Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes May 13, 2015
Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes May 13, 2015
Senate Meeting called to order at 4:00 PM
Executive Officer report:
Lewis Deaton spoke about items to be addressed during the next year. One is the establishment of a senate budget committee. He will also seek to improve the flow of information from Martin Hall. Items he sees as longer term issues to be addressed by the faculty senate are: the undervaluing of teaching on campus, the method for evaluating teaching, and salary inequities and compression.
A question was asked about the evaluation of administrators that was supposed to take place by the end of the semester. In response it was reported that an email should be sent by the end of the week regarding an evaluation for this academic year. One senator reported that the College of Business had done their own survey evaluating department heads. A question was raised as to what affect administrator evaluations have - do they affect salaries? In response Prof. Jim McDonald stated that the Provost intends to implement annual performance review meetings with administrators.
Approval of Minutes: It was moved and seconded that the minutes of the April 1 meeting be approved. The motion passed.
Reports of Senate Committees:
Committee on Committees: Dr. Mary Neiheisel presented a slate of nominees for University committees. Names of two additional nominees were added at the senate meeting, David Baker for the Faculty Benefits and Welfare committee and G.H. Massiha for the Faculty Grievance committee. Dr. Neiheisel noted that the committee on committees had been unable to find engineering faculty members willing to fill positions for a couple of committees. The slate of nominees as amended was approved by the senate.
Unfinished Business: The provost’s requested changes to the faculty handbook regarding formation of a QSN committee for Dean of University College were discussed. A question was raised about how to handle the possibility of the senate not having enough nominees. This may have to be addressed in the future. Chad Parker moved and G.H. Massiha seconded a motion to accept the proposed change to the faculty handbook, including the Provost’s modifications. The motion passed.
Next the proposed Faculty Handbook change to make it consistent with the current performance evaluation and merit raise system was voted on. George Wooddell moved to approve the change and G.H. Massiha seconded the motion. The motion passed.
New Business: no new business was introduced
Meeting adjourned at 4:40 pm.
Kathleen Knierim
Secretary