George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate
February 21, 2001
Senators Present: K. Alligood, K. Avruch, W. M. Black, L. Bowen,
B. Brown, L. Brown, J. Censer, R. Coffinberger, S. deMonsabert, E. Elstun, P.
Feerick, D. Gantz, E. Gunn, M. Holt, R.C. Jones, D. Kuebrich, C. Mattusch, J.
Moore, L. Rigsby, L. Rikard, L. Rockwood, S. Sanchez, J. Sanford, J. Scimecca,
A. Sofer, P. Stearns, P. Story, C. Sutton, J. Zenelis, S. Zoltek
Senators Absent: E. Baisten-Barojas, D. Boileau, P. Buchanan,
R. Carty, S. Cheldelin, R. Conti, M. DeNys, R. Diecchio, T. Domzal, R. Ehrlich,
J. Flinn, M. Ford, T. Fresz, K. Gaffney, H. Gortner, M. Grady, L. Griffiths,
G. Hanweck, K. Haynes, A.
Kolker, M. Krauss, L. Lederman, A. Merten, R. Nadeau, E. Price, R. Rubenstein,
S. Ruth, L. Seligmann, P. So, D. Struppa, C. Thomas, P. Wilkie
Guests Present: S. Beach, E. Carter, T. Perdiou, J. deFreitas,
S. Jones
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:05 pm by Chair Pro Tem, Don Gantz
II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of January 24, 2001 were approved.
III. Announcements
Glenn Smith, Professor, Music Department presented a eulogy for Tom Brawley,
a Professor of the Music Department who died February 11, 2001. The Faculty
Senate, in Dr. Brawley’s memory, held a moment of silence.
IV. Unfinished Business
None
V. Senate Committee Reports
Executive Committee
Don Gantz reported the Executive Committee met on February 19, 2001. In order
to form a strong liaison with the faculty and obtain faculty representation
on the George Mason Foundation Governing Board, Judith Jobbit has been invited
to the next Executive Committee meeting, March 19. Please let the Senate know
if any members have issues they would like discussed at this meeting. Peter
Stearns suggested a new policy for new faculty hires on tenure track. The policy
will be geared to newly hired Assistant Professors to have one semester off
from teaching in their first 5 years. The timing will be negotiable with the
individual. It will be made retroactive to Fall 1999 hires. Stopping the tenure
clock will be discussed with Deans and Directors. The Executive Committee of
the Senate expressed informing faculty “there should be no extra teaching
if taking part in the stoppage of the tenure clock”. There will need to
be continuity among units in this directive.
Academic Policies Committee
R. Chris Jones moved and the motion was seconded and
passed unanimously:
The senior level Air Force ROTC course at the University of Maryland-College
Park (ARSC 320/321), taken by George Mason students through the Consortium of
Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, shall be accorded three course
credits per semester in keeping with the credits given to Army ROTC at GMU.
Facilities Support Services and Library Committee – Stanley Zoltek
The Facilities and Support Services and Library Committee will meet after the
Spring Break to review Fenwick Fellow applications.
Technology Committee – Stanley Zoltek
Stanley Zoltek, Chair, contacted Joe Hutchison, Director of Central and Distributed
Systems (UCIS), regarding problems encountered by the Department of Mathematical
Sciences during the department’s migration to the new email system which
is part of the “Mason Enterprise Messaging Online” project. Email
accounts on the new “system were created for Department faculty and staff
and “activated” BEFORE faculty and staff received passwords to the
accounts or were notified that the accounts were receiving email.” This
resulted in messages not being read and responded to in a timely manner. This
problem has been resolved and Tracy Holt, Manager, E-mail Systems and Accounts
(UCIS) has reported the implementation of new procedures that should insure
that this problem would not occur again.
Faculty Matters Committee – Joe Scimecca
There is a misunderstanding in some sectors of the University about the Memorandum
of Understanding associated with Summer School compensation. The Faculty Matters
Committee will be working on this issue.
The Administrative Survey has been distributed and it is requested of senators
to encourage faculty in their departments to complete and return it to the Senate
Office. The Faculty Matters Committee and the Executive Committee of the Senate
guarantee anonymity.
Organization and Operations – Estela Blaisten-Barojas
No report
Nominations Committee – Rick Coffinberger
Reported on working on a list of senators to become a liaison committee with
the Board of Visitors. The slate presented was incomplete, and a complete slate
will be presented at the next senate meeting.
VI. Other Standing Committees
External Relations Committee
Ariela Sofer reported House Bill 2377 “Faculty representatives on college
boards” did not pass the state legislature. Delegate Landes has expressed
his desire to present it again next year. Items to be brought up at the next
Virginia Senate Meeting:
1. Resubmission of House Bill 2377
2. Concern of faculty of the TIAACREF reduction
3. Faculty salaries
4. Tuition remission for faculty dependents
It was noted that the Virginia Retirement System is also in jeopardy of a reduction.
R. Chris Jones suggested Pat Wilkie’s recent survey of faculty salaries
be brought to the legislators.
Senators are requested to send their suggestions for topics to be discussed
to Ariela Sofer for submission to the legislature.
Faculty Senate of Virginia – Esther Elstun
The next meeting of the Virginia Faculty Senate will be held at Norfolk State
University in Virginia Beach on March 24. This will be a joint meeting with
the AAUP. Esther Elstun, Don Gantz and Ariela Sofer will attend. The corporatization
of higher education will be discussed. Officers will be elected for next year
at this meeting.
Athletic Council – Larry Rockwood
The NCAA will be at GMU for its 10-year recertification at the same time the
SACS Committee visits GMU, which is 16 through 19 April.
General Education – Sheryl Beach
Presented General Education information to the Senate which she also presented
to the BOV in January, 2001.
Technology Committee – Stanley Zoltek
The Technology Committee met at 2:00 on Feb. 21, 2001. They will be contacting
Donna Kidd regarding the UCIS budget and will report to the Senate at the next
meeting.
BOV Faculty Awards and Incentives Committee
Jack Censer, Chair, History and Art History Dept. reported on the proposed Faculty
Awards and Incentives Committee. He will Chair this 10-member group that includes
representatives of the faculty, administration, and BOV. Other members of the
Committee are Sidney Dewberry, Jack Herrity, and James Miller of the BOV; Chris
Hill, Vice Provost for Research, Rita Carty, Dean of the College of Nursing
and Health Science, and Dee Holisky, Assoc. Dean for Academic Programs, from
the administration; and Jack Censer, Susan Trechter, English Language Institute,
Michael Dickerson, Communication, and an additional person to be named from
the faculty. It was requested by the senators that Jack Censer pass Pat Wilkie’s
study on to this Committee. P. Stearns said the committee is a calendar year
task force.
New Business
The C- grade was discussed and reported on by representatives from the Financial
Aid Office, and Susan Jones, Registrar. The C- and A+ will be deferred until
the new computer system is in effect which could be as late as Fall 2002 and
data can be
completed on line. The Director of Financial Aid, Jevita de Freitas reported
the students might lose financial aid with a grade of C-. The C- grade will
also lower GPA’s.
The meeting adjourned at 4:10 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Lorraine Brown
Secretary, Faculty