DATE: September 18, 2003
PRESENT: St. John Robinson Doug Brown
Sandie Rietz Paul Bauer
Audrey ConnerRosberg Keith Edgerton
Randall Gloege Alan Davis
Mark Hardt Connie Landis
Matt Redinger
Dan Zirker (ex-officio) Janie Park (ex-officio)
ABSENT: George Madden
John Cech (ex-officio) Joe Michels (ex-officio)
Randy Rhine (ex-officio) George White (ex-officio)
Terrie Iverson (ex-officio) Curt Kochner (ex-officio)
Tracy Schweigert (ex-officio)
PRESIDING: Keith Edgerton, Chair
Keith Edgerton called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. in the Chancellor’s Conference Room.
The minutes of September 11 were approved as presented.
I. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A.
Shared Governance: 1. Short-term
hiring plans – Wrap-up
Dr. Park handed out the unranked hiring
criteria for the 7-year Hiring Plan, as well as the hiring priorities for each
college (for next year).
It was noted that although the Senate now
understands the hiring plan more fully, it is too late in the process for the
Senate to be involved in a meaningful way.
Dr. Park noted that all faculty should have
been involved in the hiring process once already through department
meetings. However, some departments
(not all) are not meeting with their faculty, and so those faculty are missing
out on that important first step. It
was cited that the current process is flawed.
Perhaps the Senate could encourage faculty to meet with their department
chairs, and if the chairs do not meet, perhaps the election of a new department
chair is in order.
Dr. Park noted that the deans can add a layer
to the list they come up with working with their departments, and the deans
should at least notify the faculty in their college of the addition of that
layer. The faculty do not necessarily
have to agree, but at least they will know about the change or addition.
It was noted that in the list of hiring
priorities (by college), the funds for staff positions are in the same pool
with faculty.
Dr. Park also stated that she would like the
Senate involved in the creation of a matrix of hiring criteria for the 7-year
plan. It was noted that the Senate
could fill out the ranking of the hiring criteria at the time when Dr. Park
plans to go through that process with the Senate in two weeks.
It was cited that if the Senate gets more
deeply involved in the hiring process (examining enrollment data, financial
statements, etc.), the Senate will be doing a lot of work that has already been
done by the chairs and deans. It was
noted that instead of being involved in the hiring process, the Senate could be
an outside observer. The Senate could
uncover the roots of problems and improve the overall process, or find a better
way.
B. Possible Senate Initiatives
It was stated that the term “Flagship
Programs” has been around campus, but no one really knows what it is. It was noted that Dr. Park wants to discuss
“the ‘F’ word” with the Senate at an upcoming meeting.
It was stated that the Senate could send out
a statement to all faculty, explaining shared governance and the Senate and
faculty roles in the process.
It was cited that the Senate could produce a
newsletter to faculty asking what they see wrong and what needs changing.
It was noted that much of the faculty
abandonment issues stem from power struggles.
The Senate needs to make known that it is a democratic body and it has
power.
It was noted that the Senate should meet with
Geoff Gamble again, and perhaps make it an annual event.
The meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
rjrm