Date/Time/Location: Wednesday, October 6, 2021, 4:00 PM, Zoom Webinar
Members Present: Hanadi Al-Samman, Alan Beckstein, Aaron Bloomfield, Joe Fore (GFC), Bob Hirosky, Joel Hockensmith (Past-Chair), Tish Jennings (Chair-Elect), Susan Kirk (Chair), Kevin Lehmann, Carol Manning, Susan Modesitt, Rob Patterson, Andy Pennock, Eric Ramirez-Weaver, James Savage
Guests/Others Present: Mike Citro (Chief of Staff EVPP), JJ Davis (EVP-COO), Brie Gertler (VP Academic Affairs), Maria Lane (Admin Support), Liz Magill (Provost), George Mentore, Brian Pusser (Parliamentarian), Chip Tucker
Meeting called to order
4:00 PM
September 2021 EXCO Minutes
Susan Kirk shared minutes from September EXCO to review.
Motion to approve minutes: Alan Beckstein
Second: Andy Pennock
Motion passes
Updates from the Provost
Provost Magill shared information from September BOV meeting:
- Approved 6 Year Plan & Biennium Budget requests
- Approved financial plan for Contemplative Sciences Center/Contemplative Sciences Building
- Approval of extension of Strategic Investment Fund revised guidelines to support Great and Good Plan to 2025
- Approved work of tuition subcommittee
- Recommendation to set tuition in December for 2 years
- Receive contextual information in September
- Shared plans to work on undergraduate advising
- Gift from Tessa Ader to support building of Performing Arts Center
- Leadership described priorities for the year
- Robin Hadley and Chief Longo discussed safety and security
Provost/COO team has been working on the new University Financial Model.
- Currently holding 1:1 meetings with Deans
- New approach is much more predictable and transparent
Proposed Action Items:
Susan will look at inviting Adam Daniel and Bill Ashby to attend a future EXCO or FS meeting to share details on the new University Financial Model.
Current Areas of Focus of the General Faculty Council
Joe Fore, GFC Chair, shared some of the efforts of the GFC for the year.
- Review/Recommendations for PROV-004
- Clarifying/aligning promotion standards
- Consulting with FS Policy Committee, AAUP
- Process continues throughout fall
Committee Reports: DEI
Eric Ramirez-Weaver, DEI Chair, shared efforts to identify concerns resulting from/exacerbated by Covid.
- Availability of testing
- Daycare
- Availability of lactation spaces
- Maternity leave
- School/activity pick-up/drop-off time constraints
Proposed Action Items:
Susan recommended eventually creating a proposal from the DEI committee to be voted on by EXCO and eventually the full Faculty Senate.
Report from September BOV
Joel Hockensmith, (Past Chair, BOV Rep) shared information from the September BOV meeting.
Public minutes from the BOV meeting can be found online.
Joel’s Summary report can be found in Box.
AAUP and Faculty Handbook
George Mentore and Chip Tucker, representing AAUP, shared information about a statement on Academic Freedom that was previously deleted from the Faculty Handbook that they are requesting to have added back. This would be added in addition to the existing language in the Faculty Handbook in Section 3.1.
The Provost recommended that they present to the Faculty Senate to vote on adding this statement back.
The statement can be read here.
Discussion on what exactly would be included; the entire statement or just the section on academic freedom? Endorsing the full statement or just endorsing the section on academic freedom?
Motion: Tish Jennings
Second: Kevin Lehmann
Ask that this line: “The University endorses fully the statement on Academic Freedom in the 1940 Statement of Principles of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).” (Statement of Principles) be added to the Faculty Handbook.
For: 2 Opposed: 7
Motion fails
Motion: Tish Jennings
Second: Alan Beckstein
Ask that this line: “The University endorses fully the statement on Academic Freedom in the 1940 Statement of Principles of the American Association of University Professors be added to the Faculty Handbook.
For: 1 Against: 6
Motion fails
Motion: Joel Hockensmith
Second: Tish Jennings
EXCO recommends that the Faculty Senate approves the reinstatement of the following text to the faculty handbook: “The University endorses fully the statement on Academic Freedom in the 1940 Statement of Principles of the American Association of University Professors
For:10 Against: 0
Motion passes
Committee Reports: Academic Affairs
Aaron Bloomfield shared two certificates from the AAC to be put before the Full Senate.
- Undergraduate Cloud Computing Certificate (SCPS)
- Graduate Certificate in Premodern Cultures and Communities (College)
Motion #1 from committee.
Second: Rob Patterson
For: 10 Against: 0
Motion passes
Motion #2 from committee.
Second: Rob Patterson
For: 10 Against: 0
Motion passes
Formation of Nominating Committee
There is room for 1 EXCO member and 3 FS members on the nominating committee. If you are interested in serving, please let Susan know.
Discussion on Meeting Dates
Postpone discussion of this topic until the next meeting.
New Business
Tish Jennings wanted to highlight concerns for RTS Committee about LMS discussion within Education as they have recently adopted Canvas. Aaron Bloomfield is FS rep for the committee, there are also reps from each school.
Proposed Action Items:
Brie Gertler is managing the LMS committee and would be willing to share more info.
Meeting adjourned
6:02 PM