January 7, 1997

MINUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE MEETING DECEMBER 4, 1996


ROLL CALL

Present: Altmann, Anderson, Belitz, Bennett, Berk, Blandy, Chadwell, Davis, Farwell, Gerdes, Hawkins, Hurwit, Kintz, Larson, Leavitt, Lees, Luks, Maxwell, McGee, Morse, Ostler, Pope, Rodgers, Ryan, Soper, Tedards, Unger, Westling, J. Young, P. Young.

Excused: Acres, DeGidio, Ellis, Gilkey, Hawkins, Isenberg, O'Keefe, Page, Paris, Ravits Stavitsky, Wolfe.

Absent: Anderson-Inman, Davis, Engelking, Halpern, Kimball, Owen.

CALL TO ORDER

As a quorum was present, the meeting was called to order by President Carl Bybee at 3:06 p. m.

President Bybee informed the senators that the minutes from the November 13, 1996 meeting had not yet been distributed and were not ready to be read and voted upon at the start of the meeting. In order to proceed, the president suggested that someone move to dispense with the approving of the minutes -- they would be approved at the next regular senate meeting. Senator Wayne Westling, Law, so moved and the motion was passed unanimously.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Bybee introduced Ms. Gwen Steigelman as the new secretary of the university senate, unanimously approved by the senate executive committee and appointed by President Dave Frohnmayer. Secretary Steigelman has some history with the university, having been a faculty member and the former director of the International Institute for Sport and Human Performance. She currently is the affirmative action plan manager in the affirmative action office. She also serves as secretary of the university faculty and university assembly.

President Bybee also heartily thanked Ms. Julia Heydon, academic affairs, who has been filling in as acting secretary until the new faculty secretary was appointed. He thanked Ms. Heydon for a job well done despite her work overload.


REPORT FROM THE FLOOR

President Bybee recognized Mr. Paul Simonds, Interinstutional Faculty Senate (IFS) representative, to report on his participation in a meeting of "educational stakeholders" convened by Governor Kitzhaber. A group of about 33 individuals throughout the state, from all levels of education as well as some outside industry leaders, was formed to function as a sounding board for the governor, and to mount a concerted effort to support his budget for higher education. Mr. Simonds outlined a budget of approximately 383 million dollars the governor wants to spend on education. This is money beyond the basic budget, commonly referred to as the "kicker". Of the 383 million, 289 million would go to pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Of 27 million in access related budget items, a tuition freeze would cost 8.5 million, faculty salaries 7.5 million, and "regional capacity'' -- higher education centers outside the Willamette valley such as centers in Bend, OR -- 10 million, and need grants 1 million. Governor Kitzhaber indicated that in the absence of available kicker money, other funds such as lottery money might be considered, but they all have risks or problems in using them.

Mr. Simonds reported that at its next meeting, the IFS wants to send out a resolution that asks all senates in the state system to pass a resolution supporting the governor in this plan for higher education spending. Also, the IFS will attempt to put together a plan for all aspects of education to go out and secure signatures in support of the governor's higher ed. budget plan. The governor's group will be meeting approximately every three weeks starting in January. Senators were encouraged to share any comments or concerns about this budget with Mr. Simonds so that he may raise the issue at the upcoming meetings.

President Bybee then announced that review of the University Curriculum Committee Report would be on the January 15th Senate meeting agenda. He commented that although various departments may be more concerned with the fine details of the report coming out of the curriculum committee, senators should be reading it in terms of larger curricular issues, that is, seeing the big picture. It is hoped that the report is received in a timely fashion to permit reasonable review and discussion by senators.

In another announcement, President Bybee reported that Provost John Moseley graciously consented to having a representative from the senate sit ex-officio on the Educational Technology Coordinating Committee. The committee is charged with overseeing the distribution of the educational technology fees. Senator Dan Pope, History, has agreed to serve in this capacity.

As an update to a previous Senate discussion, the president noted that the sexual relationship policy has been divided into two parts, one dealing with faculty/student relationships, the other dealing with faculty/faculty and faculty/staff relationships. The date when a revised proposal may be brought before the Senate is on hold. Because the policy is still under revision, no current copy of the proposal is available for senate distribution at this time.


OLD BUSINESS

President Bybee stated that the main purpose of the meeting was to continue the process of trimming the Building A Senate Agenda survey into a manageable number of items for the Senate to address during the remainder of the academic year. To this end, the Senate Executive Committee distributed a prepared, shorter priority list of survey items for the Senate's consideration under the general headings of action items requiring funding or no funding, and discussion items.

A general and far ranging discussion of whether or how to use the executive committee's priority list followed. Senator Ben Unger, ASUO, indicated that the student senate had selected priorities from each area on the list. Senator Ann Tedards, Music, reminded senators that if an important item had been left off this shorter priority list, it should be added back to the list. While senators reviewed the list, comments suggesting which items were most important ensued, notably: the establishment of a partnership with the administration, faculty representation on the Affirmative Action Advisory Council (part of the partnership idea), domestic partner benefits, faculty salary and faculty support issues, and dual career couples and tenure-retention issues. Senator Sarah Larson, ASUO, reaffirmed the student senate's position and suggested that the discussion should stick to the items on the priority list.

Senator Jeff Hurwit, Art History, interjected a question as to whether the Senate has false expectations, that is, if it passes a resolution, will the administration carry it out? He indicated the future of the Senate depends on the response of the administration to such resolutions.

Returning to the priority list items, Senator Westling added that increased funding for student scholarships is an item that should be included in our future deliberations. Senator Dave Soper, Physics, followed this with a suggestion that undergraduate education items should be coordinated with the Undergraduate Education and Policy Coordinating Council. Senator Tedards replied that she was collating a list of items to pass on to the council.

At this point Senator Cheney Ryan, Philosophy, brought up the issue of administrative review, asking the senate to request clarification on administrative review procedures and policies, and whether they are followed. Senator Anne Leavitt, Student Academic Affairs, indicated that the Senate needed more information before discussing the issue of administrative review. After some discussion, Senator Jeff Ostler, History, made the following motion:

To instruct the president to request clarification from the administration of policy and procedures and past practices used for administrative review of deans and department heads, and to indicate their current status of review.

Senator Ryan quickly asked that the motion include a timely report of the requested information, a change in wording accepted by Senator Ostler. The motion was restated as follows:

To instruct the senate president to request clarification from the administration of policy, procedures, and past practices used for administrative review of deans and department heads, and to indicate their current status of review; secondly, that the senate receive such information in a timely manner for a report at its January 15, 1997 meeting.

With no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

Senator Hurwitz turned the discussion once again to the items on the priority list, suggesting it might be better organized by using three different general headings such as: (1) resources/support for faculty and students; (2) the productivity plan, including issues on class size, student credit hours, and curriculum; and issues of (3) governance, faculty, administrative reviews. Because there are six meetings remaining this academic year, he suggested selecting two items from each of the three general headings. This idea received favorable senate support. Senator Tedards suggested that, in keeping with the earlier request for administrative review information, the Senate begin with the governance issues at its next meeting. A motion to refer the new categories "short list" back to the executive committee for further refinement in preparation for the January 15th meeting was made by Senator Soper. Without further discussion the motion carried unanimously.

Senator Faye Chadwell, Library, reminded the senators that library serials cancellation is under tight time constraints and that this agenda item may need to be moved up on the discussion list. Senator Unger further recommended that the extent to which the Senate concerns itself with the student body be a part of the governance discussion.


ADJOURNMENT

With the hour growing late, Senator Hurwitz moved for adjournment.

The meeting stood adjourned at 4:36 p.m.


Gwen Steigelman
Secretary of the Senate