, Robin Jaffe, James Wright, Andrew McLelland, Winfred Foster, Norbert Wilson, James Bannon, Sondra Parmer, Barbara Kemppainen, Michael Clay, Gary Wagoner, Anthony Moss, Yifen Wang, Paul Holley, Evert Duin, Prabhakar Clement, Robert Agne, Daniel Phillips, Sanjeev Baskiyar, Wi-Suk Kwon, Charles Eick, Michael Stern, James Witte, James Goldstein, Xing Ping Hu, Keven Yost, John Mazaheri, Larry Teeter, Fenny Dane, Ellen Abell, Shea Tillman, Jerry Davis, Jared Russell, Helen Goldman, Bill Sauser, Herb Rotfeld, Tin-Yau Tam,Bart Prorok, Doug Rosner, Stuart Pope, Suresh Matthews, Monica DeTure, Vicky van Santen, Forrest Smith, Jan Kavookjian, Wesley Lindsey, Guy Rohrbaugh, Mike Bozack, Steven P. Brown, Yasser Gowayed, Chris Correia, Annette Kluck, Richard Hoerner, Emily Myers, Heather May, Ralph Henderson
Absent, sending a substitute: Constance Relihan (for Anne-Katrin Gramberg), George Crandell (for George Flowers), Don Mulvaney (for Werner Bergen), Emmett Winn (for Richard Fox)
Absent, no substitute: William Batchelor, Timothy Boosinger, Scott McElroy, Paul Swamidass, Ronald Neuman, Michael Baginski, Allen Davis, David King, Jennifer Brooks, Shelly McKee, Scott Lewis
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Call to Order:
Claire Crutchley called the meeting to order and reviewed procedures for speakers to address the University Senate from the meeting floor.
Minutes from the June 8 meeting were accepted as posted without change.
Remarks and Announcements:
Claire Crutchley invited Dr. Jay Gogue to present comments from the Office of the President.
Dr. Gogue presented several items.
--He thanked faculty for their assistance with move-in and orientation activities for new students over the past several weeks.
--He reminded the group of the upcoming campus ceremony on Thursday, August 26 at the Dixon Conference Center at which 50 faculty members would receive new endowed professorships funded through the one-year campaign to expand such endowments. The University’s goal of funding 81 new professorships was exceeded by 17% for a total of 95.
--The budget situation remains uncertain, in large measure due to uncertainty of how the recent Gulf Oil Spill might affect tax receipts. No discussion of additional proration at this time.
--New Deans who recently began their assignments were introduced: William Batchelor (Agriculture), Bill Hardgrave (Business), Gregg Newschwander (Nursing), Betty Lou Whitford (Education) and Marie Wooten (Sciences & Mathematics).
--He thanked faculty for their support of and participation in the Common Book Experience.
--The Fall 2010 freshman class has the highest average ACT score (26.8) in the institution’s history and an average GPA of 3.8. One-quarter met criteria for admission to Honors College.
Comments from the Chair:
--Claire Crutchley (Chair) introduced the remainder of the Executive Committee: Kathryn Flynn (Immediate Past-Chair), Ann Beth Presley (Chair-Elect) Russ Muntifering (Secretary) and Larry Crowley (Secretary-Elect); Constance Hendricks (Parliamentarian); and Laura Kloberg (Administrative Support Associate, Ombuds Office & University Senate).
--She welcomed new senators and issued a reminder about Bill Rickert’s campus visit on August 26-27 and the veterans’ luncheon on September 1.
--Senators were asked to check that their electronic clickers for voting were operating properly.
Action Items:
Approval of Nominees for Senate Committees (Russ Muntifering, Secretary)
--The slate of nominees for Senate committees as developed by Rules Committee is available at
https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/website/agendas/2010-2011/Aug10/NomineesSenateCommittees8.24.2010.5.pdf.
--The slate of nominees was approved by a vote of 72 yes, 3 no.
Approval of resolution to change the definition of two-thirds vote required for amending Articles of the University Senate Constitution (Russ Muntifering, Secretary)
--The resolution as developed by Steering Committee is available at https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/website/agendas/2010-2011/Aug10/resolution_on_voting.pdf.
-- Following discussion, a motion was made by Charles Eick (Curriculum and Teaching) to postpone action on the resolution until the September meeting; seconded by Tony Moss (Biological Sciences). The motion was defeated by a vote of 27 yes, 54 no.
--The resolution was defeated by a vote of 37 yes, 48 no (58 votes, or 2/3 of Senate total membership, required to pass).
Information Items:
--John Mason, Vice President for Research, provided an update on OVPR organization, data on funding awarded for sponsored research, a new intramural grants program award, and research activities related to the recent Gulf Oil Spill. The presentation is available as a pdf.
--Ashley Nichols, Vice President of Student Government Association, presented proposed procedural changes to the Academic Honesty Code. The presentation is available as a pdf.
--A number of Senators spoke in favor of the spirit of the proposed changes that would involve faculty more directly and substantively in enforcement of the Academic Honesty Code. A number of faculty raised concerns about applicability of the proposed changes to the distance- learning environment, possible burdening of faculty with increased workload, questionable improvements in efficiency and desired outcomes, and possible inequities in sanctions across administrative units.
--This item will be revised to address comments and concerns, with guidance provided by Senate leadership and Academic Honesty Committee, and then presented for action by the Senate at a future meeting.
Unfinished Business:
None
New Business:
None
The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.