AU Faculty Meeting
October 24, 2023
Via Zoom
Minutes
Faculty Meeting called to order at 3:30 p.m.

Approval of minutes from March 28, 2023.
Minutes approved with no corrections and unanimous consent.

AU Faculty Chair: Lisa Kensler
Opening remarks regarding expectations of meeting. No additional remarks.

AU President Christopher Roberts offered updates and remarks regarding:

  1. College of Education and University Outreach receiving $18M+ GEARUP grant.
  2. Fall 2023 Admission Information: Over 50K applications with very strong class.
  3. Financial Position: Shared BOT budget increase to $1.7B to 2024 with strong increase from State Legislature.
  4. Extramural Funding increased to $301M. Kudos to faculty and staff impacting this work. Several colleges increased total funding. HERD Survey data will be released soon.
  5. Senior VP of Advancement acknowledged with donor addressing first generation college students.
  6. Auburn Cares Program recognized for student work. Referrals increased by 25%. Top reason for referral is mental health.
  7. Leadership restructuring — Gen. Ron Burgess retired, and position reallocated to other positions. Identified specific roles.  Monthly leadership meetings.

AU Provost Vini Nathan offered announcements with:

  1.  Nov 1 is data of census. Preliminary data points shared: FT faculty= 1560, PT faculty= 307. 73% tenured or tenure track.
  2. COACH Survey results shared 31% response rate. Shared specific outcomes. Deans will receive specific data.

Q&A: See Recording and transcript.

Action Items
Committee Report: Nominating Committee- Presenter: Dan Svyantek
Addressed Committee needs for Spring 2024. Discussed Executive Committee responsibilities with Senate. Needs highlighted.

Information Items

1. Electronic Research Administrator (ERA) System- Presenters: Martha Taylor, Assistant Vice Provost; Kristin Roberts, Assistant Director; Milly Tye, Associate Director

Timeline highlighted. Entire process will take 2.5 years. COI (moving from SharePoint) and IRB (moving from pen and paper) will be initiated first with ERA. Will be on single signon. Specific tasks and items will be easily identified. Training January until March 2024.

2. AAUP Overview- Presenter: Luke Oeding, President of the Auburn AAUP Chapter

Discussed Chapter monthly meetings and benefits of membership.  

3. Ombuds Office Overview- Presenter: Kevin Coonrod, Ombudsperson

Highlighted responsibilities of the Ombuds Office. Office open for conversation.

New Business
Mike Stern, Senator Economic Department. Motion made today with statement:

Whereas the call for interim provost candidates distributed by the Office of the President on Jan 19, 2022 stated, “the person selected as interim Provost will not be eligible to be a candidate for the permanent position,”

Whereas ethical individuals who wanted to be considered for the permanent position did not apply for the interim position,

Whereas the President of the University committed in front of the entire University Senate on January 25, 2022 that the Interim Provost could not be a candidate for the permanent Provost
position unless there was a failed national search,

Whereas the Auburn News announced to the entire University community on February 24, 2022 that, “Incoming-President Roberts will begin the nationwide search for a permanent provost following the start of his presidency on May 16. As interim provost, Nathan will not be a candidate for the permanent provost position. An acting dean for the College of Architecture, Design and Construction will be named in the coming weeks. Nathan will return to the dean position in the CADC when a permanent provost is selected,”

Whereas President Roberts failed to conduct a national search for the permanent Provost position,

Whereas an internal-only search committee was suddenly formed with Dr. Susan Hubbard, a direct subordinate of Dr. Vini Nathan, as the chair of the committee,

Whereas the only alternative finalists to Dr. Vini Nathan were also her direct subordinates.

WHEREFORE, THE PREMISES CONSIDERED, The University Faculty resolves as follows:
1. Dr. Vini Nathan should not be considered the legitimate Provost of Auburn University.
2. President Roberts should restore the integrity of his office by conducting a national search to hire a Provost of the highest ethical standards who will protect the academic freedom of the faculty.

Motion seconded. We will discuss and vote on the motion at the March 2024 Faculty Meeting. A yes vote will support the proclamation and a no vote will not support the proclamation.

Lisa Kensler, Senate Chair, adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m.