Senate Steering Committee Minutes

October 13, 2016, 3:30-4:30
Samford 206

Present: James Goldstein (Chair), Dan Svyantek (Chair-Elect),  Larry Teeter (Immediate-Past Chair), Xing Ping Hu (Secretary), Donald Mulvaney (Secretary-Elect), Emily Myers, Lisa Kensler, Jared Russell, Lucretia Tripp, James O’Connor (CIO), Gordon Stone (Executive director), Timothy Boosinger (Provost),

Absent: Emmett Winn

The first item of business was approval of the September 15, 2016 minutes.

Gordon Stone, Executive director of the partner, presented update on Alabama Higher Education Partnership. One of the tasks is to work closely with different legislators and partners to address the issue of current decreasing in state investment to HE.

Next, James O’Connor, CIO, reviewed the presentation on IT: plans and revised policies. He and Bliss Bailey, Executive Director, Office of IT, will do co-presentation at the October 18, 2016 Senate meeting. He will be making introductory comments from the CIO to the AU Senate. CIO will not make dramatic changes during the first couple of months but to listen to everyone about the challenges and issues we are facing and needs to be addressed to keep balance between service delivery, privacy and security. CIO’s year 1 goal (FY2017 agenda), based on feedback from faculty/students – has five objectives including developing a strategic plan for a 3-5 year program and to engage the campus throughout the process. There was a discussion on how to keep sustainability of IT work, communication, campus-wide policy or some kind of guideline on using email system.

The next item was a review of draft agenda items for the Senate Meeting on October 18th. It was decided that the CIP and Office of IT will come and talk.

Following, Dr. James Goldstein shared with the committee a few items, including the Senate Representatives’ meeting with Trustee Harbert and Mr. Funk, head of the search firm about the next president; the need to add proper language to Mission Statement that the search process will be involving and engaging; the current work of Calendar Committee; progress from Standard committee and Ad Hoc Committees; the need of Senate volunteers to serve on FSIC, etc.

Before meeting adjourned, suggestions on items for future Senate meeting and discussion.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 pm.