NUMBER 1

University of Rhode Island

Faculty Senate

MINUTES

Faculty Senate Meeting

September 26, 2002

 

1. The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:07 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium, Chester Kirk Building, Chairperson Arakelian presiding.

All members were present except Senators Cobb, Hollinshead, Paton, Riebe, Sullivan and Wills; Vice Presidents Beagle and Dougan; Deans Farmer, Letendre, Mazze, Seemann and Taggart (Vice Provost McCray, Dean Joseph and Dean Shukla were represented by their designees); Ms. DiBiasio and Mr. Murgo

2. Chairperson Arakelian asked if there were any additions or corrections to or questions about the Minutes of Faculty Senate Meeting #8, May 9, 2002. There were none.

Chairperson Arakelian ruled that in the absence of additions or corrections, the Minutes were approved as distributed.

3. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. Chairperson Arakelian announced that, since Vice Chairperson Hollinshead was unable to attend the meeting, Senator Beckman would serve in the Vice Chairperson's role.

B. Senator Beckman said that the Minutes of the 2001-02 Executive Committee Meeting #27 and 2002-03 Executive Committee Meeting #1 appeared on pages 4-7 of the Agenda. She asked if there were any questions.

Chairperson Arakelian, Senator Beckman and Provost Swan responded to questions about the Executive Committee's meetings.

C. Senator Beckman announced that she would present two motions on behalf of the Executive Committee.

1) Senator Beckman moved approval of Committee Appointments for 2002-03 that appeared on pages 8-12 of the Agenda.

Following discussion, the motion carried.

Chairperson Arakelian announced that there were still vacancies on some of the committees and urged Senators who were not already serving on a committee to volunteer.

2) Senator Beckman moved approval of changes in the By-Laws regarding ex officio members of standing committees that appeared on page 13 of the Agenda. She noted that the Senate could not vote on By-Laws changes at the meeting they are introduced and action must be postponed until the next meeting.

D. Professor Rose presented the Annual Report of the University Ombud for 2001-02, which appeared on pages 14-16 of the Agenda and responded to questions about his report. He then introduced Mr. Evan Duggan-Lever who had been selected to serve as the Student Assistant of the Ombud for the 2002-03 academic year.

4. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Carothers welcomed the Senate back for the 2002-03 academic year and thanked everyone for contributing to a successful opening of the academic year.

A. President Carothers announced that he had approved all of the legislation that had been forwarded to him at the end of the 2001-02 academic year. He noted that he had not taken any action on Resolution #01-02--5 "Endorsement of Recommendation to Oppose Priority Registration for Athletes." The President explained that while he did not support priority registration for any group, he would listen to any recommendation that might be brought forward after a thorough review of the issue.

B. President Carothers reported on the economic problems facing the State of Rhode Island and his concerns about the University's Fiscal '03 Budget as well as the Budget for Fiscal '04 which will have to be approved by the new Governor and legislature next spring.

The President also brought the Senate up to date on the status of the various capital projects at the University.

President Carothers introduced Dr. Harvey Jassem from the University of Hartford, who was the President's A.C.E. fellow for 2002-03.

President Carothers then responded to questions about the parking situation, especially with regard to the Fine Arts Center. He also invited Vice President Stark to join him for questions about the costs associated with the Ryan Center.

5. REPORTS OF STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A. Vice Provost Trubatch presented Curricular Report No. 2002-03-1 from the Graduate Council to the Faculty Senate, which appeared on page 18 of the Agenda.

She said that Section I was informational and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

Vice Provost Trubatch announced that Section II required confirmation by the Faculty Senate and moved approval.

Following discussion, the spelling of "complementary" in item C, 1 was corrected.

The motion as corrected carried.

B. Professor Johnson presented the Honors Program and Visiting Scholars Committee Report for 2001-2002, which appeared on pages 18-24 of the Agenda and responded to questions from the Senate.

6. NEW BUSINESS

Chairperson Arakelian asked if there was any new business.

He said that he hoped that members of the Senate would take the opportunity at this point in the meeting to raise issues and concerns that had not been addressed as part of the regular Agenda.

After discussion, Senator Leo moved that the Faculty Senate discuss the following matters at the next meeting:

Following discussion, the Senate voted on each item separately.

The motion to discuss the role and cost of athletics at the University carried.

The motion to discuss the role and financing of the University Library carried.

The motion to discuss the concept of shared governance at the University and what might be done to enable it to work more effectively carried.

Chairperson Arakelian invited the members of the Senate to gather after the meeting at the University Club for a reception sponsored by the Provost and the Executive Committee

The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sheila Black Grubman