George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting
September 24, 2003
Present: J. Bennett, L. Brown, P. Buchanan, R. Coffinberger,
M. De Nys, E. Elstun, D. Kuebrich, P. Stearns
Chair Jim Bennett opened the meeting at 12:00 noon.
I. Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the July 17 and August 27, 2003 Executive Committee meeting were
approved as distributed.
II. Announcements
The BOV Faculty and Academic Standards Committee has agreed to add a faculty
representative to its membership.
III. Old Business
A. President Merten’s letter concerning Library Governance
The Budget & Resources Committee will present a Resolution to the Faculty
Senate next week in response to President Merten’s letter.
IV. Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
A. Academic Policy
The Chair will announce the members and their assignments at the October 1st
Faculty Senate meeting.
B. Budget & Resources
The Committee will meet monthly to organize, gather data, and make contact with
administrators who oversee issues of interest to the Committee, such as John
Zenelis, Morrie Scherrens, Reid Herlihy, and members of the Budget Planning
Group. The Committee would also like to get access to the unit budget plans
for review and analysis.
C. Faculty Matters
The Faculty Evaluation of Administrators report was delayed since the data had
to be re-entered. The Committee has sent their text sections to Institutional
Assessments and the report should be completed soon.
The Committee is researching the policy of outsiders as heads of Academic Units.
The Provost would oppose any policy that regulates temporary appointments, but
acknowledged that appointments of long-term deans and chairs should be limited
to persons within the unit’s field.
D. Nominations
Lorraine Brown and Rick Coffinberger are swapping information on Nominations
and Budget & Resources committees.
E. Organization & Operations
The primary focus of the Committee this year will be revising the procedures
for allocating Senate seats. It will also consider combining the O&O and
Nominations Committee and creating a new committee on Teaching & Research
in order to make the division of work more equitable between the Senate Standing
Committees. It was noted that the Communication with the BOV Committee’s
charter has expired and needs to be reviewed.
V. New Business
A. Executive Committee AY2003-2004 Meeting Schedule
The Executive Committee will meet on the following Wednesdays at 12:00 noon
in D109A Mason Hall, with additional meetings being called as needed. The Provost
will attend all of the scheduled meetings except October.
October 22, 2003
November 19, 2003
January 14, 2004
February 4, 2004
March 10, 2004
March 31, 2004
April 28, 2004
B. Faculty Senate 30th Anniversary Plan
It was suggested that there be a “birthday” cake and coffee at the
April meeting to celebrate the Faculty Senate’s official 30th anniversary.
C. Course Release for Senate Committee Chairs
The Chair thanked the Provost for allowing a Senate Committee Chair to be released
from one class a semester beginning this spring. The Chair will choose someone
for the first release and inform the Provost as soon as possible.
D. Faculty Senate Annual Report
It was clarified that this is an annual report of the Faculty Senate, not the
Executive Committee. It will serve the purpose of getting everyone on the same
page, setting a good example of accountability and openness, and updating the
new Senators, President, Provost, and BOV on the activities, goals, and focus
of the Faculty Senate. The Executive Committee will hold a special meeting to
review the report once it is completed and then submit it to the full Faculty
Senate for acceptance. Secretary David Kuebrich was thanked for his work in
creating the report.
E. Provost’s Remarks
The BOV is concerned that the University’s sexual harassment policy has
not been distributed correctly. The Provost affirmed that faculty up for tenure
must sign off on the policy, and this process will be implemented for all new
hires. It was also mentioned that Ron Sinacore gave presentations on the policy
to current faculty. It was agreed that implementing the University’s sexual
harassment policy is the responsibility of the Administration and Equity Office,
not the Faculty Senate.
The BOV Faculty and Academic Standards Committee is requesting more information
on the Dubai campus proposal before making a decision. The Provost Office will
conduct further research on the ETA/Ascon Group and present more in-depth information
to the Committee in October.
The President and the BOV are concerned about the lag in faculty salaries, especially
for faculty who may be lured away to other universities. The President has compiled
a list of Associate and Assistant Professors who are paid less than new hires
or below others of the same rank and tenure to present to the BOV to adjust
the salary structure.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Debi Siler
Clerk, Faculty Senate