University Governance

UNIVERSITY SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

November 18, 2008

Provost’s Conference Room – 3:30 p.m.

 

PRESENT:  Mary Berry, Nancy Kinnersley, Liz Kowalchuk, Lisa Wolf-Wendel, Ben Eggleston John Staniunas, John Stratton, Mary Ann Baker, Paul Farran, Adam McGonigle, May Davis,

 

EXCUSED:  Lisa Friis, Eric Foss, Danny Kaiser, Dennis Constance, Bill Walberg

 

 

ALSO PRESENT: Kathy Reed

 

            SenEx chair Mary Berry called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

 

MINUTES for October 21, 2008 were approved.

 

STANDING REPORTS

University Senate President

            Mary Berry gave an update on the “Employee Invention Assignment Agreement,” which is still being reviewed. One of the major issues is the prior invention clause, which continues to be a topic of discussion. The administration is open to questions, and outside attorneys are been consulted.                  

The SenEx meeting for January 20, 2008 has been cancelled. If needed SenEx may hold a quick meeting on January 27, before FaxEx meets. 

 

Faculty Senate President

            Nancy Kinnersley report no update from the November 13, 2008 University Senate Meeting.

 

Student Body President

            Adam McGonigle reported that they have had started their focus groups regarding the aquatic center at the Recreation Center. After the focus groups have finished meeting he will meet with Athletics. No further update from the November 13, 2008 University Senate Meeting.

 

Unclassified Senate President

            Paul Farran reported no update from the November 13, 2008 University Senate Meeting.

 

University Support Staff President

            Mary Ann Baker reported no update from the November 13, 2008 University Senate Meeting.

 

Calendar Committee:

Calendar Committee minutes were reviewed. It was noted that the committee had discussed a policy for on-line exams for regular classes, and the committee was recommending to University Senate that the unwritten policy be codified in the USRR. Chair of Calendar committee will be contacted to verify that the recommendation will be sent in a codified form for SenEx to review. Wolf-Wendled moved that the minutes be accepted and the chair of the Calendar committee be contacted regarding the recommendation, asking that it be sent in a codified form for SenEx to review, Passed. 

 

International Affairs Committee

            Committee sent minutes for three meetings, 9/15/08, 9/22/08, 10/13/08 and a revised final report for FY2008. The revised final report did not specify what changes were made to the FY2008 final report. A motion was made to table the acceptance of the revised final report, until a copy was available that indicated the changes in bold, Passed.

            Discussion continued regarding the 10/13/08 minutes. SenEx Chair Mary Berry will contact the chair of International Affairs, to get clarification on the information included in the minutes.   

 

ACTC:

            Members discussed the recommendation that no changes should be made to the Mediated Courseware policy at this time. A motion was made to approve the recommendation, Passed. 

            Discussion continued regarding the ACTC committee, and what part the committee has in the restructuring of Information Services. SenEx Chair Mary Berry will contact Denise Stephens regarding ACTC and Governance’s role in Information Technology Services. 

 

New Business

 

Nancy Kinnersley reported that Jerry Bailey, Faculty Representative, to the Athletic Department, had contacted both her and Mary Berry regarding Football seating for Faculty. Both Mary and Nancy will be reviewing the current Faculty / Staff Basketball policy, and meeting with Kathy Reed and Susan Twombly before meeting with Jerry.

 

Faculty Staff Handbook

            John Stratton reported that Rick Hale and Rick Levy were trying to have the draft of the Handbook by December 2, 2008. While working on the draft Levy made several appendices, one of which is recommendations for policies that might need further action. There were several polices in the handbook that the task force prioritized, knowing that some policies needed to be addressed immediately. There are about 20 to 25 policy related issues that the Task Force had hoped they could move forward to be reviewed by Faculty Senate sometime in the spring. Subsequently when the due date was moved up, it meant that the polices that were being pointed out in the handbook will probably be placed in the policy library, including anything that might be moved into the rules and regulations later. Hale and Levy suggested that some of these polices might be sent to Governance to be reviewed and action taken as needed. Stratton wanted to advise FacEx, that they may be receiving addition business as these polices are sent to governance. 

 

 

No further business.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Reed