Meeting Minutes 

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PRESENT: Andrews, Bates, D. Betz, P. Betz, Douglas Brown, Danielson,  DeGioia, Diamond, Dover, Ernst, Glazer, Haramati, Hauser, Hirsh, Kromer, Iglarsh, Ingebretsen,S.J., Lieber, Mann, Massaro,  McFadden,S.J.,  McGrail,  Morris, A. Myers, Noyes, O’Connor, O’Donnell, Pfeiffer, Puto, Rameh, Rom, Ronkainen, Santoro, Serene, Sitterson, Soudee, Spiegel, Tornatore, Tracy, T.Walsh, Walters,  Witek,S.J

ABSENT: Alatis,  Areen,  Arend,  Attinger, Baigis, Banchoff, Bloch, Dorothy Brown, Byrne, Cohn, Cole, Collea, Cuddington, Curran, Davis, Evans, Fink, Gallucci, Glavin, Goldfrank, Haft, Jacobs, Lauerman, Lepgold, Martire, McAuliffe, J. Murphy, McCabe, Mujal-Leon, Oakley, Picken, Richardson, Sanz, Suyderhoud, Temple, Viksnins, Weidenbruch, Wiesel, Zuccarelli

GUESTS: Alan Brangman, Juan Gonzalez, Stephen R. Mitchell, JoAnn Moran Cruz, Daniel Porterfield
 

The meeting was called to order by Prof. Bates at 4:25 p.m.   Minutes of the September 8, 2000 Faculty Senate meeting were approved.

Two new Medical Center senators were announced, Professors Gloria Massaro and Carlo Tornatore.

Two committee appointments made by the Senate Steering Committee were approved:

Matthew B. Hamilton to the Computer Services Advisory Committee; and
Pietra Rivoli to the Licensing Oversight Committee.

A motion to appoint Patricia O’Connor to the Licensing Oversight Committee, pending her acceptance of her nomination, was approved.

Juan Gonzalez, the new Vice President for Student Affairs, was introduced.

Vice President for Communications & Community Affairs Dan Porterfield spoke on the new University Ten Year Master Plan, which affects building, parking and enrollment.  An increase in enrollment of 389, phased in after 2003 when the SW Quadrangle opens is being requested.  An unconditional grant of increased enrollment is being asked for, not involving more dorm space.  

Juan Gonzalez is working on new efforts to improve student related problems.  These efforts are also part of the attempt to gain approval of the Ten Year Master Plan.  The Georgetown Neighborhood Advisory Council and Mayor’s office are supporting the plan.  Final action on the plan might occur at the Board of Zoning Adjustments in November.  After substantial discussion of University and community relations, Juan Gonzalez presented on his efforts in the area of student affairs.  These include mediation meetings between neighbors and students in off-campus housing, operation of a “hot-line” for problems in the neighborhoods, student representatives who respond immediately to complaints of neighbors (SNAP program) and joint efforts with Dept. of Public Safety.

An alliance of neighbors, students, business people, landlords, etc., has been formed to promote dialog.  Sanctions have been increased and can be applied to students found guilty of disciplinary code violations.  Parents are also being notified after multiple infractions by a student.  The need for better funded and more student activities was raised by several senators.  Dr. Gonzalez spoke on the complexities of dealing with student alcohol consumption.  A survey of student drinking and attitudes will be conducted.  Prof. Mark Danielson stated that the survey must be absolutely confidential for students to respond accurately.

Alan Brangman, University Architect, spoke on the uniqueness of Georgetown’s situation.  The University operates under a special exception to zoning standards, complicating matters.  The BZA decisions are often, as a result, made based on subjective judgements.  

Prof. Jo Ann Moran Cruz, chair of an Ad Hoc Committee on Tenure in the Medical Center, spoke on that group’s report of October, 1999 and subsequent events.  Despite the recommendations of that report, the University has bought out the tenure of clinicians, beginning in March, 2000.  According to Prof. Moran Cruz, there are important implications of this action.  Lawsuits are pending or threatened, faculty are leaving or considering leaving, recruiting of faculty will be affected.  According to Prof. Moran Cruz, there was insufficient consultation with faculty before that action was taken.  The AAUP does not support the views of the University regarding the handling of tenure of clinicians.  The claim that tenure can be abolished because of changes in institutional aims is a dangerous precedent.  Prof. Moran Cruz recommends that the senate’s role in the University needs to be strengthened to prevent such events in the future, by moving forward with the Senate Constitution revision, conducting wide discussions across the University on tenure and working more closely with the Board on tenure issues and in general.  Finally, we should consider the AAUP be asked to investigate the University’s actions related to clinical faculty tenure.

Dr. Jack DeGioia reviewed the University’s position and actions related to this issue.  Dr. DeGioia cited the role of financial stringency in the Board of Directors’ decision to offer buyouts for clinicians with tenure or on tenure track as part of the complete divestiture of the clinical business.  He characterized the Board’s actions as displaying profound respect and recognition of the importance of tenure in the University.

Several present spoke to the need for formal, direct dialog with the Board on the issues raised as a result of their recent actions.  The following resolution was presented:

The Senate should work together with the Board toward in developing a process to resolve long standing issues raised by the Senate, related to governance of the University.  This shall begin by developing specific recommendations in the Senate Steering Committee.

It passed unanimously.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
 

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