Minutes of the Steering Committee Meeting
1 October 2008
10:00 p.m.
208 Samford Hall
Submitted
Attended by: Bob Locy, Kathryn Flynn, Dennis DeVries, Sue Barry, David Cicci, Sharon Gabor, John Heilman, Joe Molnar, Claire Crutchley, Ruth Crocker, Bill Hames, Patricia Duffy (non-voting) and Linda Glaze (non-voting)
Absent: no one
--The meeting was called to order at 10:00 and the minutes of 2 September, 2008 were approved.
Chairs Remarks:
--Bob asked the Steering Committee for advice concerning a situation at AUM concerning the hiring of an administrator who was given an appointment in the Mathematics Department without vetting his nomination through the department first. Bob had received communications from the Auburn chapter of AAUPindicating that they wanted the AU Senate to perhaps censor the actions taken at AUM. However, the information that he had at his disposal was anecdotal. David Cicci suggested that we not bring the issue up at our October Senate meeting, but rather we should be ready for questions. Therefore, this issue was put on hold.
Action Items:
--Sue Barry (Secretary) will ask the Senate to approve the new member for the Core Curriculum Oversight Committee who will serve the one year term approved at the October meeting and an additional member from the College of Architecture, Design and Building Sciences to serve on the Library Committee.
--Linda Glaze (Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies) will present the newly created definitions for an Undergraduate Certificate and for a Graduate Certificate. The purpose for these definitions is to give the administration a way to assess certificate programs. This will make it possible for Schools and Colleges to begin issuing certificates for special programs as needs arise.
--The issue of a constitutional amendment was deferred since the amendment is not ready to be introduced at this time.
--Kathryn Flynn (Chair-Elect) proposed that the changes in the Faculty Handbook regarding the Grievance Committee and the Academic Program Review Committee be put on the agenda as an action item. (The presenter was finally determined to be Norman Godwin, Chair, Faculty Handbook Committee.)
Information Items:
--Bob Locy (Chair) explained that Dr. Mason was suggesting the formation of a new Senate committee for Research. The discussion concerned whether this should be a two step process with an information item followed by an action item at a later meeting. Since nothing in the chapter on committees needs to go to the Board of Trustees, Steering decided to wait until we have the proper wording and then present this new committee to the Senate for their approval.
-- Patricia Duffy (Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Studies) explained the Interdisciplinary Degree program as modeled on one from the University of Maryland. The degree will require a total of 36 hours from a minimum of two different colleges/schools. They will have two 18 hour or three 12 hour concentrated fields with a common introductory course and a capstone experience at the end of the program. In addition, all students will have coursework in oral and advanced written communication as well as computer competency. Students will be eligible after completing 30 hours and before completing 90 hours. The program could appeal to high level students who have switched majors, but need to graduate within 6 years as well as those who have GPAs falling in the range between 2.0 and 2.5. The Office of Undergraduate Studies will be responsible for providing academic advisors, the intro course and the capstone course. This office will also approve faculty mentors and students’ plans of study.
--David Cicci (Past Chair) wanted to know when the program will begin.
--Patricia Duffy replied that if it is approved that it will go to ACHE and perhaps the program can begin in 2009 if all goes well.
Additional Remarks:
--The Faculty Consulting Policy was deferred.
--David and Dennis (Secretary-Elect) didn’t think that the Senate was the proper place to present the Environment Compliance Audit. Instead John Heilman felt that it should be publicized through the Deans.
-- We discussed the idea of a new Senate Research committee. No decision was made, and Kathryn said that she would look at Robert’s Rules to see if Rules Committee should decide this issue.
--Bob felt that John Mason should present his own ideas about this committee, and since he was out of town, this issue was tabled until November. By November the committee hoped to have a well defined package to present as an action item.
--Claire Crutchley (Steering) wanted to know the purpose and activities of Steering. She thought Steering would discuss what would come to Senate and decide what could go on agenda.
-- Bob explained that Steering members are gate keepers of Senate, but that Senate committees initiate action items.
--John (Provost) said that there are many avenues and that everything goes to Bob (chair) and he decides what comes before Steering.
--Bob explains that Executive Committee meets prior to Steering and they discuss these issues first. Perhaps we might want to have two Steering meetings a month.
Meeting adjourned at 11:15