Minutes Steering Committee Meeting September 1, 2020 3:30pm Zoom Meeting
Present: Don Mulvaney (Chair), Greg Schmidt (Secretary), Nedret Billor (Immediate Past Chair), Todd Steury (Chair elect), Ralph Kingston (Secretary elect) Bob Norton, Bob Cochran, Cheryl Seals, Emmett Winn, Michael Tillson
Absent: Bill Hardgrave
Chair Mulvaney called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m.
Approval of Steering Committee Minutes, August 18, 2020: Approved by voice vote; 10 Aye, 0 Nay
Action Item: Approval of Senate Committee replacement volunteers.
Presenter, Greg Schmidt, Secretary-elect and Chair of the Rules Committee Schmidt presented the names of replacement candidates approved by the Rules Committee for terms currently underway. The names presented represent replacements for committee members who left their appointments prior to the end of their terms. Approved by vote; 10 Aye, 0 Nay.
The committee briefly discussed the charge of the Retention Committee as it related to the other business from the August Steering Committee meeting.
Information Item: Faculty Athletics Representative Report for the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee
Presenter, Beverly Marshall, Professor of Finance, Harbert College of Business, Faculty Athletics Representative, Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics
Professor Marshall discussed the Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) and Graduation Success Rate (GSR) as they relate to Auburn student and Auburn student-athletes. The presentation gave comparisons by race, gender, and sports to NCAA averages. Marshall then transitioned to an explanation of Impermissible Academic Assistance (Extra Benefits) that could lead to NCAA infractions. She stressed that faculty can ask the FAR any questions relating to academics and accommodations for student athletes. The presentation closed with a reminder to faculty that discounted Faculty/Staff tickets are a benefit to the individual faculty and are not transferrable to others and are subject to Alabama ethics rules in regard to their sale.
Steering discussion included suggested corrections and clarifications, faculty awareness of student-athlete status, and plans for fall 2020 football students-only ticketing. The discussion closed with dialog on proposals to pay student athletes or allow them to produce revenue derived from their athletic status. Marshall expressed concern over time-management and academics for some students if these proposals go through.
Information Item: Task Force Subcommittee for Equity and Opportunity Presenter, Taffye Clayton, Vice President, Associate Provost & Chief Diversity Officer
Dr. Clayton presented on the activities of the Diversity Task Force. After acknowledging the task force members and explaining the two subcommittees (education and training, recruitment and retention), Dr. Clayton went into depth on the Education and Training Subcommittee and their decision to explore moving forward with select EVERFI diversity learning modules at Auburn. She explained the use and benefits of the EVERFI product for students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the institution. The subcommittee has selected two diversity & inclusion modules with expectations of full campus participation. Dr. Clayton closed by explaining how the initiative will move forward over fall 2020 and into spring 2021.
Steering questions and discussion centered on implementation and participation, including whether the modules will be compulsory or voluntary, and how the EVERFI initiative will be communicated to the university community. Questions also centered on how successful the module has been on other campuses and how outcomes are measured. The conversation closed on EVERFI and diversity and inclusion climate assessment in schools, colleges, and departments.
Steering Committee Discussion on Presentations, Topics, and Senate Agenda
Concerns were expressed about how EVERFI data will be used, the time required to participate, and how data might be used in evaluations.
Motion to Approve Senate Agenda
A motion was made to approve the presentations, plus the deferred presentation on Auburn’s QEP (presenter Norman Godwin, Associate Provost for Academic Effectiveness). The motion was seconded and approved without opposition.
Unfinished Business – Amending Senate Agenda
Emmett Winn suggested that Dr. Clayton’s presentation be retitled to better reflect the focus on the work of the Equity and Opportunity Subcommittee rather than that of the task force as a whole. The members of the steering committee agreed and recommended that VP Ron Burgess be added to the agenda prior to Dr. Clayton to briefly discuss the task force as a whole and to set the stage for Dr. Clayton’s presentation.
A motion was made to amend the agenda to rename to Clayton Information Item and to include remarks from VP Burgess. The motion was seconded and approved without opposition.
New Business
Nedret Billor began a discussion of Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) for fall semester and asked if there would be new tools for evaluating online teaching. Associate Provost Winn reported that there are no planned changes for the fall semester but that the Teaching Effectiveness Committee has suggested significant revisions of the faculty handbook. If student government leaders and the faculty senate agree on the revisions, upper administration will not stand in the way.
New business discussions closed on Spring Semester course modalities.
Nedret Billor asked if faculty would be able to give feedback on proposed course modalities. Emmett Winn answered that while a return to only pre-COVID options is unlikely, the Biggio Center plans to do a survey related to course modalities. Departmental scheduling of courses remains largely out of the Provost’s Office concerns.
Adjournment
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Following a unanimous vote in favor.
Chair Mulvaney adjourned the meeting at 5:07 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Greg Schmidt
Secretary, University Senate