Executive Committee Meeting Minutes January 20, 2012

Present:  Jason Huffman, Sandra Jordan, Deborah MacMillan, Lyndall Muschell , Stas Preczewski, Edward Whatley, Matt Rogers, Catherine Whelan

Regrets: Ken McGill, Jan Clark

Call to Order by Catherine Whelan.

Agenda was read and approved.

The minutes of from the Nov. 11th, Dec 2th, and Dec 9th meetings were read and approved as submitted.  

President’s Report: Interim President Stas Preczewski

The results of the Diversity Survey will be published within a week. The Climate Survey will begin shortly, and President Preczewski wants to encourage at least 50% participation from the faculty and staff. The State of the College address is scheduled for 3rd and 9th, it is being offered twice to hopefully facilitate a 100% attendance.

President Preczewski had briefed staff counsel about the decision to proceed with salary adjustments beginning Feb 1st of this year.  This is only Phase 1 of this process.   Staff positions at very low end are underfunded.  Supervisors will inform their staff about who will be involved in the initial adjustment.

Work has begun on backlog of maintain that needed to be done. 

President Preczewski reported that he does not anticipate any additional funding from the state for salary adjustments for 2013, but is anticipating additional funding for 2014.

Provost's Report: Dr. Sandra Jordan, Provost 

Dr. Jordan reported that the Newsletter has gone out. This year there have been a number of successful bids for accreditation:

Department of Music

Old Governors Mansion (Museum accreditation)

College of Business

Music Therapy

Accreditations that are coming up still are the College of Education and the Department of Outdoor Education.

We are hard at work on the SACS report. In going through new SACs standards we are finding areas that need to be changed.  These items will be coming to the senate as information items.

Interviews for library director and Chief Information Officer are underway.

 Advisory Matters 

Religious Observance Policy:  The committee was uncertain where this should be steered so Catherine Whelan will check with Jan Clark and report at next meeting.

Date for deadline to submit standing committee annual reports will be suggested as

Friday April 13th.  This is after the last committee meeting and before the final senate meeting.  

The discussion for recommendations for constituting a one-year review of the new common meeting schedule was continued.  The committee suggested that representatives from each senate committee be involved.  SGA also be involved.  RIPPC should be in charge of getting this started.  Catherine Whelan will follow-up with Judy Malachowski to coordinate this.

The committee discussed the need for a possible reduction of the existing 15-day motion submission by-law.  Adhering to this policy has been impacted because of the new Friday meeting time. A motion will be prepared and presented prior to the next ECUS meeting regarding changing the by-laws to reduce the existing 15 day motion submission to a 10 day motion submission.  This was seconded and approved.  Catherine Whelan will discuss with Jan Clark and forward this to the appropriate person to be done.

The committee discussed the Governance calendar implementation and recommendations to APC. It was noted that Tanya Goette has done it for several years but is off ECUS, so will need a new volunteer.  Catherine Whelan has volunteered to do this.

 Motion was made and seconded that we table senate election procedure discussion until next meeting or discuss electronically before next meeting. (Chair of SCoN, Ken McGill not present due to Presidential Search Committee duties). Will notify Ken to make sure this is on the next agenda.

No Old Business

New Business:

Catherine Whelan brought forward a discussion regarding student opinion surveys. Dr. Whelan received an email regarding student opinion survey. The committee discussed the questions that were brought up. The majority of the concerns are all being addressed as we transition to the electronically policy and procedure manual.

Some of the issues relating to having someone other than the faculty present when the student surveys are being given are based on policy from USG.  These have been addressed multiple times.  The committee encouraged that faculty member discuss with their chair and perhaps Ed Hale.

 In regard to split-level classes (both graduate and undergraduate) is it possible to request that there be a choice to together or separate.  Referred to Ed Hale and discussed with chair.

New Business from Dr. Sandra Jordan – see handout regarding Training Service Animals.  This will be provided to RPIPC for the development of the policy and putting forth the procedure that will need to be placed in the handbook.

Adjournment 

University Senate meeting: January 27, 3:30-4:45 A&S 272

Next ECUS meeting: February 3rd, 8-9 am Parks 301

Next ECUS/SCC meeting: February 10, 9-10 am, Parks 301

Recorded by Deborah MacMillan