December 5, 2007

Gary Weaver called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.

Present: Professors Weaver, Silvia, Loesberg, Douglass, Forst, Girard, Kim, Klein, Langbein, Leap, Mintz, Reece, Sha, Stallings, Steinhorn, Willoughby, Yates, Young, Dean Mardirosian, and Provost Broder.

Welcome and Introduction, Gary Weaver

Professor Weaver welcomed everyone to the meeting. The November minutes were approved by the Senators.

Report of the Chair, Gary Weaver

• Professor Weaver announced that the first edition of The Senator has been circulated.

• Professor Weaver mentioned that in his article, which appeared in The Senator, he addressed the issue of possibly reviving an Executive Committee of the Senate as a smaller body than the Senate itself. The main function of the old executive committee of the University Senate was to assemble the Senate leadership, major committee chairs, the Provost, and the Dean of Academic Affairs to meet in advance of the entire Senate in order to set the agenda and discuss other issues. The old executive committee also served as a nominating committee. The rules of new Faculty Senate set term limits for Senators, so the reasons that prompted the change to current arrangement no longer exist. Professor Weaver suggests the creation of an advisory committee, which would play the role of an executive committee, sometime in the spring.

• The fall Emeriti Luncheon was a success, with guest speaker, Angela Davis. However, there were not that many people in attendance. The spring Emeriti Luncheon will be on April 14th, 2008.

Report of the Provost, Dr. Broder

Provost Broder announced that the determinations regarding early-decision applicants are almost all completed. The quality of the applicants looks to be at least as good as those from last year.

First Year Learning Communities

Provost Broder convened a committee headed by General Education Program Director Prof. Patrick Jackson to look into alternative options to the University College for first year learning communities for the entering class of fall 2008. Provost Broder mentioned that the students who participated in these types of first-year learning communities tend to have slightly different characteristics that seem to be more compatible with the experiences they have at AU. Identifying students who might be interested in these communities may improve yield. This committee suggests five new programs to expand the University College and attract students. The programs are: crime and the media, global media production, history and the practice of science, the green community, and a residential course for undecided students.

The Inauguration of Neil Kerwin as President

The inauguration will take place on February 8th and will be in Bender Arena. The Italian Embassy will host an evening gala celebration open to all faculty, staff, and students.

The Ann Ferren Teaching Conference

The conference will take place on Friday, January 11.

Sally Smith

A memorial service will take place at the Bender Arena on Friday, December 7th.

Discussion of Provost Search Committee, Robert Griffith, Search Committee Chair

The Provost Search Committee, which was charged by President Kerwin a few weeks ago, has begun the process of searching for a new Provost. Advertisements have been placed in the Washington Post and New York Times, and negotiations have also begun with several search firms. The committee is pledged to conduct a fair, open, and transparent national search. The committee will select a candidate who the President will then approve or reject. Professor Griffith stressed that the candidate should have a track record as a published scholar and an academic and fiscal leader.

Recommendation of Committee on Information Services on Copyright, Brian Yates

Professor Yates brought forth to the Faculty Senate a document about copyright ownership at the University for a vote. Ms. Vogelsong, the assistant University Librarian, suggested that there be a change to the text in the third paragraph of section ii of the Exceptional Use of University Resources, to strike "within thirty days" and change that to ninety days. Professor Willoughby made a formal proposal to make Ms. Vogelsong’s suggestion into an amendment. After a discussion, Professor Weaver held a vote and the amendment failed unanimously. Professor Douglass proposed that the Faculty Senate send the document to the Committee on Faculty Relations for further review, which the Committee Chairs agreed to do.

Revisions of Academic Regulations 20.00.01 Academic Calendar, Kiho Kim and Jane Hall

The Joint Committee on Curriculum and Academic Practices presented a proposal for having each semester divided into two parts: 14 weeks of normal classes and a 15th week designated for giving final examinations. The Provost’s office suggested a friendly amendment, which Profs. Hall and Kim accepted. Professor Stallings made a friendly amendment suggesting a change in the text from exams to final examinations, which was also accepted. The Proposal passed by a vote of 12 to 2 in favor. The revised text now reads: Final examinations, when given, should be noted in the class syllabus and should be given only during finals week. The week designated for the giving of final examinations shall be preceded by a weekend or by one or two study days as scheduled by the academic calendar.

Committee Reports

Strategic Plan Committee member, Laura Langbein

Professor Langbein apprised the Senate of the discussions that took place at the first meeting of the Faculty Senate’s ad hoc strategic plan committee. Topics discussed in the committee included the core mission of the university, which is teaching and research, and staying engaged in the local and global community. There was common concern expressed about the need to expand transparency and to undertake decentralization.

For the Good of the Order

Professor Kim raised the issue of the University’s commitment to sustaining the environment and to climate control. Two students, Claire Roby and David Smedick, attended the meeting to answer questions from the Senators. The students would like the Senators to support their document, which they circulated to Senators, asking for greater cooperation between the Senate and Student Government on this issue. The Senators were very interested in having AU become a “green university.” A motion was approved to send this document to both the JCAAP and the Finance committee for further consideration.

The meeting adjourned at 3:45.