Minutes of Senate Steering Committee
October 4, 3:45-4:50
Samford 206

Present:   Michael Baginski (Chair), Beverly Marshall (Secretary), Nedret Billor (Chair-Elect), Dan Svyantek (Immediate-Past Chair), Emmett Winn (Associate Provost), Jung Won Hur, Jared Russell, and Michael Tillson
Absent: Adrienne Wilson (Secretary-Elect) and Robert Norton

Chairman Baginski called the meeting to order at 3:45 pm. The meeting time was adjusted so the Steering Committee could meet with the Strategic Plan consultant for 45 minutes starting at 3 pm.

The committee was provided with an agenda via email prior to the meeting.
Agenda items:

• Provost Hardgrave distributed a draft of the Professor of Practice position title proposal.  There was discussion regarding the need for this separate title and its anticipated use along with clarification that it would be up to the respective colleges to fund these positions. This proposal will move forward to the Non-tenure track Committee.
• Provost Hardgrave provided an update on the VP for Research search.
• Beverly Marshall discussed the possible use of clickers at the meeting to get feedback from Senators regarding the possible reduction in the number of Senate meetings and a change in Senate Committee voting procedures.
• Wiebke Kuhn presented “One year in Mell/Engaged Active Student Learning” in preparation for the General Faculty meeting. The committee made a few minor suggestions for the slides.
• Dan King will be presenting a construction project update at the General Faculty meeting.  He discussed the construction status of several large projects underway and requested committee input on the information that would be of interest.
• Don Andrea provided an update on parking issues related to several pending construction projects that will be encountered over the next year. He discussed the availability of the employee shuttle that can provide transportation across campus for faculty. There was discussion of some of the possible solutions for parking enforcement and traffic in the late afternoon.
• The agendas for the October 9 Senate meeting and October 23 General Faculty meeting were approved.

The agenda for the Senate meeting for 10/9/2018 includes two pending information items. The first information item is the faculty handbook amendment regarding multi-year contracts for non-tenure track faculty. Aurora Weaver will be presenting this amendment at the meeting. It will be an action item for vote at the November meeting. The second item involves policy guidelines for tenure on hire.  Emmett Winn will present and a Senate vote on this policy is not required.  The Senate will also need to approve several committee appointments. The Senate will be asked for feedback during the meeting utilizing clickers on a possible reduction to the number of Senate meetings and change in Senate Committee voting procedures.

The agenda for the General Faculty meeting for 10/23/2018 includes a presentation by Wiebke Kuhn on Engaged Active Student Learning (EASL) in the Mell Classroom Building. Annette Kluck and Dan Svyantek will present a policy proposal on faculty exit interviews. Dan King will provide an overview of current and pending construction projects on campus.  Don Andrea will provide an update on parking and discussion of possible solutions for issues faculty are dealing with regarding parking and traffic. 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 PM.

Prepared by:  Beverly B. Marshall, Secretary, AU Senate