MINUTES OF THE FACULTY SENATE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

OCTOBER 29, 2012

As George Mason University was closed due to the approaching Hurricane Sandy,

Senate Chair June Tangney organized a meeting by phone conference.

Present (by phone): Jim Bennett, Star Muir, Earle Reybold, Suzanne Scott, June Tangney. Associate Provost Janette Muir also participated on behalf of Provost Stearns.

I. Approval of Minutes – October 1, 2012: The minutes were approved as distributed.

II. Announcements

Rector Clemente will address the FS at the November 7^th meeting

III. Progress reports, business, and agenda items from Senate Standing Committees

A. Academic Policies – Suzanne Scott, Chair

Academic Calendar: The Registrar’s Office agreed to withdraw an earlier suggestion to begin classes a week earlier. Normally academic calendars were approved in three-year cycles. The Registrar’s Office asked if we could approve the academic calendar each year to which the AP Committee agreed. We will vote on the current 3 year calendar and as well as the change to yearly approval process on November 7^th meeting agenda.

Catalog Revisions on Residency Requirements: Proposed revisions were earlier distributed by email. Purpose is to standardize the language in three different places in the catalog, also for inclusion on the November 7^th meeting agenda.

We will defer discussion of two additional issues to our next meeting.

B. Budget and Resources – no report

C. Faculty Matters – no report.

D. Nominations – Jim Bennett, Chair

We are working on the Faculty Representatives to the BOV Research and Development Committees election; to distribute ballots soon. A huge slew of people are interested in serving on the committees. Two agenda items: David Kuebrich (CHSS) is nominated to serve on the External Academic Relations Committee and Lesley Smith (CHSS) to serve as Provost appointee to the External Academic Relations Committee.

E. Organization and Operations – Star Muir, Chair

Videoconferencing FS Meetings at the Mason Inn: We are playing voice mail tag with videoconferencing folks, including technical support.

Review of University Committee Reports: Working on reviewing reports for the last three years. Not clear if structures (overlap) with other new committees around the university; what other new committees are emerging, whether need to abolish some old committees.

IV. Other Committees/Faculty Representatives

· Faculty Handbook Revision Committee: Will request attachments for inclusion on the agenda.

· Report from the FS Task Force to Examine Agreements Between GMU and Private Donors: As the Executive Committee has not yet received the report, will defer to next EXC (November 19^th) meeting.

· Academic Initiatives Committee: Report to the Faculty Senate Regarding the Undergraduate Dual Degree Program with Moscow State University (October 2012) and Report on the Undergraduate Dual Degree Program between Moscow State University and George Mason University (May 2012) (Attachment A): will confirm Bob Johnston (Chair of the Academic Initiatives Committee) will attend November 7^th meeting.

· University Standing Committee Chairs Elected: David Anderson (Minority and Diversity Issues), Danielle Rudes (Effective Teaching)

· University Standing Committee Chairs Election Results Pending: Admissions, External Academic Relations, Salary Equity Study

V. Agenda Items for November 7, 2012 Faculty Senate Meeting

· Announcements: Rector Clemente to address the Senate

· Academic Policies: (1) Academic Calendar (2) Catalog Revisions on Residency Requirements

· Nominations: David Kuebrich (CHSS) is nominated to serve on the External Academic Relations Committee and Lesley Smith (CHSS) appointed as Provost appointee to the External Academic Relations Committee.

· Faculty Handbook Revision Committee (Other Committees/Faculty Representatives)

· Report from the Academic Initiatives Committee on Undergraduate Dual Degree Program with Moscow State University and the committee’s recommendations. (Other Committees/Faculty Representatives) (Attachment A)

· Mission, Vision, and Values Committee – Peter Pober, Chair (Other New Business)

VI. New Business, Updates, and Discussion

Special Meeting with VA Legislators: Three legislators attended, it was a very lively and interesting discussion. On balance they were optimistic about increases in higher education funding for the next year. The meeting was well-attended for an Arlington meeting.

Discussion: Should we have a meeting in Arlington each year, not necessarily with legislators? Might be difficult to get a quorum. Suggestion to promote better how to get there might have helped increase attendance; parking issues also in Arlington. We need to have a presence on the other campuses. Some faculty are not willing to travel from Fairfax to Manassas. There were only a few people there from the Arlington campus. Senators need better information to promote to our colleagues, to encourage attendance, in addition to meeting announcements.

Report/Resolution/Discussion of Background Check Policy: After some discussion, it was decided to ask the Faculty Matters Committee for its recommendation before including it as a meeting agenda item.

Respectfully submitted,

Meg Caniano

Faculty Senate clerk

ATTACHMENT A

Reports from the Academic Initiatives Committee:

Report to the Faculty Senate Regarding the Undergraduate Dual Degree Program with Moscow State University (October 2012) is posted on the Faculty Senate website at http://www3.gmu.edu/resources/facstaff/senate/MINUTES_FS_2012-13/Report_to_the_Faculty_Senate_Regarding_the_Undergraduate_Dual_Degree_Program_with_Moscow_State_University.pdf . Report on the Undergraduate Dual Degree Program between Moscow State University and George Mason University May 2012 is also posted on the Faculty Senate website at http://www3.gmu.edu/resources/facstaff/senate/MINUTES_FS_2012-13/AIC_Report_on_the_Undergraduate_Dual_Degree_Program_Between_Moscow_State_University_and_George_Mason_University.pdf