GEORGE
MASON UNIVERSITY
MINUTES OF THE FACULTY SENATE
MEETING
SEPTEMBER 5,
2012
Robinson
Hall B113, 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
Senators Present: Scott Bauer, Sheryl Beach,
Jim Bennett, Alok Berry, Lisa Billingham, Doris Bitler Davis, John Cantiello,
Rick Coffinberger, Arie Croitoru, Charlene Douglas, Robert Dudley, Cody
Edwards, Janos Gertler, Mark Houck, Ghassan Husseinali, Dimitrios Ioannou,
Kathryn Jacobsen, Dan Joyce, David Kuebrich, Jian Lu, Jerry Mayer, Linda
Monson, Star Muir, Elavie Ndura, Peter Pober, Earle Reybold, Steven Rose, Jim
Sanford, Joe Scimecca, Suzanne Scott, Suzanne Slayden, Bob Smith, Peter
Stearns, June Tangney, Susan Tomasovic, Susan Trencher, Iosif Vaisman, Anand
Vidyashankar, Jenice View, Phil Wiest,
Stanley Zoltek.
Senators Absent: Kenneth Ball, Dominique
Banville, Andrea Bartoli, Ángel Cabrera, Jack Censer, Vikas Chandhoke, Lloyd
Cohen, Yvonne Demory, Daniel Garrison, Mark Ginsberg, Jorge Haddock, Bruce
Johnsen, Ning Li, Daniel Polsby, Thomas Prohaska, William Reeder, Edward Rhodes,
Pierre Rodgers, Mark Rozell, Lesley Smith, John Zenelis.
Visitors Present: Jessica Cain, Employee
Relations Specialist, Human Resources/Payroll; Jill Carter, Deputy News Editor,
Connect2Mason; Pat Donini, Employee
Relations Director/Deputy Director HR,
Human Resources/Payroll; Kim Eby, Associate
Provost for Faculty Development/Director,
Teaching & Faculty Excellence
Center; Esther Elstun, Professor emerita, Modern and Classical Languages;
Josh Eyler, Associate Director,
Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence;
Linda Harber, Associate Vice President, Human Resources/Payroll; Corey Jackson,
Director, Equity and Diversity Services;
Hannah Menchhoff, Reporter,
Connect2Mason; Sharon Pitt, Executive Director, Division of Instructional
Technology; Beth Roszkowski, University Libraries; Brian Selinksy, Interim
Associate Provost and University Registrar.
I.
Call to Order: The meeting was called to
order at 3:00 p.m.
II.
Approval of the Minutes of April 25, 2012: The
minutes were approved as distributed.
III.
Announcements
Chair
June Tangney welcomed everyone to the first Faculty Senate meeting of the
year. She welcomed our newly elected
faculty senators: Anand Vidyashankar
(Volgenau School of Engineering – Statistics); Jian Lu (College of Science -
Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences), Steve Rose (College of Health and
Human Services – Social Work), Janos Gertler (Volgenau School of Engineering –
Electrical and Computer Engineering), Lisa Billingham (College of Visual and
Performing Arts – School of Music), Jenice View (College of Education and Human
Development – Initiatives in Educational Tranformation), Mark Rozell (School of
Public Policy), and Ghassan Husseinali (College of Humanities and Social
Sciences – Modern and Classical Languages). Thanking them for their service, she also
noted there are two new ex-officio Senators:
Dean Ken Ball (Volgenau School of Engineering) and Dean Prohaska
(College of Health and Human Services).
Issues for consideration for academic year 2012 – 2013 – Provost Peter Stearns. On November 2-3,
Provost Stearns noted a significant conference on the history of Higher Education
will take place. Some invitations have
been sent out, and a general invitation to go out later. (See Provost Stearns’
Blog June 18, 2012 for more information).
With the
(upcoming) retirement of Jack Censer as Dean of the College of Humanities and
Social Sciences, there will be a major dean search. Last year there were two.
Provost
Stearns then focused on several specific points, including strategic visioning
and planning; expansion of distance and executive education; distributed
campuses in Prince William, Arlington, and Tyson’s Corner; global issues in Korea and India (see Global Problem Solving Consortium Brings the World a Little Closer); the honor code and scientific
misconduct; the new budget model; retention, recruitment, and faculty rewards.
As for the budget, “We received a little new money from the state this
year.” Yet over the past 6-7 years there has been a $3500 FTE funding cut. “We will work for but do not expect increase
in state funding or [tuition] relief.” Stearns stressed the need for funding sources
such as executive education, and other efficiencies needed. “We don’t know how deeply this will bite.”
Stearns emphasized that “most aspects of the university [are] in pretty good shape
with faculty and students.”
Questions and Discussion:
Honor Code: In
classrooms with theater seating, can see how difficult to dissuade students
from cheating. He uses multiple versions
of exams. Faculty who have taught
classes with 300-400 students can also offer suggestions. Provost Stearns
replied that our newer classrooms are a lot better, when state funding being
cut, typical classroom larger than before.
Testing Center: In
response to a question raised, Provost Stearns confirmed that we will get a
reliable testing center in distance education.
Research and
Scholarship Policy: Research
and scholarship policies were developed with heavy faculty involvement, and
hope to involve faculty in future.
Enrollment/Retention/Funding: What
is the decline in retention rate for out-of-state students? Provost Stearns responded that he has no
figures with him, but drop in out-of-state (retention rate) from 71.xx to
70.xx%.
A Senator viewed SCHEV,
Governor, state legislature, as encroaching.
Provost Stearns responded that the BOV made it clear that there were
limits to what (tuition increases) it would approve. Tuition increases lower than in recent past
statewide.
Where do we stand or
fall in per funding list for doctoral candidates? Provost
Stearns did not have data, did not have relative types, observed there is a
marked increase in legitimate need, and our ability to meet need is
decreasing/down.
Do we lose state
funding if university enrollment targets are not met? Provost Stearns: “ we had deficiencies in
transfers, graduate students, freshman class bigger, and well within SCHEV
parameters, no funding lost. Some enrollment area are down (e.g. law)
statewide.
Several students
expressed concern about out-of-state tuition rates in exit interviews. Provost Stearns replied that we are looking
at this, the VP for Enrollment Management has (suggestions) for questions to
include.
Distance
Education/Classroom Space: Are faculty using Blackboard as on-line
teaching experience rather than in regular way?
Provost Stearns responded that we need to know about this to assign
classrooms and inform accreditation (or?).
Chair Tangney thanked Provost Stearns and
continued with the following announcements.
·
The
Society of Phi Beta Kappa has approved establishing a chapter at George Mason
University!
·
Budget
Forum – Monday, September 10, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Meese Conference Room , Mason Hall
with Provost Stearns and Beth Brock
(Associate Vice President/Controller, Fiscal Services)
·
Chair
Tangney encouraged Senators to meet our new president and encourage your
colleagues to attend.
President
Cabrera Town Hall Meetings with Faculty:
·
Fairfax: Wednesday, September 19th, 10:30
am – 12:00 p.m., Harris Theater
·
Prince
William: Wednesday, September 19th, 1:30-3:00 p.m., Verizon Auditorium
·
Arlington: Thursday, September 20, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.,
Theater Space
·
Appointments:
·
Bob Smith
(CHSS) to serve as faculty representative to the Space Advisory Committee
·
Faculty
Senate Officer appointments;
Chair Tangney also announced Faculty Senate
Officer appointments for 2012-13:
·
Star Muir
(CHSS) reappointed to serve as Faculty Senate parliamentarian
·
Bob Smith
(CHSS) to serve as Senate chair pro tem.
·
Linda
Monson (CVPA) and Dan Joyce (CVPA) to serve as Sergeants-at-Arms
IV. Unfinished Business - none.
V.
New Business - Committee Reports
A. Senate Standing Committees
Executive
Committee – June Tangney, Chair
We will be moving into an
exciting period of planning, goals and missions. (She encouraged faculty involvement).
Academic Policies – no report.
Budget &
Resources – Jerry Mayer
We continue to look at independent
study and family leave policies. We just
received an estimate of $160K/year to be included into budget request for 2014.
Faculty Matters – Jim
Sanford, Chair
In presenting the
following report on the Criminal Background Check Policy, Chair Sanford thanked
Senator Dave Kuebrich, Linda Harber and Jessica Cain of Human Resources for
their assistance.
Criminal Background Check
George Mason University is modifying University Policy
Number 2221 (Criminal Background Investigations). The new policy will require all new employees
and all current employees who change positions to undergo criminal background
checks. The old policy specified the
employment categories and offices that require such checks. They included all staff and most
administrative faculty positions. Due to outside certification requirements,
faculty teaching in the College of Health and Human Services and the College of
Science were also subject to background checks.
The new policy will extend the check to all new faculty, staff, and
admin faculty for whom a check has not been completed in the last three years,
including those who leave the university and then are rehired. Employees who are simply promoted in their
present positions will not be required to have a background check
completed. Also, anyone who signed a
contract with the university prior to June 25 is exempt from a check unless it
was already part of their hiring process.
According to Linda Harber, Associate Vice President and CHRO
of Human Resources and Payroll , all major universities in Virginia except Old
Dominion University either presently have a policy like the new one being
implemented or are in the process of implementing one. The change in policy at Mason and some other
institutions is, in part, the result of the recent incidents at Penn State.
The policy change was developed by Linda Harber and senior
administrative staff. The first major
planning meeting occurred on April 5, 2012.
With the unfolding revelation of child molestation at Penn State, there
was some urgency to complete the process quickly. Faculty and staff were not invited to
participate in the planning process. Any
concerns or feedback with the policy can be shared with Jessica Cain
([email protected]) in Employee Relations.
The background check process occurs as follows. As part of hiring or position-changing, the
employee must agree to a criminal background check. That action is a condition of employment or
job change. The university then uses the
services of an online company named HireRight. This company completes (a) a Social Security
Trace which reveals the names and addresses associated with the social security
number, (b) a search of the Sex
Offenders Registry and Prohibited Parties (terror watch) List, and (c) a
criminal search that reveals felony and misdemeanor convictions (not arrests or
accusations) within the last seven years.
Minor traffic violations are exempted.
Once the check is complete, results are kept in a locked file in HR,
apart from the individual’s personnel file, and never shared with a third party
under any circumstances. Jessica Cain
and Christine Harchick in HR Employee Relations are responsible for initiating
the checks.
The cost to the university varies between about $42 and $70
per check, averaging about $50, and this is paid centrally, not from the budget
of the hiring unit. The total annual
cost for completing this process is difficult to estimate. According to Jessica Cain, the university had
about 500 new hires last year, meaning the cost for this category of employee
is about $25,000. However, this number
does not include present employees who changed positions and staff/volunteers
associated with camps.
If the search results in the finding of a criminal
conviction or other issue, the individual will have a confidential one-on-one
meeting with a member of Employee Relations.
This meeting allows the employee the opportunity to verify the results
and inform Employee Relations of any ongoing appeals. Concerns can potentially be discussed with
the position’s supervisor and, if deemed necessary by the department, with
individuals higher on the employment chain and the university’s General
Counsel’s Office. A negative finding
would not normally result in non-hiring or non-promotion. Usually, unless the conviction occurred in an
area that might compromise the ability to complete the individual’s assigned
duties, the person would be hired or the job change would go through.
The change in the policy is not the result of any
significant problems at Mason. No
faculty and only a small number of staff have been released or not hired as a
result of criminal background checks.
The reason for most of those is that the individuals did not disclose
their convictions. Disclosure is
required by both the old and new policies.
In addition, there have been no cases to date in which a successful
candidate has refused to approve a check and therefore not been hired.
Discussion:
In response to concerns
about the confidentiality of the procedure, Senator Sanford noted the Faculty
Matters Committee is satisfied that confidentiality is being “carefully kept.” The results are not released and are not kept
with the personnel file. Both the old
and new policies require if you are convicted of a crime, you have five days to
report it.
A Senator asked: What
about speeding tickets?
Senator Sanford: No, not (applicable to) minor traffic
violations, not sure how they define minor traffic violations. Another Senator observed it may depend on the
type of tickets, such as DUI, speeding, etc.
Jessica Cain:
If it rises to a misdemeanor or felony, it will show up; would cover
DUIs and things of that nature.
Senator Kuebrich not sure what the Faculty
Matters Committee’s position is, and he requested the Faculty Senate to ask the
appropriate administrator(s) to reconsider and amend this policy. Faculty were not consulted, he said, and AAUP
opposes blanket security checks on faculty until specified – such as financial checks. Nothing in this policy, he said, would have “prevented
Penn State.” He has two objections to
the policy: (1) Language for faculty who
are convicted and appealing conviction; need for faculty committee or
participation; (2) Exemptions for Civil Disobedience – citing faculty arrested
in melee on behalf of students.
Another Senator asked if a cost estimate in
place for hiring of private company? Are
consequences imagined? What about
someone who had a DUI conviction years ago who we want to hire?
Pat Donini:
We have been using this company already; it is centrally funded,
departments do not pay for it. She added
that violations greater than seven years (ago) are unlikely to come up.
Follow Up:
Who gets the information?
Pat Donini:
To the vendor – issue more about whether applicant is telling the
truth. Did they omit information?
Depends on job, a DUI in grad school will not be an issue. Human Resources will not pass this
information on at all. We were the only
university which did not do background checks when I arrived here nine years
ago. Within a two month period, most
schools who had not been doing background checks on all faculty were swept up
with the storm, not sure if applies to ODU.
Public (universities) in Virginia are doing what we are doing today,
mirroring our best practices.
A Senator asked how all convictions under a
common name (such as Bob Smith) are handled?
Also faculty hiring under Faculty Handbook and faculty committees such
as tenure committees.
Pat Donini:
Federal Law requires looking at multiple common names and other checks.
Another Senator noted that part-time faculty
hired (to work with high school students under 18 years of age) also had to
have background checks. He praised Human
Resources staff associated with this as very helpful with the process; amazing,
thorough process.
Several Senators suggested this policy be
referenced in the Faculty Handbook, with assurances for faculty already
here.
A Senator asked: What about cases in which someone is not
hired? Legal trend in private sector is
going away from this. It also has
disparate impacts on minority community.
Pat Donini:
in letter listed as a condition of employment. Usually communication going on before this. In DC/federal area, probably all have
background checks in this area. If not
job related, more as an honesty device.
A Senator affirmed reference to Faculty
Handbook : “makes a lot of sense to me.”
Also noted, Rector Volgenau asked
the University Counsel to deliver color-coded contractual and aspirational
parts of the Faculty Handbook. This has
not been delivered
The Staff Senate also wishes to be included in discussion of this policy.
The Faculty Evaluation
of Administrators survey will be available later in the semester. One change from last year: we used to send all Faculty Senators a paper
copy, will not distribute paper copies unless requested, will continue to send
paper copies to BOV and other categories.
Please let Meg know if you wish to receive a paper copy.
Nominations – Suzanne Slayden, Chair
Chair Slayden thanked everyone for
volunteering. (See VI. Other New
Business/A. Elections)
Organization &
Operations – Star Muir, Chair
Questions regarding changes to the
academic calendar were referred to the Academic Policies Committee. We are pulling together a committee charge
for a Task Force to address access to email and research data, anticipating its
work to conclude at the end of this academic year.
B. Other
Committees – no report.
VI.
Other New Business
A. Elections
September 2012 Faculty Senate Nominations
Committee Report
The
Committee on Nominations presents the following nominations for AY 2012-2013:
SECRETARY of
the SENATE: Earle Reybold (CEHD) . No further nominations were
made from the floor and the nomination was approved unanimously.
FACULTY SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES
(2-year terms; all members are Senators)
ACADEMIC
POLICIES:
Continuing Members: Sheryl Beach (COS), Ning Li
(SOM), Suzanne Scott (CHSS)
Nominees: Dominique Banville (CHED), Cody Edwards (COS)
BUDGET AND
RESOURCES
Continuing Members: Charlene Douglas (CHHS), Jerry Mayer (SPP)
Nominees: Janos Gertler (VSE), Jenice View
(CEHD), Phil Wiest
(CHSS)
FACULTY MATTERS
Continuing Members: none
Nominees: Lisa Billingham (CVPA) (1-year
term to fill a vacancy), Scott Bauer (CEHD), Steven Rose (CHHS), Mark Rozell
(SPP), Jim Sanford (CHSS)
NOMINATIONS:
Continuing Members: Rick Coffinberger (SOM), Suzanne Slayden (COS)
Nominees: –
Three vacancies; nominations must come from the floor. Five nominations were made and
seconded:
Jim Bennett (CHSS), Yvonne Demory (SOM), Linda
Monson (CVPA), Peter Pober (CHSS), and
Pierre Rodgers (CEHD). Paper ballots were distributed. Jim Bennett, Linda Monson, and Peter Pober
were elected.
ORGANIZATION
AND OPERATIONS:
Continuing Member: Elavie Ndura (CEHD)
Nominees: Arie Croitoru (COS), Robert Dudley (CHSS), Star Muir
(CHSS), Bob Smith (CHSS)
The nominations to the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
were approved and the nominees elected.
UNIVERSITY
STANDING COMMITTEES
(Members and nominees in bold type are Faculty Senators;
2-year terms unless otherwise noted)
ACADEMIC
APPEALS
Continuing Members: Flavia Colonna (COS), Michael
Naor (SOM), Johannes Rojahn (CHSS)
Nominees: Sheri Berkeley (CEHD), Peter
Pober (CHSS)
Provost
Appointee:
Michael Hurley (CHSS)
ACADEMIC INITIATIVES
Continuing Member: Robert Johnston (SOM)
Nominees: 1-year term: Elizabeth Chong (CHHS), Wayne Froman (CHSS)
2-year term: Craig Esherick
(CEHD), Iosif Vaisman (COS)
Ex Officio: Anne Schiller, Vice President for Global and International
Strategies
ADMISSIONS
Continuing Members:
Marion Deshmukh (CHSS), Jeng-Eng Lin (COS), Hung Nguyen (CHSS)
Nominees: M. Hasan Aijaz (LAW), Susan
Tomasovic (CHSS)
Dean of Admissions Appointee:
ATHLETIC
COUNCIL (4 elected members)
Continuing Members: Robert Baker (CEHD), Cody
Edwards (COS)
Nominees: Louis Buffardi (CHSS), Rich Klimoski (SOM)
Presidential Appointee: Linda Miller (Chair, Faculty
Athletic Representative)
EFFECTIVE
TEACHING
Continuing Members: Paul
Gorski (CHSS), Ramin Hakami (COS), Danielle Rudes (CHSS)
Nominees: John Cantiello (CHHS),
Timothy W. Curby (CHSS)
EXTERNAL
ACADEMIC RELATIONS
Continuing Members: Alok Berry (VSE), Arie
Croitoru (COS), Elavie Ndura (CEHD)
Nominees: Mike Dickerson (CHSS), John Riskind (CHSS)
FACULTY HANDBOOK REVISION COMMITTEE (3-year term)
Continuing
Members: Lloyd Cohen (LAW -
2013), Richard Miller (CEHD -2014), Suzanne Slayden (COS - 2013)
Nominee: Kevin Curtin (COS)
GENERAL EDUCATION (8
elected members, 3-year term)
Continuing Members: Kelly Dunne (CHSS - 2014), Doug
Eyman (CHSS - 2013), Mack Holt (CHSS - 2014), Hugh Sockett (CHSS - 2013), Mark
Uhen (COS - 2014)
Nominees: Dominique Banville (CEHD),
Rebecca Ericson (COS), Frank Allen Philpot (SOM)
Provost Appointees: Rick Diecchio (COS), Kim Eby (Assoc. Provost), Janette
Muir (Assoc. Provost for Undergraduate Education, Chair), Cliff Sutton (VSE),
Carol Urban (CHHS)
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE
Continuing Member: Cody Edwards (COS)
Nominees: 1-year term: Rick
Coffinberger (SOM)
2-year term: Doris
Bitler Davis (CHSS), Paul Houser (COS), Mike O'Malley (CHSS)
MINORITY and DIVERSITY ISSUES COMMITTEE
Continuing Members: David Anderson (CEHD), Xiaomei Cai (CHSS), Hazel McFerson (CHSS), Michael
Mink (CHHS)
Nominees: Jian Lu (COS)
NON-TRADITIONAL,
INTERDISCIPLINARY, and ADULT LEARNING
Continuing Members:
Cynthia Lum (CHSS), Carole Rosenstein (CVPA), Ray Sommer (SPP)
Nominees: Nada Dabbagh (CEHD), Kathryn Jacobsen (CHHS)
SALARY EQUITY
STUDY COMMITTEE (3 elected members)
Continuing Member: Margret Hjalmarson
(CEHD)
Nominees: Eden King
(CHSS), Lesley Smith (CHSS), Catherine Wright (CHSS)
TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Continuing Members: Andy Finn (CHSS), Nirup Menon (SOM),
Nigel Waters (COS)
Nominees: Alok Berry (VSE), Pallab
Sanyal (SOM), Stanley Zoltek (COS)
Provost Appointee: Goodlett McDaniel (CHHS)
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Continuing Members: Greg Robinson (CVPA), Miruna Stanica (CHSS), Sharon Williams von
Rooij (CEHD)
Nominees: Benedict Carton (CHSS), Charlene
Douglas (CHHS), Tamara
Maddox (VSE), Arthur Romano (S-CAR), Stanley
Zoltek (COS)
Vacancy: (SOM)
Ex Officio: Sarah Baker, Director, WAC Program
Sia Rose-Robinson (SOM) was nominated; the nomination
was seconded and approved unanimously.
The nominations to the University Standing Committees
were approved and the nominees elected.
B. Conflict of Interest Policy
See Attachments A and B. Chair Tangney explained that it was necessary
to move this through quickly because of federal deadline requirements, so it
was not considered by the Faculty Senate before. The floor is open to discussion. A Senator requested a brief summary of
academic policies changed be provided at the beginning of the academic
year. Nicole Snyder is the new
University Policy Manager in the Office of University Counsel. Another Senator inquired whether this is
provided as FYI or for endorsement?
Provost Stearns responded as FYI unless you have concerns. No concerns were expressed, Chair Tangney
thanked Provost Stearns for the FYI.
C. Resolution of Appreciation for Marion
Deshmukh
WHEREAS Phi Beta Kappa, the preeminent academic honorary
society in the liberal arts, has approved the establishment of a chapter at
George Mason University; and
WHEREAS the University, its Faculty, and, especially,
Mason’s students benefit from this action; and
WHEREAS, Prof. Marion Deshmukh of the Department of History and
Art History was primarily responsible for shepherding Mason’s
application through a lengthy, detailed, and arduous process that required
extensive time and effort;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate, on behalf
of the General Faculty, expresses its gratitude to Prof. Deshmukh.
A Senator proposed to
amend the motion to insert “and Art
History” in the third whereas after “Department of History”. The amendment was seconded and the resolution
was unanimously approved as amended.
VII.
Remarks for the Good of the General Faculty
Congratulations
to Chair June Tangney as she has done a very good job in her first meeting as
chair!
A
Senator introduced Visitor Karen Alcalde; Chair Tangney welcomed her.
Chair
Tangney thanked all the volunteers to the Senate and University Standing
committees and reminded the Senate committees to meet briefly at the end of the
meeting to select a chair.
The
Grand Piano Celebration with Senator Linda Monson will take place on Sunday,
September 16th at 3:00 p.m. at the Center for the Arts.
Senator
Susan Trencher continues to serve on the Faculty Food Committee. Please email
me to communicate any concerns.
VIII.
Adjournment :
The meeting
was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Earle Reybold
Secretary
ATTACHMENT A
Financial Conflicts of Interest in Federally-Funded Research: Policy Number 4010
is posted on the Faculty
Senate website at
http://www3.gmu.edu/resources/facstaff/senate/MINUTES_FS_2012-13/Policy_4010_Draft_061212.pdf
ATTACHMENT B
Appendix to Financial Conflicts of Interest in Federally-Funded
Research: Policy Number 4010
Is posted on the Faculty Senate website at
http://www3.gmu.edu/resources/facstaff/senate/MINUTES_FS_2012-13/Appendix_to_4010.pdf