Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting
May 5, 1998

• President Ray gave a summary of the issues currently being addressed by the Cabinet and Deans Council. These included the Mac-in-the Room program, the University marketing plan, a financial aid discount study and preparation of discount plan and salary disclosure.
  
  
• Commencement will be held on May 15th and faculty are urged to attend the event.
  
  
• Basic issues from the 1998 Administrative Council's summer retreat have been worked on with diligence during the 98-99 year. These include the university's strategic plan, the marketing plan and the tuition and financial aid condition of the institution.
  
  
• The State of Iowa Coordinating Council meets tomorrow and has an agenda item the ISU/Des Moines MBA program.
  
  
• President Ray read a prepared statement concerning the recent disclosure of the 1997-98 key administrator salaries. He indicated this statement has been sent to David Maxwell.
  
  
• Senator Strentz asked if the Board of Governors is aware of this matter. President Ray indicated that Mr. Jack Rehm is aware.

Report from Interim Provost Hoag: not given

Report from President Allen:

• Core Academic Priorities Assessment Project summary has been send electronically to all faculty last week. Hard copies are available upon request from President Allen.
  
  
• President Allen gave a report on the motions as passed by the 1998-99 Senate to date. Three issues will be sent to the 1999-00 EPI Committee including the Drake Community Time motion, the concern of the appropriateness of using the title Dean for non-academic administrators and the student senate motion on mid-semester evaluations. Next year's senate will need to take up the matter of proposed policy changes for HIV positive students.
  
  
• She closed her report with thanks to each member of the Executive Committee for their work this year in meeting attendance and work on hard projects.

Unfinished Business:
None presented

New Business
Senator Brady moved and Sisk seconded Motion 99-17:

To approve Spring Break as March 20-24, 2000

There were comments and concerns about the lateness in the semester this will fall and how this affects activities although no acceptable substitute week is available.

The motion passed.

Senator Walker moved and Buising seconded Motion 99-18:

To alter the committee description and charge of the General Education Committee

The GEC is responsible for implementation and oversight of the Drake Curriculum (DC). It shall monitor operations and coordinate work of the Outcomes Committees, Advisement Committee, First-Year Seminar Committee, and Assessment Committee. In DC matters only, these university-wide committees will report to the GEC.

Membership shall consist of eight faculty (one each representing arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, business, journalism, pharmacy, and education), one administrative representative from CAAD, the chairs of each of the other DC Committees, and the DC director (who shall serve as committee chair).

The Outcomes Committees will be responsible for defining achievement guidelines, approving courses for Path A flagging, and reviewing individualized Path B proposals. There shall be two outcomes committees: one committee shall consider the outcomes in Communication, Critical Thinking, Information and Technological Literacy, and Scientific and Quantitative Literacy; the other committee shall consider outcomes in Artistic Experience, Historical Consciousness, International and Multicultural Understanding, and Values and Ethics.Membership of each committee shall consist of six faculty (one specifically representing each of the appropriate outcome areas, and two at-large members providing representational balance). Each committee shall elect its own chair.

The First-Year Seminar Committee FYS Committee is responsible for developing policy and implementation guidelines regarding all First-Year Seminars.Membership shall consist of six faculty (one each representing arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences; and two representing the professional schools) and either the FYS director or the A&S associate dean (who shall serve as committee chair). Four of the six faculty shall have taught in the FYS program. The committee shall elect its own chair.

The Advisement and Assessment Committees will be responsible for developing policy and implementation guidelines regarding DC matters in their respective areas.

The committee member's terms of service are not mentioned in the motion but are stated in the rational. Senator Strentz likes the previous description due to the clarity of college/school representation. There was interest in having the Cowles Library personnel included on this committee.

James Romig indicated the GEC had sent the document to the Executive Committee as recommendations and they were not formally crafted as motions. There was a discussion of the need to move forward on any committee membership issue now versus waiting until the Fall semester begins to formulate a full committee of this importance. There was concern that the situation with the Drake Curriculum implementation is one of resources not of committee structure. Senator Spencer sought a balance in how many committees were to be addressed at today's Senate meeting.

The motion was made and passed to substitute the following committee description and charge:

The GEC is responsible for implementation and oversight of the Drake Curriculum (DC). It shall monitor operations and coordinate work of the outcomes Committees, Advisement Committee, First-Year Seminar committee, and Assessment Committee. In Drake Curriculum matters only, this university-wide committee will report to the GEC.
Membership shall consist of nine faculty (one each from the four Arts & Sciences divisions and from the colleges/schools of business, journalism, pharmacy and education), one administrative representative from CAAD, a representative of the faculty of Cowles Library and the chairs of each of the Drake Curriculum committees and the Drake Curriculum Director who will serve as the committee chair.

The motion passed.

Senator Strentz moved and Buising seconded Motion 99-19:

University administrators attend a special open meeting of the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 faculty senates to discuss the many concerns arising from the above circumstances.

The University community continue to build on the strong foundation laid for the future of Drake during this year (1) by the leadership of the Ray Administration, (2) by the appointment of President Maxwell, and (3) by the decision of the Board of Governors to increase faculty involvement in the work of the Board.

Senator Allen indicated the Executive Committee has approved this motion. Senator Hunter noted that people need to feel fairly treated and those we deal with in the future need to start with a 'clean plate'. The discussion is important to clear the air and move forward. He is in support of the motion and interested in the Administration answering the questions in an open and forthright way.

A general discussion continued with concerns that this will be David Maxwell's first impression of the Faculty Senate and the discussion needs to be held with anger filling the air. The matter of what is an appropriate compensation package and is it consistent with university values. President Ray indicated a willingness to be at the meeting and answer what questions can be answered.

The motion passed.

Senator Spencer moved and with multiple seconds Motion 99-20:

Be it resolved, that the 1998-1999 Faculty Senate publicly recognize and celebrate the work of Robert D. Ray and, on behalf of the Faculty of the University, express gratitude to the President for his distinguished service to Drake University

There was general applause and a standing ovation from the Senate for President Ray.

President Ray indicated he appreciated the faculty support he had received and had gained a respect for faculty. Senator Spencer expressed best wishes for his work with President Maxwell.

President Allen thanked President Ray for bringing the campus together with the Board and faculty. President Ray indicated that Drake has a quality product to sell and must get that message out. There are several tough messages to send and faculty need to be a part of those messages. He urged the members to think of how they can address problems with students. He said he does understand more the complexities of a college campus as he goes back to the Board of Governor Chair position.

Senator Walker moved and Strentz seconded Motion 99-21:

To sincerely thank President Judith Allen for her work on the Senate this year.

The motion was passed with applause.

On proper motion and second the meeting closed at 5:05 p.m.

Submitted by, Nancy Geiger, Secretary