Minutes Steering Committee
January 16, 2024
  3:30 p.m.
107 Samford

Steering Committee Members
Present: Lisa Kensler (Chair), Linda Gibson-Young (Secretary), Laura Kloberg (Admin Asst), Lori Eckhardt (Chair elect), Robert Cochran, J Brian Anderson, Mark Carpenter (Past Chair),  L. Octavia Tripp, Norman Godwin, arriving later: Vini Nathan (Provost),
Guests: Wes Collins, member Fac. Salaries & Welfare Committee
Absent: Jaena Alabi (Secretary-elect), Evelyn Hunter; Allison Batts (Parliamentarian).

Mission:  The Steering Committee acts on behalf of the AU Senate on matters requiring attention between meetings of that body and assists the chair of the Senate in setting the agenda for Senate meetings. In addition, it is concerned with the academic affairs of the University, with particular attention given to the need for developing and recommending policies under which these affairs are conducted. It works closely with other Senate committees to aid them in their assignments.


Call to order at 3:30 p.m.
Welcome to guests/introductions.
Announcements: Remarks from Asst Provost Norman Godwin- Agreed to be part of the Teaching Series sub-group in NTTF Committee. Agreed to sit on Childcare task force committee.

Steering Minutes from November 7, 2023 Approved by unanimous consent as posted.

Reviewing Draft Senate Agenda for January 23, 2024.

Information Items

Childcare Report – Tracy Witte and Beth Davis-Sramek presented prior to last AU Senate meeting and will remain on Agenda. Rationale: Meeting in November 2023 ran over and no time for the Childcare Report. Will initiate at the start of the January Senate Meeting.

Committee Reports

  1. Committee Report Faculty Salaries & Welfare- Wes Collins  –presented Analysis of AU Matching of Employee 403(b) Contributions. In conjunction with: Stephanie Kadletz and Alicia Harkless - A&P Assembly Welfare Committee; Kimberly McCadden – University Staff Council.
  2. MOVED>> Ad hoc Committee on Sustainability, Resilience, and Innovation will move to February Steering Committee
  3. MOVED>> Faculty Handbook Committee will move to February Steering Committee.

New Business
No new business addressed.

Adjourned at 4:55 PM.