Meeting of the
Faculty Senate
April 5, 2002
Guests: Fran Solano Simpson, Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)
Ex officio members: Provost Bob Coombe, John Loewe (BOT, FEAC)
Minutes of the March 8, 2002 meeting approved, pending corrections.
Simpson introduced herself to the Senate, explaining that she came to DU in December 2001. OSP is currently cleaning up OSP files in Banner, which should be done before year-end. She is also looking at over-runs, trying to figure out how numbers were changed during the conversion to Banner. Reports will be forthcoming so that all parties concerned will understand where they stand with their projects. Detail and summary financial reports will follow. OSP is looking for feedback, and will proceed with an analysis of processes in the office, looking for efficiencies, corrections. A possible reorganization of the office may better serve the DU community over next year. In addition the OSP website is being revamped, and an active effort is underway to get more and better information out to the faculty. A newsletter may be developed to broadcast funding opportunities, and provide faculty assistance. Simpson announced that grant writing workshops are coming up: one for graduate students, one for faculty. Opportunities also exist for one-on-one consultation.
In the past, the Director of OSP has been the official reporter on DU intellectual property initiatives to the federal government. OSP is currently reviewing the functions and roles of office. The office is required to report on interventions on matters that come out of federal funds. Efforts are underway to systematize and proceduralize the office.
Dennis Barrett welcomed Simpson and expressed his anticipation of positive changes. Simpson indicated that Banner conversion has caused difficulties, but that there could be much worse case scenarios. Tom Stephen asked about the practice of paying tuition waivers to dependents of members of the research community out of flowback funds. He indicated that the Denver Research Institute is not eligible for DU tuition waivers, and asked if the university is supporting DRI. Simpson explained that DRI is self-supporting, and that is why waivers are paid out of indirect costs. She promised to look into the practice. Stephen then asked if the research community is paying full ticket on tuition. Simpson replied that the discount level ranges from 65% to 100%. Cathryn Potter explained that the true issue is that of all dependent tuition waivers coming out of flowback to departments. This is the first year that this practice has been in place, and it evidences a major shift of cost from one center to another. Simpson again agreed to look into the practice
Elections (Dennis Barrett): Barrett handed out the current Senate roster and listed the positions that are coming open for academic year. He explained that senators at large are elected by the faculty at large; the four committee chairs are elected by the outgoing committee. The Financial Planning Committee is separate, and the chair is elected by the membership of the full Senate, as are representatives to university committees. Open slots include: 2 senators at large; 3 officers (executive secretary, member at large to the executive committee, and representative to the Board of Trustees FEAC Committee); committee chairs, a representative to the Intellectual Property Committee, and a representative to the Faculty Athletic Committee. Nominations may be sent to the Senate Office or to Dennis Barrett. Senators at Large will be elected at the Senate's May 3 meeting.
Announcements:
Sadler announced that administrator evaluations are due at end of April. She asked senators to remind their constituencies to return the forms to the Senate Office. We are looking for 56% return.
An open faculty forum with the Chancellor will be hosted by the Executive Committee from 1:00-2:00.
Sadler then declared the Senate to be in Executive Session, and offered ex-officio members and guests of the Senate the opportunity to leave. The discussion that followed pertained to future directions for Senate representation, and is off-the-record.
The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Deborah S. Grealy, Executive Secretary
May 1, 2002
Notes from Executive Session, 4/5/2002
Mens Golf Club Initiative. Sadler reported on individual letter response to faculty members who had written letters re: the initiative from the Chancellor. Sadler described the tone of the letters as disturbing. Dianne Murphy will be coming May 3 to discuss the Athletics Department's vision and values with the Senate. The NCAA site visit team did not feel that vision, mission, values and goals of Athletics are adequately shared to by all university constituencies. There is a need for public hearing; and the Chancellor wants this done before June. The sponsoring group will be the UPAC Athletics Task Force. Leon Giles, Dianne Murphy, Janet Allis, and Bob Coombe are working on a process for input and discussion. The faculty needs a greater voice than in past. Sadler posed the question: "What level of involvement is desirable?"
Discussion of Senate Constitution. Role of Senate. Senate guidelines have evolved over time. Perhaps it is time to have a stronger voice and to take a role more consistent with constitutional guidelines. The charge of the Senate is academic. The Faculty Athletic Committee serves as a bridge between the Senate and Athletics. The decision has been made to rescind mens only golf membership. The Senate will do nothing more to publicize this fact. It is necessary to interface appropriately and positively with Athletics, to help them articulate their vision and values, to help them decide what to be. The focus cannot be on money. Larger discussion ought to inform the process. Von Stroh: Faculty has a responsibility to larger community issues. The ethical and social concerns surrounding single-gender, single-race athletic clubs should not be considered to be financial ones. The university is the faculty, and faculty members are increasingly excluded from important decision-making. Financial decision-making should not be driven by Athletics. Money is immaterial to the NCAA. The Ritchie Center was intended to do a number of other things than generate revenue. Giles indicated that the focus should be on athletic issues and quality of life issues at university. This is a topic appropriate for discussion with the Chancellor on 4/25/02. According to the first sentence in the Senate Constitution, The Faculty Senate shall determine its own agenda. It is the role of the Senate to recommend policy to the Provost, and through the Provost to the Board of Trustees. Perhaps it is time to broaden the sense of policy governing affiliates and include athletic policies. Sadler asked all senators to consider the advisability of a constitutional amendment.
In closing, three other items were raised for consideration and future discussion:
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted
Deborah S. Grealy, Executive Secretary
May 1, 2002