Minutes of the University Senate Meeting
21 September 2010
3:00 p.m.
Broun Hall Auditorium
Submitted by
Russ Muntifering, Secretary
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for a complete transcription of the meeting
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Present: Claire Crutchley, Russ Muntifering, Larry Crowley, Kathryn Flynn, Bill Hardgrave, Gregg Newschwander, Betty Lou Whitford, Lee Evans, Timothy Boosinger, Anne-Katrin Gramberg, George Flowers, Mary Ellen Mazey, Bonnie MacEwan, Joel Hunter, David Hennessey, Robin Jaffe, James Wright, Andrew McLelland, Norbert Wilson, Sondra Parmer, Scott McElroy, Werner Bergen, Michael Clay, Gary Wagoner, Anthony Moss, Yifen Wang, Ronald Neuman, 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, Keven Yost, John Mazaheri, Larry Teeter, David King, Fenny Dane, Ellen Abell, Shea Tillman, Jerry Davis, Jared Russell, Pambanisha King, Bill Sauser, Herb Rotfeld, Tin-Yau Tam, Bart Prorok, Doug Rosner, Stuart Pope, Suresh Matthews, Monica DeTure, Vicky van Santen, Jan Kavookjian, Wesley Lindsey, Guy Rohrbaugh, Mike Bozack, Steven P. Brown, Yasser Gowayed, Chris Correia, Annette Kluck, Joe Fetsch, Richard Hoerner, Emily Myers, Ralph Henderson
Absent, sending a substitute: Velma Richardson (for Marie Wooten), Lane Sauser (for James Bannon), Vitaly Vodyanoy (for Barbara Kemppainen), Scott Phillips (for Heather May)
Absent, no substitute: Ann Beth Presley, William Batchelor, Kurt Sasser, Nidhi Sehgal, Nedret Billor, Winfred Foster, Paul Swamidass, Paul Holley, Allen Davis, Jennifer Brooks, Forrest Smith, Shelly McKee, Richard Fox
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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 August 24 meeting were accepted as posted without change.
Remarks and Announcements:
Dr. Gogue (Office of the President) presented several items.
--The Education Trust Fund is down $1.2B and that the university’s FY 2010 budget had been prorated another 2%, bringing the total FY 2010 rescission to 9.5%. Fortunately, the university had planned for 10% proration in FY 2010.
--The US Department of State was seeking colleges/universities to establish programmatic linkages with institutions in Africa. A total of 11 have been identified thus far, and as many as 50 will be identified for programs of up to 30 years duration.
--Dr. Large made a number of remarks about how the Flex Plan may or may not impacted by the recent federal healthcare legislation.
--A proposal will be presented to the Board of Trustees at its upcoming meeting for a one-time, merit based salary supplement of 4% (average) for all faculty and staff that can range from 0 to 6% on an individual basis.
Dr. Mazey (Office of the Provost) presented several items.
--An update on the Strategic Plan included enhancement of the institution’s research mission, with emphasis on undergraduate research and the internal search for an Undergraduate Research Director; sustainability, including internal searches for a Director of Academic Sustainability Programs, Director of Campus Sustainability Operations Director of the Food Safety Initiative.
--Three finalists have emerged from the search for the Dean of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences.
--A search for the Dean of Architecture, Design and Construction is underway.
--An upcoming Dean’s retreat will emphasize future collaborations, increasing revenues and increasing efficiency.
Comments from the Chair:
--Claire Crutchley (Chair) indicated that action on changes to Academic Honesty Code proposed by SGA will be deferred to the October or November meeting of the Senate.
--A number of items from the August 24 Senate meeting have been or will soon be turned over to the cognizant Senate committee(s) for review and recommendation.
--The Fall meeting of University Faculty is scheduled for Tuesday, October 12.
--Rules of Senate meeting attendance are being enforced.
Action Items:
Approval of Priority System to Change Date of Final Exam (Larry Crowley, Secretary-Elect)
--Following discussion, Robin Jaffe (Chair, Calendar and Schedules Committee) motioned to amend the policy by stipulating that a student must contact his/her Associate Dean within one week following the mid-semester date; motion seconded.
The motion carried (57 yes, 1 no).
--Herb Rotfeld (Marketing) offered a friendly amendment to clarify that the mid-semester date is the deadline by which affected faculty members would need to be contacted; amendment accepted.
The amended motion carried (60 yes, 2 no).
--The approved Priority System to Change Date of Final Exam.
Approval of Nominees for Competitive Research Grant Committee (Russ Muntifering, Secretary)
--The slate of nominees was approved (62 yes, 2 no).
Information Items:
--Russ Muntifering (Secretary) presented proposed changes to composition and charge of the Competitive Research Grants Committee that will be brought to the Senate for action at the October 19 meeting. Carl Pinkert (Associate Vice President for Research) suggested modifying the proposed committee charge to “review and rank proposals submitted to the AU Intramural Grants Program.” The final proposal to be presented to the Senate at the October 19 meeting.
--Constance Relihan (Associate Dean, Liberal Arts) presented information on a survey on the Common Book Experience.
--Bruce Smith (Chair, Faculty Research Committee) presented a proposed Faculty Scholarly Incentive Plan. Following discussion, Bruce indicated that he would take comments back to the Faculty Research Committee and present a finalized proposal to the Senate at its October meeting. The draft proposal .
Unfinished business:
None
New business:
None
The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.