Minutes of the Faculty Senate Meeting September 16, 1998 The regular meeting of the 1998-99 Faculty Senate was called to order by Judy Allen at 3:30 p.m. The following Senators were present for all or part of the meeting: Allen, Brady, Buising, Gilbride, Heaston, Herman, Hunter, Morrow, Petersen, Phillips, Pomeroy, Reincke, Sisk, Spencer, Strentz, Winebrenner, Wright, Zivin Absent: Stratton, Walker Minutes of the Previous Meeting: Upon proper motion and second, the minutes of the May 1998 meeting were approved. Report from President Ray: President Ray expressed pleasure in having the opportunity to meet with faculty and senators in various settings in the past few months. He announced that the Presidential Search Committee would meet with the search firm this week. To date 112 persons have been nominated or have applied for the position. The Fall 98 enrollment shows an increase from last year with a strong showing in the first year class. 62% of the direct from high school students ranked in the top quarter of their class. The recent U.S. News ranking was good news and will be helpful as the Admissions counselors begin the new recruiting year. Campaign Drake is moving ahead with many individual appointments and follow-up contacts being made. The Opperman Lecture is this week. The speaker this year is U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Report from Provost Gitenstein: Due to the Provost's vacation, Associate Provost Michael Cheney was present for questions/concerns. None were raised. Executive Committee Report: President Allen noted the various Faculty Senate Standing Committees and Outcome Committees have been filled during May through September of this year. President Allen has been attending the Administrative Council sessions all summer and has met with Todd Sechser, the Student Body President. The Executive Committee has met with President Ray during the summer and will begin their regular meetings next week. Please forward any concerns you wish raised at these sessions to any member of the Executive Committee. The Faculty vote preparation on the Drake Curriculum proceeds. The full text is available on the web but a final summary draft will be quickmailed approximately September 21st. Senator Brady reported from the University Strategic Planning Council (USPC). They have spent the summer getting oriented to the strategic planning process and issues. They have been attending the Administrative Council meetings including the retreat. They have been developing questions that will be used with focus groups. Senator Buising asked if the college strategic planning committees would be involved. Ms Brady indicated they might be one of the focus groups. Senator Morrow asked if the questions would be based on the current mission statement. Ms Brady indicated the USPC is not looking at changing the mission statement but is using a set of guiding principles and purpose statements. James Romig gave a report from the General Education Committee (GEC). He said that a 4-5 page summary was being prepared concerning the Drake Curriculum before the faculty ratification vote. The summary is being pulled from previous documents, Senate minutes, and the current Outcome Committees. There will be two open forums, September 23 and 25, before the ballot is sent. Robert Wood gave a report from the Information Resource Policies and Issues Committee (IRPI). The group was an adhoc committee last year and now exists as a Senate standing committee. They have prepared and distributed a report, which promotes keeping an inventory of the University's computers and outlines a procedure for handling any surplus machinery. There was a five page outline of the University wide Technology Plan which identifies the key issues for the whole institution and various action items. Senator Strentz asked if there was a dollar figure for Drake's current technology needs. Mr. Wood indicated that an industry standard is replacement on a three-year cycle. Drake would need $1 million yearly to keep workstation hardware current. There was a discussion of the impact of more students with their own personal computers, the current stress on the network, the dual platform campus expansion and setting software minimum standards across campus. President Allen noted that Senators had received copies of the athletic schedules. Senator Zivin asked what is meant by an approved schedule. Do classroom instructors 'accept' the athletes' absences as university approved? Senator Winbrenner noted concern about the University's yearly message on religious holidays and accommodation. The Senate Executive Committee agreed to examine the policy statements and report at a future senate meeting on the issue of classroom absences. Unfinished Business: None presented New Business Senator Brady moved and Buising seconded Motion 99-01: Alter the election schedule of the faculty members of the University Strategic Planning Council: The three faculty members elected to the University Strategic Planning Council in the spring of 1998 be deemed to have been elected for two two-year terms and one three-year term (instead of one one-year term, one two-year term and one three-year term). In the year 2000, two faculty members will be elected to the USPC, one for a two-year term and one for a three-year term. Senator Brady outlined the reasoning for the change noting that the current committee members were elected without determining their individual terms. Each of the current members are willing to continue on the committee and feel that a one year term of service is not long enough to be able to contribute to the process. There was a discussion of the properness of changing the length of service of elected committee members after the election. It was noted that here are three persons wishing to serve more than first asked to serve. The motion passed on a voice vote. The announced agenda was finished and the meeting moved into a question and answer session with President Ray. The President was asked to address the recent position reductions and the process proceeding them. A question was raised about the top administrative salary levels and our peer comparability. He commented on the several months of position review, which had cut or realigned between 40-50 positions at several levels in all divisions. This was accomplished through retirements, attrition and ultimately the six layoffs. He noted this personnel situation was not unique in the business world or government sector when a budgetary situation like Drake's exists. Upon proper motion and second the rules were suspended and the meeting continued past 5:00 p.m. The body voiced their concerns about the uneasiness on campus throughout the summer, the rash of rumors due to the lack of communication from Old Main and the lack of faculty involvement in the decisions. The point was made that all of the persons laid off were women. The President appreciated the concerns. On proper motion and second the meeting closed at 5:10 p.m. Submitted by, Nancy Geiger, Secretary