Minutes
Senate Meeting: October 20, 2020
3:30 p.m. via Zoom meeting
A full transcript of this meeting will be available.
Please refer to transcript for details not included in the minutes.
Presentations are available from the agenda for the meeting.
Attendance Record at the end of the minutes.
A quorum was established, with 57 out of 87 Senators in attendance. 51 Senators responded to the quorum poll, plus 6 among panelists who could not use the polling tool.
Don Mulvaney, Senate Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:31pm. Chair Mulvaney gave attendees an overview of the basic procedures for the Zoom meeting format, and then began the meeting.
Approval of the minutes from the Senate Meeting of September 15, 2020:
No comments or revisions were suggested. Chair announced that the minutes were approved by unanimous consent.
Question: Herb Rotfeld (Harrison College of Business) - Because it's not been announced in a prior meeting that I could find, who are the members of the nominating committee? The nominating committee should be named by the 6th week of the fall semester and we are in the 10th week now.
Answer: Don Mulvaney (Senate Chair) – We do not have a membership yet. I’ll take care of that. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Remarks and Announcements:
Donald Mulvaney, Senate Chair Remarks (3:37pm)
The Chair introduced the officers of the senate, the Senate Parliamentarian Sidney Phelps, and recognized the Senate Administrative Assistant, Laura Kloberg.
The chair then noted the charges of the Rules and Steering committees, and encouraged faculty to volunteer for university committee service. and organizing senate meetings. He encouraged faculty to go to the volunteering web page and express interest in serving on Senate Committees. He also encouraged faculty to stay in contact with senate leadership with their concerns and comments.
Chair Mulvaney then moved to the recognition of resilience and innovation at Auburn University during the COVID era. This recognition item began in August. For October, the Chair recognized those who have served on committees and task forces charged with modifying and continuing University operations, including frontline staff and A&P employees.
Chair Mulvaney, closed his remarks by noting the pending action item on the agenda. He then invited President Jay Gogue to make remarks.
Jay Gogue, Auburn University President Remarks (3:45pm)
President Gogue noted that he had a few items to address before he invited Board of Trustees Secretary Jon Waggoner to speak.
The president closed his remarks by thanking senate leadership for both its support, its input, and its criticism during difficult times. He then invited Jon Waggoner to speak.
Jon Wagoner, Board of Trustees Secretary Remarks
Mr. Waggoner gave an update on the BoT task force on building names and monuments. The task force was formed in the summer to address racial justice issues that reach board level. Before discussing the building naming deliberations, Mr. Waggoner noted that the board has
Mr. Waggoner then discussed the task force activity on studying buildings and roads on campus reported to hold names of individuals with controversial racial histories. The task force members have all be given a copy of Dr. Dwayne Cox’s history of Auburn entitled The Village on the Plain. In addition, Greg Schmidt of the University archives researched and provided information to the task force on particular campus names that have been identified as potentially problematic.
The Board is developing a policy and process for evaluating building names and making renaming decisions. Mr. Waggoner noted that the Board knows it must act, and they want to be deliberate and carful with their decisions.
Mr. Waggoner closed by noting that the Student Center dedication will be on Friday November 20 at 2pm.
Bill Hardgrave, Auburn University Provost Remarks (3:55pm)
The Provost made several announcements.
The Provost then discussed the issue of pass/fail grading. The Office of the Provost had been asked to consider Pass/Fail grades as an option for students for fall semester. Pass Fail grading will not be considered for the Fall because;
The floor was then opened for questions. (4:00pm)
QUESTION: (Richard Seals). Is the start date for Spring 2021 Still January 6?
ANSWER (Provost Hardgrave) – As of now, yes. A final decision will be made at the end of December.
QUESTION (Tony Moss, Senator, Biological Sciences): How do we get involved with the Regions Bank Financial Literacy Programming?
ANSWER: (Provost Hardgrave): I will provide a link in the meeting chat area.
QUESTION: (Susan Youngblood, Senator, English) – Will the Board of Trustees address the possibility of a recommended building name change being opposed by the State? Will the Board commit to change and pay any fines or will they drop the renaming?
ANSWER (Jon Waggoner) – The Board has not yet addressed that part of the policy. It’s a complex legal issue.
QUESTION (Joseph Molnar, Rural Sociology): Was the new parental leave policy approved by HR and legal?
ANSWER (Provost Hardgrave): Yes. It is approved and they have all signed the policy.
ACTION ITEM – Replacement Members for Senate Committees, Presenter: Greg Schmidt, Senate Secretary, chair of the Senate Rules Committee.
Secretary Schmidt presented one replacement candidate for a vacancy on the Retention Committee
Melissa Patryka to replace Tyler Mardindale – term through 2022.
There was no discussion on the candidate. The senate then voted on the replacement.
The replacement was approved by a vote of 59 in favor and one abstention.
QUESTION: (Robert Agne, Senator, Communication and Journalism: Can you provide a link to the committee volunteering page?
ANSWER: (Greg Schmidt): A link will be placed in the meeting chat.
PENDING ACTION ITEMS - Proposed revisions to the Faculty Handbook
Dr. Kamden Strunk, Chair, Faculty Handbook Revision Committee
Dr. Strunk presented two sets of proposed changes to the faculty handbook. The two sets of proposals will be voted upon separately at the November meeting. All proposed revisions are available to be viewed from a link from the Senate agenda.
The first set of changes were those recommended by the Teaching Effectiveness Committee and Dr. Strunk invited member of that committee to explain them. The proposed changes clarify and modify the use of Student Evaluations of Teaching (SETs) for faculty annual review, and for tenure & promotion decisions. The open-ended comment mandate is retained, but numerical data inclusion in faculty review is optional. Proposed revisions also set a minimum response rate of 30% for inclusion in evaluation review processes and establish an external evaluations of teaching process.
Katie Boyd and David Martin of the Teaching Effectiveness Committee then gave context for why the recommendations were made. Research shows that numerical data is neither accurate nor reliable. Summative measures also are shown to impact minorities, women, and people with different sexual orientations in a more negative way.
QUESTION: Kimberly Garza (Senator, Health Outcomes Research and Policy) – Will schools be able to modify the AU Evaluate tool and use their own evaluations?
ANSWER (Todd Steury, Chair-elect): can address that one. So as of right now, there aren't any plans to change the way that the student evaluations are administered. Currently units are required to ask the eight questions that we are currently using, however units can add questions as they see fit. That is possible within the AU evaluate system. So as of right now, things will continue as before.
Dr. Strunk then to the second set of proposed revisions. He described these revisions as technical changes to address contradictions and clarify processes. The first proposed change centered around the time frame for and the documentation for those who wish to present their cases in a shorter timeframe. By striking “exceptional” from “exceptional and well-documented,” contradictory and unnecessary language is removed. The next change struck language that appeared to disallow faculty who receive a letter of non-continuation in their sixth year from applying for tenure in their seventh. The next set of changes had to do with what happens when there are not eligible faculty in a department to vote on tenure and promotion. Proposed changes allow for faculty from outside of a department to serve as departmental voting faculty. The next proposed change clarifies the question of what it means to “make available” to tenure and promotion candidates the letters of the committee, department head, and individual faculty members. The revision recommends “provide copies” instead of “make available.” The final recommended change clarifies that there is no non-continuation letter threat to someone who is denied tenure in their fifth year. This resolves a conflict with earlier sections of the handbook.
QUESTION (Michael Stern, Economics): Dr. Stern challenged the notion that some of the proposed changes were non consequential and argued that allowing faculty from other departments to participate in departmental proceedings introduces conflicts into the handbook.
ANSWER (Kamden Strunk)” As currently written, the handbook allows a department head in cases of too few eligible voting faculty to unilaterally pick people to represent the faculty in proceedings. The intention of the changes were to state that it should be done with the consent of the people in the department.
Dr. Stern again stated an objection to allowing an external faculty to participate in departmental proceedings or contribute to summary letters. He compared the proposal to allowing an external letter writer to participate in departmental proceedings.
QUESTION: (Gilad Sorek, Senator, Economics): Dr. Sorek stated that in small units, the situation of too few eligible faculty for proceedings is not uncommon. He strongly suggested that the issue be discussed further with input from himself and other faculty in small units.
INFORMATION ITEM: FBI Cybersecutity Announcement
Dr. Robert Norton (Poultry Science)
Dr. Norton reported on a public service announcement from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. The agencies report that predatory journals are being used by foreign operators and nations to sow misinformation and foment distrust around US elections. The misinformation targets national, state and local elections. The agencies want academia to be aware.
INFORMATION ITEM: Task Force Subcommittee for Recruitment and Enrollment
Dr. Joffery Gaymon, Vice President Enrollment Services
Dr. Gaymon encouraged everyone to visit the task forces website for details. https://auburn.edu/equitytaskforce/
Shen then moved to discuss the four objectives that were identified to help with diversity and enrollment were:
To achieve these goals the task force has proposed or implemented a number of changes. Auburn has moved to pilot a flexible admissions model that does not necessarily rely on SAC/ACT scores. This includes allowing for writing, resume, and non-cognitive variables to be considered. Scholarship allocations have shifted to include need/ non-merit based considerations, and PLUS Scholarship awards have been increased. The task force is also working to document and celebrate the history of diversity at Auburn, to conduct a new diversity climate study in 2021, and to develop an “inclusive language guide” and toolkit.
QUESTION: Ashley Ludewig (English) – What is the rubric for assessing writing samples from admissions applicants and who is evaluating the writing?
ANSWER: Joffery Gaymon – Internal staff in admissions evaluate writing. Many staff are involved in the process and the task force is willing to share the rubric with English faculty for their input.
INFORMATION ITEM – Update from the SGA
Hays Kassen, Vice President, SGA
Mr. Kassen is serving for President Ada Ruth Huntley in the Auburn University Senate. He began by highlighting the mission of the SGA, its organization, and its role on campus. He then touched upon the 2020/21 SGA Executive Team Goals in relation to
Mr. Kassen closed his presentation by noting a recent SGA resolution entitled Commendation of Auburn Faculty for Rapid Response to COVID-19 Solutions. He encouraged faculty to read the resolution.
Unfinished Business – None
New Business – None
Motion to Adjourn (Seconded) 5:07pm
The motion carried and Chair Mulvaney adjourned the meeting at 5:00pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Greg Schmidt
Secretary, University Senate
Attendance Record – October 20, 2020
Senate Officers
Present:
Don Mulvaney, Chair;
Todd Steury, Chair-Elect;
Greg Schmidt, Secretary;
Ralph Kingston, Secretary-Elect;
Nedret Billor, Immediate Past-Chair
Administration
Present:
Paul Patterson, Dean College of Agriculture;
Richard Hansen, Dean School of Pharmacy;
George Flowers, Dean, Graduate School
Danielle Fields, Substitute for Gretchen Van Valkenburg, VP Alumni Affairs;
Susan Hubbard, Dean College of Human Sciences;
Calvin Johnson, dean College of Veterinary Medicine
Absent:
Janaki Alavalapati, Dean, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences;
Kelli Shomaker, VP Business and Finance;
Taffye Clayton, VP & Associate Provost, Inclusion and Diversity;
Ex-Officio Members:
Present
Bill Hardgrave, Provost;
Shali Zhang, Dean of Libraries;
Sharariar Mohammed Fahim, GSC President;
Hays Kassen, SGA Vice President for Ada Ruth Huntley, SGA President;
Michael Tillson, Steering Committee;
Robert Norton, Steering Committee
Absent:
Robert Cochran, Steering Committee;
Penny Houston, Staff Council Chair;
Paige Patterson, A&P Assembly Chair;
Cheryl Seals, Steering Committee;
Senators:
Present:
Lisa Miller, Accountancy;
Anwar Ahmed, Aerospace Engineering;
Valentina Hatarska, Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology;
Jacek Wower, Animal Sciences;
Vinicia Biancardi, Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology;
Kevin Moore, Architecture;
Kathryn Floyd, Art;
Anthony Moss, Biological Sciences;
David Blersch, Biosystems Engineering;
Bryan Beckingham, Chemical Engineering;
Wei Zhan, Chemistry;
J. Brian Anderson, Civil Engineering;
Robert Agne, Communication and Journalism;
Mary Sandage, Communication Disorders;
Kai Chang, Computer Science and Software Engineering;
Lindsey Tan, Consumer & Design Sciences;
David Han, Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences;
Jamie Harrison, Curriculum & Teaching;
Feng Li, Drug Discovery and Development;
Gilad Sorek, Economics;
Ellen Reames, Educational Foundations, Leadership & Tech;
Susan Youngblood, English;
John Beckmann, Entomology & Plant Pathology;
Damion McIntosh, Finance;
Nathan Whelan, Fisheries & Allied Aquaculture;
Zachary Zuwiyya, Foreign Language & Literatures;
Wayde Morse, Forestry & Wildlife Science;
Haibo Zou, Geology & Geography;
Kimberly Garza, Health Outcomes Research and Policy;
Monique Laney, History;
Scott Ketring, Human Development & Family Studies;
Rich Sesek, Industrial and Systems Engineering;
Andreas Kavazis, Kinesiology;
Kasia Leousis, Library;
Alan Walker, Management;
Jeremy Wolter, Marketing
Yanzhao Cao, Mathematics and Statistics;
Sabit Adanur, Mechanical Engineering;
Virginia Kunzer, Music;
David Crumbley, Nursing;
Baker Ayoun, Nutrition, Dietetics, & Hospitality Mgmt;
David Mixson, Outreach;
Peter Christopherson, Pathobiology;
Spencer Durham, Pharmacy Practice;
Jennifer Lockhart, Philosophy
Luca Guazzotto, Physics;
Ken Macklin, Poultry Science;
Tracy Witte, Psychology;
Malti Tuttle, Special Ed. Rehab. Counseling/School Psychology;
Charles McMullen, Lieutenant Colonel, ROTC, Air Force;
Janice Clifford, Socio/Anthro/Social Work;
Robin Jaffe, Theatre
Robert Cole, Veterinary Clinical Sciences;
Absent:
Molly Gregg, ACES;
Mark Tatum, Building Sciences;
Lloyd Riggs, Electrical & Computer Engineering;
Daniel Wells, Horticulture;
Ben Bush, Industrial Design;
Paul Harris, Political Science
Shashank Rao, Systems and Technology;
John Drew, Major, ROTC Army;
Matthew Roberts, Captain, ROTC, Naval;