George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting
November 6, 2002
Present: J. Bennett, L. Brown, P. Buchanan, R. Coffinberger,
M. De Nys, E. Elstun, D. Kuebrich
Guest: P. Stearns
Chair Jim Bennett opened the meeting at 12:10 pm.
I. Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the October 30, 2002 Executive Committee meeting were approved
as distributed.
II. Announcement
Rector Meese will address the Faculty Senate at the December 4, 2002 meeting.
III. Old Business
A. Resolution Establishing a Task Force on Academic Standards
There were minor changes and one major change (lowering the number of members
from six to four) to the Resolution. The Executive Committee will introduce
it November 13th. If approved, Don Gantz has already agreed to serve on the
Task Force and the Provost has agreed to appoint a representative.
IV. Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
A. Academic Policies
The Committee will not take any action on Minors unless the Senate or Provost
initiates it. The Provost’s Office will develop a proposal on this issue
to submit to the Academic Policies Committee. It was also determined that more
information needs to be gathered on the Council on Minors: Who is this group?
What is their charge and authority? Are they a CAS council or university-wide?
The Committee will introduce two motions November 13th: one increasing the minimum
hours for Extended Studies, and one submitting the 2004-2007 Academic Calendar
for approval. The only possible controversy could be dropping one Reading Day
due to the semester ending so close to Christmas.
B. Facilities & Support Services & Library
No new business.
C. Faculty Matters
No new business.
D. Nominations
The Committee will begin working on a slate of nominees for the Academic Standards
Task Force.
E. Organization & Operations
The Committee is working on the recommendations submitted by the Task Forces
on Academic Integrity. Most of the recommendations will be sent to the Academic
Policies Committee.
D. Ad Hoc Budget Committee
The Committee will meet today at 1:30 pm. If it endorses the Resolution of Appreciation
of GMU’s BOV and Administration, the Committee will submit it to the Faculty
Senate on November 13th for approval.
Dr. Coffinberger has been invited to a budget briefing update on November 11th
with Vice President Scherrens and Provost Stearns. It is anticipated that this
meeting will yield the details of the budget reductions implemented or about
to be implemented by the Deans of the individual colleges and schools (and institutes)
within GMU.
The Committee has also requested information concerning the “alternative
severance” proposal that was endorsed by the BOV. Faculty members in the
VA Retirement Plan (VSRS) who have been employed for a certain amount of time
are eligible to receive 5-6 years of extra benefits for early retirement. The
proposal will be part of the units’ business plans, so that each unit
determines how many/which faculty will be offered the alternative severance
package.
Dr. Coffinberger commended the President, Vice President, and Provost for openly
discussing the budget issues with the faculty, but noted that the deans and
directors do not seem to have adopted the same attitude. The Committee agreed
that there must be increased faculty involvement at the unit level. There were
questions about the procedures (if there are any) for faculty to get information
and be given adequate time to get input processed.
V. New Business
The Provost had three suggestions for the Committee to improve the relationship
between the Faculty Senate and the Administration: 1) that there be regular
meetings between the Administration and the Executive Committee, 2) that requests
for information be more informal and flexible, and 3) that there be a change
in emotional tone to ease tensions.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Debi Siler
Clerk, Faculty Senate