George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting
September 9, 2002
Present: J. Bennett, L. Brown, P. Buchanan, R. Coffinberger,
M. DeNys, E. Elstun, D. Kuebrich
Guests: Tom Henessey, Peter Stearns
Chair Jim Bennett opened the meeting at 3:00 pm.
I. Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the August 21 and September 5, 2002 Executive Committee meetings
were unanimously approved.
II. Executive Committee Meeting Schedule
The Executive Committee will meet weekly on Wednesdays at 12:00 noon for the
present time. The meetings will be held in 318 Enterprise Hall except for the
following dates, when the meetings will be held in D109A Mason Hall with the
Provost:
September 18; October 2; October 16; and November 6.
III. Executive Committee Manifesto
The Executive Committee Manifesto was approved as amended and will be distributed
by e-mail to the entire faculty.
IV. Faculty Rewards and Incentives Committee Report
The Committee discussed two issues concerning the proposed modifications to
the Faculty Handbook included in the Faculty Rewards and Incentives Committee
Report.
First, it was suggested that an adjective be used to delineate tenure and non-tenure
track faculty in the “fixed-term” titles found in Item 2.1.3. “Teaching”
or “term” were offered as possible suggestions.
The second—and more serious—issue concerned an added paragraph to
the original report that states: “The candidate for tenure may choose,
within two years of entering the tenure track, the chosen area of concentration,
teaching or research, provided the candidate is willing to take a higher load
in that area.” The consensus was that the wording is vague, misleading,
and confusing, and that the sentence should be eliminated entirely.
Dr. Stearns and Dr. Henessey presented information concerning the Board of Visitors’
Committee on Faculty and Academic Standards meeting on September 19th. At that
meeting, Mark Grady, Lloyd Griffiths, Lorraine Brown, and Jack Censer will ask
the Committee to recommend that the Board delete the above-mentioned paragraph
before approving the Report. After the Board makes its decision, the President’s
office will inform the Faculty Senate of the outcome. The Senate then has three
weeks in which to offer its comments before changes can be made to the Faculty
Handbook.
V. Additional Topics
Invitation to Julie Christensen to Speak on Honor Code Issues
Julie Christensen will be invited to address honor code issues at the September
18th Executive Committee meeting.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
David Kuebrich
Secretary, Faculty Senate