GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
MINUTES OF THE FACULTY SENATE
October 15, 1997
Senators Present: Boileau, Bowen, Conti, De Nys, Deshmukh,
Elstun, Gantz, Hale, Kaplan, Metcalf, Miller, Muir, O'Connor, Palkovich, Perry,
Ruhling, Sanford, Scimecca, Sofer, Struppa, Tangney, Taylor, Thorp, Travis,
Vaughn, Weinberger, Zoltek
Senators Absent: Berry, Black, Blaisten-Barojas, Carty, Clements,
Crockett, Domzal, Eagle, Fuchs, Galluzzo, Grady,
Griffiths, Merten, O'Hara, Potter, Reid, Rine, Thomas, Walsh, Wilkie
Guests Present: T. Dimock (University Publications), C. Gibson
(GMU Libraries), L. Irvine (Office of the Provost), S. Jones
(Registrar), M. Vance (Academic Support & Advising Services), J. Wilkinson
(Student Senate).
I. Call to Order
Elstun called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm.
II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the September 17, 1997 meeting were approved as distributed.
III. Announcements
l. Elstun reported that GMU was represented by Richard Bolstein, Ann Cary and
herself at the Public Forum sponsored by the Faculty Senate of Virginia in Roanoke
on October 2, 1997. A report of that forum was distributed to those present.
Copies of the report are available in the Faculty Senate Office.
2. Elstun introduced Lillian Chalkley who has assumed the duties of Faculty
Senate Staff Secretary effective October 15, 1997.
3. Elstun welcomed new Senators, June Tangney (CAS) and Karen Vaughn (CAS).
The Faculty Senate roster will be updated to reflect these members.
IV. Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
V. New Business
A. Presentation on University Services by Kenneth Bumgarner
Mr. Bumgarner focused his presentation on the partnering of Student Services
with Auxiliary Services to form University Services. He stated that the role
of University Services is still being defined and emphasized the need to have
faculty input on service improvement, evaluation of existing services, and development
of new programs. He explained that privatization, characterized by partnerships
with the University, is an important theme in University Services. Addressing
the concerns about problems this semester with the Bookstore, Mr. Bumgarner
said that he had the commitment of the Corporation President that the problems
encountered this fall will not happen again and that University Services will
be receiving weekly and monthly reports from the Corporation. Mr. Bumgarner
outlined University Services' goals for this year as restructuring by being
more inclusive; creating campus transitional teams; annual reviews of services;
and workshops addressing concerns. His organization will be trying to get the
word out about what University Services is and will be concentrating on promptly
fielding inquiries. Mr. Bumgarner pointed out that an important component of
University Services is providing student job opportunities. Currently, University
Services provides over 332 student positions on campus.
B. Committee Reports
l. Executive Committee
Elstun reported that most of the meeting was devoted to Chris Hill's report
on Intellectual Property issues. A draft proposal on Intellectual Property policies
will be presented at the November meeting.
Elstun reported speaking with the Provost concerning a contemplated organizational
change involving consolidation of some centers into new institutes having representation
in the Senate. Further discussion was deferred pending substantial
revision of the proposal which had been floated.
2. Academic Policies Committee
De Nys reported that during their two meetings the Committee considered a number
of issues under academic standards, policies for religious holidays and the
formulation of criteria for honors programs in the University.
3. Facilities Support & Services Committee
Zoltek reported that the Committee would be meeting after the Senate meeting
today. They will be considering bookstore
concerns, issues related to off campus computer access, problems with the LAN
and the forwarding of calls to off campus numbers.
4. Faculty Matters Committee
Under new business, Boileau distributed the motion to create an ad-hoc
committee to investigate the compensation and working conditions of part-time
faculty which had gone out as an addendum to the meeting agenda. The Committee
will introduce the motion as new business.
The Committee asked the Senate Chair to approach President Merten with a request
to provide appeal committee members with an explanation in the event that an
appeal recommendation by the appeal committee is not accepted. A lack of feedback
in such instances dampens faculty willingness to serve on appeals committees.
The Chair agreed to carry this request forward.
Other issues being addressed by the Committee include planning this Spring's
Evaluation of Administrators and looking into the timing of annual raises.
5. Nominations Committee
Taylor reported that the committee had completed their task of filling the vacancies
on the Ad Hoc Grievance Committee. The following have accepted the
one year appointment: Ronald Levy, Jack High, Marion Deshmukh, D. Berhofen and
Mary Silva.
6. Organization and Operations Committee
Travis reported that the committee is studying the conversion of the Grievance
Committee to a standing committee. The Committee is clarifying its list of pending
items with last year's O&O Chair.
7. Senate Liaisons to the Board of Visitors
The September 23, 1997 Board of Visitors meeting was attended by Sofer and Ruhling.
They have prepared a report which is included as Attachment A to these minutes.
Questions were raised about allowing students' written evaluations of faculty
to become public information and also concerning who was handling this issue
for the Senate. Star Muir provided some feedback concerning discussions being
held by the Committee on Effective Teaching. The Committee on Effective Teaching
was asked to submit a report for the November meeting.
8. Ad Hoc Committee on Review of the Senate Charter
Gantz presented the Motion to approve the proposals set forth
in the Report for amending the Senate Charter. It was noted that President Merten
would need to call a General Faculty meeting to approve the amendments. Gantz
made the following editorial changes to the proposal: All language restricting
who can vote for Senators was stricken from the proposal; hence eligibility
criteria for voting for Senators is to be determined by each local academic
unit. Also, the first sentence in Article I, Paragraph B of the proposed Charter
wording was stricken; that sentence referred to pooling Institutes. In the following
sentence "Institute Pool" is replaced by "Unit Pool." An
amendment was moved and passed to eliminate the restriction
that "No one collegiate unit may have more than fifty percent of the membership."
A suggestion was made to strike holding the total of elected Senators at 50
and instead use some kind of criteria that lets the number of Senators float
while keeping proportional representation fixed. Discussion followed on the
ratio of Senators to overall Faculty and also on the need for broader representation
on the Senate to include other than full-time faculty. A motion was
made, seconded and passed to postpone further discussion until the
November meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.
ATTACHMENT A: Report of Senate Liaisons to the Board of Visitors
Report on the September Meeting of the Board of Visitors
The BOV's September session began in the evening of September 23 with a meeting
of the EEO and Affirmative Action Committee. The topic of the meeting was GMU's
admission policies, and whether GMU can be subject to legal actions on racial
grounds. The Board heard presentations from Earl Ingram, Vice President and
University Equity Officer, Jeffrey Brandwine, Assistant VP, Legal Affairs, and
Patricia Riordan, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions. The primary considerations
for acceptance are academic achievement, and are based on transcripts, SAT scores,
and ratings on essays and an interview.
Additional "plus factors" such as ethnicity, legacy, leadership,
volunteering, and special talents are secondary. In addition, GMU allows for
some flexibility in the size of the entering class. Thus, while race can be
a subsidiary consideration, it is never the determining factor in the admissions
decisions. In conclusion, Board Members expressed their clear assessment that
GMU is compliant with the law of the land.
The meeting of the Student Affairs Committee was, as usual, quite eventful.
One highlight was the introduction of the student leaders. The students presented
their goals for the coming year, under the slogan "getting results."
These include five major thrusts:
(1) Making public the students' comments on the faculty course evaluations.
(2) Gaining a sense of community; the students specified football, a 24-hour
study lounge, and improved facilities for student life as factors that would
help achieve this.
(3) Campus security.
(4) Equitable funding from Richmond.
(5) Parking.
Another highlight was, of course, football. Senior Vice President Maurice Scherrens
provided an analysis of the expected costs of competing at the Division I-AA
nonscholarship level in the Northeast Football League. Sherrens had been asked
by the Board in its March Meeting to work with ICA Director Tom O'Connor, Football
Coach Joe Pascale and Club Football advocate John McGeehan to reach an agreement on the costs. Scherrens estimated
that the annual football direct costs would be $350,000, and the total estimated
cost, including facilities improvements and subtracting revenues would be $950,000.
Following this presentation, McGeehan made a presentation. McGeehan claimed
that in a survey he had conducted, 7000 students had stated that they would
agree to a $10 increase in student fees, to support football. He claimed that
he could obtain support for indirect costs from local businesses, and that some
support would also come from the NCAA. He expressed the view that the Title
IX issues are manageable. In closing , he asked members of the football team,
about 15 players and several coaches to rise. As the young men stood, they were
given the opportunity to speak, and they urged the Board to support football
at GMU.
Following this presentation, the Committee instructed the University to develop
a plan of action for Division I-AA nonscholarship football at GMU. The Committee
requested that the plan include a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of football,
including financial analysis, facility requirements, student and faculty support,
student fee impact, gender equity and liability. The committee conducting this
analysis should include representatives of the faculty, students, the athletic
department, NCAA, as well as McGeehan. The Board plans to discuss the plan either
in the November, or the January meeting.
The following day of meetings was held at the Prince William Campus. The day
started off with a meeting of the Finance and Resource Development Committee,
who discussed a number of financial matters. Then, in a joint session with the
Faculty and Academic Affairs Committee, Board members heard an update on the
establishment of a GMU Intellectual Property Foundation. The Faculty and Academic
Affairs Committee also approved a proposal by the Provost to consolidate the
Programs in International Studies and Government and Politics, into a single
program titled Government and International Politics. The Committee also approved
several Faculty Actions, and heard presentations by four of the Deans.
Activities in the meeting of the full Board included the Presidents report,
Committees's reports, and approval of all action items taken by the committees.
Among other, the Board approved the election of the following Committee Chairs
and Vice Chairs:
EEO and Affirmative Action: Visitor Olson, Kristal
Faculty and Academic Standards: Visitor Meese, Dobriansky
Finance and Resource Development: Visitor Bedell, Fink
Lands Use and Physical Facilities: Visitor McGeary, McQuigg
Student Affairs: Visitor DiGennaro, Cooper
Following the meeting, The Board proceeded to participate in the Prince William
Campus Dedication Ceremony.