Minutes of the University Senate Meeting
19 October 2010
3:00 p.m.
Broun Hall Auditorium
Submitted by
Russ Muntifering, Secretary
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A complete transcription of the meeting is available at https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/website/transcripts/TrScrpt2010-2011/transcript_10_19_10.html
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Present: Claire Crutchley, Ann Beth Presley, Russ Muntifering, Larry Crowley, Kathryn Flynn, Gregg Newschwander, Marie Wooten, Timothy Boosinger, Anne-Katrin Gramberg, George Flowers, Mary Ellen Mazey, Nidhi Sehgal, Joel Hunter, Andrew Wohrley, Robin Jaffe, James Wright, Andrew McLelland, Winfred Foster, Norbert Wilson, James Bannon, Sondra Parmer, Scott McElroy, Werner Bergen, Jocelyn Zanzot, Gary Wagoner, Paul Swamidass, Anthony Moss, Yifen Wang, Ronald Neuman, Evert Duin, Robert Agne, Daniel Phillips, Sanjeev Baskiyar, Wi-Suk Kwon, Charles Eick, Michael Stern, Michael Baginski, James Goldstein, Xing Ping Hu, Keven Yost, John Mazaheri, David King, Fenny Dane, Ellen Abell, Shea Tillman, Jerry Davis, Pambanisha King, Bill Sauser, Herb Rotfeld, Tin-Yau Tam, Bart Prorok, Doug Rosener, Stuart Pope, Suresh Matthews, Monica DeTure, Vicky van Santen, Forrest Smith, Jan Kavookjian, Guy Rohrbaugh, Mike Bozack, Steven P. Brown, Yasser Gowayed, Shelly McKee, Chris Correia, Annette Kluck, Emily Myers, Heather May
Absent, sending a substitute: John Liu (for William Batchelor), Amit Mitra (for Bill Hardgrave), Susan Villaume (for Betty Lou Whitford), Paul Jungnickel (for Lee Evans), Amia Baker (for Bonnie MacEwan), Anoop Sattineni (for Paul Holley), Maria Witte (for James Witte), Chase Murray (for Jerry Davis), Alice Buchanan (for Jared Russell), Dmitry Glotov (for Tin-Yau Tam), Patrick Bass (for Joseph Fetsch), Richard Locke (for Richard Hoerner), Sue Duran (for Ralph Henderson)
Absent, no substitute: Kurt Sasser, David Hennessey, Nedret Billor, Barbara Kemppainen, Prabhakar Clement, Allen Davis, Larry Teeter, Ruth Crocker, Wesley Lindsey, 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 September meeting (https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/website/minutes/2010_2011/min_09_21_10.html) were accepted as posted without change.
Remarks and Announcements:
Dr. Gogue (Office of the President) presented several items.
--Gaines Smith has announced his retirement as Director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and the process of a search for a new Director has been started.
--The deadline for blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings is November 30 in order to save $25 a month on health insurance premiums beginning in January 2011. Also, open enrollment for benefits runs through the month of November.
--Forms necessary for merit-based supplemental pay have been sent to administrative units. The plan is to disburse supplemental pay in December as a one-time payment that will range from 0 to 6% with an average of 4%.
Dr. Mazey (Office of the Provost) presented several items.
--An update on the Strategic Plan, including goals for 2010-2011.
--There are 5 new deans in place, and there will hopefully soon be a sixth (Forestry and Wildlife Sciences). A search is underway for the Dean of the College Architecture, Design and Construction. Dean Dan Bennett is going to retire December 31, and an interim dean will be appointed for a 6-month term.
--Dr. Mazey commended everyone who participated in the Common Book Experience.
--Drew Clark will discuss QEP at an upcoming Provost’s forum as we prepare for the SACS reaccreditation visit in the spring of 2013.
Comments from the Chair:
--Faculty Handbook Committee was asked to interpret the wording of voting and how changes in the Handbook would be made, and a recommendation was forwarded to Rules Committee. Review of Senate Archives revealed that, in the past, changes in Faculty Handbook external to Senate Constitution were made by a voice vote or simple majority except in 2009-2010. Both committees have concluded that changes in the Faculty Handbook external to either Faculty or Senate Constitutions require only a majority vote of the Senate following Robert’s Rules of Order, which is the regular Senate procedure). The Senate will proceed with the interpretation that changes in Senate Constitution will continue to require a two-thirds vote of the Senate roster, and that changes in the Faculty Constitution will continue to require a two-thirds vote of faculty present at a University Faculty meeting. However, changes in the Faculty Handbook external to the two constitutions will require a majority vote of senators present at meetings of the University Senate once a quorum is established.
Action Items:
Auburn University Scholarly Incentive Plan (Bruce Smith, Chair, Faculty Research Committee)
--The motion to endorse the plan was approved (60 yes, 9 no).
Modification of Composition and Charge of Competitive Research Grants Committee (Russ Muntifering, Secretary)
--The motion to modify charge and composition of the Competitive Research Grant Committee was approved (65 yes, 2 no).
pdf of the changes indicated
pdf of the final wording as accepted, article 4, Section 19
.
Information Items:
--Kathryn Flynn, Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, presented an update on the Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
--Margaret Marshall, Director of University Writing, presented an update on activities and services within Writing Center. The complete presentation is available as a PowerPoint file.
Unfinished business:
None
New business:
None
The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.