Minutes of the Senate Meeting
February 6, 2007
3:00 p.m.
Broun Auditorium
Submitted by Kathryn Flynn
Present: Rich Penaskovic, David Cicci, Kathryn Flynn, Ann Beth Presley, Conner Bailey, Royrickers Cook, Overton Jenda, Stewart Schneller, Drew Clark, John Heilman, Bonnie MacEwan, Wendy Pechman, Drew Burgering, Roger Garrison, Ronald Clark, Winfred Foster, Norbert Wilson, Sondra Parmer, Charles Mitchell, Keith Cummins, Barbara Kemppainen, Charlene LeBleu, Anthony Moss, Anoop Sattineni, Larry Crowley, Debra Worthington, Alvin Sek See Lim, Carol Centrallo, John Saye, Dan Gropper, James Witte, Scotte Hodel, Jon Bolton, Claire Crutchley, Michel Raby, Larry Teeter, Jim Saunders, Alice Buchanan, David Carter, Chris Arnold, Saeed Maghsoodloo, Andrew Wohrley, Roger Wolters, Darrel Hankerson, Bart Prorok, Robin Fellers, Don-Terry Veal, Jim Wright, Forrest Smith, Salisa Westrick, Bernie Olin, Francis Robicheaux, Anthony Gadzey, Dan Svyantek, Carole Zugazaga, Howard Thomas, Todd Axlund
Absent, sending a substitute: Debbie Shaw (Keith Camp), Fran Kochan (Peggy Dagley), Rik Blumenthal (Evert Duin), Suhyun Suh (Annette Kluck), Robin Huettel (Wayne Clark), Thomas A. Smith (Jamie Andersen), John Rowe (Francine Parker), Robert Voitle (Joe Giambrone), Tom Williams (Michael Fortenberry), Scott Phillips (Robin Jaffe)
Absent, no substitute: Don Large, June Henton, Johnny Green, George Stegall, Ethan Trevino, Jack DeRuiter, Gary Martin, Jim Bradley, Barry Fleming, Brian Gibson, Timothy McDonald, Robert Chambers, Carol Carruth, Allen Davis, Raymond Kessler, Hugh Guffey, Richard Good, James Shelley, Peggy Shippen, Randy Tillery, William Shaw
Rich Penaskovic called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. He moved that the agenda be revised to allow for the nomination of candidates for the Rules Committee. He explained that the Rules Committee is the Committee on Committees and that individuals elected to the Rules Committee would serve a two-year term that would begin in August. He noted that nominations could be made today, if the revised agenda was approved, and additional nominations could be made at the March Senate meeting prior to election by secret ballot. He said the motion to amend the agenda did not require a second as it was made at the recommendation of the Steering Committee. The motion passed with no opposition.
Approval of Minutes: Rich Penaskovic called for approval of the minutes of the January 9, 2007 Senate meeting. Howard Thomas, Senator, Fiber and Polymer Engineering, seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by voice acclamation.
Remarks and Announcements:
Dr. Richardson said that he would go over information presented at the last Senate meeting and address three items Rich Penaskovic had asked him to speak about.
Dr. Richardson provided a brief report on the Presidential Search based on what was said at the Board Meeting in Montgomery. He said he anticipates some announcement in late March or early April and expects that we will have a new President on campus no later than June 2007. Dr. Richardson said his goal is to set the stage so the new President’s introduction to Auburn is very positive. He said we are headed in that direction both from a financial perspective and from the perspective of avoiding controversy. He said he is optimistic about the search.
Dr. Richardson then addressed the three items Rich Penaskovic had asked about. The first item concerns the legislature and funding. He said the information he is providing is tentative information. Dr. Richardson mentioned that Sid McAnnally was in the audience and that he is doing a great job as Chief of Staff and on the legislative front.
Dr. Richardson said that revenue collections are still strong and robust and he expects a good budget for higher education. He said the division of funds (general and education) in Alabama is helpful. He said the Education Trust Fund taxes are the ones that are growing. He said the legislative session starts on the first Tuesday in March and he expects that Auburn and Alabama team will approach the budget in a united fashion. He said we should expect a strong allocation for higher education, especially for Auburn and Alabama.
Dr. Richardson said he thinks we will know very soon where we stand (in March). He said the Senate is in its usually turmoil but he expects a strong budget. He said K-12 is coming back with a pay raise so higher education will push for the same thing.
Dr. Richardson said there is a strong probability there will be a bond issue this year. He said it would be a capital bond issue (construction, renovation, equipment, etc.). He said he is confident it will be the largest bond issue for education ever in our history and could approach $1 billion. He said the question is how much of this higher education should and would get and how much of the higher education share would go to the research institutions (Auburn and Alabama). He said we will need to push but Auburn and Alabama should do well. He said he thinks the bond issue will pass during this session and the bonds would be sold in late 2007 or early 2008 and this sets up very positively for the next President. He said there are lots of strong programs at Auburn and they are beginning to get recognition in and out of Auburn University and in the legislature. He said we have to make sure research is a central part of the allocations because it will then be easier to keep it there in the future. He said the hot issues like alternative fuels, water utilization and other areas would see boosts. He said topics that will sell will be emphasized.
Dr. Richardson said the second topic he had been asked to address was the current status of the Research Park. He said that John Mouton and John Heilman are in the audience and can assist in providing this update if needed. He said the importance of the Research Park is as much symbolism as practical application. He said the project had stumbled over the last 6 months and had lost some momentum and support. He said the $5 million from the city is being spent on infrastructure. He said we would be able to capitalize on the $10 million committed by Gov. Riley two years ago. He said he is looking at whether we need to hire someone to market the Park as recommended by the ARTF Board. The ARTF Board is an independent Board that monitors and somewhat manages the Park itself. He said the Sid McAnnally is the administrator in charge until decisions on marketing are made and the research portion of the Park is in the hands of Ralph Zee.
Dr. Richardson said the third topic Rich Penaskovic asked him to address dealt with an update on the sexual orientation language to be put in the diversity policy. He said the policy is completed and will be released by Thursday of this week. He said he has to inform the media and the Board about the addition prior to making it public. He said the completion could be slowed down if something unconnected to the policy pops up but he anticipates it will be made public this week.
Dr. Richardson opened the floor for questions.
Charlie Mitchell, Senator from Agronomy and Soils and member of the Rules Committee, said there had been a study on the “Image and Character of Auburn University” and the comprehensive campus plan by the Sasaki Group around 2001. He said at that time the Campus Planning Committee, which he served on, had been charged with development and implementation of a campus plan. He said he is concerned because he now serves on the Senate Rules Committee and the Campus Planning Committee has not been functional for three years but he sees lots of construction on campus that has the potential to change forever the “image and character of Auburn University”. He said there appears to be no mechanism for faculty or students to provide input into campus planning projects. He asked if there are any plans to assure that faculty, staff and students have some input into campus planning and expansion projects.
Dr. Richardson said he could not speak directly to that Committee but that many people, especially students, had been involved in the discussion of new dorms. He said he was not sure about other projects. He called on John Mouton to comment on the more basic question about the Campus Planning Committee.
John Mouton said Sasaki had recommended the Campus Planning Committee be split into two committees. He said he had sent information to the Senate leadership in mid-November and, after meeting with the President, they had recommended the addition of an at-large faculty member to the composition of each of the proposed new committees. He said this change would bring the number of faculty from three from specific discipline areas to four. He said the fourth faculty member would be selected from the faculty at-large. He said information on the two new committees (the Master Plan Committee focused on large issues and the Design Review Committee focused on specific projects) would be distributed in the near future.
Drew Burgering, Chair, A&P Assembly, noted there had been an A&P representative on the Campus Planning Committee and requested that an at-large A&P representative be added to the two new committees.
John Mouton said the committees are University Committees so his request will go to Dr. Richardson.
Dr. Richardson said this request could be worked out.
Conner Bailey, Immediate Past Chair, said he was curious about a resolution that was passed at the recent Board meeting related to the Research Park and the role of the Auburn City Industrial Board. He asked about the role of the city in the development of the Park and how this relates to the previous developer of the Park.
Dr. Richardson said the Industrial Board is being used, at no cost to Auburn University, to provide money to get started. He said the Industrial Board handles the state money and avoids the need to borrow money.
John Mouton added that the ARTF did not have the resources to allow it to spend money and then seek reimbursement from the state funds as required by the state. The Industrial Board is providing the money, allowing work to go forward, and being reimbursed through the state account.
Conner Bailey asked if this meant there were no basic changes in the purpose of the Park.
Dr. Richardson said that was correct, the Research Park is not becoming an Industrial Park.
There were no more questions for Dr. Richardson.
Remarks from Senate Chair Rich Penaskovic
Rich Penaskovic thanked Dr. Richardson for his remarks. He said that Overton Jenda had asked him to announce that a NOVA documentary on Dr. Percy Julian (the first African American scientist to be recognized by the National Academy of Sciences) entitled “The Forgotten Genius” will be on PBS tonight at 7:00 pm and will also be shown in the Chemistry Building in Room 134.
Rich Penaskovic called for volunteers for Senate officer positions. He asked that anyone interested in being considered a candidate for one of these positions see Tony Moss, Chair of the Nominating Committee, after the meeting. He said these are very important positions, especially as the new President arrives. He asked that people think about volunteering to become candidates for these positions.
Rich Penaskovic reported that all 38 candidates selected for Post-Tenure Review had submitted packets; no one declined. He said the leadership would formulate a response to the results of the field trial in late March or early April. He said the Provost will report on the process to the Board in April. He said the Senate leadership hopes to provide input to the Provost for his report.
Rich Penaskovic opened the floor for questions.
David Carter, Senator from History, asked how many of the 38 people selected for Post-Tenure Review submitted the cover sheet along with their packets.
Rich Penaskovic said he did not have that information.
Conner Bailey, Immediate Past Chair, expanded on the need for volunteers for these Senate leadership positions. He said there are some benefits to serving in this capacity: a salary incentive and sabbatical leave. He said that although the job requires a lot of work he had no regrets and had learned a great deal about Auburn University. He said the Senate Chair ends up knowing almost as much about the function of the university as the President or Provost. He asked that people consider themselves or people they know for these positions.
John Heilman followed up by stating that it had been a privilege working with the Senate leadership for the past two years. He said he understands the importance of this leadership role more than he did as Dean or when he was in the President’s office. He said the faculty would want articulate and reasoned representatives to meet with the new President. He said that for shared governance to work we must have people come forward and invest in leadership positions. He rhetorically asked why anyone would subject him or her self to this experience. He said you would grow and learn and develop new perspectives as he did at the different administrative positions he had occupied. He said he understands the processes much better and encourages everyone to consider this opportunity for personal growth.
There were no more questions or comments.
Nominations for Rules Committee (Kathryn Flynn, Secretary)
Kathryn Flynn, Secretary, came forward to call for nominations to fill three vacancies on the Senate Rules Committee. She said the nominees must be current members of the University Senate. She said the Rules Committee is one of the most important on campus. She said this committee is responsible for filling vacancies on all Senate committees and nominating people to fill vacancies on all University Committees. She noted that an election would be held during the March Senate meeting to select the three new members of Rules from amongst the nominees. She said the people elected to serve on Rules will begin their three-year terms in August. She opened the floor for nominations and noted that additional nominations would be taken from the floor prior to election of new members at the March Senate meeting.
Charlie Mitchell, Senator from Agronomy and Soils, nominated Scotte Hodel, Senator from Electrical and Computer Engineering. Charlene LeBleu, Senator from Architecture, nominated Jim Wright, Senator from Pathobiology. Bernie Olin, Senator from Pharmacy Practice, nominated Dan Svyantek, Senator from Psychology. There were no further nominations.
Information Items:
Report on Campus Security (Tim Boosinger, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine)
Tim Boosinger said that the complexity of security issues facing modern universities had been discussed at a Provost’s Council meeting before the holidays. The Provost then appointed a University Security Task Force to come up with recommendations for him and Don Large. Tim Boosinger provided a list of the members of the Task Force and noted that Melvin Owens, Assistant Director of Public Safety for the city of Auburn, was in the audience. He said many good things are going on and the task force had been formed with the goal of coming up with better ways to protect people and property on campus. He listed 10 topics that were under discussion:
He said other topics included data on discarded computers, protecting sensitive data on laptops that get misplaced, ID cards, and future needs for ID cards.
Dr. Boosinger said that was an update on what is being discussed. He said anyone who had concerns should email him or talk to him today and he will share the information with the task force. He said the group hopes to have a set of recommendations to the Provost by the end of February.
Dr. Boosinger opened the floor for questions.
Tony Moss, Senator, Biological Sciences, said he was concerned about a snatch and grab of 4 computers, wallets, etc. from the Biological Sciences Building that occurred last month during the middle of the day. He said Mark Lyles had a video of this event.
Tim Boosinger said that Risk Management has shared information on the number of burglaries that have occurred on campus each year. Tim Boosinger called on Melvin Owens.
Mr. Melvin Owens said he was aware of the robbery but had been unaware there was a video. He said he would like a copy of it to go to the police.
There were no other questions of comments.
Advisory Board for Academics and Athletics and a Faculty Visitation Program (Virgil Starks, Senior Associate Advisor, Student Services)
Virgil Starks thanked the Senate and the Steering Committee for the chance to talk with the Senate. He said that athletics and academics had similar initiatives and common pressures related to changes in society. He noted that he worked for both Jay Jacobs and Linda Glaze who had asked for a report on the role of athletics in academics at Auburn University. He used a power point to present his information.
Virgil Stark presented information on AU Athletic Initiatives. He said the first initiative is the College Liaison Program. He said the goals of this initiative are to improve communication, emphasize the shared responsibility in the learning of students and student athletes, and more effective collaboration. He said the College of Liberal Arts has such a program right now. He said there is an athletic advisor sitting in on meetings discussing changes in the liberal arts program.
Virgil Starks said the second initiative is the Student Athlete Support Services (SASS) Advisory Board. The goals of this Advisory Board are to enforce the shared values athletics has with the academic side of campus, improvement of the teaching and learning environment for faculty and students, and providing a more complete and global perspective on how delivery of education should take place and an improved understanding of faculty expectations.
Virgil Starks said the third initiative is the Faculty Visitation Program. He said the visitation program would provide first-hand observation of student athlete lives and will run in conjunction with the Marcia Boosinger, the faculty athletic representative. He said this initiative would also allow athletes to get to know faculty on a personal level. He said he is excited about these three initiatives
.
Virgil Starks opened the floor for questions and comments.
John Heilman commented that it is important to understand where Virgil Starks comes from. He said the goal of the athletic department under Jay Jacobs is for the athletic program at Auburn to be the top program in the country. He said his experience working with Jay Jacobs and Virgil Starks shows the leadership team believes athletics and academics can work well together.
Virgil Starks said he was participating in the Talons program and focusing on classroom activities. He said he is also working on scholarships with scholarship offices on campus. He said athletics had put forward $100,000 to reward qualified students who come to Auburn.
Kathryn Flynn, Secretary, asked him how people would be selected to participate in the Initiatives.
Virgil Starks said preliminary discussions with Marcia Boosinger indicated that the CIA would nominate people and a selection process involving people outside of athletics would be used to make the final selections.
Virgil Starks made one final comment. He said there is a strong respect for the academy among his colleagues. He said as we go through changes in leadership on campus he welcomes insight in to what the athletics department does and he wants us to get to know each other as we go through the process. He wants faculty to take part in the dialogue over the next year or so.
Rich Penaskovic mentioned that Jay Jacobs had wanted to be here but was out of town. He then asked if there was any unfinished business. There was no unfinished business. Rich Penaskovic asked if there was any new business. There was no new business.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.