[Approved February 20, 2007]

Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate

February 15, 2007

St. Mary’s 113 B; 12:00 AM

Present: D. Biers (presiding), D. Courte, G. DeMarco, P. Johnson, M. Lofton, W. Luckett, R. Penno, A. Seielstad, R. Wells

J. Farrelly (Faculty Board), M. Skelton (Leadership UD)

Roll Call:

Nine of the twelve members of the Committee were present.

Prayer:

D. Biers opened the meeting with a Highlander’s blessing.

Approval of Minutes:

February 8, 2007 approved.

Announcements:

· The Provost Council meeting was cancelled because of weather.

Old Business:

The following reports were received:

· R. Wells reported for the Academic Policies Committee. They met on February 5 with only four members in attendance. They reviewed the working groups in relationship to the recommendations in the Habits of Inquiry document. The Executive Committee requests an update on this work for discussion at the February 22 meeting. They also received a presentation from Elizabeth Wardle of a proposal for changing the competency requirement that is delivered by the Department of English. In addition, they reviewed the reporting structure and membership of the Calendar Committee.

· P. Johnson and D. Biers reported for the Faculty Affairs Committee. The Committee met on February 15 to review the comments received at the February 9 meeting of the Academic Senate regarding the promotion and tenure document. They decided to gather the current documents from all the units and review these. They will take the current document and work it into a policy form as it would appear in the Faculty Handbook. Once this is completed, they will ask several faculty members with experience in the area to review the document and identify possible changes in the Faculty Handbook that may be required. They will also offer to meet with faculty in the various units to further discuss the document.

Members of the Executive Committee suggested that the process should include a requirement for feedback at the level of the Presidential review. It was also suggested that AAUP standards be consulted and that documents from peer institutions be consulted.

It was noted that the Faculty Affairs committee should turn to the issue of post-tenure review once this work is completed.

· W. Luckett and D. Courte reported for the Student Academic Policies Committee. The work on the Honor Code is progressing. They are discussing the portion of the document that deals with punitive matters. They are consulting with the Law School about the code that it uses. There was some discussion about the scope of this code. The Executive committee requested to see the draft in its current form. It will be posted to the Executive Committee room on the Academic Senate Quickplace.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 1:05 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Patricia A. Johnson, Secretary