George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting
February 26, 2003


Present: J. Bennett, P. Buchanan, R. Coffinberger, M. De Nys, D. Kuebrich, P. Stearns

Chair Jim Bennett opened the meeting at 12:05 pm.

I. Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the February 19, 2003 Executive Committee meeting were approved as distributed.

II. Announcements
The Faculty Senate meeting agendas will be posted on the website from now on instead of being sent by e-mail. All faculty members will receive an e-mail reminding them of the next meeting and giving them a website link to the agenda.

The agenda for the March 5, 2003 Faculty Senate meeting and the draft minutes of today’s special Faculty Senate meeting will be sent out on Friday due to time constraints and the inclement weather.

III. Old Business
There was no old business.

IV. Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
A. Academic Policies

No report.

B. Facilities & Support Services & Library
No report.

C. Faculty Matters
The Committee will submit its motions concerning the BOV’s proposed changes to the Faculty Handbook at today’s special Faculty Senate meeting.

Marty De Nys noted that the Committee has only received one administrative faculty’s activities report, even though the deadline was February 10th. The Provost explained that the other deans and directors had sent them to him, he had added his, and sent them on to the President at the President’s request. The Committee will follow up with the President’s Office on this matter.

Marty De Nys also noted that the Committee has yet to review a document concerning the criteria and procedures for evaluating and renewing fixed-term faculty that was sent from the administration to the BOV, and the BOV approved.
The Provost stated that the Committee should have already received the document from the President’s Office, and that he would ensure it was sent.

D. Nominations
The Committee will submit a slate of nominees for the new Task Force on GMU’s dual system of satisfactory progress (to be given a formal name at a later date).

E. Organization & Operations
The Committee will introduce two motions at the March 5th meeting to establish a Faculty Senate Standing Budget Committee to replace the current Ad Hoc Budget Committee, and eliminate the current Facilities and Support Services and Library Committee.

The Committee is waiting to receive data from IRR in order to determine allocation of Senate seats among academic units for AY 2003-2004.

F. Ad Hoc Budget Committee
No report.

V. New Business
A. Remarks from Provost Stearns
1. Tuition Increase/Budget Plan

The Administration will be presenting its tuition increase/budget plan to the BOV at a special meeting in April. The Provost agreed to give an overview of the issues at the March 5th Faculty Senate meeting.

2. BOV Proposed Changes to the Faculty Handbook
The Provost will give his views on the BOV’s proposed changes and the Faculty Senate’s two motions at the special meeting this afternoon.

VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 12:35 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Debi Siler
Clerk, Faculty Senate

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