ROLL CALL
Present: Altmann, Anderson, Belitz, Bennett, Berk, Blandy, Chadwell,
Davis, Farwell, Gerdes, Hawkins, Hurwit, Kintz, Larson, Leavitt, Lees, Luks,
Maxwell, McGee, Morse, Ostler, Pope, Rodgers, Ryan, Soper, Tedards, Unger,
Westling, J. Young, P. Young.
Excused: Acres, DeGidio, Ellis, Gilkey, Hawkins, Isenberg, O'Keefe, Page,
Paris, Ravits Stavitsky, Wolfe.
Absent: Anderson-Inman, Davis, Engelking, Halpern, Kimball, Owen.
CALL TO ORDER
As a quorum was present, the meeting was called to order by President
Carl Bybee at 3:06 p. m.
President Bybee informed the senators that the minutes from the November
13, 1996 meeting had not yet been distributed and were not ready to be read
and voted upon at the start of the meeting. In order to proceed, the president
suggested that someone move to dispense with the approving of the
minutes -- they would be approved at the next regular senate meeting. Senator
Wayne Westling, Law, so moved and the motion was passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Bybee introduced Ms. Gwen Steigelman as the new secretary
of the university senate, unanimously approved by the senate executive committee
and appointed by President Dave Frohnmayer. Secretary Steigelman has some
history with the university, having been a faculty member and the former
director of the International Institute for Sport and Human Performance.
She currently is the affirmative action plan manager in the affirmative
action office. She also serves as secretary of the university faculty and
university assembly.
President Bybee also heartily thanked Ms. Julia Heydon, academic affairs,
who has been filling in as acting secretary until the new faculty secretary
was appointed. He thanked Ms. Heydon for a job well done despite her work
overload.
REPORT FROM THE FLOOR
President Bybee recognized Mr. Paul Simonds, Interinstutional Faculty Senate
(IFS) representative, to report on his participation in a meeting of "educational
stakeholders" convened by Governor Kitzhaber. A group of about 33
individuals throughout the state, from all levels of education as well as
some outside industry leaders, was formed to function as a sounding board
for the governor, and to mount a concerted effort to support his budget
for higher education. Mr. Simonds outlined a budget of approximately 383
million dollars the governor wants to spend on education. This is money
beyond the basic budget, commonly referred to as the "kicker".
Of the 383 million, 289 million would go to pre-kindergarten through 12th
grade. Of 27 million in access related budget items, a tuition freeze would
cost 8.5 million, faculty salaries 7.5 million, and "regional capacity''
-- higher education centers outside the Willamette valley such as centers
in Bend, OR -- 10 million, and need grants 1 million. Governor Kitzhaber
indicated that in the absence of available kicker money, other funds such
as lottery money might be considered, but they all have risks or problems
in using them.
Mr. Simonds reported that at its next meeting, the IFS wants to send out
a resolution that asks all senates in the state system to pass a resolution
supporting the governor in this plan for higher education spending. Also,
the IFS will attempt to put together a plan for all aspects of education
to go out and secure signatures in support of the governor's higher ed.
budget plan. The governor's group will be meeting approximately every three
weeks starting in January. Senators were encouraged to share any comments
or concerns about this budget with Mr. Simonds so that he may raise the
issue at the upcoming meetings.
President Bybee then announced that review of the University Curriculum
Committee Report would be on the January 15th Senate meeting agenda. He
commented that although various departments may be more concerned with the
fine details of the report coming out of the curriculum committee, senators
should be reading it in terms of larger curricular issues, that is, seeing
the big picture. It is hoped that the report is received in a timely fashion
to permit reasonable review and discussion by senators.
In another announcement, President Bybee reported that Provost John Moseley
graciously consented to having a representative from the senate sit ex-officio
on the Educational Technology Coordinating Committee. The committee is
charged with overseeing the distribution of the educational technology fees.
Senator Dan Pope, History, has agreed to serve in this capacity.
As an update to a previous Senate discussion, the president noted that the
sexual relationship policy has been divided into two parts, one dealing
with faculty/student relationships, the other dealing with faculty/faculty
and faculty/staff relationships. The date when a revised proposal may be
brought before the Senate is on hold. Because the policy is still under
revision, no current copy of the proposal is available for senate distribution
at this time.
OLD BUSINESS
President Bybee stated that the main purpose of the meeting was to continue
the process of trimming the Building A Senate Agenda survey into a manageable
number of items for the Senate to address during the remainder of the academic
year. To this end, the Senate Executive Committee distributed a prepared,
shorter priority list of survey items for the Senate's consideration under
the general headings of action items requiring funding or no funding, and
discussion items.
A general and far ranging discussion of whether or how to use the executive
committee's priority list followed. Senator Ben Unger, ASUO, indicated
that the student senate had selected priorities from each area on the list.
Senator Ann Tedards, Music, reminded senators that if an important item
had been left off this shorter priority list, it should be added back to
the list. While senators reviewed the list, comments suggesting which items
were most important ensued, notably: the establishment of a partnership
with the administration, faculty representation on the Affirmative Action
Advisory Council (part of the partnership idea), domestic partner benefits,
faculty salary and faculty support issues, and dual career couples and tenure-retention
issues. Senator Sarah Larson, ASUO, reaffirmed the student senate's position
and suggested that the discussion should stick to the items on the priority
list.
Senator Jeff Hurwit, Art History, interjected a question as to whether the
Senate has false expectations, that is, if it passes a resolution, will
the administration carry it out? He indicated the future of the Senate
depends on the response of the administration to such resolutions.
Returning to the priority list items, Senator Westling added that increased
funding for student scholarships is an item that should be included in our
future deliberations. Senator Dave Soper, Physics, followed this with a
suggestion that undergraduate education items should be coordinated with
the Undergraduate Education and Policy Coordinating Council. Senator Tedards
replied that she was collating a list of items to pass on to the council.
At this point Senator Cheney Ryan, Philosophy, brought up the issue of administrative
review, asking the senate to request clarification on administrative review
procedures and policies, and whether they are followed. Senator Anne Leavitt,
Student Academic Affairs, indicated that the Senate needed more information
before discussing the issue of administrative review. After some discussion,
Senator Jeff Ostler, History, made the following motion:
To instruct the president to request clarification from the administration
of policy and procedures and past practices used for administrative review
of deans and department heads, and to indicate their current status of review.
Senator Ryan quickly asked that the motion include a timely report of the
requested information, a change in wording accepted by Senator Ostler.
The motion was restated as follows:
To instruct the senate president to request clarification from the administration
of policy, procedures, and past practices used for administrative review
of deans and department heads, and to indicate their current status of review;
secondly, that the senate receive such information in a timely manner for
a report at its January 15, 1997 meeting.
With no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.
Senator Hurwitz turned the discussion once again to the items on the priority
list, suggesting it might be better organized by using three different general
headings such as: (1) resources/support for faculty and students; (2) the
productivity plan, including issues on class size, student credit hours,
and curriculum; and issues of (3) governance, faculty, administrative reviews.
Because there are six meetings remaining this academic year, he suggested
selecting two items from each of the three general headings. This
idea received favorable senate support. Senator Tedards suggested that,
in keeping with the earlier request for administrative review information,
the Senate begin with the governance issues at its next meeting. A motion
to refer the new categories "short list" back to the executive
committee for further refinement in preparation for the January 15th meeting
was made by Senator Soper. Without further discussion the motion carried
unanimously.
Senator Faye Chadwell, Library, reminded the senators that library serials
cancellation is under tight time constraints and that this agenda item may
need to be moved up on the discussion list. Senator Unger further recommended
that the extent to which the Senate concerns itself with the student body
be a part of the governance discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
With the hour growing late, Senator Hurwitz moved for adjournment.
The meeting stood adjourned at 4:36 p.m.
Gwen Steigelman
Secretary of the Senate