Steering Committee
November 7, 2023
  3:30 pm
107 Samford

Steering Committee Present: Lisa Kensler (Chair), Linda Gibson-Young (Secretary), Jaena Alabi (Secretary-elect), Laura Kloberg (Admin Asst), Lori Eckhardt (Chair elect), J Brian Anderson, Mark Carpenter (Past Chair), Danilea Werner (substitute for L. Octavia Tripp), Evelyn Hunter; Vini Nathan (Provost), Allison Batts (Parliamentarian).

Guests: Tracy Witte, Executive Committee; Beth Davis-Shramik, President Elect, Executive Committee AAUP; Liliana Stern, Economics Senator; Mitchell Brown via Zoom; Norman Godwin
Absent: Robert Cochran, excused.

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 3:31p.m.
Welcome to guests/introductions.
Steering Minutes from October 10, 2023 Approved by unanimous consent as posted.

Reviewing Draft Senate Agenda for November 14, 2023.

Announcements

Remarks and announcement moving to end of the Senate Agenda. Approved by President Roberts and Provost Nathan.
Provost Nathan- For Senate, will focus on items on BOT agenda, Academic Affairs with two new programs to announce.

Chair Kinsler- Reminder that Open Enrollment closing November 15, 2023

Information Items

1.  Committee Chairs Meet & Greet Luncheon- will limit to 2 minutes. To emphasize the welcome nature of the Senate towards the Senate Committees.
     
2.  Childcare Report – Tracy Witte, Beth Davis-Sramek presented PPT for review on Senate from AAUP. Conducted survey April 2023 (n = near 1500, 52% of female population with AU). Identified deficiencies with childcare throughout the city and surrounding cities. Peer schools focus on employee wellbeing and work-life integration. Talent management is a large conversation to continue focus. Would encourage a process from administration for collecting names for ad hoc committee.
    
3. Faculty Handbook Update  – Mitchell Brown, Chair, presented updated AU Handbook Guidelines for Establishing and Filling Positions in the Teaching Title Series.  The Faculty Handbook Committee reviewed approved Amendments to the Teaching Professor Title Series  as changes onto the attached Guidelines for Senate approval. Based on review of 6/13/23 Senate minutes, this information should be voted on in entirety. Steering discussion encouraged plans to revisit with Faculty Handbook Committee chair and Senate chair to assist setting of Senate agenda.

Action Items
Liliana Stern, Senator, Economics. Previous verbal motion from 10/17/2023 to Senate regarding request for presentation/discussion on disparities between faculty raises and non-faculty raises – will require Second/Debate/Vote (11/14/2023).

Presented a PPT to Steering displaying salaries of specific individuals in administration offices and Human Resources. PPT ended with amended motion. Picture of individual and specific names, but no titles noted. Discussion with one issue moving to vote- Request brought forward to remove specific names. Voting outcome: 6 voted to remove personal names, 2 voted to leave names, and 1 abstained. Steering Committee requested Senator Stern amend PPT asking roles/titles to be added with removal of personal names.

New Business
No new business addressed.

Adjourned at 4:55 PM.