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DAFVM
Faculty Senate
MINUTES
September 8, 2005
Attending: Cliff Hampton (chair), Steve Nichols (Vice-Chair),
S. Grace, L. Grace, C. Coyne, R. Meyer, Wes Schilling,
Mark Shankle, Al Rankins, Joe Fratesi, K. Swortzel, Alex
Corzo, Harvey Gordon, Gregg Ibendahl, Bill Evans (Raymond),
Dan Poston (Stoneville).
Clifford Hampton, chair, called the Senate to order and
gave introductory remarks.
Members
were presented packages for the meeting which contained
an agenda, draft minutes from May 2005, a roster of senators
to date by department, and a listing of 2005/2006 officers
and committee descriptions.
Hampton
introduced the officers for 2005/2006, requested introductions
from members, and welcomed new members. He
also stressed the importance of participation in meetings
and the roles of senators. Hampton provided an overview of
the May 2005 minutes and requested action on the minutes. Mark
Shankle moved to accept the minutes, Harvey Gordon seconded.
May 2005 minutes were unanimously approved.
Hampton
requested a volunteer to serve in the role of Secretary.
Sharon Grace volunteered.
Report from the Chair
Department/Unit
Representation – The Chair updated
senators on representation of departments/units and referred
them to the attached roster. He noted that not all
departments/units have representatives, but the effort to
fill all representative slots is ongoing. He also noted
that several senators have communicated conflicts with meeting
times or dates due to their teaching schedules. Senators
with conflicts were asked to advise their department/unit
head so that other arrangements could be made.
The Chair
presented an update to senators on action from the May
2005 meeting. It was requested that a letter
commending the former chair, Dr. Hudson, and his assistant,
Ms. Odom be sent to Drs. Turner and Watson. The letters
were compiled and sent. Two recommendations were
sent forward in May; Promotion and Tenure timelines for the
division and faculty evaluation standards. The division
utilized the promotion and tenure timelines to assist faculty
by providing additional time to prepare their documents. The
division leadership is seeking to also have this issue addressed
by the Holland Faculty Senate. The status of
the draft evaluation standards is not known, due mainly to
other pressing issues facing the division.
Hampton
advised senators that an invitation was extended to Dr.
Watson, Vice President, DAFVM to meet with the senators
today and he accepted pending his schedule. Additionally,
Hampton advised senators of two draft documents from the
Holland Senate, Instructor’s, and Non-Tenured personnel
documents that they should read. Dan Poston served
on an ad-hoc committee for the non-tenured personnel document
and made several comments. Plans are to email the documents
to the division senate.
Vice Chair Report
Vice
Chairman Steve Nichols informed senators of the need to
provide him with their expiration date, noting that each
senator serves a term of three years unless they fill an
unexpired term. He acknowledged that this would allow
officers to keep track of anticipated turnover on the senate. Additionally,
Nichols referred senators to the attachment with the list
of senate committees and provided an overview of each of
them. He requested senators to submit to him their
top three committees.
He informed senators that each should serve on at least
one committee. In making committee assignments, the chair
will need to ensure that all committees and chairs have representation
from all major departments/units.
Unfinished Business
Secretary
as officer – Hampton provided an overview of an approved
action from the May meeting to add the position of secretary
as an officer. This action was assigned
to the bylaws committee to meet over the summer and present
recommendations back to the senate. Neither of the
two existing bylaws committee members was present to make
the report. Hampton noted that it was his understanding
that the bylaws give the ability to appoint a secretary,
but if the position is to be an officer a vote of the general
faculty must be taken. The bylaws committee will need
to study the bylaws to ensure bylaws will need to be amended,
work up a proposal for voting if necessary, and define responsibilities
for the position. Harvey Gordon motioned to expedite
the process of adding the position of secretary to the senate,
Joe Fratesi seconded. It was noted that the position
would be filled from among the membership. The senate
unanimously approved the motion.
New Business
Holland
Faculty Senate Representative – Hampton informed
senators that at the present time, the division does not
have a senator who is a member of Holland Senate. According
to his understanding of the bylaws, a member who serves on
the Holland Senate will be appointed by the chair to provide
updates to the division on Holland Senate issues. Since
no one is serving on Holland Senate, Hampton requested a
volunteer to attend Holland Senate open meetings to provide
the division senate updates. Laurie Grace volunteered
to attend Holland Senate’s meetings, pending scheduling.
Members
discussed the need to amend the bylaws to give the chair
the ability to appoint a non Holland Senate representative
if no division senator serves on Holland Senate. Senators
were requested to carefully read the bylaws to ensure we
have the authority to appoint a non-member to serve on the
Holland Senate without amending the bylaws. Discussion
was tabled until next meeting.
Other Issues
Hurricane
Katrina – Laurie
Grace expressed concern for students who have been home
to the coast and are very stressed and upset. She
also gave an update on the impact of the storm on MSU forestry
personnel and need for further assessment of timber damage. Gordon
reported that 4-H has launched a relief effort directed toward
shelters and is sending letters of encouragement to 4-H members
affected by the storm. Bill Evans also gave a report on hurricane
relief efforts.
Meeting Adjourned.
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