MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE FACULTY SENATE
Monday, April 18, 2011
Mason Hall, room
D5; 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Senators Present: Doris Bitler, Janette Muir, Star Muir, Peter Pober, Peter Stearns, Susan Trencher
Visitors Present: Anne Schiller, Vice President for Global and International Strategies; Thomas Speller, Chair of the Academic Initiatives Committee
I. Approval of
Minutes of March 28, 2011: The minutes were
approved as distributed.
II. Announcements
Dean Vikas Chandhoke (COS) brief remarks at April 27th Meeting
Special Meeting April 20th
with State Senator Chap Petersen and Delegate David Bulova
Chair Peter Pober welcomed Anne
Schiller, Vice President for Global and International Strategies and Thomas
Speller, Chair of the Academic Initiatives Committee to our meeting today. Anne Schiller is delighted with the Senate’s
response and conern for certain organizatinal processes and for your leadership
in the amendment of the Academic Initiative Committee’s charge to include her
as a non-voting member of the committee.
She also provided the following updates from the new Global Office on office organization: the electronic MOU
Process, the upcoming international inventory, new Global LLC, and potential
initiatives in Korea and Sardinia. The
Global Office welcomes opportunities for communication between our new office
and the Faculty Senate and is glad that communication is now regularized,
including through the Academic Initiatives Committee.
The Global Office exists to further the international efforts of faculty,
programs, and colleges and to look for new opportunities. In this first
academic year the Global Office is taking steps to insure that the office is
well-functioning and responsive.
Addressing need to develop more effective ways to get the word out about
how we can assist and about what Mason does in terms of global and
international activities as units and as a collective. The new website, set to launch by the end of
May, will be very useful to internal and external audiences. Take the lead in the creation of a Global
Strategic Directions statement that addresses current resources and needs and
articulates future goals.
Office structure is result of a reorganization of responsibilities of
individuals who are associated in various ways with global activities that
yielded three key positions: Global Relations Specialist; a halftime
International MOU and Agreements Coordinator; and a halftime International
Activities Budget Specialist. Other
positions now associated with the Global Office are International Grants
Coordinator, Director of China and Russia Programs, and Faculty Adviser for
Korea Programs. Also have a Grad RA
tasked to work to create articles about units’ international activities and
about our international partners. In a
few weeks we will pilot a new E-MOU process that can be accessed through the
new Global website.
Another initiative
is an international inventory that will capture information about how Mason is presently engaged and help us
identify interests and strengths more clearly. The data will be made
available to the community and allow immediate access to information about
existing MOUs and other agreements such as dual and joint degrees and exchanges
and mentoring relationships with international institutions, international alumni, which faculty have
international degrees, where we have study abroad programs, and more.
That
inventory will also be provided to a faculty advisory group charged with making
specific recommendations to be included in a Global Directions. Target is to
assemble the advisory group to begin work next Fall.
The Global Office is
the co-sponsor of a new international living learning community called “Global
Crossings” that will pilot Fall 2011. Has taken a central role in the new
activities related to Korea, and a smaller contributing role in the exploration
of the Italian campus initiative.
Korea: At the
request of faculty or unit heads, the Global Office is currently assisting with
the development of six dual degrees with Korean institutions:
•
Global
Affairs (MA), CHSS – Graduate School of International Studies, Korea University
•
Special
Education (MEd), CEHD – Gyeong In National University of Education (GINUE)
•
School
of Public Policy (MA) – aSSIST
•
School
of Public Policy – Seoul National University
•
School
of Management – Solbridge School of Business
•
Multilingual
Multicultural Education, CEHD – SungkyungKwan University (SKKU)
Global is partnering
with ELI in a project with the University of Seoul that will yield a modest
profit that we are keeping in a fund to support future faculty initiatives. Has
assisted two faculty in finding opportunities for summer school teaching in
Korea at their request. One is from SPP
and the other is from COS.
Also active in the
on-going evaluation process surrounding the Songdo Campus Initiative.
The Songdo Initiative refers to a potential distributed campus in Songdo
City in the Incheon Free Economic Zone, or IFEZ . It is within 3 hours of 1/3 of the world’s
population. A good part of the student
body would come from China and some parts of Southeast Asia, in particular
Vietnam. Currently nearly 80% of
international students in Korea come from China and their numbers continues to
grow. Top Korean universities have already opened English-language only
campuses there. The Chadwick School has opened a K-12 campus, a hospital is now
being built in cooperation with John Hopkins,
and IBM and several multinational
businesses establishing a presence there.
IFEZA is succeeding in attracting the
presence of important Korean and foreign universities. Mason was first approached by IFEZ in
2008. In December, 2009, Mason signed a
support agreement with IFEZA that guaranteed just over one million dollars to
be used for evaluation of and planning for opening a Songdo campus in
facilities that are provided by IFEZA. One of the local officials who is
interested in following developments with regard to Mason in Korea is Senator
Peterson, who has promoted consideration of the campus as a long-term alliance
between GMU and South Korea that would positively impact northern Virginia’s
economic development. He has said that “Given the number of Korean students in
Fairfax County and our proximity to the nation’s capitol, GMU is in the ideal
position to mount this project.”
Over
the past fourteen months a Mason team has worked with the market research firm
Optimal Strategix which completed a market study on our behalf. It is working with a top Korean law firm, Lee and Ko, to get
answers to questions concerning accreditation procedures, human resources law,
and transfers of funds between Korea and the US. Curriculum development teams have created
curricula plans for the possible campus.
All of these costs have been covered with funding from the 2009 support
award.
The plan for a potential Mason campus at
Songdo is a 1-2-1 model with the first year at Songdo, second and third years
in Fairfax, and final year at Songdo.
Based on results of the market study and other research, the first
majors that would be introduced to Songdo, if Mason should move forward, would
be Economics and Management, followed later by Global Affairs and Environmental
Studies. Delivery could be by block scheduling, semester or year-long
residence, or hybrid team-taught courses.
Faculty would include individuals drawn from Mason and others recruited
from abroad. Initial enrollments would
be up to 200 with an eventual student body of 2,000.
Sardinia:
At this point primarily a COS initiative with which Global is assisting
as requested. Basically the government
of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia is interested in providing funds and
facilities for a small program with
·
undergraduate degrees in the
areas of Environmental Science and Earth Science
·
undergraduate minors in Business
and Geographic Information Science
·
masters degrees in Business
Administration, Environmental Science, Earth Science, and Geospatial Intelligence
·
an English language institute
Programs
will be housed in a former military base which will be refurbished by the regional
government to suit our needs. The regional government is planning for an
allocation of €15 million ($22.5 million) over a 4-year period to pay for the
tuition of Italian students enrolled in the programs. The regional government
will also provide a 20% add-on to faculty salaries to use toward travel and
housing costs. The program may attract additional students from Europe or more
likely northern Africa.
A. Academic Policies – Janette Muir
Academic Calendar: The Committee
decided not to recommend changes to the spring term schedule in response to a
whole series of things which would create problems. We will present a request from the Registar
to extend the current three year calendar one additional year to facilitate
scheduling of conferences.
AP/IB Credits/ Guest
Matriculations: We had a good meeting with the Governor’s
School and plan to meet again in May.
Honor Code Changes: We will continue to
work with the Graduate Council next year.
B. Budget and Resources
Summary of Summer Salary Inquiry: a draft report was circulated to the Executive Committee in advance for comment. It was decided to delay inclusion of the report in the April 27th meeting agenda because the Provost expressed concerns about the accuracy of some of the information in the report. We will ask the committee to check with those in the Provost Office from whom the committee culled the information before the report is distributed.
C. Faculty Matters – Doris Bitler
Transition for Faculty who do
not receive tenure: A faculty member was informed s/he cannot
supervise graduate students in the final year and do full-time teaching. We referred him to the Grievance Committe as
an individual, and will also see whether something should be included in the
Faculty Handbook to clarify this.
Updates: Faculty Evaluation
of Administrators Survey 2010-11 is underway.
The first reminder has been distributed.
We continue to review Consensual Relationships Policy presented at
October 6, 2010 FS Meeting. We recieved
information form Linda Harber about other schools' practices Faculty Retirement
Transition Leave agreement not to Sue, which we will review. Faculty Enrollment in Courses without Stipulating
Admission: There are issues beyond what
we initially anticipated – Registrar Susan Jones is willing to work with
us.
D. Nominations
Faculty Representatives to the
BOV Elections: There was a detailed discussion of the concerns expressed
about term limits in the Faculty
Handbook for Faculty Representatives to the Board of Visitors, opposed by the
Chair of the Nominations Committee. The
Faculty Handbook Committee agreed to consider the issue in the next round of
revisions for AY 2011-12. A member of
the Executive Committee offered to bring a motion to the Senate floor in
support of the removal of term limits.
The Provost agreed to convey to the Board of Visitors the outcome of the
motion to be presented at next week’s meeting.
Faculty Representatives to
Presidential Search Committee Elections: Peter
Pober reported that the Board voted to reduce the number of faculty
representatives, as well as reductions in other areas of the committee as
well. There will be two representatives
elected from the General Faculty, the Chair of the Faculty Senate, and a facuty
member appointed by the Provost, as well as one student, one staff, and one
alumni representative and maybe seven or eight Board members, the chair of the
Board of Trustees, and three community people.
It was noted that there were four faculty reps on the last Presidential
Search Committee; the chair of the Faculty Senate was not on it; this is a
(backup/retreat) from the rhetoric of
the last six months.
E. Organization and Operations – Star Muir
O&O Assignment
Spreadsheet (Attachment A) was
reviewed, and the following updates discussed.
Also to add Non-Traditional Credits (AP/IB Credits) to list.
Elections of Faculty Senators
2011-12:
Concern was expressed that CHSS has not yet sent out information about
the Faculty Senate elections. We will
send out an email encouraging the deans to do so (if they have not done so
already).
·
Faculty Handbook
Revisions approved by the Faculty Senate April 6th pending BOV
approval May 4, 2011
·
Presidential Task
Force on Recent Police Events: Peter
Pober co-chairs the Task Force with Rose Pascarell. We had an open forum last week and another
open forum is scheduled for Wednesday (April 20) for two hours. We are also meeting with the Resident
Advisors. Some concerns have been expressed
and recommendations will be made. He
encourages faculty to attend the forums.
·
BOV Faculty Representatives: Efficiency Study by Huron Group – to request
a copy from Mary Roper. Effective
Teaching/Evaluation May 4th presentation at BOV APDUC Meeting
VI. New Business, Updates, and Discussion
Meg Caniano
Faculty Senate clerk
ATTACHMENT A
|
Log Number |
Issue |
Submitter |
Date |
Sent To |
Information |
Final Resolution |
|
FS1011.001 |
Adjunct/Contingent
faculty due process not rehired |
Earle
Reybold |
9/14/2010 |
Faculty
Matters |
Not
much protection in the handbook for adjuncts. |
No
action. |
|
FS1011.002 |
ICAR
change from institute to school |
Susan
Hirsch |
9/17/2010 |
EXC/O&O |
Resolution
brought to full Senate. |
Senate
passed. |
|
FS1011.003 |
Review
of Faculty Senate Charter |
Faculty
Senate |
9/10/2010 |
O&O |
Carry
over from 0910 |
Ongoing. |
|
FS1011.004 |
Increasing
bureaucracy at Mason |
Boehm-Davis/Smith,
CHSS leadership |
9/13/2010 |
EXC/O&O |
CHSS
faculty meeting: Assessment, Human
Subjects Review, Scheduling, the Bookstore, and Parking |
Provost
creating group, 2-3 Faculty Senators will be invited. |
|
FS1011.005 |
Code
of Ethics |
Tom
Hennessey |
2/1/2010 |
O&O |
Feedback
and amendments to reduce vagueness. |
Resolution
revised and endorsed by Faculty Senate; sent to Hennessey for possible BOV
consideration. |
|
FS1011.006 |
Common
Exams |
Phil
Buchanan |
9/30/2010 |
Academic
Policies |
|
|
|
FS1011.007 |
Bid
allocation between Krasnow and ICAR (SCAR) |
Susan
Hirsch |
9/28/2010 |
O&O |
|
Resolved,
no change. |
|
FS1011.008 |
Membership
in the Diversity Committee |
Peter
Pober |
9/30/2010 |
O&O |
Resolution
to be brought to full Senate. |
Term
faculty allowed. |
|
FS1011.009 |
Public
display of salary information on FS website |
Mark
Houck |
10/6/2010 |
O&O |
Forwarded
to Executive Committee. |
Secured
behind password interface. |
|
FS1011.010 |
Voluntary
Faculty Practice |
Jean
Moore |
10/11/2010 |
Faculty
Matters |
Resolution
sent to FM, endorsed for presentation to Senate. |
Resolution
revised through FM, passed by the Faculty Senate |
|
FS1011.011 |
Catalog
copy alerting students to multiple exam options |
Janette
Muir |
10/28/2010 |
Academic
Policies |
|
|
|
FS1011.012 |
General
Release and Covenant Not to Sue |
David
Kuebrich |
11/1/2010 |
Faculty
Matters |
|
Ongoing. |
|
FS1011.013 |
Free
Speech code |
Lloyd
Cohen |
11/3/2010 |
EXC/O&O |
University
Counsel's office is working on this from last year's task force |
Still
in process in central administration. |
|
FS1011.014 |
On
Student Fees to support Distance Ed courses |
Nicole
Darnall |
11/9/2010 |
FS
ITPC |
|
Report
by Distance Education Council clarified. |
|
FS1011.015 |
Stipends
for MAIS advisors/tuition cost share |
Nicole
Darnall |
11/9/2010 |
Budget |
|
Query
for data still in process. |
|
FS1011.016 |
Long-term
Term to Tenure track |
Nicole
Darnall |
11/9/2010 |
Faculty
Matters |
|
|
|
FS1011.017 |
Creation
of Recreation Advisory Committee |
Jim
Sanford |
11/11/2010 |
EXC/O&O |
|
Amended
to clarify distinction with the Athletic Council, passed by the Faculty
Senate |
|
FS1011.018 |
Grade
Appeal Pressure |
Phil
Rubin |
11/30/2010 |
Academic
Policies |
|
|
|
FS1011.019 |
Graduate
Council and Academic Policies Committee |
Susan
Trencher |
12/6/2010 |
Academic
Policies |
|
AP
representative selected to serve on the Graduate Council; bylaws revisited in
the future |
|
FS1011.020 |
Graduating
Under One Catalog--Minor Exception |
Susan
Jones/APAC |
12/7/2010 |
Academic
Policies |
|
Passed
by Senate. |
|
FS1011.021 |
Cross-list
courses exemption |
Anne
Nicotera |
12/14/2010 |
Academic
Policies |
|
|
|
FS1011.022 |
Task
force on private giving to George Mason University |
David
Kuebrich |
1/5/2011 |
EXC/Full
Senate |
|
Created
by the Faculty Senate and fully staffed |
|
FS1011.023 |
Academic
Calendar |
James
Bennett |
1/10/2011 |
Academic
Policies |
|
In
process, gathering data. |
|
FS1011.024 |
Revision
to the Honor Code |
Rick
Diecchio |
2/3/2011 |
Academic
Policies |
|
Awaiting
new leadership. |
|
FS1011.025 |
Revision
to the Academic Initiative Committee charge |
Thomas
Speller |
1/20/2011 |
O&O |
Amendment
vetted EXC, sent to Faculty Senate |
Revised
amendment passed. |
|
FS1011.026 |
Committee
on Effective Teaching Rep to Distance Ed Cncl |
James
Bennett |
2/14/2011 |
O&O |
Representative
appointed to DE Council; charge to Faculty Senate |
Member
selected, structural change still under consideration. |
|
FS1011.027 |
Faculty
enrolling as student to audit course |
Susan
Trencher |
2/21/2011 |
Faculty
Matters |
|
Ongoing. |
|
FS1011.028 |
Call
for unit FTE and Senate Bid allocations by March 1 |
Peter
Pober |
2/22/2011 |
O&O |
Request
for official FTE numbers sent to Kris Smith |
Completed. |
|
FS1011.029 |
School
of Public Policy terms |
Edward
Rhodes |
3/26/2011 |
O&O |
Length
of terms unclear; query on returning Senators |
Informed
SPP they elect terms as desired. |
ATTACHMENT B
|
Faculty Senate Resolution Recommending the
Establishment of a Ombudsman |
|
|