GEORGE MASON
UNIVERSITY
APPROVED
MINUTES OF THE FACULTY SENATE
March 18, 1998
Senators present: A. Berry, E. Blaisten-Barojas, D. Boileau, L. Bowen,
R. Conti, M. De Nys, M. Deshmukh, E. Elstun, J. Flinn, D. Gantz, J. Hale, D.
Kaplan, J. Metcalf, L. Miller, S. Muir, J. O'Connor, A. Palkovich, W. Perry, D.
Potter, R. Ruhling, J. Scimecca, A. Sofer, J. Tangney, A. Taylor, E. Thorp, K.
Vaughn, S. Zoltek
Senators absent: P. Black, R. Carty, K.
Clements, J. Crockett, T. Domzal, S. Eagle, G. Galluzzo, M. Grady, L.
Griffiths, A. Merten, E. O'Hara, J. Reid, D. Rine, J. Sanford, D. Struppa, C.
Thomas, T. Travis, J. Walsh, S. Weinberger, P. Wilkie
Guests present: S. Bailey (Campus Ministry), J. Bullock (Student
Senate), L. Butler (ARTH), E. Chandhoke (Library), L. Irvine (Provost’s
Office), S. Jones (Registrar’s Office), J. Lin (Math), M. Vance (Academic
Support & Advising)
I. Call to Order
Chair
Esther Elstun called the meeting to order at 3:07 pm.
II. Approval of Minutes
The
Minutes from both the February 18 Faculty Senate Meeting and the Special Called
Meeting of the Faculty Senate (March 4) were approved.
III. Announcements
E.
Elstun announced and welcomed the addition of Jane Flinn (PSYC) to the Faculty
Senate. Ms. Flinn replaces Cynthia Fuchs for the remainder of her term.
E.
Elstun also announced that in accordance with the Senate’s instruction from
the March 4, 1998 Meeting, copies of the Faculty Senate’s Resolution on Football
were delivered to Rector Murray, President Merten and each member of the Board
of Visitors. Additionally, a letter was sent to JoAnn DiGennaro,
chair of the BOV’s Student Affairs Committee, requesting a place on their
March agenda to orally present the Faculty Senate’s Resolution to the Board
of Visitors. DiGennaro responded that
the Senate could not orally present its position. Furthermore, she explained that the only oral
testimony to be given at the meeting was by a panel of experts who would respond
to questions from the Committee. Additionally,
DiGennaro urged that the Faculty Senate’s position be submitted for circulation
in written form as she is requesting that all comments be in written documentation
to expedite the testimony at the meeting.
At Ms. DiGennaro’s suggestion, E. Elstun contacted Vice President Scherrens
for additional explanation. Scherrens explained that due to the emotional
nature of the issue, the Committee decided not to have an open microphone.
Since it would not be fair to allow one group (the Faculty Senate,
for example) to be represented orally and deny other groups, the Committee
came to the decision of no additional oral testimony.
Vice President Scherrens also expressed his hope that a large number
of faculty would be present at the March 24 Meeting.
E.
Elstun announced that the BOV Student Affairs Committee Meeting (at which
football is an agenda item) will be held from 7:00-9:00pm on Tuesday, March
24, in Mason Hall, Room D3 A&B. All Senators and faculty members who can attend
are asked to do so.
IV. Unfinished Business
B. Committee Reports
2. Academic Policies Committee (from
Feb. 18)
Motion
One,
regarding observance of religious holidays, is meant to represent a current
practice. Discussion of the motion continued. It is not within the Senate’s power to form
policy on religious practice because of the conflict between church and state.
In response, it was noted that the motion does not address religious
practice, but only a policy to guide faculty in the prudent allowance of absenteeism
for religious holidays. Further discussion stated that the determination
of acceptable absences should be left to the individual professor rather than
a potentially challenged action by the Senate, and the Committee responded
that it was in direct response to student concern that this issue was being
addressed. A vote on the motion was
called for and the motion passed as
amended. (See Attachment A for
the final version of the passed motion.)
Motion
Two from the Committee moved that the line “Completed Honors Program in General
Education” be added to the transcripts of students who successfully complete
that program. There was no discussion
of the motion and it was moved and passed as presented.
Motion
Three regarding transcripts and diplomas of students who earn honors
in their major be marked “with Honors” following the degree and major was
read and discussion followed. In addressing
a question over eligibility for the “with Honors” notation, the Committee
responded that responsibility falls on individual departments, not the Registrar
to decide upon eligible students. After
further discussion, the Committee amended the motion deleting the phrase “and
diplomas” and a vote was called for on the issue.
The motion passed as amended.
(See Attachment B for the final version of the passed motion.)
6. Organizations and Operations Committee (from
Feb. 18)
The
Committee withdrew the original motion and presented a substitute motion to
modify the charge of the University standing Non-Traditional, Interdisciplinary,
and Adult Learning Committee (NIAL) to:
To advise and collaborate with the Provost on
academic matters on all campuses related to continuing education programs that
involve multiple academic units, including approval and oversight of
certificates, distance learning courses, summer sessions, contract courses, and
the Testing Center.
A
vote on the motion followed several brief comments and the motion passed.
The second motion, concerned with modifying the ex-officio membership
of the Effective Teaching Committee to be “the Provost’s designee,” drew no
comment and the motion passed.
V. New Business
A. Committee Reports
1. Executive Committee
E. Elstun reported that Duke Perry had given the
Committee an informational report on the GMU Foundation. Particularly of interest was that he thought
it likely that the Board would like to include faculty representation in the
Foundation. Additionally, E. Elstun
reported that there is a special meeting of the Committee with the Provost
to review a list of proposed restructuring changes and identify any changes
which would require Senate involvement.
2. Academic Policies Committee
There was no new business to report from the Committee.
3. Facilities and Support Services Committee
S.
Zoltek reported that the Committee helped Ken Bumgarner’s group on housing
to review housing contract proposals.
4. Faculty Matters Committee
D.
Boileau reported that evaluation of the Administration will be conducted via
the WEB, and a paper version of the evaluation will also be made available.
The form will be revised in April and a report will be made during
the Summer. D. Boileau also reported
that as a result of GMU’s lost sexual harassment case, Debra Bergoffen is
working on approximately nine changes to the University’s policy on this subject
and the Committee will have a motion for consideration at the May meeting. D. Boileau also reported the Committee is investigating
faculty interest in a potential early retirement buy-in cost of living adjustment.
5. Nominations Committee
The
Committee is considering term lengths for members of the Salary Equity Committee.
6. Organizations and Operations Committee
E.
Blaisten-Barojas presented the first of two motions for consideration.
This motion concerned the incorporation of an ad hoc Senate committee
(Diversity Issues Committee) into a standing university committee (Minority
Affairs Committee) with a change in name, charge and membership. The motion created a “Minority and Diversity
Issues Committee” as a university standing committee with five members. The change was suggested because the Diversity
Issues Committee terminates in May 1998, and the present membership of the
Minority Affairs Committee expires in September 1998. The suggested changes would allow an entirely
new elected body to begin in the Fall. Following some discussion of the proposed changes, an amendment
to the charge of the new committee was passed and the new charge reads:
To represent and articulate Minority and Diversity
concerns and to work in concert with the Equity Office, Minority Students
Services Office, other pertinent administrators and campus organizations in
developing and implementing means to ensure nondiscrimination, tolerance,
and protection of the rights of all persons affiliated with the University;
to facilitate dialogue among those connected with the University and those
in the broader community on matters concerning minority populations and diversity
issues.
Further
discussion of the issue led to the possibilities of having two separate university
standing committees or combining the two but keeping the membership at the
current level of both committees currently. Speaking for the O&O Committee, E. Blaisten-Barojas stated that
the committee did consider the large decrease in membership before making
its recommendation, but decided that a committee of seven is too large and
too slow. With significant overlap
of the two existing committees, it makes sense to combine them to form a single
committee to handle the workload. A
vote was called for, and the motion
passed with one objection.
The
second motion of the O&O Committee moved to transform
the ad hoc Grievance Committee to a university standing committee with a modified
charge. Establishing a Grievance Committee
(university standing committee) would provide an organization to address issues
outside the parameters of individual academic units.
Furthermore, the new committee would address the charges that do not
fall under any local academic units’ charge.
It was stressed that the new committee would not be an appeals committee
above local academic units, strictly a body to review matters not covered
at any local academic unit. A vote was called, and the motion passed without objection.
The
O&O Committee presented a report on allocation of seats for the 1998-99
Faculty Senate. The 1998-99 Senate will operate under a new
membership size, representing the first change in elected membership size
in almost 25 years. Units eligible
for Faculty Senate Representation should be notified. Copies of the Apportionment for the 1998-99 Faculty Senate Representation
are available in the Faculty Senate Office.
7. Senate Liaisons to the Board of Visitors
The
Liaisons moved to add the February Report to the minutes of this meeting,
the motion passed and the report is included as Attachment C.
8. Representatives of the Faculty Senate of Virginia
The
representative reported that the acting Director of SCHEV and the General
Assembly assessed that core requirements and general education need improvement. Also, that the drug and alcohol problems on Virginia campuses should
be addressed in-house. Additionally,
the use of community colleges for work force training needs to be addressed,
and more technological and engineering training should be accomplished by
universities to improve work force preparation and technological literacy
for all gradutates.
9. Other Committees
a.
Ad Hoc Post Tenure Review Procedures Committee
A.
Sofer asked that the discussion of this committee be moved to the April Faculty
Senate Meeting. Senate Chair Elstun identified that it would
be carried to unfinished business in the April meeting.
b.
Library Committee
The
annual report of this committee identified that the deadline for the receipt
of applications for the Fenwick Fellowship was extended to April 10 because
of mail problems. Also, the issues of fundraising, planning and
resources were discussed and scheduled for further discussion. Finally, the search for the Director of Libraries
is completed, with the names of the three finalists having been forwarded
to Joy Hughes for final consideration.
VI. Other Business
E.
Elstun reminded the Senate that all committees need to report at least once
a year, and that the May meeting is the final opportunity.
VII. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 pm.
The AP Committee moves that the following statement
regarding observance
It
is the policy of George Mason University to make every reasonable effort to
allow members of the University Community to observe their religious holidays
without academic penalty. Absence from classes or examinations for religious
reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the
course work required during the period of absence. Students who expect to miss
classes, examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of their religious
observance shall be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to
complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to
provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of major religious holidays
on which they will be absent. Faculty
should be sensitive to religious observances in their construction of class
schedules and syllabi.
Attachment B -- Approved Motion
from the AP Committee
The
AP Committee moves that the transcripts of students who earn honors in their
major be marked with the phrase "with Honors" following the degree
and major.
The George Mason University Board of Visitors
met on both January 20 and 21, 1998. The
Student Affairs Committee met the evening of the 20th - report was presented
at the Faculty Senate Meeting of January 21.
All other committees met during the following day culminating with
the full Board meeting at 5:00 pm. Action
items that were presented during their respective committee meetings and approved
by the full board included the following:
·
Changing
the name of the Department of Geography and Earth Systems Science to Department
of Geography and Earth Science
·
Changing
the title of the degree B.A. in Speech Communication to B.A. in Communication
·
Proposal
to create B.S. in Computer Engineering
·
Conferred
Professor Emerita of Physics status on Dr. Eugenie V. Mielczarek
·
Proposed
legislative amendments
·
Higher
Education Revenue Bonds Resolution (to build the auditorium at PW)
·
Room
and Board Rates for 1998-1999 (no changes to room rates, about a 1% ($20) to board rates)
·
The
sale of 0.64 acres of GMU property to the City of Fairfax
Respectfully submitted R. O.
Ruhling, A. Sofer, E. Elstun
Faculty Senate Liaisons to
the GMU Board of Visitors