Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 16, 2022, 10:00 AM, Zoom Webinar
Members Present: Hanadi Al-Samman, Alan Beckenstein, Aaron Bloomfield, Aniko Bodroghkozy, Bob Hirosky, Joel Hockensmith (Past Chair), Tish Jennings (Chair Elect), Michael Kennedy, Susan Kirk (Chair), Kathryn Laughon, Carol Manning, Rob Patterson, Andy Pennock
Guests/Others Present: Ben Moses, Brian Pusser (parliamentarian)
Meeting Called to Order
10:02 AM
April 2022 EXCO Minutes
Susan Kirk shared minutes from March 2022 EXCO Meeting to review.
Motion to approve minutes: Jim Savage
Second: Tish Jennings
For: 11 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Motion Passes
Report from Faculty Senate of Virginia
Ben Moses, FSVA Representative
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Met on April 23
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Three meetings per year, plus advocacy day
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Notable work: Commonwealth Connect Report
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Term for FSVA is only one year, lots of turnover
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Have modified bylaws: each institution may send more than one rep, recommend each senate nominate a 3-year commitment senator
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National Council of Faculty Senates
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President of FSVA attended, not a lot of traction yet, will focus on best practices for Faculty Senates
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VA budget has not yet been approved, proposals for increased for faculty salaries
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VA Commission on Higher Education Board Appointments-working to depoliticize process of BOV appointments
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Currently vacant faculty member position (non-voting) and general public member position on commission
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Ongoing/upcoming issues
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Broadband
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Policies for non-tenure eligible faculty
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Tuition wavers for children of faculty
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Reciprocity
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Growth of administrative roles
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Shared governance
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Funding of sabbaticals
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Benefits for adjuncts
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Pay equity tenure/nontenure faculty
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Free speech vs. academic freedom
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Faculty/BOV relations
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SCHEV as a gatekeeper for new programs
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Bottleneck for updates/modifications
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Current new program mandate-match with job posting to prove useful
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Asked to get info on what our experiences with SCHEV have been
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Discussion
The concern SCHEV is trying to address with job postings is to ensure those taking on debt for college will find jobs.
Brie Gertler may be the best person to talk to about SCHEV relations.
More thoughts or questions may be shared with Ben: bm4he@virginia.edu
Student Evaluation of Teaching Survey
Andy Pennock shared concerns about how the student evaluations have changed and broader questions about who is managing this change process.
The group agreed there are various concerns and would like to learn more about this process.
From Brie Gertler Vice Provost Academic Affairs (via email)
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Blue (evaluation software) is relatively new, adopted during pandemic
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Delayed rolling out additional functionality for instructors to add questions
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Plans to work on this with Maïté Brandt-Pearce, Michael Palmer from CTE
Tish Jennings suggested we refer this issue to RTS next year.
Andy Pennock, Carol Manning, Jim Savage all volunteered to help with this effort.
Constituting 2022-2023 Faculty Senate Committees
Tish Jennings, Chair-Elect
The group reviewed and discussed the results of the committee preferences poll as well as the current apportionment of senators to Faculty Senate.
Old Business
Susan Kirk shared brief updates:
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Announcement of the Faculty Senate resolution on academic freedom will be shared. The process of sharing announcements will be looked at and has commitment from the Provost for improvements.
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As a result of the concerns about the selection of the Provost, President Ryan has committed that whenever high-level searches (Provost, Deans) are being conducted, the Faculty Senate Chair will choose a rep to sit on search committee.
End-of-Year Reflections
Susan Kirk, Chair
Susan thanked those who will be rotating off Faculty Senate, EXCO as well as Brian Pusser, parliamentarian and Joel Hockensmith, past chair.
Meeting Adjourned
Motion to Adjourn: Andy Pennock
Second: Jim Savage
Meeting adjourned: 11:39 AM