George Mason University
Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate
March 20, 2002
Senators Present: K. Avruch, J. Bennett, A. Berry, E. Blaisten-Barojas,
D. Boileau, B. Brown, P. Buchanan, S. Cobb, R. Coffinberger, R. Conti, M. DeNys,
M. Deshmukh, E. Elstun, P. Feerick, D. Gantz, H. Gortner, J. High, H.W. Jeong,
A. Kolker, D. Kuebrich, B. Manchester, H. Morgan, R. Nadeau, L. Pawloski, J.
Kozlowski, L. Rockwood, J. Sanford, J. Scimecca, L. Seligmann, S. Slayden, B.
Smith, P. So, A. Sofer, P. Story, B. Sturtevant, C. Sutton, S. Trencher, S.
Zoltek.
Senators Absent: W. M. Black, L. Bowen, L. Brown, R. Carty,
S. Cheldelin, T. Chorvat, Y. D. Chung, S. deMonsabert, J. Gorrell, M. Grady,
L. Griffiths, G. Hanweck, K. Haynes, R. C. Jones, R. Klimoski, M. Krauss, C.
Mattusch, A. Merten, J. Moore, W. Reeder, S. Ruth, P. Stearns, D. Struppa, C.
Thomas, P. Wilkie, J. Zenelis.
Guests Present: Robin Herron, Susan Jones, Stephen Kurtz, David
Rossell.
I. Call to Order
Chair, Don Boileau called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm.
II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of February 20, 2002, were approved.
III. Announcements
A moment of silence was observed in memory of Len Ozernoy, Professor of Physics,
College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Computational Sciences, who died
February 28, 2002.
IV. Unfinished Business
None
V. Senate Committee Reports
Senate Standing Committees
Executive Committee – Don Boileau
Judith Jobbitt, President of The George Mason University Foundation,
contacted Don Boileau, Chair, Faculty Senate to inform him that the Foundation
has a proposal to present to the Faculty Senate.
Phi Beta Kappa representatives were on campus March 6, 7 and 8 to speak with
representatives from Colleges and Schools at George Mason University for the
possible establishment of a chapter.
The Faculty Rewards and Incentives Committee of the BOV has presented its proposal
to the Senate. An open forum will be held on Monday, March 25, from 3:00 to
4:30 in the Harris Theater. The Board of Visitors has been invited to attend
but not to participate. The Faculty Senate Executive Committee will meet after
the open forum to prepare a response which will be presented to the Board of
Visitors. The Board of Visitors can call a special meeting on April 17 if they
feel it is necessary. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Visitors
is May 15, and they can call a special meeting June 12, if necessary. The Board
of Visitors has the prerogative of authorizing its Executive Committee of the
Board of Visitors to act on its behalf.
In addition to the May 1 Faculty Senate meeting an additional meeting may be
necessary on May 8.
Academic Policies – Esther Elstun
No report
Facilities, Support Services and Libraries Committee – Stanley Zoltek
Fenwick Fellows Program:
Announcements of the competition for Fenwick Fellows for academic year
2002/03 will be made shortly. The deadline for submission of applications by
faculty is April 12. An announcement of the committee’s selection(s) will
be made in early May.
Task Force on Liaison Librarian Program:
The University Librarian has appointed a task force of library staff
to conduct an assessment of the libraries’ Liaison Librarian Program.
The task force will be collecting information this spring. There will be separate
faculty and student focus groups, as well as a survey to sample about 300 faculty
members’ perceptions of the program. It is expected that the task force
will submit its findings and recommendations by the start of the Fall 2002 semester.
Renovations – Fenwick Library:
Architectural/construction plans have been developed for renovation of Wing
A and the first floors of Wings B&C of the library. Construction bids will
be opened on April 17. It is expected that most of the work will be done during
the summer months. Because the library lacks “swing” space to house
the bound periodicals and reference collections, it is expected that some of
these collections will be temporarily inaccessible during renovation. However,
library staff are cognizant of student and faculty needs during the summer academic
sessions, and they are developing plans to ensure provision of services and
access to research materials. In addition, new book stacks have been installed
on the upper floors of Wings B&C. Previously installed stacks were also
repositioned in Wing B to conform to floor load specifications and to meet ADA
regulations.
Budget Reductions, FY 2002 and FY 2003:
The University Librarian informed the committee about library budget reductions
during the current year and next fiscal year. Since these reductions are presently
viewed as a temporary financial set back, it is expected that library research
materials funds will be protected.
VIVA – Virtual Budget Reductions, FY 2003:
VIVA’s budget remains intact in the current fiscal year. However, it is
likely that there will be a reduction next fiscal year. This fact, along with
no increase to cover inflation and additional student FTE costs throughout the
state, will adversely affect VIVA’s budget. Consequently, some reductions
in the digital resources supported through VIVA will be required.
Faculty Matters Committee – Joe Scimecca
The Faculty Matters Committee presented the following motion:
Policy Statement on FT Instructional Faculty Teaching at Other Institutions
The following policy reflects the centrality of teaching at George Mason University
and the kind of energy and commitment teaching appropriately demands. It provides
the context for the attention to curriculum, assessment, and student contact
that high quality teaching entails.
Full-time instructional faculty are expected to teach full course loads (as
determined by their respective unit) unless they are granted release time for
research, administrative, and service functions or ‘buy down’ their
effort through sponsored program activities. Normally, this precludes teaching
as "instructor of record" for another educational institution during
the academic year. This stipulation excludes summer employment for nine-month
faculty.
Requests for exceptions, generally for reasons of professional growth, must
be submitted well in advance to the local academic unit head and the respective
Dean/Director. Approval, if granted, will normally apply only for one or two
semesters. As noted in the Faculty Handbook (section 2.11.8, page 32),
"full-time faculty who are consulting or who are teaching part-time at
another institution may not at the same time teach overload courses." Approval
of the request would be made with the understanding that the outside teaching
effort does not compromise the faculty member's professional responsibilities
to
George Mason University or create a conflict of interest. This policy also applies
to faculty on partial or full study leaves.
NOTE: FT research and administrative/professional faculty must
inform their supervisors and obtain approval, prior to accepting outside employment.
Hence, the above policy also applies to these employee categories.
The motion passed.
Organization and Operations Committee – Estela Blaisten-Barojas
The Committee met to determine the seat allocations for the Fall 2002 academic
year. Letters will be sent to Colleges, Schools and Institutes informing them
of their new allocations. The allocations are as follows:
College of Arts and Sciences – 24
College of Visual and Performing Arts & Institute for Conflict Analysis
and Resolution – 3
Graduate School of Education – 5
Information Technology and Engineering – 5
College of Nursing and Health Sciences – 3
School of Computational Sciences – 3
School of Law – 2
School of Management – 3
School of Public Policy – 2
The motion to accept the new allocations passed.
Nominations Committee – Rick Coffinberger
No report.
University Standing Committees
Technology Policy – Stanley Zoltek
No report.
Committee on External Academic Relations – Ariela Sofer
House Bill 538 – Faculty Representative to the Board for Community Colleges,
Local Community College Boards, and Boards of Visitors – failed in the
Senate committee. The vote was 5 to 10 opposed. Senator Mary Margaret Whipple
voted in favor of the bill. Senators Janet Howell, Richard Saslaw and Warren
Barry were opposed. Don Boileau reported the rationale for opposing the Bill
was that it is the legislators’ view that members should be invited to
these meetings, so there is no need for legislation.
Faculty Senate Liaison to the BOV
No report.
Ad Hoc Budget Crisis Committee – Rick Coffinberger
The latest report is the 2002-2003 budget shortfall will be $14M. The initial
proposal was to have a $7M internal budget cut along with a $7M tuition increase.
There will be money for faculty increases in the form of a bonus. It is currently
proposed there will be a 2.5% increase in the form of a merit increase which
will not become part of your base salary. The Board of Visitors’ Executive
Committee were meeting simultaneously on March 20 when this subject was being
discussed. The budget changes will not be firm until the General Assembly meets
on April 17, 2002.
A motion passed to discuss the Faculty Rewards and Incentives
Proposal with no action to be taken at this meeting. Jack Censer presented the
background of the committee report.
A motion passed to adjourn at 4:26 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorraine Brown
Secretary, Faculty Senate