Senators Present:  K. Alligood, K. Avruch, A. Berry, E. Blaisten-Barojas, D. Boileau, L. Bowen, T. Brawley, B. Brown, L. Brown, R. Coffinberger, J. Crockett, S. deMonsabert, M. DeNys, E. Elstun, T. Friesz, K. Gaffney, D. Gantz, H. Gortner, M. Holt, R.C. Jones, A. Kolker, M. Krauss, L. Lederman, B. Manchester, J. Metcalf, J. Reid, L. Rigsby, L. Rikard, J. Sanford, J. Scimecca, L. Seligmann, P. So, A. Sofer, C. Sutton, E. Thorp, H. Tongren, S. Weinberger, H. Williams, J. Wood, J. Zenelis, S. Zoltek

Senators Absent:  R. Carty, J. Censer, S. Cheldelin, R. Davis, T. Domzal, R. Ehrlich, J. Flinn, G. Galluzzo, M. Grady, L. Griffiths, E. Gunn, J. Hale, D. Kuebrich, M. LeBaron, A. Merten, J. O'Connor, L. Rockwood, D. Struppa, C. Thomas, P. Wilkie

Guests Present:  J. Boatwright, IV (Student Senate), A. Cary (CNHS), L. Irvine (Provost's Office), S. Jones (Registrar's Office)

I. Call to Order

Chair Don Boileau called the meeting to order at 3:04 PM.

II. Approval of Minutes

The Minutes of the September 15, 1999 Faculty Senate Meeting were approved as distributed.

III. Announcements

D. Boileau announced that the announcements had been distributed via e-mail. In addition, he announced that two new Senators have joined the Senate: Linda Rikard (GSE) replaces Robert Ruhling, and Martin DeNys (CAS) fills a the final CAS vacancy.

Joseph Boatwright (Student Senate) announced that the Student Government will be having someone attending the Faculty Senate meetings to evaluate the Faculty Senate and try to learn from it's proceedings. Additionally, the Student Senate holds open meetings every Thursday at 4:30pm in a SUB II VIP Room. Please feel welcome to attend if you are interested or available.

H. Gortner announced that there will be a forum on University Governance on Tuesday, November 16, from 3-5pm in the SUB II Ballroom. Expected participants include a member of the AAUP, the Association of Governing Boards, Board of Visitors member Edwin Meese (or another member) and Faculty Senate Chair Don Boileau. The event is open to the public, and Senators are encouraged to attend.

D. Boileau announced that he intends to distribute copies of Governor Baliles' statement concerning Boards of Visitors to Senators.

E. Elstun announced the recent publication of an article by Lawrence Eagleburger, George W. Johnson and others about the role and responsibilities of Boards of Visitors at Virginia's public colleges and universities.

IV. Unfinished Business

1. Motion on Faculty Senate Meeting Location (from 9/15)
M. Krauss introduced the motion: That the Faculty Senate meet at least once during each academic year, at the Arlington campus and at the Prince William campus. In addition, some information regarding parking and transportation issues were brought up to address initial concerns. Carpools (using GMU vans if necessary), arrangements to accept Fairfax stickers at the Arlington campus and other items were mentioned as possibilities for eliminating potential objections to locating meetings away from the Fairfax campus. Discussion opened to the floor, and the point was raised that the location of the meetings is not the issue as much as providing faculties from all campuses the opportunity to see and understand the perspectives of the other campuses. This change could help improve the sense of unity and collegiality of George Mason and its growing campuses. In contrast to this point, it was expressed that the location doesn't provide a better perspective of the various campuses, and that if expanding understanding is the main point, then this could be better accomplished through other functions than Faculty Senate meetings.

The logistics were the main objection to the motion. Specifically, there was concern about the affect that moving meetings would have on attendance and the possible question of a quorum (so the May meeting will only be held on the Fairfax campus). Additionally, it was raised that it would be an inconvenience to the majority of the Senate to hold meetings on the other campuses, so a motion to amend was made and seconded, that the Faculty Senate meet at least once during each academic year at either the Arlington campus or the Prince William campus. This amendment would acknowledge the spirit of the original motion without inconveniencing the majority of Senators. The vote required a show of hands, and the motion to amend passed by a 21 to 12 vote. The point was raised and asked to be reflected in the minutes that the Spirit of the Motion is to rotate the meeting off the Fairfax campus between the other two campuses, so that the meeting alternates from year to year. A vote was called for on the main motion, and the main motion passed as amended.

V. New Business

A. Report of the Provost Search Committee
M. Holt reported that Peter N. Stearns of Carnegie Mellon University was named the new Provost. M. Holt indicated that some skepticism existed regarding the Committee's task in finding the best candidate, because of the rapid time-frame and President Merten's choosing to Chair the Committee himself. M. Holt indicated that both concerns proved to be unwarranted: the quick time-frame forced a very critical examination and provided a rapid "weeding out" process to locate the best candidates; and, President Merten did not force his decision on the Committee, and that actually the candidate which the Faculty Senate supported and recommended was selected by the President.

B. Committee Reports

1. Executive Committee
D. Boileau reported that J. Wood had responded to the Summer School Salary Report and that all Senators should have a copy of that response. The matter was referred to the Senate Executive Committee by the O&O Committee. Additionally, D. Boileau reported that there will most likely be a public hearing on the proposed reorganization of Public Policy prior to the November 17 Faculty Senate meeting. He indicated that a proposal is being worked on, and that more information would be made available. There will be a public distribution of the proposal. Additionally, there will be a hearing on the IB3/CSI merger proposal as well. Finally, Joy Hughes, VP for Informational Technology, will be invited to the November Senate Meeting to discuss the slowness of logging in to the University network.

Questions followed regarding the Summer School Salary issue, and it was noted that even though the Summer School budgets are out, there is a process for readjusting them throughout the year. J. Wood stated that he rejected the Senate motion from the Special September 29 Meeting, and he believes that the money already exists to give the faculty what was agreed to in 1996. Furthermore, he encouraged each Senator, and faculty member, to work at the unit level to establish a better utilization of money allocated to units for Summer School salaries. He reiterated that the money exists, and stated that bad management of that money in the past resulted in some faculty being denied funds. A Senator asked why the Provost didn't direct Deans to act according to a Provost instruction to improve management of the resources allocated for Summer School salaries. J. Wood replied that he has shared his response to the Senate's motion with the Deans, and that he will monitor their actions.

Additional questions and comments were raised regarding the implications of the budget process already being underway, and the possible affects on Summer 2000. It was noted that changes for Summer 2000 could still be made following the future work of the Senate Executive Committee with the Provost. The question of a one time stipend to compensate those who did not earn the 10% was raised, and J. Wood stated that he would take it under advisement but would not commit to additional funds at this time. Several Senators then wanted to go on record to be assured that the shortfall of 10% would not occur again this year or again pursuant to the agreement which was reached several years ago.

2. Academic Policies Committee
E. Elstun reported that the Committee meetings are open and will be held on Mondays 11/1, 11/15, and 11/29 at noon in the Public & International Affairs Conference Room in Robinson A. The Committee is currently considering five referrals from the Provost: 1) consideration of reduced course loads for certified disabled students; 2) use of a standard form for reporting incomplete grades; 3) restriction of final exams to finals week; 4) review of the syllabi of Military Science 300 and 301 for academic credit; and, 5) request to accept Air Force ROTC work from the University of Maryland for credit. In addition, the Committee is considering a change in grading policy to include A+ and C-, which was referred by O&O.

J. Sanford reported that he has completed a review of the syllabi of ROTC courses already getting credit, and pending some minor changes, they should be approved for credit. Additionally, he has been working with Colonel Broehm and J. Wood to identify and separate work which justifies academic credit. J. Sanford has been working as a faculty member for J. Wood, not as a Senator, and will therefore remove himself from the Committee's actions on approval of this matter.

3. Facilities and Support Services Committee
S. Zoltek reported that he has been contacted directly with requests for action, and has instructed the various people to submit their requests to O&O for proper handling. No future meeting of the Committee has been scheduled, and will not be, until the Committee is referred some business.

4. Faculty Matters Committee
J. Scimecca reported that the raw data from the Evaluation of Administrators has just been made available due to a personnel change in Institutional Analysis.

5. Nominations Committee
A nominee was sought from the floor to fill the vacancy on the Nominations Committee. Robert Ehrlich was nominated, hearing no other nominees, a motion was made to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for R. Ehrlich. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The Committee had no other business to report.

6. Organization & Operations Committee
There was no report at this time.

7. Senate Liaisons to the Board of Visitors
A. Sofer reported that the Board of Visitors met on September 21. The complete text of her report to the Senate can be found as Attachment A to these Minutes.

8. Representatives of the Faculty Senate of Virginia
A. Cary handed out a written report. Copies of the entire report are available in the Faculty Senate Office. The following is a summary of that report:

Dr. Karl Schilling, Deputy Director of SCHEV:
SCHEV is hosting a statewide development initiative- the Virginia Academy on Oct. 28-29 to nominate faculty from each university to enrich their notion of teaching in the liberal arts. Nominations come from the Provosts. The program details are on the SCHEV website.

Search for the director of SCHEV has begun with advertisements- Closing date is October 31st. Ad specifies PhD is not required for the position. (Attendees questioned this characteristic of the search parameters).

Funding formula for each university will ultimately have 6 performance criteria which are equally weighed. Measures are to be piloted before application. Workgroups are being assembled to work on these measures. See website for information on the measures.

Implementation of the Va. Plan is being planned. FSV requested more formalization of the faculty liaisons positions and input with the SCHEV staff. SCHEV interested in projecting policy for the next 5 years other than the Va. Plan and sought input. Issues raised included: distance ed providers, integration of distance ed with on campus providers, reward systems for Presidents to plan duplication of concentrations, studying marketing segmentation for distance and on campus ed, studying demand for formal lifelong learning needs and certificate programs, professional development needs of faculty and staff,
note taking services & intellectual property, faculty load calculations for WEB courses, globalization of the state campuses,
workforce and skillmix of faculty and statewide faculty development, retention formulas for funding.

Next meeting of the FPAC (Faculty Presidents Advisory Council) with SCHEV is Nov. 19.

FSV has three priority areas: Faculty participation in institutional governance; student needs; and legislative relations. FSV members were reminded of the importance of working with the staff of the funding committees of the Va. Legislature immediately.

Board of Visitors: it was explained that it was illegal to be a voting member of the BOV at the institution where employed (Va. Code). However, a faculty advisor to the BOV is permissible and the degree of participation by the advisor is decided by each BOV.

Past Governor Baliles was presented and awarded by FSV. Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) will be reporting out by December 31, 1999. Legislative Talking Points distributed (see handout).

FSV will be organizing media dissemination activity in the form of OP ED pieces in four areas: BRC report from a faculty perspective, Affirmative Action, Distribution of faculty time, and Funding Formula and Performance Measures .

UVA: Stand on affirmative action discussed. (see copy of the UVA resolution). FSV passed a motion to commend UVA and a second motion to endorse equal opportunity and diversity in the classrooms of Va. Institutions of Higher Education. Issues from each of the campuses were presented.

H. Tongren asked if there was any discussion of faculty members being a non-voting member of the BOV? The response indicated that it was addressed and that a first step to that goal would be the advisory position which was identified in their report.

9. Committee on External Academic Relations
The Committee will be meeting on Monday, October 25. There is nothing to report at this time.

VI. Other New Business

1. The Writing Across the Curriculum Committee has not met yet and is waiting for the selection of its final member, which must be from SOM. Qualified and interested SOM faculty should contact a member of the Nominations Committee for consideration.

2. The Admissions Committee will be meeting again on November 8, and selected Yariv Ephraim as the Committee Chairperson. The Committee has been discussing the issue of recruiting better students.

3. L. Bowen indicated that last Spring the Faculty Senate was called "elitist" by some BOV members and that was wrong. However, he feels that each Senator needs to make their faculty more aware of what the Senate does and of what each Senator does. He encouraged each Senator to improve the perceptions of the Senate by keeping closer contact with the people whom we are meant to represent.

4. K. Avruch asked about any plans for UCIS to charge faculty and students for internet access. E. Elstun responded that when Keith Segerson reported to the Senate a few semesters ago, his reply to that was "not as long as he has a say in UCIS matters" but it is an issue which could be raised with Joy Hughes at the November Senate meeting.

VII. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:18pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Donald T. Gantz, Secretary
GMU Faculty Senate

The BOV held its first meeting of the year on September 21. Three new visitors, Sidney Dewberry, John (Jack) Herrity, and Manuel Johnson have joined the board, to replace Connie Bedell, Janice Golec, and Marvin Murray, who have completed their terms.

In their first item of business, the Academic and Academic Affairs Committee reelected Joan DiGennaro as Chair and Edwin Fuelner as Vice Chair. Visitor DiGennaro then proceeded to give the Chair's Report. Two important topics, the confederation of CSI and IB3, and the issue of policy studies are currently under serious discussion, with Len Pomata serving as Board liaison on the former and Jim Miller and Scott McGeary as liaisons on the latter. DiGennaro noted that the discussions between TIPP Director Kingsley Haynes and CAS Dean Struppa on policy studies are moving forward amicably, and they have issued a joint working paper. She further noted that by the Faculty Handbook, any organizational decisions regarding two separate collegiate units require involvement of the Faculty Senate.

Another issue of priority is performance measures. SCHEV has issued a set of measures but some measures, such as the undergraduate graduation rates are not appropriate for GMU. For this reason the University is developing its own internal measures. Linda Schwartzstein is working on establishing these measures and has already presented a draft proposal to the board. At the same time the Deans and Directors have been charged with developing performance measures for their own units by the end of this semester.

Yet another priority issue is General Education. The Committee will be meeting Thursday October 21 3:30 at PWI I 153 to discuss the topic. Visitors DiGennaro and Fuelner are the Board Liaisons for this issue.

Next on the Agenda was Proposal for a Ph.D. degree in history. DiGennaro reminded board members that they should consider their fiduciary responsibility in making a decision. She asked them to pay attention to a number of issues that could be of concern to them. A major focus of the program is new media - yet do we have a sufficient focus on US history and western civilization? She noted that six of the faculty members specialize in women studies, several more in art history, in film and new media, and wondered if there are holes in the curriculum. Acting Provost JoeWood, Dean Struppa, and History Chair Jack Censer responded, emphasizing the reputation of the department in new media, the strength of its faculty, the strong external support letters for the program, and the new opportunities that the program could bring. Student representative Gerard Stegmaier spoke passionately and eloquently in favor of the program. Finally, Rector Meese called the question and the committee voted unanimously in favor of the program.

The Finance and Resource Development dealt with the University Biennium Budget submission to the State. The University is requesting a $20 million increase in budget. President Merten envisions the increase going into four major thrusts: academic policy enhancements, technology in instruction and workforce development, academic support (scholarships, student services), and improved university operations. Some Board members expressed concern that they had not had sufficient opportunity to review the request, but they were assured that once the State awards an increase, the University is free to adjust line items, so that the Board would still have further say on the actual budget allocations. With that, the committee approved the request.

In the meeting of the Full Board, Visitors heard a report from President Merten, and approved all committee recommendations. The Board outlined their priorities for the year. These are: general education, technology, public policy programs, capital campaign, marketing & public relations, student life - and in particular, housing, parking and customer service - performance measures, budget, and the law school.

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