THE
JOURNAL OF THE FACULTY SENATE
VOLUME XXV
MINUTES OF MEETING #497,
APPROVED
PRESENT:
BA: Burnett,
Bao, Mok
LBAR: Johnson,
J., Pritchard, Smith,
ENG: Banish,
Joiner, English, Kulick, Coe, Gholston, Cassibry, Lin, Gaede
LIB:
NUR: Lawson,
Linsky, Showalter,
SCI: Mecikalski,
Davis, Scholz, Edmondson, Zhang, Etzkorn, Newman, Wu, Miller, Takahashi
ABSENT WITH PROXY:
BA: Wilhite, Schnell
LBAR: Harwell, Ragsdale, Smith, J.
ENG: Anderson, Wessling,
NUR: O’Keefe
ABSENT WITHOUT PROXY:
BA: Evans
LBAR: Kovacs, Neff, Goebel
ENG: Milenkovic
SCI: Boyd,
Bishop, Ravindran, Lieu
0.
President Gaede called the meeting to order at
1.
Draft minutes of Meeting Number 495 and 496 were
approved. Motion by Lawson, seconded by
2. Senate Executive Committee Report approved as amended. Amendment made by Dr. Reeves that she was in attendance. Motion to approve by Reeves, seconded by COE.
3.
Special Senate Executive Committee Report for Partner
Benefits was approved. Motion by
4. President Williams’ Report.
Dr. Williams was not present.
5. Dr. Karbhari’s Report – Dr. John Severn gave report.
a. The University has decided to stay in step with local schools and cancel large gatherings until Monday. This includes the Service Awards Luncheons and both Town Hall meetings scheduled for Friday and Monday. An email will go out to the campus. The Chancellor has requested that the University prepare a contingency plan for Commencement in the case of postponement.
b. Dr. Severn was asked to comment on the status of the schedule for fall. He reported that there will be no changes.
c. A question was asked as to how the new schedule and the transition to Gmail will be implemented. Comments were made: the implementation needs to be phased, other universities have it only for students, are there any FERPA issues with using Gmail. Suggested that we run parallel systems for a while until we are sure everything works. Someone asked that the administration work with those who are directly affected to prevent a lack of communication.
6. A motion was made by Lawson to suspend the rules to read the bills first
then have committee reports. Banish seconded. Motion carried.
7. Senate Bill 321: Faculty Handbook Policies and Procedures
Discussion: Senate is demanding, not asking, that the Faculty Handbook be followed regarding promotion and tenure letters and that the administration follow all procedures in the handbook.
Is there punishment for breaking the rules and not following the handbook? Can someone sue? Faculty Handbook review committee is looking into what it means to have policy and not follow it. An idea was suggested that the committee could look into putting something into both faculty contracts and administrator’s contracts. But the senate must be careful working with legal counsel. They are looking out for the university. The faculty need their own legal posturing as well.
Call the question: Deborah Heikes
Second: Andree Reeves
Favor: All unanimous
Jennifer English moved for 3rd reading because it was not unanimous in the executive council. Letha Etzkorn seconded. The call to question vote was unanimous.
8. Senate Bill 322: Policy and Procedures for Termination of Academic Programs (Update of Passed SB 187).
No discussion.
Melinda Lawson called the question.
Vote was unanimous.
9. Senate bill 323: rights and Privileges of Faculty with Tenure in Terminated Programs (Update of SB 190).
Discussion: Gyasi asked that the space after often be removed on line 23.
Vote was unanimous.
10. Senate Committee Reports
1. Faculty and Student Development
No report.
2. Finance and Resources
No report.
3. Governance and Operations
No report.
4. Personnel
No report.
5. Undergraduate Curriculum
No report.
6. Undergraduate Scholastic Affairs
No report.
7. Faculty Handbook Committee
No report.
11. Misc. Discussion
Yoshi Takahari spoke about the antagonism on both sides and that it needs to stop. He urged the senate to find a way to move forward with the administration in concert with them rather than in antagonism. Linda Vaughn agreed.
Mai Wok asked what is the procedure for realignment, what happens after the committee report?
Gaede reported that they are not sure exactly. There will be a negotiation of ideas.
Newman reported that the committee will deliver the report to the executive committee and president and provost. The senate must use the final report and stay engaged.
Gaede said the senate must do best practices, produce changes in the structure and produce policy.
12. New Business
A. Sense of Senate Resolution introduced from the floor by Michael Banish.
Discussion: Letha Etzkorn has discussed with the chair of the realignment committee and supports it fully.
Call to question – vote was unanimous.
B. President Gaede reported that there will be at least one bill and perhaps more coming from the realignment committee.
She also reported that there may need to be meetings over the summer. The new faculty senate members will not take office until august.
C. The proposed candidate for President-elect has had to remove his name. Called for anyone else interested to let her know.
A motion was made
to adjourn by Melinda Lawson and seconded by David Coe. The meeting was adjourned at