02.23.21 Senate Minutes

Remarks and Announcements:

Donald Mulvaney, Senate Chair Remarks

The Chair introduced the officers of the senate, the Senate Parliamentarian Al Gage and the Senate Administrative Assistant, Laura Kloberg.

The chair then briefly discussed the role of the Senate in University governance and the responsibilities of the senate leadership team. He encouraged communication and thanked members for input and feedback. The chair introduced and thanked the Senate Steering Committee members and the COVID Ops faculty representatives for their service.

Chair Mulvaney then moved to identify and recognize resilience and innovation at Auburn University during the COVID era.  The Chair recognized Dr. Lady Cox for her service and perseverance as a leader in Auburn University’s COVID-19 response effort.

The Chair then invited remarks from AU Administrators.

Jay Gogue, Auburn University President Remarks

The President’s remarks centered on three areas: Board of Trustees changes, State-level items, and Federal-level items impacting Auburn.

• There were three Board of Trustees who have ended their first terms and are eligible to serve a second. The three members, Wayne Smith, Jimmy Sanford, Mike DeMaioribus have been selected to serve second terms. One vacancy remains to be filled; that of Gen Lloyd Austin who resigned from the Board upon his selection as US Secretary of Defense.  The selection process to fill his vacancy is underway.

• The State legislature is in session and the Governors proposed budget includes a 7% increase for Auburn.

• On the Federal side, the third Federal Stimulus being debated could mean between $40M and $43M for Auburn. Auburn is currently marketing faculty-driven ideas for the 2022 Budget.

Question: Auburn University Dismissal Policy –

Roy Hartfield (Aerospace Engineering, substitute Senator) – Hartfield asked Dr. Gogue about a recent email regarding dismissal policy at Auburn.  Hartfield expressed concerns about elements in the policy document (e.g. insubordination as a dismissal offense) that could conflict with the faculty handbook and about the process by which it was created. He asked the President if the document could be withdrawn and sent through the Senate for debate. 

Answer: Dr. Gogue noted that some changes had already been made to the document and then invited Legal Counsel Jaimie Hammer and others to speak on it.

VP Ron Burgess agreed that shared governance should be placed in the document but that it contained employment rules for egregious violations and immediate dismissal. Where language conflicts with the Faculty Handbook, Burgess noted that there are conversations between legal counsel and the Faculty Handbook Committee on those areas.

Michael Stern (Economics) ­ - Stern noted that the dismissal policy has existed for staff and A&P employees at Auburn, but that the recent policy has now added faculty to it’s scope. Stern argued that the policy, crafted to be applicable to staff/A&P employees does not mesh with tenure protections and faculty processes. The policy was not discussed with faculty and is against the notion of shared governance.

President Jay Gogue: The President expressed that good points had been raised and that the policy would the tabled and looked over for further discussion.

Luke Oeding (Senator – Math and Statistics) – Oeding noted that page three of the document notes that it does not supersede or abrogate any rights granted in the Faculty Handbook.

John Beckmann (Senator – Entomology and Plant Pathology) – Beckmann expressed concern over references to obscene or offensive behavior. These terms are subjective.

Ron Burgess, Executive Vice President Remarks

Burgess announced that the April Board of Trustees meetings set for the 15th and 16th will be conducted in a face to face format.

Regarding COVID safety and operations, Burgess noted that mask wearing and enforcement has been robust, and that the vaccination program and Sentinel testing continue to make progress. If an assessment of COVID conditions allow, the University plans to increase the size limit for campus activities from 50 to 100 attendees.

Burgess closed with a brief explanation how Federal COVID-relief funds can be spent at the University and the need for the institution to receive federal guidance on that.

Bill Hardgrave, Auburn University Provost Remarks

The Provost gave two quick updates on searches.

• The COSAM Dean search is underway. Candidates have been identified and the slate is being narrowed so that finalists can come for campus visits.

• Auburn has hired a new VP for Advancement – John Morris is coming on March 8 from Kansas State and will lead a new advancement model with will oversee Development, Alumni Affairs, and Marketing & Communication.

Question: Mitchell Brown (Political Science) – Travel policies and procedures– Brown asked that, with improvements in the COVID situation, if there would be changes in the faculty travel permission process.

The Provost noted that domestic travel approval is still going through the Provost Office and, to date, all requests have been approved. International travel guidelines are under development.  Regarding Brown’s question on whether non-international travel will still need to go through the Provost’s Office for approval, Hardgrave committed to discussing and taking it up as an action item.

Question – Jamie Harrison (Senator, Curriculum and Teaching) – Spring Break – Harrison asked the Provost for guidance on how to respond to students who intend to take Spring Break vacations even without a spring break week. The provost responded that classroom attendance and absence policy is up to faculty.

Action Item - Replacement Committee Member – Curriculum Committee

Greg Schmidt, Senate Secretary

The Rules Committee, a standing Senate Committee nominated Dr. Amal Kaddoumi to be the replacement committee member to represent the Harrison School of Pharmacy on the curriculum committee. This term ends with the close of the 2021 academic year.

The nomination then moved to a senate vote. 

PASSED ON A VOTE OF 46 IN FAVOR.

Action Item – Chapter 3 revisions

Kamden Strunk, Chair, Faculty Handbook Review Committee

Strunk presented the Chapter 3 revisions on the process by which Tenure and Promotion voting is conducted in Departments with fewer than three eligible voting faculty. These revisions were discussed as a pending action item at the January Senate meeting.

Question: Michael Stern (Economics) – Use of the word “shall” – Stern inquired on the language of the revisions and the use of the word, “shall.” Stern asked if “shall” means “must.”

Strunk confirmed that shall means must, and he does not take “shall” as optional. Chair Mulvaney stated that “shall” is stronger than “maybe” and is not interpreted as being optional.

The pending action item then moved to a senate vote. 

PASSED ON A VOTE OF 46 In favor, 2 opposed, and 4 abstentions.

Pending Action Item – Rules Committee Nominations

Greg Schmidt, Senate Secretary

Schmidt explained the role and constitution of the Rules Committee, and explained that the Faculty Handbook dictates that nominations for Rules Committee service are to be made from the floor at the February senate meeting and voted upon at the March meeting.

He then opened the floor for nominations. In response to Robin Jaffe (Senator, Theater), Schmidt affirmed that self-nominations are permitted.

George Stachokas (Libraries) – nominated Jennifer Lockhart (Senator, Philosophy)

Ken Macklin (Senator, Poultry Science) – nominated himself

Nedret Billor (Immediate Past President) – nominated Jamie Harrison (Senator, Curriculum  and Teaching)

Hearing no more nominations, Schmidt closed the floor and noted that candidate statements would be posted to the Senate web page prior to the March Senate meeting.

Pending Action Item – Report from the Senate Officer Nomination Committee

Michael Baginski, Committee Chair

Nominees for Chair-elect are:

Dr. Mark Carpenter (Mathematics and Statistics, College of Sciences and Mathematics)

Dr. Robert Norton (Poultry Science, College of Agriculture)

Nominees for Secretary-elect are:

Dr. Lucretia Tripp (Curriculum and Teaching, College of Education)

Dr. Luke Oeding (Mathematics and Statistics, College of Sciences and Mathematics)

Informational Item – Statement from the University Ombuds

Kevin Coonrod, University Ombuds Office

The University Ombuds spoke on the topic of civility on campus in the context of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He encouraged collegiality among faculty in university governance discussed Roberts Rules of Order, incidental motions, questions of privilege, and decorum during meetings.

Informational Item – COVID Resource Center Update 

Bob Norton, COVID Resource Center Faculty Representative

Dr. Fred Kam, University Medical Center Director

Chris O’Gwynn, Executive Direction, AU Risk Management and Safety

Norton noted that COVID trends and compliance issues are improving for Auburn. He encouraged those with questions to first consult the COVID Resource Center web page and to consider working through their chain of command to address COVID-related issues and concerns. Norton closed hos remarks with the most recent campus vaccination data (5383 first doses, and 3319 second dosed delivered.)

Dr. Kam gave additional updates on vaccinations, noting that 700 additional second doses had been received by AU These vaccinations will be provided to those who received their first shots through the AU program.

Chris O’Gwynn, who is replacing Dr. Lady Cox on the CRC leadership team, introduced himself and encouraged everyone to stay informed and continue to ask questions when they have them. 

Question: Michael Baginski (electrical Engineering) – Vaccination Questions and comments Baginski asked Dr. Kam about community vaccination rates, students receiving vaccines, and about the various vaccines available to the public. Kam responded that, if any vaccines are made available, Auburn can administer them. He encouraged everyone to get the first available vaccine, no matter the manufacturer or place. Different vaccines should not be mixed. 

Question: Anthony Moss (Senator, Biological Sciences) – Graduate Students and Vaccinations – Moss asked if graduate teaching assistants who are transitioning to face-to-face interactions with students can be given vaccination priority. Robert Norton answered that the graduate students should be in a queue and that the vaccination process is moving as fast as possible given supplies.

Question – Susan youngblood (Senator, English) – Vaccination Queue / waiting list. Youngblood inquired if there is a way for those on the waiting list to know where they are in the queue. Norton answered that is not possible, and encouraged all on the waiting lists to check their email inbox and junk mail folders for messages.

Question – Lisa Kensler (EFLT) – Faculty Hospitalization Information Request. Kensler asked if the CRC could provide information on faculty hospitalizations. Norton responded that he did not have that information but that he and Dr. Kam would investigate those numbers.

Informational Item – Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) Update

David Martin, Teaching Effectiveness Committee Chair

Martin recognized the work of the committee and noted that an informational webinar on SET changed had been conducted. Martin briefly discussed efforts to increase student participation.  He thanked webinar participants and offered to continue outreach to departments on the SET changes. 

Informational Item -  “Did You Know Corner – SGA Update”

Rett Waggoner – Incoming SGA President

Waggoner introduced himself and announced the other members of the incoming SGA officer and executive team.  He closed by noting that SGA leadership is currently setting goals for the upcoming year and expressed a willingness to share their goals with the Senate at a future meeting.

New Business – Motion by Roy Hartfield (Substitute Senator, Aerospace Engineering)

Hartfield introduced a motion:

The Senate States as Follows:

Whereas the Faculty Handbook, approved by the Board of Trustees contains the governing policy language over faculty dismissal,

Whereas, the University HR department has circulated a document purporting to usurp dismissal authority over faculty,

Whereas, the University HR document is highly expansive, arbitrary, and in direct conflict with the Faculty Handbook,

Whereas, the University HR document was not considered by any known Shared Governance Process as required under the terms of the Faculty Handbook.

WHEREFORE, THE PREMISES CONSIDERED, The Senate resolves as follows:

• The Senate does not recognize that the University HR document has been developed through legitimate processes and does not recognize its applicability to Faculty.

• As such, the University HR document as applicable to Faculty should be immediately withdrawn and discarded by the administration.

• Should the administration seek to modify the terms of employment for Faculty, the administration is admonished to do so under the well-established processes of shared governance

• All policies governing the discipline or dismissal of Faculty members should be contained within the Faculty Handbook where they are modified through the agreed upon processes of shared governance.

The motion was seconded by John Beckmann (Senator, Entomology and Plant Pathology).

Chair Mulvaney confirmed the seconded motion and announced that it would be taken up at the following Senate meeting.

Adjournment

Chair Mulvaney adjourned the meeting at 5:10pm

Respectfully Submitted,

Greg Schmidt

Secretary, University Senate

Attendance