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Scenes from Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Meeting

Minutes   #27

May 5, 2009

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Meeting #27 - May 5, 2009

1. The meeting was called to order at 3:10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 in the President's Conference Room in Green Hall, Chairperson Martin presiding. All members were present except Senator Costello.

2. Minutes: Ms. Grubman reported that she was overwhelmed with deadlines and reports and had been unable to complete the minutes from Meetings #21 through #26 of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee discussed the lack of clerical support for the Faculty Senate Office. They agreed that this lack of support undermined effective shared governance, and that the Chair of next year's Executive Committee needs to make obtaining support for the Faculty Senate Office a priority.

3. Chairperson Martin distributed a list of "Accomplishments Facilitated by the FSEC during Academic Year 2008-2009 (Made possible with the cooperation of Provost Don DeHayes)." The Executive Committee reviewed, revised, and added to the list, below:

  • Encouraged support for faculty who wanted to learn how to do on-line teaching (accomplished at summer JSPC meeting), which resulted in the creation of the Faculty Fellows Program.
  • Arrived, with the Provost, at a definition of "interim" so that interim positions are not filled on an indefinite basis. Agreed interim means one year only, with the exception of the Interim Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, which is a rotating, position.
  • Kept "barriers to research" at the forefront in our JSPC meetings, hence we have seen more attention paid to faculty needs in that area (the ARRA forums; the Blue Ribbon Open Forums on the Environment for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity).
  • Kept "maintaining quality of instruction" at the forefront of JSPC discussions and conversations with Provost.
  • Persistently advocated for the implementation of the Blue Ribbon Study Commission.
  • Brought deplorable level of institutional support for the library to the attention of the JSPC as a barrier to research (December meeting).
  • Advocated for renewed support for the Graduate School.
  • Pressed for change in graduate tuition waivers for grant-funded research assistants as an important first step.
  • Encouraged support for faculty interested in rethinking students' first year experience and interdisciplinary work.
  • Influenced the Presidential Search through membership on the search committee and providing feedback to the Board of Governors
  • Passed a resolution concerning the Research Park.
  • Established faculty voice in selection of Research Park site.
  • Brought forward potential negative academic implications.
  • Formed an Ad Hoc Committee which examined all sides of the Research Park issue.
  • Issued a report from that Ad Hoc Committee.
  • Convinced the President to reconsider siting the Research Park in its previously planned location.
  • Advocated faculty participation in future planning.
  • Attended JSPC meetings.
  • Passed resolutions concerning the Library.
  • Gathered and assessed TD data.
  • Coordinated Research and Teaching Forums and Academic Planning Summit with the Provost to increase faculty communication and build community.
  • Brought consistent new agenda item "matters of faculty concern" to JSPC.

4. The Executive Committee met with President Carothers from 4:10-5:05 p.m.

The Executive Committee discussed with the President the events celebrating his presidency, his plans for the future, the presidential search, the library, the upcoming vacancy of the Commissioner of Higher Education, the location of the Research Park, the upcoming vacancy of the Dean of the College of Environmental and Life Sciences, the $5 million grant to establish the School of Communication, and any advice he might have for next year's Executive Committee.

The President discussed future efforts to raise funds for the library and his desire to learn more about library issues. With regard to the Research Park, the President noted the need for a comprehensive land use plan for the area north of Flagg Road and the need for the University to both pursue development and practice conservation.

When asked for advice for the future, the President stressed the need to change the culture at the University such that everyone is responsible for raising funds to support their work, not just deans and development officers. All need to cultivate outside interest in their activities, and collectively we need to change our mindset of relying on public money.

5. The Agenda for Faculty Senate Meeting #8, May 14, 2009, was distributed in preparation for the meeting next week.

6. The Executive Committee was brought up-to-date on the following matters of continuing concern:

1. The Presidential Search: Chairperson Martin distributed the letter she sent to Commissioner Jack Warner of the Board of Governors on behalf of the Executive Committee. The letter outlined the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate .

2. Following up on Ad Hoc Committees: Senator Swallow distributed to the Executive Committee the final copy of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Site of the Research Park dated May 2, 2009.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Senator Andrée J. Rathembacher