Faculty Senate Minutes
December 10, 2013
Meeting convened at 7 pm on December 10, 2013 by Michael Barnett, Chair of Faculty Senate.
Senators Attendance: Mitch Wenger, Philip Jackson, Patrick Curtis, Cliff Ochs, Adam Smith, Michael Mossing, Hunain Alkhateb, Brad Cook, Carolyn Higdon, Feng Wang, Tom Garrett, Mustafa Matalgah, Tom Franklin, Karen Raber, Annette Trefzer, Andre Liebenberg, Robert Holt, Jasmine Townsend, Oliver Dinius, Noell Wilson, Darren Grem, Vanessa Gregory, William Berry, Donna Davis, Lorri Williamson, Ruth Mirtz, Jennifer Brosek, Milorad Noviecvic, Milam Aiken, Nathan Jones, James Chambers, Mitchell Avery, Mei Yang, Valentina Iepuri, Micah Everett, Jos Milton, Laurel Lambert, Seongbong Jo, Daneel Ferreira, Zia Shariat-Madar, Rahul Khanna, Allison Bell, Robert Barnard, Rich Raspet, Greg Love, Marilyn Mendolia, Christian Sellar, Michele Kelly, Minjoo Oh, Joe Sumrall, Debby Chessin, Mark Ortwein, Michael Barnett.
Senators did not attend, were not excused: Charles Ross, Darren Grem, Doug Vorheis, Zia Shariat-Madar, Debby Chessin, Mark Ortwein
Minutes approved by the Faculty Senate as a whole.
Representatives from the Associated Student Body Senate presented Resolution 13-18 to the Faculty Senate in the hopes of getting Faculty Senate support. This resolution requests the addition of two additional days of class-free study time prior to the beginning of finals week, as well as having no major assignments due within the last two weeks of classes prior to finals. The Faculty Senate raised questions about the need for this, as well as about faculty’s freedom to develop their syllabi as they wish. Discussion occurred. A motion was made to affirm support of the resolution. The motion failed with 1 abstaining, 10 in favor, and 33 opposed.
Committees: No committee reports.
New Business:
1. Difficulties with Alternative Testing for Students Disabilities were introduced by Dr. Laurel Lambert. The issues included the increasing number of students requiring specialized support each semester, space issues and scheduling issues related as well as the requirements of the primary teaching professor. The issue was referred to the Committee on Academic Affairs.
2. An amendment to the existing smoke free campus policy was suggested to include the use of all tobacco products. The issue was referred to the Committee on University Services.
3. The age and requirements of the Employee Complaint and Grievance Procedures for Faculty Personal was introduced. Issues involve the procedure not being well published and difficult to locate, the requirement to go through the process with the department chair and the School Dean, the issue of the grievance being filed within five working days of the complaint. The senator presenting stated that there is a need for a better policy. Committee on Governance will assess and report to full Faculty Senate.
4. Special Circumstance: Michael stated that a group of faculty had approached him for advice. He asked the Faculty Senate for approval in his role as Chair of Faculty Senate to meet with the group and act in that capacity. Approval granted.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm. The next full Faculty Senate meeting will convene January 28, 2014 at 7 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Wiles Higdon
Secretary, Faculty Senate