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University Senate
MEMORANDUM
Date: October 24, 2002
To: The Academic Community
From: James M. Anthony, Secretary
Subject: October 21, 2002-Meeting of the University Senate
The second meeting of the University Senate reconvened on October 21, 2002 in Rooms 314-316 of the University Union. The meeting was called to order at 4:08 p.m. by Chairperson Norma Holter.
Professors Blake, Chen, Tabak, and Whitman were absent. Professors Lu and Sullivan, Interim President Jones and Vice Presidents Parker, Harnage, and Rubin were excused. Student member Hutchinson was absent. Student member Crusante was excused.
The first item of business was continued discussion of the composition of the University Promotion and Tenure Committee.
Chairperson Holter distributed two documents: a. copy of proposed changes to the Faculty Handbook regarding the University Promotion and Tenure Committee dated 4/13/99. Included in this document is the following statement:
"V. University Committee Structure and Process A. The University Promotion, Tenure/Reappointment, and Merit Committee shall be composed of seven faculty members: one member elected from each college and one appointed by the senate. Members serve three-year terms beginning June 1 and ending May 31 of their third year. Meetings will be scheduled at least monthly during the academic year."
b. a copy of the minutes of the University Senate of May 3, 1999 at which Motion 98/99.28 "To revise and replace the promotion and tenure policies and practices in the following sections in the Faculty Handbook: "Towson University Policy on Faculty Evaluation for Promotion, Tenure/Reappointment, and Merit" (Chapter II, pp. 28-62 ) and the "Towson University Qualifications and Procedures for Promoting to Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor Extraordinary Faculty Who do not Hold a Terminal Degree" (Chapter Two, pp. 72-75.) in which these changes were described. The minutes show that the motion passed unanimously.
Apparently this change was presented as a Handbook change, but after the action was taken, though the Handbook was changed, the By-Laws were never changed.
Professor Gallagher inquired if a change in the make-up of the University P & T Committee at this point would risk the credibility of the P & T process of faculty for this year. Provost Leather said she didn't think so since the University P & T Committee only deals with procedure and not evaluation of faculty.
Professor Zimmerman moved, Ms. Berlanstein seconded a motion: To change the By-Laws Section P. Composition of Standing Committees, 14. "The University Promotions and Tenure Committee shall be composed of seven elected faculty members not concurrently members of college or school promotions and tenure committees, and the Provost ex officio."
to: "The University Promotion, Tenure/Reappointment, and Merit Committee shall be composed of seven tenured faculty members: one member elected from each college and one appointed by the senate. Faculty members may not be concurrently serving as members of College P & T/Reappointment, and Merit Committees. The Provost or designee will serve in an ex officio capacity but may not vote." [Motion 02/03-8]
Professor Siegel asked whether we would need to delay a vote on this By-Law change until the next meeting.
Professor Anthony moved, Professor Gallagher seconded a motion: To suspend the rules and vote today on Senate By-Law changes. [Motion 02/03-9]
The motion to suspend the rules passed unanimously, 16/0/0.
Motion 02/03-08 passed unanimously, 16/0/0.
There was further discussion about how to implement this By-Law change.
Professor Siegel moved, Professor Gallagher seconded a motion: That the Senate Chairperson discuss with the President of AAUP-Faculty Association ways in which the Senate By-Law changes can be implemented with dispatch and without coercion and that she report back to the Senate at its next meeting on November 4. [Motion 02/03-10]
Professor Gallagher suggested that we look to see if the persons with the next highest number of votes would be willing to serve.
Professor Hull (from the audience) expressed the opinion that if we entertain resignations we risk disenfranchising those who voted for particular individuals in the election process.
Professor Stein noted that we also have a problem of the colleges not represented on the committee being disenfranchised.
There was some discussion about how certain P & T policies impact certain areas more.
Ms. O'Connell moved to amend the motion to ask the University P & T Committee to make recommendations to the Senate as to how to proceed to bring the committee into compliance with the change in the By-Laws. The motion died for lack of a second.
The question was called. The motion passed unanimously, 16/0/0. DISCUSSION ITEMS
Item #2. "To discuss proposed By-Law changes regarding standing committees of the University Senate."
University Scholarship Committee. Chairperson Holter asked that discussion of the proposed changes to the University Scholarship Committee be postponed until the next meeting since the chairperson of that committee, Professor Barbara Laster, has brought new information about the duties of that committee.
Professor Anthony moved, Professor Stein seconded a motion that the Senate move into a Committee of the Whole for purposes of discussing the make-up and duties of these committees. There was no objection.
Information Technology Committee (formerly Academic Computing Committee). General discussion centered around how to insure that the members of this committee also be members of the College Academic Computing Committees. This issue was not resolved. The discussion then moved to the responsibilities of this committee on p. 12 of the handout.
Professor Vocke, noting the agenda and the hour, suggested that out of courtesy to chairs of various committees present in the audience waiting for their committee to come up for discussion, we should perhaps move to discussion of the By-Law changes for those committees. There was no objection.
Faculty Development and Research Committee. Chairperson Holter recognized Professor Mangurian from the Faculty Development and Research Committee. She noted that the proposed changes in membership simply reflect changes in titles of its ex-officio members. There seems to be no problem in having the members appointed on the recommendation of the AAUP-Faculty Association.
Duties: The question was asked if the committee should add to its duties that of responding to outside mandates. Professor Mangurian agreed that this may fall under the purview of the committee, but that they have so much to do that they really can't take on anything more. It was noted that this responsibility is handled by the Director of University Research Services in the College of Graduate Education and Research. At present that person is Mary Louise Healy.
Professor Zimmerman recommended that responsibility for making recommendations for the President's Award and the Regents' Faculty Awards be included in the responsibilities of this committee.
Admissions Committee. Chairperson Holter recognized Professor James Hull, the Chairperson of the Admissions Committee. Professor Shirley (from the audience) suggested that the Coordinator of International Admissions and Advising be a member of the Admissions Committee. Professor Hull noted that at present they bring that person in when issues regarding international admissions come up. He questions whether that person needs to be a regular member of the committee.
The Senate agreed that the coordinator of International Admissions and Advising be added as ex officio to the Admissions Committee. In addition, it was agreed that no two faculty members of the committee could be from the same college.
Since the time was 6:00 P.M. it was agreed to adjourn and continue discussion on the changes to By-Laws at the next Senate meeting on November 4, 2002.
The Senate stood adjourned at 6:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
James M. Anthony, Secretary
The University Senate usually meets the first Monday of each month during the fall and spring semesters. The Executive Committee of the University Senate invites all interested parties to attend the meetings in the University Union.
Copies of documents relevant to agenda items are available at the Faculty Reserve Desk in Cook Library. Recordings of meetings are located in the Cook Library in the Media Resource Services area on the second floor.