Minutes: September 24, 1999
There was a brief business meeting following the New Faculty Luncheon. The Meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m.
President's Report:
Arthur reported briefly on the activities of the Senate Executive Committee during the past summer. He noted that meetings and negotiations for reconsideration of Ritchie Center fee structures had been largely unsuccessful, although there has been a change in the university's position re: considering use of the facility to be taxable income. He also indicated little progress in addressing the corollary issue of decision-making processes on campus, noting that decisions regarding student and graduate student use of the facility were made without student input. In spite of Senate attempts to illuminate process issues, procedures for decision making on campus have not changed. We must somehow communicate to the administration that consultation and collaboration with faculty are essential parts of the decision making process in academic institutions. In the same vein, he urged all senators to regularly communicate with their own constituencies, to share information with their units and provide a conduit for bi-directional communication.
The Sabbatical Leave process is currently underway. October 15 is the deadline for submitting applications to departmental chairs. A Senate mailing should be coming out soon. In the meantime, applications are available through the Senate Office, from Arthur Best, and from the Provost's Office.
The Senate has been invited to appoint faculty representatives to 2 campus-wide committees. Dennis Becker, the Registrar is convening a Banner Software Steering Committee to oversee implementation of the administrative software on campus. This committee will meet regularly (probably biweekly). In addition, Craig Woody is forming a search committee for the Director of Campus Safety. Nominations for representatives on both committees may be sent to Arthur.
Arthur also announced that an ad hoc committee comprised of senators and DU faculty will be formed to look at the issues of post tenure faculty development and post tenure review. The proposed committee will cut across existing committee lines, and will be convened by Gordon von Stroh and Jan Laitos. In addition, the university is considering a proposal from Penrose Library and Law that the university shut down during the interval between Christmas and New Years. Several institutions currently do this. The proposal would not go into effect until December 2000. All senators are urged to communicate with their departments, collect information regarding this proposal, and report back to the Senate. Committee chairs are asked to nominate members of their committees to participate in these initiatives.
New Business
Les Goodchild reported that the Graduate Council is considering a notice of motion to formally confirm a dual degree in Tax Law that has been developed by the Daniels' College of Business and the School of Law.
Gordon von Stroh asked if the safety issues in Sturm Hall were being addressed. Dan Smith explained that environmental and safety hazards attending renovation of the GCB were of some concern to faculty scheduled to move into the facility this Winter. The matter was referred to the Personnel committee.
Following the business meeting, individual committee meetings were convened by the chairs of the Senate's standing committees
Respectfully submitted: Deborah S. Grealy, 9/28/99