Minutes of Senate Steering Committee
March 8, 2018, 3:30-4:45
Samford 206

Present:   Dan Svyantek (Chair), Donald Mulvaney (Secretary), James Goldstein (Immediate-Past Chair), Michael Baginski (Chair-Elect), , Bill Hardgrave (Provost), Emmett Winn (Associate Provost), Lisa Kensler, Jared Russell and Michael Tillson

Absent: Beverly Marshall (Secretary-Elect), Lucretia Tripp

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Svyantek at 3:30 pm and an agenda with attachments was provided. As a first item of business, the Steering minutes from February 8 were approved.

Chairman Svyantek presented a draft email to President Leath requesting he speak with Benjamin Burmest, Chair of the University Traffic and Parking Committee regarding lack of workplace proximity parking for faculty after hours.  The memo was recommended to be sent.

Chairman Svyantek shared feedback from the Academic Standards Committee regarding draft student resolutions: PSSR 17-1023-01 and PSSR 17-1204-01.  These resolutions deal with  requests to require inclusion of student counseling service information to course syllabi and the addition of job or professional school interviews to the approved absence policy. Steering supported the recommendation of the committee which was in favor of the former request but not the latter. Steering recommended the crafting of a more narrowly focused, helpful guideline for approved absences.

Steering was updated on the request to include a provision of adding student representation in Academic Grievance Hearings as part of the Student Academic Grievance Committee policy. Reasons for the decision of the committee to reject this request were shared.

Another proposal from Lisa Kensler of the Academic Standards Committee regarding addition to the Faculty Handbook, section 4.2.1. to convey formal expectations for faculty to provide timely feedback was referred back to the committee for re-wording.

Chairman Svyantek brought forth a need to clarify the narrative regarding the composition of the Faculty Research Committee.  The item was referred to the committee for corrections. A draft resolution was received from Bob Ashurst regarding a charge to the Provost office to develop appropriate scholarship incentives.

Chairman Svyantek brought forth additional items  including: clarification of whether Department Chairs can serve as senators, clarification of the timely review of Chairs and Department Heads, and exploration of multi-year contracts for NTTF by the Non Tenure Track Faculty Committee.

The agenda for the Senate meeting for 3/20/2018 which includes remarks from Provost Hardgrave, two Action Item of receiving a resolution from the Faculty research Committee and nominations for Rules Committee membership, and an information item of a report by the AU Faculty Athletic representative, was approved.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 PM.

Prepared by:  D. Mulvaney, Secretary, AU Senate