ABSTRACT of Faculty Senate Meeting October 10, 2005
Bill Lyne, Senate President, called the 2005-06 Senate to order at 4:04 pm on October 10, 2005. Senators approved amended minutes of September 26, 2005 and Standing Committee minutes.
· Lyne reported discussions with Vice President George Pierce and proposed that a broad discussion of parking issues take place.
· President Morse announced that in an unusual combined meeting the Western Foundation and the Alumni Association had found collaborative ways to further Western’s mission.
· Morse announced continued meetings of the Waterfront Committee with efforts to find transportation solutions for a Western presence.
· Provost Bodman distributed a report of the 10-1/2 positions already allocated, and mentioned continued discussions are taking place on those to be allocated this fall. Bodman is reserving one position for international programs and will shortly bring a proposal to the Senate.
· Executive Council Motion: Senators unanimously passed a motion to revise the Faculty Handbook to require faculty undergoing professional performance/development review to simply submit evidence in three areas, eliminating previously confusing language regarding level of performance.
· Senators requested the Executive Council to reconsider similar language on the criteria for General Merit Step increases, and to clarify language requiring levels of achievement for promotion.
· Constituent Concerns requested that parking signs for faculty be unmistakably written. Senators asked for an explanation of the high cost of local and long distance telephone calls and for an exploration of alternative usage.
· Senators broke at 5:24 and resumed after five minutes for an informal discussion of transportation and parking, and adjourned at 5:53 pm.
Appointments and Elections – Jeff Newcomer, Officer
Vacancies:
Committee on Assessment of Teaching and Learning: Two faculty, 2-year terms
Employee Training and Development Advisory Committee: One faculty, meets 1x per quarter.
ACC: Teacher Curricula and Certification Council: One faculty from social and behavioral sciences.
REVISIONS TO THE FACULTY HANDBOOK:
The Senate approved deleting (struck-through) the following from page 9, Section V.D.5a to read:
D. Evaluation of Tenured Faculty Members
5. Procedures for Professional Performance / Development Review
a. Faculty undergoing a Professional Performance /
Development Review shall provide to the chair and other colleagues in the
department evidence of satisfactory performance and professional growth and
development with regard to teaching effectiveness,
scholarly/creative/artistic endeavor, and service to the institution and
profession… (remainder unchanged).