Minutes of the Auburn University Senate Meeting
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
238 Broun Hall Auditorium
3:30 P.M.
A full transcript is available for this meeting.

Attendance

Officers:
Larry Teeter, Chair; James Goldstein, Chair-Elect; Laura Plexico, Secretary; Xing Ping Hu, Secretary-Elect; Patricia Duffy, Immediate-Past Chair

Administration:
Bobby Woodard, VP Student Affairs; Bill Hardgrave, Dean, College of Business; Gregg Newschwander, Dean, School of Nursing; George Flowers, Dean, Graduate School

Ex-Officio:
Timothy R. Boosinger, Provost; India Napier, GSC President; Arthur Taylor, Staff Council Chair
Vic Walker, A&P Assembly Chair; Sara Wolf, Steering Committee; Emily Myers, Steering Committee; Kevin Yost, Steering Committee; Lisa Kensler, Steering Committee

Absent, sending substitute:
Jenny Barton for Betty Lou Whitford, Dean, College of Education; Charles Israel for Joseph Aistrup, Dean, College of Liberal Arts; Steve Duke for Chris Roberts, Dean, College of Engineering;; Barbera Bishop for Bonnie MacEwan, Dean of Libraries; Brett Walton for Walker Byrd, SGA President

Absent, not sending substitute:
Nicholas Giordano, Dean, COSAM; Calvin Johnson, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine

Senators, by Department:
Robert Cochran, Accountancy; Anwar Ahmed, Aerospace Engineering; Michelle Worosz, Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology; Don Mulvaney, Animal Sciences; Rebecca O’Neil Dagg, Architecture; Barb Bondy, Art; Bob Locy [2nd], Biological Sciences; Mark Dougherty, Biosystems Engineering; Mark Taylor [2nd], Building Sciences; Doug Goodwin, Chemistry; Ed Youngblood, Communication and Journalism; Allison Plumb, Communication Disorders; David Umphress, Computer Science & Software Engineering; Karla Teel, Consumer & Design Sciences; Melody Russell, Curriculum & Teaching; Liliana Stern, Economics; Jung Won Hur, Educational Foundations, Leadership & Technology; Hulya Kirkici, Electrical & Computer Engineering; Hilary Wyss, English; Traci O’Brian, Foreign Lang & Literatures; Latif Kalin, Forestry & Wildlife Science; Ming-kuo Lee, Geology & Geography; Brent Fox [2nd], Health Outcomes and Research Policy; David Lucsko, History; Amy Wright, Horticulture; Jerod Windham, Industrial Design; Sean Gallagher, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Gregg Schmidt, Library; Peter Stanwick [2nd], Management; Dmitry Glotov [2nd], Mathematics and Statistics; Daniel Mackowski, Mechanical Engineering; Matthew Hoch, Music; David Crumbley, Nursing; Kevin Huggins, Nutrition, Dietetics, & Hospitality Mgmt.; Vicky van Santen [2nd], Pathobiology; Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran, Pharmacal Sciences; Spencer Durham, Pharmacy Practice; Eric Marcus, Philosophy; Michael Fogle, Physics; Cathleen Erwin, Political Science; Daniel Svyantek [Tracy Witte], Psychology; Marilyn Cornish, Special Ed. Rehabilitation Counseling/School Psych; Jeffrey Hemmes, ROTC Air Force; Scott Copeland, Lieutenant Colonel, ROTC Army; Captain, Paul Michael Esposito, ROTC Naval; Kristina (Kriste) Shuler, Socio/Anthro/Social Work; Adrienne Wilson, Theatre; Annette Smith [2nd], Veterinary Clinical Sciences

Absent, sending substitute:
Bob Ashurst for Allan E. David, Chemical Engineering; Wilmer Pacheco for Tung-shi Huang, Poultry Science

Absent, not sending substitute:
Paul Brown, ACES; Dean Schwartz [2nd], Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology; Cliff Defee, Aviation Management & Logistics; Cliff Lange [2nd], Civil Engineering; Beth Guertal, Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences; David Held, Entomology & Plant Pathology; Jung Park, Finance; Rusty Wright [2nd], Fisheries & Allied Aquaculture; Tom Smith, Human Development & Family Studies; John Quindry, Kinesiology; James Carver, Marketing; Chippewa Thomas [2nd], Outreach

Minutes

At 3:30 PM Chair Larry Teeter called the meeting to order and reminded the Senators of the rules of speaking at Senate meetings. In addition, he asked the members of the senate to sign in in the back of the room and get a clicker. He then established a quorum using iclickers. There are currently 86 members of the Senate; therefore, for a quorum to be established 44 senators are required to be present. A quorum was established with 48 represented. The minutes of the September 22th, 2015 Senate meeting were approved without modifications.

Remarks and Announcements

Office of the President, Jay Gogue, President
Dr. Gogue called Tim Jackson to the podium to address concerns regarding athletic ticketing policies that were raised during the General Faculty meeting.

Tim Jackson indicated that they do oversee the priority system for Tigers Unlimited and that they do have ticketing policies that are abided by in Tigers Unlimited. Tigers Unlimited has a board that he, as well as Jay Jacobs, reports to. The faculty ticket system is managed by the CIA and they set the faculty ticketing policy. The students ticketing system is managed by SGA in consultation with the president.

Questions:

Michael Stern, Economics, asked the administration whether there are written policies regarding ticket sales, how the policies are made, how they are reviewed, and how they are changed. Is there an orderly process and who oversees these policies?

Tim Jackson responded that the public and donors are managed with Tigers Unlimited, a private foundation. When they give to Tigers Unlimited, they get priority. The Tigers Unlimited member gets first opportunity for available tickets. The policy indicates that nobody loses their seat as long as they maintain the minimum contribution. The Tigers Unlimited foundation board would approve any change in the policy for the Tigers Unlimited priority system along with the president’s office. In 2006 they made a significant change from a one price donation to a tiered system. Tickets not consumed by Tigers Unlimited are sold to the public at face value.

Michael Stern, Economics, asked the following questions: is there is a policy on how they are sold? Is there unequal access to the tickets being sold at face value? Is the ticket office aware that the face value is no longer the same as the market value of the ticket? Michael Stern also asked whether tickets are held in Tigers Unlimited without requiring the contribution?

Tim Jackson responded that athletics sells the ticket for what is printed on the ticket. Anything above face value is received as a donation. Tickets are not held for individuals in Tigers unlimited without the contribution.

Office of the Provost, Tim Boosinger, Provost
In December, the university will be half way through its 5 year strategic plan cycle. Strategic priority number 5 in the strategic plan addresses efforts to be more strategic in the allocation of resources to the universities different priorities. As a result, a new budget model has been developed. A recommendation to begin the shadow year was sent forward to the president for approval. With his approval we will begin the process of the parallel year of how the model might behave in FY16.

Questions:
Michael Stern, Economics, asked about a 2014 email between Tim Boosinger and Garry Waters. In the email there is discussion of plans for programs in adult education, criminology, interdisciplinary studies/sport management and the influence of those plans on clustering in majors in public administration. Michael asked about the status of those programs and why the senior associate athletic director is able to predict the forward flow of athletes into academic programs?

Tim Boosinger replied that none of the programs were initiated by Dr. Waters. All of those programs are coming forward from academic units, with the exception of criminology for which there is no current proposal.  Curricular decisions are coming up from the faculty.

University Senate Chair, Larry Teeter
Larry Teeter first introduced the current and upcoming senate executive committee. He then introduced Bob Locy who serves as the parliamentarian for the meeting.

Questions: None

Action Items

Vote for new member of select Senate committees; Presenter: Laura Plexico, Senate Secretary
The first item up for vote was a vote for new members of select Senate committees. There was no discussion and Laura Plexico called for a vote. The policy was passed with 62 votes and 92% in favor of the slate of candidates.

Pending Action Items
Proposed Policy on Undergraduate Certificates; Presenter: Lisa Kensler, Chair, Academic Standards Committee
Undergraduate certificates consist of 12-21 hours of coursework and are designed to demonstrate competency of specific skills or enhanced professional knowledge. At least 50% of credits should be 3000 level or higher and students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 or higher to receive a certificate. To receive a certificate, the student must be regularly admitted as an undergraduate student. Credit for the certificate would appear at the top of the University transcript. The certificates allow a way for academic units to add credentials for professional recognition. Proposed undergraduate certificate programs must be approved through the regular curricular process and the offering unit is responsible for advising, planning assessments, and certifying their completion.

Presentation (ppt)
Questions:
Charles Isreal, Liberal Arts, asked whether a student can double dip courses or whether it is up to the academic unit offering the certificate.

Lisa Kensler responded that you can double dip courses if they are one of the required courses for the certificate. The goal is not to add time and credits, but rather package the courses in a way that communicates a special skill set or knowledge base.

Drew Clark, Accreditation liaison: He added that to initiate certificate programs with already approved or existing programs, there is no accreditation implication. However, if a certificate program is initiated that differs from existing approved programs of study, additional approval from the commission on colleges would be required. Also, if more than half of the credits are offered at an off campus site, that would require prior approval. Given that the credits for certificates are smaller, this would need to be monitored by someone.

Bob Cochran, Accountancy: Commented that his unit strongly supports UG certificate programs.

Faculty Handbook Review Committee Recommendations; Presenter: James Goldstein, Chair, Faculty Handbook Review Committee
The language was changed in two sections (3.6.5.E and 3.9.1-.3) of the faculty handbook.  The first revision originated in response to concerns from the University Promotion and Tenure committee. The proposed revision clarifies the existing process and indicates that the department head’s and dean’s letter will count as their vote and their recommendation should be explicit. The second revision is in response to a charge to evaluate whether the grounds for noncontinuation of probationary faculty members are clear and the procedural safeguards are adequate. The committee reviewed the language and completed a draft for the Senate to review. General Council reviewed the draft before it was submitted to the Senate leadership. The recommendations include being more explicit about what could result in noncontinuation of a probationary faculty member, such as unsatisfactory performance or misconduct. Also, while there is a policy and procedure for financial exigency, the handbook did not define it. Therefore, the definition of that term was added.

      Department’s and Dean’s Recommendations (P&T)
      Termination of Faculty Appointments
Questions: None

Information Items

Higher Education Partnership; Presenter: Gordon Stone, Executive Director, Higher Education Partnership
The presenters described their organization and that they represent the four-year institutions in the state. They try to find ways to generate positive change in the legislature. They are encouraging the faculty to become members of the Higher Education Partnership so they can become aware of global issues and be a part of the community of advocates. There are three levels of membership ranging from $12 to $120 a year. A level 3 membership includes $2 Million in educator’s professional liability insurance.

Presentation (ppt)

Questions: None

Ad Hoc Committee on Clustering in Athletics: Presenter: Daniel Svyantek, Committee Chair
A committee was formed by the provost to look at whether clustering in athletics is occurring and to compare Auburn to peer institutions. Clustering was defined as occurring if there are > 25% of total players on a team with the same major or > 25% of junior or senior players on a team with the same major. Clustering in a major is not a NCAA violation. Clustering is believed to occur as a result of NCAA progress toward degree requirements, the 40-60-80 rule. Clustering becomes problematic if there is favoritism within a major. After review, there is evidence of clustering of football players in Public Administration. However, there is not clustering within athletics as a whole. A small sample of data was reviewed and there was no evidence of favoritism towards the athletes in Public Administration. Athletic advisors are not told to formally push Public Administration as a major. However, athletes talk to one another and clustering develops when one respected athlete enters a major and others follow him. Public Administration also has no quantitative course requirements and greater flexibility with course scheduling.

The committee found that there was communication between the athletic department and university about the potential closing of Public Administration. Yes, money was offered from athletics to aid with increasing the resources in Public Administration when it was thought that public administration might close due to a lack of resources. However, it did not alter any decisions about the program and the money that was offered was turned down.

The committee provided several recommendations: that athletics should publicize support provided for academics, analyze grading patterns in Public Administration, look at the timing of course offering within majors and the degree to which they are doable for athletes, and use the Interdisciplinary Studies degree more efficiently.

Presentation (ppt)

Questions:
Michael Stern, Economics, asked whether other universities had closures of their programs as a result of clustering?

Daniel Svyantek responded that information was not found in any of the articles.

Michael Stern asked whether he received any written correspondence between athletic officials with regard to Public Administration. Daniel Svyantek responded that he had received some emails.

Michael Stern asked to post two separate emails on the overhead. Daniel Svyantek had not seen the first posted email but had seen the second. Michael asked how the committee could effectively do their job if they did not receive all of the relevant correspondence. In the second email there was an indication that there is the need for more majors that have elective courses. Michael Stern questions the advocacy of administration with respect to curricula to facilitate the needs of athletes.

Patricia Duffy, Immediate-past Chair, clarified the role of Academic Program Review and its role with regard to the suspension of the Public Administration major due to lack of resources. The Academic Program Review submitted a letter to the provost indicating that suspension of the program was feasible, but the provost wanted to wait for the new Dean and leadership before closing.

Cathleen Erwin, Political Science: Resources were made available to Public Administration which prevented the program from closing. She asked that the conversation only continue if the reason is explicit.

New Business: Larry Teeter, Senate Chair
None
Unfinished Business: Larry Teeter, Senate Chair
None
Adjournment: Larry Teeter, Senate Chair at 4:56 P.M.