George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting
March 17, 2004
Present: J. Bennett, P. Buchanan, R. Coffinberger, E. Elstun,
D. Kuebrich.
Chair Jim Bennett opened the meeting at 9:04 am.
I. Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the February 25, 2004 Executive Committee meeting were approved
as distributed.
II. Announcements
The Chair reminded the Committee that the BOV will hear a report from the GMU
Foundation Board of Trustees on March 24th. Rick Coffinberger will present a
faculty viewpoint on the GMU Foundation issue to the BOV and will report the
proceedings to the Senate.
III. Old Business
There was no old business.
IV. Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
A. Academic Policies
The Committee will present two reports at next week’s Senate meeting:
1) correcting the unsanctioned editorial changes to the Academic Policies section
of the catalog, and 2) the Committee’s review of the academic integrity
recommendations in which the Committee determined that no action is necessary.
A discussion commenced concerning the Task Force on Academic Standard’s
report on grade inflation. It was determined that, although the report did not
call for immediate action, there should be a follow-up review of the grading
in General Education classes. Dave Kuebrich will draft a resolution calling
for the GenEd Committee to review their academic standards. The resolution will
be presented at the April meeting either by the Executive Committee or under
New Business.
B. Budget & Resources
It was noted that the ad hoc Budget Committee has never been formally
disbanded, so that will be done at next week’s meeting. The Committee
will also present a resolution at that meeting recommending that the President
expand the academic unit profiles to include fundraising details. The faculty
salary report will be posted as soon as the ITU department can set up the restricted
access firewall. The Committee is working on creating more efficient ways to
disseminate information on retirement options and details.
C. Faculty Matters
The Provost expressed concern about the last recommendation of the Task Force
on Emeritus Status’ report including contract details. The Executive Committee
agreed that they were unnecessary in the report. The recommendation now reads:
“Departments may contract with emeritus faculty members for teaching,
advising, research, or such other special responsibilities.”
D. Nominations
The Committee will present two slates at next week’s meeting:
Slate for Task Force on University Privacy Policy: R. Coffinberger,
D. Kuebrich, R. Nadeau, and P. Regan.
Slate for Faculty representative to the GMU Foundation Board:
D. Boudreaux, P. Buchanan, or D. Polsby.
The Committee is also gathering nominations for a faculty representative to
serve on the Food Service Committee.
E. Organization & Operations
The Committee will present the 2004-2005 Allocation of Senate seats at next
week’s meeting.
V. New Business
There was no new business.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:10 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Debi Siler
Clerk, Faculty Senate