DAFVM Faculty Senate

MINUTES
August 10, 2000 Regular Meeting

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Place: South Auditorium - Bost Extension Center

Senate Membership
Boyd, Brook, Chen, Columbus, Deeds, Demaris, Ebelhar, Ezell, Hague, Hood, Hovermale, Hudson, Ingram, Jack, Killcreas, Kingrey, Linford, Looken, Malone Phillips, Schneider, Snipes, Starks, Stuart, Thompson, Trevathan, Varco, Waldhalm, Walker, Wang, Willeford, Winter, Zuercher

Absent excused
Boyd, Chen, Hudson, Ingram, Kingrey, Snipes, Winter

Division Administrators
No representative present

1. Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting

Meeting Minutes
Attendance at the August Senate Meeting was only at the level of a quorum. There was discussion about what to do to get good attendance at future meetings. There was general agreement that stricter enforcement of the attendance policy is needed. Representatives present want the attendance roll checked and if a person has missed more than three times his or her department chairperson should be requested to have a new senator elected to represent the unit.

Persons elected should place a high level of importance on attending and participating in the DAFVM Senate. Lawrence Zuercher, Chair reported that 47 e-mail messages had been received since the page included a link in May. Of the 47 messages received, six where from one individual, three each from three individuals, and 2 messages from 3 individuals. Zuercher indicated that most messages were in the form of complaints and recommended that in the future a person's e-mail message would be acknowledged when received and the person sending would be asked to put his or her message in the form of a motion requesting specific action by the Senate. There followed discussion in which some senators indicated they did not want to do anything to cut off active participation by faculty within the Division. There was agreement that future e-mail messages would be replied to with the person sending asked to put his or her message in the form of a motion. If the person fails to do so, the Chair will attempt to phrase the message as a motion and present it as a part of his or her Chair Report.

A motion was made by Deeds and seconded by Ebelhar that the By Laws Committee consider whether in the future the Senate would elect a Vice-Chairperson who will move into the Chair position following a one year term. The Vice Chair would be elected from among those serving in their first or second term. The motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Deeds and seconded by Ebelhar that the By Laws Committee consider any changes that might be needed for determination of a quorum and selection of representatives. The motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Deeds and seconded by Waldhalm that the Senate send to Vice President Charles Lee a request for the search for an Executive Associate Dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences be extended and made a national search so the best possible person can be located to fill the position. Following discussion the motion passed unanimously and the Senate Chair was instructed to send a letter to the Vice President advising him of this action. As a part of the discussion concerning the motion it was indicated that the letter should contain reasons discussed by the Senate. A motion was made by Waldhalm and seconded by Deeds that the Vice President be invited to meet with the Senate as a host for a meeting of the general faculty of the Division to lay out his plan for the Division with special emphasis on administrative plans for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Following discussion the motion passed unanimously with the suggestion that the Senate host the event as a component of the normally scheduled September meeting.

10. Adjourn

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