George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate
September 12, 2001

Senators Present: K. Avruch, J. Bennett, A. Berry, E. Blaisten, D. Boileau, B. Brown, L. Brown, P. Buchanan, Y. David Chung, S. Cobb, R. Coffinberger, R. Conti, S. deMonsabert, M. Deshmukh, E. Elstun, H. Gortner, J. High, H.W. Jeong, D. Kuebrich, J. Moore, H. Morgan, R. Nadeau, L. Pawloski, T. Friesz, J. Kozlowski. L. Rockwood, J. Sanford, J. Scimecca, L. Seligmann, S. Slayden, B. Smith. P. So, A. Sofer, P. Stearns, P. Story, B. Sturtevant, C. Sutton, C. Thomas, S. Trencher, P. Wilkie, S. Zoltek

Senators Absent: W. M. Black, L. Bowen, R. Carty, S. Cheldelin, T. Chorvat, M. DeNys, J. Gorrell, M. Grady, L. Griffiths, G. Hanweck, K. Haynes, R. C. Jones, R. Klimoski, A. Kolker, M. Krauss, C. Mattusch, A. Merten, W. Reeder, S. Ruth, D.
Struppa, J. Zenelis

Guests Present: Robin Herron, Narissara Luadlai, Mary Lee Vance, Sheryl Beach, Betty Edwards, Karen Whitt, Neelam Sharma, Susan Jones

I. Call to Order
Chair, Don Boileau called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm. He welcomed everyone to the new academic year.

II. Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of May 1, 2001 and the continuation meeting of May 9, 2001 were approved.

III. Announcements
David Anderson, GSE conducted a eulogy for Gayle Hamilton, Center for the Advancement of Public Health. The Faculty Senate in her memory observed a moment of silence. D. Boileau will write a letter of condolence to her family from the Faculty Senate.

A moment of silence was also observed for the casualties of the tragedy the United States experienced on Sept. 11.

Susaki and Associates, the consulting firm hired by the University, has requested a meeting with the Senate on the Master Plan of the University. The Senate has requested a morning meeting on September 26.

The General Faculty Meeting will take place on September 20 at 3:30 pm. This will be an all university meeting, including students, staff and faculty. The Master Plan will be presented which includes anticipated growth to 30,000 students. The Quality of Life report will also be presented.

Susaki and Associates have plans for new buildings, additional parking and a proposed bridge across route 123 if the student enrollment reaches 45,000 students.

IV. Unfinished Business
The Faculty Senate meeting schedule for 2001-2002 was approved and adopted.

D. Boileau thanked the current chairs of the Executive Committee for their service. The Executive Committee established an agenda for the coming year. The Executive Committee is comprised of Faculty Standing Committee Chairs.

The Faculty Senate of Virginia has requested a donation from the George Mason University Senate to support a higher education forum in the fall of 2001.

Committee Reports

Academic Policies Committee – Esther Elstun
This Committee met with Linda Schwartzstein, Vice Provost for Strategic Planning, to discuss the proposed mid-term grading policy. The Academic Policies Committee urged a postponement of this new policy because of logistical problems. The Provost, Peter Stearns responded, but declined to postpone the policy. A compromise was reached between the Academic Policies Committee and the Provost to report mid-term grades this fall. However, any faculty member who finds it impossible to turn in mid-term grades in 100-200 level courses this fall will not be admonished. Only beginning spring semester will there be follow-up of faculty in courses at these levels who do not turn in mid-term grades. As faculty work to implement the policy, they may report any comments or suggestions to the Academic Policy Committee of the Faculty Senate.

Facilities and Support Services – Stanley Zoltek
The University has proposed dial up lines to be discontinued in October. The Faculty Senate needs an opportunity to discuss this before this change occurs.

Faculty Matters Committee – Joe Scimecca
The results of the Administrative survey completed in Spring of 2001 will be out in the next few weeks.

Organization and Operations – Estela Blaisten-Barojas
The two items of business pending are the dial up lines, which are expected to be discontinued in October, and finding a Gen Ed student representative.

Nominations Committee – Rick Coffinberger
A slate of nominees was distributed via e-mail on September 11. The Senate may nominate from the floor for all vacancies. The following is the slate of nominees as revised on the Senate floor.

Faculty Senate Standing Committees:
Academic Appeals Committee – 2 vacancies
Continuing Members – Roberta Conti, Pat Wilkie, Pat Story
Elected: Esther Elstun, Suzanne Slayden

Facilities and Support Services and Library Committee – 1 vacancy
Continuing Members – Pat Wilkie, Jerry Hanweck, Hal Gortner
Elected: Stan Zoltek, Jean Moore

Faculty Matters Committee – 1 vacancy
Continuing Members – Martin deNys, Joe Scimecca, Jim Sanford, Sharon deMonsabert
Elected: Larry Rockwood

Nominations Committee – 4 vacancies
Continuing Member – Larry Bowen
Elected: Ariela Sofer, Charles Thomas, Rick Coffinberger, Jim Bennett

Organization and Operations Committee – 4 vacancies
Continuing Members – Phil Buchanan
Elected: Estela Blaisten-Barojas, Robert Smith, Kevin Avruch, Betty Sturtevant

University Standing Committees
Academic Appeals Committee – 3 vacancies
Continuing Members – Julie Christensen, Bob Nadeau, Suzanne Slayden
Elected: Jim Bennett, Jeng Lin, Michael Krauss

Athletic Council – 3 vacancies
Continuing Members – Gerald Cook, Jennifer Sherwin
Elected: Karen Oates, Cliff Sutton, John Crockett

Admissions Committee – 2 vacancies
Continuing Members – Alok Berry, Bruce Manchester, Steve Saperstone, Eddie Tallent
Elected: Anna Baraniecki, Mary Ann Dzama

Effective Teaching Committee – 1 vacancy
Continuing Members – Karen Studd, Steve Ruth, Lisa Pawlosky, Alok Berry, Dan Rothbart
Elected: Susan Trencher

Committee on Communication with the BOV – 1 vacancy
Continuing Members – Sharon deMonsabert, Carol Mattusch, Robert Nadeau, James Trefil
The election of this committee was postponed until the next meeting, October 3. It will come up under Old Business.

Committee on External Academic Relations – 4 vacancies
Continuing Members – Jack High, Hal Gortner
Elected: Esther Elstun, Ariela Sofer, Harriet Morgan, Toni Travis

General Education Committee – 4 vacancies (plus two Provost appointees, and one student representative)
Continuing Members – Sheryl Beach, Anita Taylor, Linda Miller, Hal Gortner, Rick Coffinberger, Carol Litchfield
Elected: Dave Kuebrich, Robert Ruhling, Lisa Pawloski, Mack Holt
Sheryl Beach announced this Committee will meet on September 19 in D5 Mason Hall from 3:30 – 5:00.

Grievance Committee – 2 vacancies
Continuing Members – Paul So, Terry Friesz, Joe Reid
Elected: Linda Kalof, Linda Samuels

Minority and Diversity Issues Committee – 2 vacancies
Continuing Members – Sylvia Sanchez, Tojo Thatchenkery, Linda Seligmann
Elected: Claudia Kilmer, Ho-Won Jeong

Non-Traditional, Interdisciplinary and Adult Learning Committee – 5 vacancies
Continuing Members – Joel Foreman
Elected: Robert Hawkes, Tracie Good, James Kozlowski, Richard Entrikin, Alok Berry

Salary Equity Study Committee – 3 vacancies, one of which is from the University Equity Office
Continuing Members – Elyse Lehman
Elected: Jim Metcalf and Rick Coffinberger

Technology Committee – 2 vacancies plus a provost designee
Continuing Members – Stan Zoltek, Bob Nadeau, Egon Verheyen, Jim Bennett, Steve Ruth
It was moved and seconded to postpone the election of this committee until the Oct. 3 meeting of the Senate. Present members were urged to remain active. Motion passed.

Writing Across the Curriculum Committee – 3 vacancies
Continuing Members – Jim Finkelstein, Leo Rigsby, Georgine Redmond, Alison O’Brien, Terry Zawacki
The election of this Committee was postponed until the next Senate meeting on October 3. It will come up under Old Business.

Johnson Center Policy Board – no vacancies
Continuing Member – Larry Rockwood

The Nominations Committee will present the following slate of nominees for the one Faculty Senate Ad Hoc Committee:
Task Force on Teacher/Course Evaluations – 9 vacancies (1 from each College/School) plus 2 Provost appointees.
Elected: Hugh Sockett (CAS); Minder Chen (SOM); Jim Gentle (SCS); Mark Addelson (SPP); David Chung (CVPA); Terry Choryat (Law); Charlene Douglas (SNHS); John Miller (IT&E); Charles Thomas (GSE)

Secretary of the Faculty Senate
Elected: Lorraine Brown

V. New Business
The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate met on September 10, 2001. Two concerns were forwarded to the Executive Committee. Drs. Bob Nadeau and Pat Storey will present a motion at the continuation meeting (Sept. 19) concerning the new state policy, which plans to install software for computer surveillance purposes. Carol Mattusch will present a motion at the continuation meeting regarding the University discontinuing dial-up lines.

It was moved and seconded to recess this meeting and reconvene on Wednesday, September 19. Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,
Lorraine Brown,
Secretary, Faculty Senate

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