Minutes

Faculty Affairs Committee of the Academic Senate (FACAS)

1/18/06

Present: A. Abueida, D. Biers, G. Doyle, B. Turk, P. Johnson, E., Gustafson, M. Mullins, C. Phelps (chair)

Absent: L. Hausmann, L. Kloppenberg, T. Lasley, P. Thimmes

Prior to the meeting two documents, the committee’s reaction to the criminal background check and Jim Farrelly’s comments regarding suggested changes to the AS constitution were sent via email to all committee members.

Given that the reaction to the criminal background check was developed last year prior to significant changes in the committee composition, the current committee requested to discuss the background check. Troy Washington will be invited to a future meeting so that he can address some questions of the committee including any changes made following the Senate discussion, background checks for international faculty hires, student background checks, and process questions.

The committee agreed that several of the points raised by J. Farrelly’s document should be discussed and addressed; however, it was decided that the timing of Senate elections would be addressed first and separately from the other issues. The committee was supportive of changing the timing of the elections from Fall to Winter semester with the start of the terms of office from January to August. In other words, terms of office would be consistent with the academic calendar and consistent with the student representatives’ term of office. However, clarification was requested regarding the reasons for setting the start of terms in Winter and whether those reasons are no longer relevant. Committee members recalled that the reason for terms starting in the Winter term was related to Senate members’ greater involvement in budgetary discussion. However, as the approach to the University’s budget and financial decisions has changed, start of terms in the Winter term no longer appears necessary. Justification was also requested regarding the change in faculty involvement in the budgetary process. Clarification will also be requested from archived minutes from Senate meetings at the time.

In the process of proposing a change to the time of elections and start of terms, the FACAS members supported extending the terms of sitting senators to accommodate the change in the beginning of terms.

A draft of a proposal for change will be considered at the next meeting on 1/25/06.

Submitted by C. Phelps 1/23/06