[Approved February 15, 2007]

Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate

February 8, 2007

St. Mary’s 113 B; 12:00 AM

Present: D. Biers (presiding), D. Courte, G. DeMarco, P. Johnson, M. Lofton, W. Luckett, J. O’Gorman, R. Penno

J. Farrelly (Faculty Board)

Roll Call:

Eight of the twelve members of the Committee were present.

Prayer:

D. Biers opened the meeting with a prayer.

Approval of Minutes:

February 1, 2007 approved.

Announcements:

· D. Biers has requested a copy of the statement from the minutes of the Board of Trustees in relationship to the request to delegate authority for tenure and promotion decisions. Judy Owens is researching this request.

· Because of the Lackner Awards Dinner on February 9, there are some logistical issues for the 3:00 Senate meeting. The meeting may need to begin in the Ballroom and move to the Barrett, or may simply need to be held in the Barrett. D. Biers will finalize these arrangements. He will also consult with J. Untener about the format for discussion of the Higher Learning Commission draft report.

Old Business:

The following reports were received:

1. J. O’Gorman reported for the Academic Policies Committee. They met Feb. 5 and continue to develop the working groups in relationship to recommendations in the HIR document. ECAS requested that a full report of the activities in relationship to the document be presented at the meeting on February 15. It was noted that there are no minutes because a quorum has not been present at meetings. There should be minutes forthcoming. The APCAS also asked for clarification about the reporting structure for The Calendar Committee. The Committee reports to the Provost, but regularly shares information with the APCAS. Membership on the Committee includes the Registrar as chairperson, a representative of APCAS, and two representatives from each unit. One of these representatives is an administrator and one a faculty member.

2. The Faculty Affairs Committee did not meet this week.

3. W. Luckett and D. Courte reported for the Student Academic Affairs Committee. They will consult with the legal office this week on the Honor Code and then will bring the document to the Executive Committee.

4. The Provost Council meets next week.

New Business:

1. The Executive committee received a question concerning the scheduling of classes during time periods that cross over or diverge from the regularly set class times. After some discussion, the Executive Committee decided to ask the Registrar to provide information on this issue and to identify any problem areas that might call for the action of the Academic Senate.
2. The Executive Committee reviewed the document on “Evaluating Faculty Teaching for the Purposes of Tenure, Promotion, and Merit” which was received from the Provost in December. The document has been assigned to the standing committees with the Faculty Affairs Committee having primary responsibility. The main question addressed by the Executive Committee was how this issue fits into existing University policy. The Executive Committee believes that this should be considered new policy. The Faculty Affairs Committee is asked to consider whether or not the entire section of the faculty handbook on Faculty Evaluation (IV. M.) should be reviewed in relationship to this new document. The entire section may need to be redone. Since this was approved by a vote of the faculty and concerns tenure, new policy will also require a faculty vote.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 1:15 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Patricia A. Johnson, Secretary