George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting
March 31, 2004
Present: J. Bennett, P. Buchanan, M. De Nys, E. Elstun, P.
Stearns
Chair Jim Bennett opened the meeting at 9:00 am.
I. Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the March 17, 2004 Executive Committee meeting were approved
as distributed.
II. Announcements
There were no announcements.
III. Old Business
There was no old business.
IV. Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
A. Academic Policy
The Committee has two remaining items that will be discussed at today’s
meeting—drop period extension and inter-unit majors—but neither
will be ready to present at next week’s meeting. Only one faculty response
supports extending the drop period; the rest have been against it. A compromise
between the faculty and student positions may be possible. The Provost suggested
that the Committee meet with the Student Senate leadership on this issue as
a courtesy, especially if the Committee decides to recommend against an extension.
B. Budget & Resources
No report.
C. Faculty Matters
Jim Sanford will present a report at next week’s meeting on policies dealing
with scientific misconduct. There are three ambiguous and conflicting policies
that cover this subject, and the Committee would like the Senate’s guidance
in clarifying them.
The Committee has been asked to look into the designation “Administrative
Faculty,” since it appears to have very broad usage covering everyone
from the university president to librarians to coaches. Some of the positions
under this category do not appear to be “true” faculty, and the
Committee would like to review the label with the Provost and Associate Provost
Rossell.
The Faculty Evaluation of Administrators survey has been distributed, and faculty
members have again expressed concern about confidentiality and demographic information.
The Office of Institutional Assessment retained two demographic
questions concerning sex and rank which seem to generate the most anxiety, but
the Committee is willing to remove them next year. The Executive Committee is
distressed at the high level of suspicion and fear that surfaces when these
surveys are distributed.
D. Nominations
Lorraine Brown will be nominated as the faculty representative to the Committee
on Staff Compensation.
E. Organization & Operations
No report.
V. New Business
There was no new business.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Debi Siler
Clerk, Faculty Senate