Meeting Minutes

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Present: Barth, Bates, D.Betz, Breall, Brown, Cole, DaSilva, Davis, Fink, Fisher, Fort, Goldfrank, Jacobs, Haramati, Kellar, Kelly, Lieber, Martire, McCabe, McFadden,S.J., Moran Cruz, Morris, Mujica, A.Myers. Noyes, O'Connor, Owen, Rameh, Sara,S.J., Scribanu, Soudee, Terrio, Tracy, Viksnins, Walsh,S.J., Walters, Witek,S.J.

Excused: Alatis, Arend, P.Betz, Campbell, Fasold, Gerli, Glazer, Hirsh, Kopac, Schwartz, Subramanian, vonArx,S.J., Vroman,.

Absent: Areen, Byrne, Cohan, Cohn, Cooper, Dover, Dretchen, Fekrat, Ferdows, Finkel, Galluci, Haft, Harter, Kromer, Lawton,S.J., Mujal-Leon, K.Myers, Nelson, Nichols, Oakley, Richardson, Schuelein, Spiegel, Stent, Wallace, Wasserstrom, Weidenbruch, Wiesel, Wientzen, Young

The meeting was called to order by Professor Bates in the Program Room, Leavey Center at 4:26 p.m..
 
Business

1. Minutes of the December 22, 1997 meeting: Professor Bates requested that any corrections to the minutes be e-mailed to Michael Cole (secretary) with a copy to Julie Goffe. A motion to accept the minutes subject to corrections was accepted unanimously.

Before considering the agenda items Professor Bates made a brief comment about the progress of the Senate Committee on University Budget and Finance chaired by Professor Wayne Davis. Professor Bates thought it important to convey to the Senate that rumors about drastic mid-year corrections that might have to be made are without foundation. The Committee has recommended, and the Administration agrees that no such corrections need to be made.

2. Faculty Handbook revision: Professor Bates suggested that the Senate accept the report and then discuss it with any changes presented as amendments, the attempt being to not deal with small typographical changes which can be corrected in the proofs. A motion was made to accept the revised Faculty Handbook, and the motion was accepted unanimously. The meeting was then turned over to Professor Martire for a discussion of the Handbook revision. Professor Martire began by reviewing the revisions and pointing out a few additional changes and corrections to the cover letter he sent out. Professor Martire reminded the Senate that the charge of the Governance Committee was to produce an interim Faculty Handbook that should:

(i) include modernization of language;
(ii) reflect changes to the institution;
(ii) add policies approved or modified since 1990;
(iv) whatever is included should apply to all three campuses, and if there are differences between campuses it should be made clear.

All recommendations that were forwarded to the Governance Committee were considered. The following were considered but not included in the Handbook revision:

(i) a statement on the non-tenure track in the School of Nursing;
(ii) provision of a uniform university-wide definition of scholarship and clarification of creativity;
(ii) inclusion of standards for faculty offices;
(iv) specification of the basis for sabbatical pay.

The Committee has listed a forward but hasn't specified what's in the forward. In the past the forward has listed what's new, what's different, new policies and modified policies. There will be a statement that the contents of the Handbook applies to all three campuses.

Affirmative Action statement: There have been a number of comments about the Affirmative Action statement. The language in the Handbook is said to be 'boilerplate'. Two modest changes have been suggested. There are some objections to the restrictive clause, "Women and minority members, disabled individuals and Viet Nam era veterans because it did not include veterans of other wars and conflicts. Professor Martire suggested that Ed Quinn with the Affirmative Action office and have them consider this statement.

History: The history is a slight modification of the bicentennial history written by Professor Emmett Curran.

Professor Martire then detailed changes between draft #4 and draft #5, the redline shaded version. He then opened the floor to comments and discussion.

Affirmative Action Statement: After discussion Professor Wayne Davis moved that the Senate ask the Affirmative Action Office and Ed Quinn to provide the minimum required legal language. The vote was 22 for the motion and 4 abstentions.

History: There were comments that the history was concentrated in the 19th century with very liitle 20th century history. Furthermore, there was a focus on sport, particularly the football team but with no mention of the very successful basketball program. Professor Keith Horn moved that all references to athletes be eliminated from the History. This motion was defeated with 9 voting for the motion, 14 against and 4 abstentions. Professor Wayne Davis made a motion to credit to Professor Curran for writing the History. and ask him if he feels comfortable with it. There were 26 voting for the motion and 1 against.

Chairs/Faculty etc: Professor Leona Fisher moved that all reference to school be eliminated. The vote was 22 for and 3 abstentions.

President's Cabinet: A question was asked as to whether the President's Council is an official body. The answer was that it is. That being the case Professor Haramati asked whether the President of the Senate has a formal seat on the cabinet and whether a statement to this effect should be added to the Handbook? There was concern that by mentioning the President's Council in the Handbook the faculty formalize it and approve it. Professor Moran moved that the language in sections D and E explaining the function and composition of the President's Cabinet be moved to a footnote. The motion was approved by a vote of 22 for the motion with 6 abstentions.

Professor Adam Myers moved that Professor Bates send a letter to the President of the University asking that the President of the Senate have a seat on the President's Council. The motion was approved by a vote of 28 for the motion and 2 against.
The members of the Faculty Senate commended Professor Martire and the members of the Governance Committee for doing an outstanding job.

The meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.

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