Minutes Steering Meeting
October 8, 2024
3:30 p.m.
107 Samford

Present: Lori Eckhardt (Chair), Jaena Alabi (Secretary), Virginia Davis (Chair-Elect), Rachel Prado (Secretary-Elect), Lisa Kensler (Immediate Past Chair), Vini Nathan (Provost), Andrew Pendola (Rules Appointee), J. Brian Anderson (Presidential Appointee), L. Octavia Tripp (Rules Appointee), Tom Leathem (Presidential Appointee)
Absent: none

Special Guests: Jim Carroll, Vice President of Facilities Management; Charles (Chuck) Hunt, Director of Enterprise System Support and Business Modernization Program Director; Allison Batts, Senate Parliamentarian; Laura Kloberg, Administrative Assistant; Executive committee members from the University of South Alabama’s Faculty Senate: Christina Wassenaar, Bret Webb, and Donna Streeter.

Minutes
Meeting was called to order at 3:32 p.m. by Chair Eckhardt
Minutes from September 10, 2024 Steering Committee Meeting were approved by unanimous consent.

Announcements
Provost Nathan stated that at the next Senate meeting, she would share updates on the searches for the interim and permanent Dean of the College of Agriculture. There may also be an update on the Mission Enhancement Fund proposals. President will give updates – Oct 1 is new budget year, may have data regarding endowment.

Information item presentations
Facilities Update: Jim Carroll shared updates on a number of campus construction projects. Carroll also shared a couple of operational updates as well.

Business Modernization Plan: Chuck Hunt shared information on the business modernization program, which is aimed at improving technology and business operations for that will provide a better experience for Auburn students, faculty, and staff.

Action item presentations
Vote on DEI Committee Proposal to Change Name and Charge: There was a request to include a mark up of the language from the faculty handbook with the proposed changes. This information has been added to the presentation slides and will be posted with the October Senate meeting agenda.
Voting for Senate Committees: Jaena Alabi shared that the Rules Committee has approved a nomination to fill a vacancy on the Faculty Handbook Review Committee. This nomination will be voted on at the October Senate meeting.

Approval of the October 15, 2024 Senate Agenda
Draft agenda was approved.

Unfinished or New Business
Senate Website Redesign: Alabi announced that the senate website is currently undergoing a re-design and the Executive Committee would like to get feedback from all who use the site.  Prado has created a survey to solicit information – such as what information people tend to look for on the senate website, what they have trouble finding, and what content they’d find helpful. There was some discussion about how best to distribute the survey, and it was decided that it should go out to all faculty (not just to Senators), as well as through the other shared governance groups.

Overview of Fall University Faculty Meeting: Eckhardt shared the agenda for the Fall 2024 University Faculty Meeting, which is scheduled for October 22nd at 3:30 p.m. on zoom (aub.ie/senatezoom). In addition to an update from the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research & Economic Development, there will be a presentation on the university’s budget.

Meeting adjourned at 4:38 p.m.

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.