04.15.25 Senate Minutes

Establish a Quorum

The attendance vote was opened and quorum was established with 55 members present as of 3:32 pm. When the quorum vote closed at the end of the meeting, 82 Senators or substitutes had responded present.

Luca Guazotto, Senator from the Department of Physics, noted a correction to the Senate Meeting Minutes from March 18th, 2025: The vote count for run-off election to the Rules Committee was incorrect. It should read Shepherd - 28 and Van Wyk – 31. With a final vote of 67 yes / 0 no / 2 abstain, the minutes were approved as amended.

Remarks and Announcements

University Senate Chair: Lori Eckhardt

Chair Eckhardt welcomed and congratulated Chair-Elect, Jason Bryant and Secretary-Elect, Sunny Stalter-Pace. She announced that the Steering Committee is in the process of establishing an ad hoc committee to review the Faculty Grievance Policy. Chair Eckhardt also announced that the 2025-2026 Senate Kick Off will be held on August 15th in the Harbert Recruiting Center; this event is for new and returning senators and senate committee chairs.

President: Chris Roberts

President Roberts reported that at its April 3rd meeting, the Board of Trustees approved various facilities projects, including a complete renovation of Comer Hall, renovation of Cambridge Residence Hall, an addition to the central dining facility (The Edge), and construction of new support buildings for the agricultural experiment stations.

Auburn has been impacted and is continuing to pay attention to what’s taking place at the national level. Steve Taylor recently emailed a detailed status update from the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research. There will be ongoing discussions, strategies, and adjustments that the university will have to make, but President Roberts stressed that Auburn’s research, scholarship, creative works are integral to the university’s mission.

Undergraduate enrollment continues to be robust. Camp War Eagle registrations are the best indicator of what the freshman enrollment will be, and it looks to be quite similar to last year’s Camp War Eagle enrollment at this stage. Graduate enrollment also remains strong. President Roberts expressed his pride in Auburn’s student athletes for their accomplishments inside the classroom and athletically. Kudos to the men’s basketball team and making to the Final Four!

Provost: Vini Nathan

At the recent Board of Trustees meeting, on the academic side there was one action item and one information item presented. Both were approved.

Provost Nathan congratulated the 115 faculty who were successfully promoted and/or tenured. These faculty will be celebrated at a reception in September.

Dr. Angela Wiley, current head of the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Human Sciences, will be the next Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness starting July 1.

Across higher education institutions in the United States, some international students and scholars are facing immigration status changes. Through the Office of International Programs (OIP), the university has learned about individuals at Auburn who are affected. Out of privacy concerns for these individuals, the university will not be sharing specific information but will continue to work directly with each individual on a case-by-case basis. The Office of International Programs is here to connect people with resources both within and outside the university. Last Friday morning there was an information session co-hosted by OIP and the Graduate School mostly for graduate program officers and others. This was the first of what will likely be ongoing information sessions. Provost Nathan issues a request for attendees: if anyone is contacted by an impacted student or individual, please do not opine on legal matters; instead, please direct individuals to OIP, specifically Andy Gillespie and Obrad Budic.

Agenda Items

Vote on Nominees to Senate Committees

Nominees to Senate Committees (pdf)

Presenter: Jaena Alabi, Rules Committee Chair

Jaena Alabi presented a slate of nominees for several Senate Committees. She noted that these candidates were vetted by the Rule Committee and moved that the Senate approve these nominees to Senate Committees.

Voting Results: 65 Yes / 0 No / 2 Abstain

Committee appointments were approved.

Faculty Salaries and Welfare Committee Report

FSW Committee Report (pdf)

Presenter: Amit Morey, Faculty Salaries & Welfare Committee Member

Morey presented the results of two surveys of international faculty conducted by the Faculty Salaries & Welfare Committee in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. The climate survey was intended to assess the overall atmosphere and experiences of international faculty by asking questions about climate, onboarding, experience with the Office of International Programs (OIP), and use of available resources. This survey had 76 participants. There was some correlation between onboarding ratings and climate ratings. Direct contact with supervisor was the most recognized resource available to international faculty, with the Faculty Grievance Committee and AAUP amount the least-known resources. Open-ended comments were analyzed for polarity and subjectivity, and the top three positive and negative comments were shared.

Recommendations:

• Slightly positive to neutral overall results are a decent sign.

• Negative experiences indicate room for improvement in understanding international faculty and informing them of AU resources that would be helpful (including flyers and seminars).

• College- and department-level efforts should be initiated to ensure positive experiences for international faculty.

• OIP needs some improvements in policies and procedures

The second survey focused on the green card process, which had 59 participants. In general there was more dissatisfaction than satisfaction with university policies and procedures and support from OIP.

Recommendations:

• Communication

  • Many respondents emphasized the need for more timely, transparent, and helpful communication.

  • Concerns were raised about the inability to get answers to specific questions or updates on progress

• Process Clarity and Support

  • Several comments mentioned the difficulty in navigating the process, especially with minimal institutional guidance

  • Respondents felt the office could offer more proactive support, especially when compared to practices at other universities

• Flexibility and Approach

  • A number of responses highlighted dissatisfaction with what they perceived as a rigid or overly conservative approach to green card filing

  • Suggestions included a more case-by-case assessment rather than a one-size-fitsall strategy

• Comparative Feedback

  • Some individuals noted that other universities start the process earlier or provide more hands-on legal support

• Emotional Impact

  • Several comments revealed the stress and confusion experienced by applicants, underscoring the importance of a smoother, more empathetic process.

Morey made the following motion: The Faculty Salaries and Welfare Committee moves that the Senate accept the committee’s recommendations based on findings from the International Faculty Climate Survey and the subsequent Green Card Survey.

Chair Eckhardt opened the floor for questions. There were none. Chair Eckhardt announced that the committee’s motion will be added to the May agenda for discussion and voting.

Information Items

Intellectual Property Exchange Update

IPX Update (pdf)

Presenter: Patrick Reed, Executive Director IPX

Reed presented information on the Intellectual Property Exchange (IPX), Auburn’s technology transfer office. IPX evaluates, protects, and licenses Auburn intellectual property, as well as negotiates Confidentiality (CDA/NDA), Material Transfer (MTA), and Data Use or Transfer (DUA/DTA) agreements. IPX also supports faculty entrepreneurship and business development. Academic technology transfer includes publications, portfolios, dissertations, graduating students, continuing education, consulting and service on external panels, and doesn’t require the IPX office. IPX only gets involved when early-stage research requires significant additional R&D; IPX can help identify a commercial partner and may file some intellectual property protection. Auburn’s intellectual property policies are separated into two policies: Patent policy (in most cases Auburn owns patentable inventions of faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and student employees), & Policy Governing the Creation of Copyrighted Materials (in most cases, the author(s) own the copyright). IPX deals almost exclusively with patentable subject matter, though they do assist with copyrightable materials. The office has tried to make the process as simple as possible: after submitting a disclosure form, a Licensing Officer (LO) will be assigned. The LO reviews funding, inventorship, and public disclosure, then assesses IP protection and marketability. Next, the office goes through the marketing process and attempts to find an industry partner and execute a license. IPX engages with the inventor(s) throughout this process. Per Auburn’s Patent Policy, after IPX is reimbursed for its patent expenses, license revenue is distributed with 40% to inventors, 15% to IPX, and 45% to OSVPRED. The policy further recommends that the OSVPRED’s 45% be distributed with 20% going to the inventor’s lab, 15% to the inventor’s department, 15% to the inventor’s college, and 50% to the OSVPRED. IPX is interested not only in STEM, but also in supporting social innovation as well. IPX supports faculty entrepreneurship by helping faculty navigate the process and assisting with funding and investment opportunities. A new IPX website will be coming soon, as well as an express online invention disclosure process, a research materials disclosure program, a faculty innovation ambassadors program, and Endeavor modules for confidentiality, material transfer, and data use/transfer agreements.

Amit Morey, Senator from the Department of Poultry Science, asked if IPX had a strategic plan to increase the number of patents. Reed responded that IPX has been involved in the university strategic plan and all of the metrics Morey asked about are included in recommendations from the strategic plan. Morey encouraged attaching a set number of patents to this goal.

Sanjeev Baskiyar, Senator from the Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering, asked how the internal patent process can be sped up and if the university had internal funds for this process. Reed responded that IPX has a patent budget and encouraged faculty to contact IPX as early as possible in the process.

Parking Update

Parking Update (pdf)

Presenter: Arishna Lastinger, Director Parking Services

Lastinger shared information on parking changes planned for Fall 2025. The plans are the result of a parking study conducted in 2018 and updated in 2023. The study’s recommendations included using a phased approach to restructuring the parking system. Phase 1 includes moving to a district zone approach (with four zones: Lowder Building District, Library Deck District, Campus Core, and Athletics Complex); rebranding preferred commuter designations; launching hourly parking/paid visitor spaces; and increasing permit fees. In Fall 2024, all permit prices increased by $20. In Spring 2025, hourly parking/paid visitor spaces were launched using the ParkMobile app for payment ($2/hr) and using approximately 200 existing visitor spaces. The next action will be rebranding the preferred commuter designations (for student parking): Eagle Lot 1, 2, 3, and 4 (formerly Coliseum lot, Arena lot, Village log, and Old Extension Lots), Tiger Perimeter Zone (Hayfield and Overflow lot), and Residential Reserved (Village resident parking deck, Hill resident lots, and South Donahue resident parking deck); these changes will only affect naming and will not affect student parking prices. Also in Fall 2025, the A/B parking designations and eligibility requirements will be retired. The new zones being piloted this fall will be Faculty/Staff Orange Zone (for the Lowder Deck or the Library Deck), Faculty/Staff Blue Zone (everything that is not Lowder/Library), and Tiger Perimeter Zone (Hayfield and Overflow lot, with a reduced price). All faculty and staff will be eligible for orange and blue zones. The price for a Lowder District Faculty/Staff Orange Zone will be $270/year and the permit will be valid in the Lowder lot and in all blue zones. The Library Deck District Faculty/Staff Orange Zone pass will also be $270/year and will be valid in the Library deck and in all blue zones. The Orange Zone permits will be restricted with fewer sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the two Orange Zone districts are not interchangeable. Faculty/Staff Blue Zone Pricing will be $100/year. If the pilot is successful, the plan for Fall 2026 will be to introduce district zones for Campus Core/Ross Square and Athletics Complex. Parking registration will open on August 1 at 8 am.

Sanjeev Baskiyar Senator from the Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering, recommended that before implementing the plan, Parking Services take input from people who are parking in those locations. He noted that it would be difficult for faculty to get to their classes on time in Lowder at 8 and stated a need for parking on the north side of Lowder.

Sara Wolf, Senator from the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership & Technology, asked which zone the South Quad Deck would become. Lastinger clarified that all faculty/staff parking that is not Orange Zone (just the Lowder lot and Library deck) would be Blue Zone.

Gregory Spray, Senator from the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, asked when the indicator lights in the stadium deck would be available again and if the parking app that indicated open spaces would be available again. Lastinger clarified that the app was undergoing updates and both should be operational sometime this summer.

Lisa Kensler, Immediate Past Chair, moved that the University Senators take the proposed parking changes back to their respective constituencies for discussion and return to the May Senate meeting prepared to vote on whether or not to support the proposed changes. The motion was seconded by Michael Baginski, Senator from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. Chair Eckhard stated that this motion will go on the agenda for the May Senate meeting for a discussion and vote at that time.

Michael Baginski, Senator from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, asked about having some sort of seniority preference rather than a free for all because of the limited number of spaces in the Lowder lot and Library deck. He stated that he hasn’t heard many complaints about the current parking system.

Rebecca Riggs, Senator from the Department of Biological Sciences, noted that there had been a significant number of parking violations this semester (such as blocking the Roosevelt concourse, which is concerning because emergency vehicles’ access to those buildings is blocked). She asked if there will be an increase in fines or more actions to discourage students from parking in incorrect parking spots. Lastinger replied that parking citation prices increased the year before last – the first offense is $50 and they increase by $15 for subsequent citations; wheel locks and tows are $175 on top of the cost of the citation.

Sanjeev Baskiyar Senator from the Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering, asked if a copy of the presentation could be posted to the Senate website so that it can be shared with Senators’ constituents? Chair Eckhardt noted that the presentation slides had been posted to the Senate website.

Danilea Werner, Senator from the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, asked if job candidates would be required to pay for eight hours of parking for a day-long interview or if there was another mechanism for securing parking for interviewees. Lastinger responded that there is a mechanism in place – the departmental guest portal. Werner also asked how the proposed changes would affect those with handicapped parking. Lastinger replied that accommodations will remain the same – the individual will purchase a baseline permit and with their upgrades they’ll be able to park in any of the handicapped spaces on campus.

Davis Strickland, Senator from the Department of Supply Chain Management, asked if Parking Services would work with Tiger Transit to make it possible for faculty and staff to use that service if they’ve already paid for parking. Lastinger didn’t want to speak for Tiger Transit, but stated that she believed faculty could already use Tiger Transit by showing their ID.

Richard (Alan) Seals, not a Senator, stated that he liked what Parking Services was trying to do, especially the pilot approach. He suggested that lots should be auctioned off individually with anyone (including students) being eligible to bid on them. The lots would get market prices and steep fines could be charged; the fine money could be earmarked for scholarships.

Sara Wolf, Senator from the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership & Technology, asked for clarification regarding what motion would be on the agenda for the May meeting. Chair Eckhardt noted that Kensler’s motion about parking will be discussed and voted on at the May meeting. Senators have between this date and the May meeting to talk to their constituents and bring questions and discussion to that meeting. After the discussion, there will be a vote on Kensler’s motion.

New Business

Lori Eckhardt, Senate Chair

There was no new business.

Adjournment

Lori Eckhardt, Senate Chair

Meeting was adjourned at 5:05 pm.

Attendance