02.09.21 Steering Minutes

Chair Remarks: 

On the agenda for discussion today are Senate action items (Kamden Strunk - Handbook revisions) (Greg Schmidt – Committee replacement) and Pending Action items (Greg Schmidt - Rules Committee call for nominations) (Michael Baginski – Officer Nominations). 

Discussion of the formation of a Senate Diversity Committee will be deferred until March Steering meeting.

Opening remarks in addition to the chair will be President Gogue, Executive VP Ron Burgess, Medical Director Fred Kam, Provost Hardgrave.   

Steering Committee moved remarks by University Ombudsman, Kevin Coonrod to an Information Item.

Steering Discussion of Proposed Action Items

Vote on Curriculum Committee replacement:

Presenter: Greg Schmidt, Secretary

Schmidt noted that the only committee replacement to vote upon is for the Curriculum Committee - Amal Kaddoumi, Harrison School of Pharmacy, 2021. 

Faculty Handbook Committee Presentation

Presenter: Dr. Kamden Strunk

• Language clarifications in Chapter 3 (pdf)

This follows the presentation of the pending action item by Dr. Strunk in January.

Steering Discussion of Pending Action Items

Rules Committee Member Nominations

Presenter, Greg Schmidt, Rules Committee Chair

Schmidt will present the process of Rules Committee member replacements and open the floor to nominations for 2-year terms on the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee is currently identifying three nominations to make from the floor.

Steering Discussion of Information Items

Comment from University Ombuds

Presenter: Kevin Coonrod, University Ombuds Office

Steering discussed where to place Ombuds remarks in the Senate meeting and chose to place it in the information item section rather than during opening remarks.  The Chair explained that the remarks will be brief. Steering member Nedret Billor asked that members be given a chance to review the remarks prior to the senate meeting.

Covid Resource Center Update

Presenters: Chris O'Gwynn, Dr. Robert Norton

Norton proposed that the COVID Resource Center give brief updates to the Senate on university COVID operations and planning. 

SET Use Update

Presenters: Dr. David Martin, Chair Teaching Effectiveness Committee and Dr. Todd Steury, Chair-elect

The Chair proposed this information item to follow-up on the Zoom meeting organized by Dr. Martin and Chair-elect Steury on SET changes approved in January.  Steering discussion centered on whether this is a presentation or brief remarks. No presentation was made to Steering.

Did You Know Corner?:

Presenters: Hays Kassen and Rett Waggoner – President and Incoming President, AU SGA, share an update on student perspectives and activities.

The chair proposed this information item as an opportunity for the outgoing and incoming SGA presidents to introduce themselves to the Senate.

Steering Discussion on Spring Semester Townhalls

The Steering Committee discussed handing off organization and hosting of town hall meetings to other university groups.  The Provost’s Office and senior faculty leadership have been in charge of running the “faculty town hall” meetings in the past, but meetings going forward are open to all university groups and employees.

Steering decided to maintain organizational leadership by the executive committee but invite participation by leaders of A&P and Staff leadership in planning and publicizing the townhalls.  The Provost will no longer be the central host of the townhall.  Rather a panel will be constituted to field questions and comments from attendees.  Steering proposed panel representatives from Facilities, COVID Ops, AU Medical Clinic, Sentinel Testing program, among others.  Don Mulvaney will lead the hosting at the next meeting.

The Date for the next townhall was set for February 18, 2021 at 3:30pm.   March 25, 2021 will be the date for the following townhall.

New Business  -  

none

Approval of Agenda for 2/23/2021 Senate Meeting

A motion was made to approve the agenda as amended and the motion was seconded.  The Steering Committee unanimously approved the senate agenda.

Adjournment

Following Steering Committee approval of the senate meeting agenda, a motion was made to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded and approved. Chair Mulvaney adjourned the meeting at 5:00 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Greg Schmidt

Secretary, University Senate

Mission

The Steering Committee acts on behalf of the AU Senate on matters requiring attention between meetings of that body and assists the chair of the Senate in setting the agenda for Senate meetings. In addition, it is concerned with the academic affairs of the University, with particular attention given to the need for developing and recommending policies under which these affairs are conducted. It works closely with other Senate committees to aid them in their assignments.