Faculty Senate
Minutes of the Faculty Senate meeting April 15, 2009
The regular meeting of the 2008-2009 Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by President Sanders. The following senators were present for all or part of the meeting: Alexander, Chesnut, Cramer, DeWitt, Dore, Gilbert, Houle, McCrickerd, Nelson, Parsa, Reincke, Sanders, Vitha, Walker
Absent: Allen, Bohorquez, Cravero, Esposito, Harvey, Mosser, VanWyke
The March 2009 minutes were accepted as amended.
Report from President Maxwell
-- President Maxwell began his report with a response to a submitted inquiry concerning campus recycling efforts. The custodians are instructed to collect trash separate from recycled. They do not separate paper from the trash. Drake is working with local and state agencies to increase campus recycling efforts. Locally, a system called single stream recycling will be implemented which will make collection of recycled material simpler. Additionally, Drake will have the services of a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) intern, via a DNR grant, to assist Drake in the next few months. The Senate asked to be kept up to date on these efforts.
The Board of Trustees meetings next week have two main agenda items. The Board is scheduled to review the new campaign. This is a planned benchmark date to review progress and noting the current economic conditions, there is interest in having another review planned for next year.
The second major item is the budget and the previously identified scenarios. The ‘likely’ scenario will be presented for approval. The state of Iowa proposed budget currently has a more than 8% cut to the Iowa Tuition Grant Program which would be significant. That reduction would roughly translate to $3.2 million reduction for Drake students.
Senator Vitha asked about the questions previously posed for the summer retreat. He desired to know what topics they are considering as they prepare for the retreat. President Maxwell answered that he did not have any specifics at this time, rather the questions are to be examining the institution in the manner of “are we sure this is the best way to do this”. When pressed, President Maxwell stated that those involved “should ask questions which make us nervous, any assumptions that go unchallenged need to be challenged”. Drake is in a privileged position right now as other institutions have frozen budgets or are facing across the board cuts. We are able to take time to do this review. Again, when pressed, President Maxwell offered two examples. Drake has distributed student services and distributed financial management. He asked “would we be more efficient if this changed or should this stay the same”.
Senator Reincke noted that in a Senate Budget meeting the topic of financial aid included the shift from merit to need based packaging. She wanted to know if this is an example of an issue for the retreat. The reply was yes.
Report from Provost Troyer
--Provost Troyer reminded that body of the January 2009 Board of Trustee meeting which included the Academic Affairs Committee assuring the full Board that Drake was achieving the outcomes within the Mission Explication. Next week, at a luncheon, the full Board will be given a presentation concerning outcomes achievement. Associate Provost John Burney and Institutional Research Director Rachel Boon will assist the Provost in an effort to engage the whole board in this topic. Faculty will also be included in this event.
- The Dean’s Council is addressing the issue of ensuring course availability for the Fall 2009 semester, especially the FYS course. Currently there are not enough sections. Adjustments must be made including recruiting administrators to teach.
Last Friday, at the Admission luncheon for high school sophomores and juniors, he noted that there were several Senators in attendance. Provost Troyer found it an exciting experience for many attendees. There is a similar event this Friday and he hopes it will also be a positive event.
Senator Reincke asked if there are similar Admission events for transfer students. Vice President Tom Delahunt replied yes. Transfer students were even in attendance last Friday. It seems to be harder to get them to an event, but Admission does make that effort.
Report from President Sanders
--President Sanders reminded the group that tomorrow is the poster presentation for DUCURS.
--As per Senate procedure, various approved athletic schedules were sent along with this month’s Senate materials.
--President Sanders indicated that he has asked all committee chairs to send to him an executive summary of the committee’s 08-09 activities. He also requested the inclusion of any issues to be handled during the 09-10 year. He expects to have these collected and presented at the May Senate meeting.
--The Task Force on Faculty Roles is meeting and will have two members attending a national conference on this issue. Although he did not have an exact timetable for a full report, he expected that the group would present at this summer’s administrative retreat.
Old Business – none presented
New Business –
Senators McCrickerd and Cramer moved and seconded Motion 09-07:
update the committee description and membership for IACUC
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
(At least 7 members, two-year terms):
This Committee is responsible for overseeing the institution's animal program, facilities and procedures. Members should have the professional competence and knowledge necessary to review and evaluate research proposals to determine compliance with federal standards and Drake University guidelines, and to evaluate proposed research in terms of institutional commitments and regulations, applicable law, and standards of professional competence and practice.
The Committee shall consist of at least seven members, and shall meet the following specifications: 1 veterinarian (Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine), 1 member unaffiliated with the institution, one designee from the Office of the Provost who shall serve ex-officio, and at least four faculty members, at least three of whom shall be tenured; the faculty members will include at least one who has primary expertise in a nonscientific area and at least three experienced in animal research. The person unaffiliated with the institution will also not be a member of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated and is expected to represent general community interests in the proper care and use of animals and should not be a laboratory animal user.
All members of the Committee are appointed by the President. The Office of the Provost will make recommendations to the President for the positions held by the veterinarian, the member unaffiliated with the institution, and the designee from the Office of the Provost. The Faculty Senate Executive Committee will make recommendations to the President for the positions held by members of the faculty.
The chair of the Committee, who will serve a two-year term, will be selected from the tenured faculty by the President upon recommendation of the Provost. A vice-chair will be chosen each year by the committee to serve as chair when necessary, including situations in which the chair must step down due to conflict of interest.
All members serve two-year staggered terms. Reappointment is permitted and unlimited. The Drake Animal Vivarian (caretaker) will also serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the committee.
President Sanders indicated the reason for the proposed committee description and membership change is based in the need to meet current federal regulations. This language was developed in consultation with the current committee, the Institutional Research Office and the Provost. Rachel Boon, Director of Institutional Research, was invited to address the Senate and answer any questions.
When asked, Ms. Boon indicated that Drake is currently certified and it is a five year assurance. It was noted that the Institutional Review Board states the Provost is the ‘official’ and for the IACUC the President is the ‘official’.
The extreme risk for non-compliance would be that animal researchers would have their outside funding taken away. There was a discussion concerning the language of “unlimited appointment”. The consensus was that the current committee membership appointment practice allows for individuals to serve more than one consecutive term. The term non-science in the description refers to non-animal based research. Ms. Boon clarified for the body that the role of the non-science person, within federal guidelines, is to ask questions of the committee.
With a voice vote, the motion passed.
Vice President Phil Houle announced the 09-10 Faculty Senate would meet on April 29th at 3:30 p.m. The organizational meeting agenda will include electing a Vice-President and Executive Committee members. The Executive Committee will then begin the task of filling standing committees such as the IACUC and IRB which will have business to address over the summer.
Upon proper motion and vote, Senate ended at 4:14p.m. Nancy Geiger, Secretary