AU Faculty Minutes

General Faculty Meeting

03/26/2024 | Via Zoom | 3:30 PM

Meeting was called to order by Senate Chair, Lisa Kensler.

Establish a Quorum

  • Steering Minutes from October 24, 2023. Approved unanimously as posted

Remarks and Announcements

University Senate Chair: Lisa Kensler

  • Opening remarks regarding expectations of webinar meeting.

    • Four voting options in this Faculty Meeting: Yes/No/Abstain/Guest.

    • Only Faculty can vote in the AU Faculty Meeting and all others are guests.

    • Chat options in webinar highlighted and will be monitored by the Chair-elect and Secretary-elect.

    • Point of order raised by Michael Stern regarding webinar and panelists. Chair ruling disagreed.

    • Point of order raised by Duha Tore Altindag. Chair ruling disagreed.

President: Christopher B. Roberts

  • Appreciation for AU faculty, staff, A&P for hard work with AU.

  • Exceptional student experience with welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.

  • $301M in awards for last fiscal year (increased $15M from previous year). One example: Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) Foundation- Dr. Evelyn Hunter and Auburn University’s College of Education received $850,000 to address health disparities in rural communities. $60M in new funds for AU priorities.

  • AU is ranked among top 100 universities in US News & World Report (advanced 4 spots compared to prior year) 2023-2024 Best Colleges Edition; Newsweek Americas Top 20 best colleges for online programs and courses.

  • SACSCOC 10-year Reaffirmation based on stellar report and site visit.

  • Board of Trustees (BOT): Alabama Senate reconfirmed three (Huntley, Riggins, and Vines) trustees and Walter (Walt) Woltosz confirmed as a trustee. April 12th next BOT meeting in Huntsville for first time, will focus on space, defense, biotechnology, etc. Two topics: Institute for Rural Partnerships and faculty compensation, workload, and productivity study (discussing with 3 firms).

  • Alabama SB 129- remain committed to serve all our students. Will work to create an environment to have all feeling welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged. Commitments to access and opportunity for all students upheld within the Alabama law. Senate Chair Kensler is supporting sessions with appropriate staff.

Provost: Vini Nathan

  • Offered announcements with six planned May 2024 graduation ceremonies with two confirmed speakers (Kirsty Coventry, Philip McWane).

Q&A available in recording. Conversation related to Matrix, LLC and relationship with AU addressed by President Christopher B. Roberts and the AU admissions process (addressed capacity and funding).

Information Items

SACSCOC update

Presented by Mark DeGoti is tabled till the next meeting.

AUBURNACHIEVE and Career Outcome Data Update

Presented by Katie Boyd and Anna Claire Stinton is tabled till the next meeting.

Action Items

Chair recommended limitation for three minutes on debate per person. Approved by unanimous consent. Speakers must be clear whether for or against the motion.

  • Proclamation motion presented by Michael Stern. Made and seconded on October 23, 2023 Faculty meeting.

Whereas the call for interim provost candidates distributed by the Office of the President on Jan 19, 2022 stated, “the person selected as interim Provost will not be eligible to be a candidate for the permanent position,”
Whereas ethical individuals who wanted to be considered for the permanent position did not apply for the interim position,
Whereas the President of the University committed in front of the entire University Senate on January 25, 2022 that the Interim Provost could not be a candidate for the permanent Provost position unless there was a failed national search,
Whereas the Auburn News announced to the entire University community on February 24, 2022 that, “Incoming-President Roberts will begin the nationwide search for a permanent provost following the start of his presidency on May 16. As interim provost, Nathan will not be a candidate for the permanent provost position. An acting dean for the College of Architecture, Design and Construction will be named in the coming weeks. Nathan will return to the dean position in the CADC when a permanent provost is selected,”
Whereas President Roberts failed to conduct a national search for the permanent Provost position,
Whereas an internal-only search committee was suddenly formed with Dr. Susan Hubbard, a direct subordinate of Dr. Vini Nathan, as the chair of the committee,
Whereas the only alternative finalists to Dr. Vini Nathan were also her direct subordinates.

WHEREFORE, THE PREMISES CONSIDERED, The University Faculty resolves as follows:
1. Dr. Vini Nathan should not be considered the legitimate Provost of Auburn University.
2. President Roberts should restore the integrity of his office by conducting a national search to hire a Provost of the highest ethical standards who will protect the academic freedom of the faculty.

Motion read by Senate Chair Kensler.
Point of Order raised by Rusty Smith prior to debate. Ojbected to consideration of the proclamation motion. Requires 2/3 majority NO vote to sustain the objection.
Not sustained based on vote and will continue forward (meeting room locked prior to poll with 863 participants. 810 votes cast with 119 as guest. 691 faculty votes cast; 439/691= 63.5%)
Point of Order raised by Duha Tore Altindag stating should be shared.

Point of Information raised by Zachary Shulz; Violation of Decorum: Michael Stern. Chair chalked comment up to frustration and issued notice regarding decorum.

Point of Information raised by Luke Oeding to allow faculty not to share screen but to use voice only. Chair ruled to allow all to share screen, if needed.

Michael Stern presented pro-motion debate for 3 min.
Point of Order raised by Luke Oeding asked the chair to rule that members are not permitted to read unless previously given permission to read from a document during debate. Chair upheld this request.
Point of Order raised by Luca Guazzoto for Decorum.
Luke Oeding presented against motion debate for 3 min.
Point of Order by Michael Stern that Oeding’s remarks were not germane to the motion Chair ruled against.
Jennifer Kerpelman presented against motion debate for <3 min.
Paul Patterson made motion to end debate and vote.Seconded  by Adam Domby.
Chair asked Question: Is there an objection to closing debate? Duha stated YES to objection.
Vote is to Close Debate YES is to close debate and NO is to keep debate open. Not debatable or amendable.
Point of Information by Secretary Gibson-Young – how should abstention votes be counted? Chair consulted with Parliamentarian and stated abstentions should be subtracted from the vote total before calculating whether vote results meet 2/3 threshold.

Point of Order by Roy Hartfield- requested to know how veracity of vote is being held. Chair responded that votes are anonymous and we are relying on honor system with only faculty voting, as has always been the case in University Faculty meetings.
Motion to end debate and vote (856 total in locked room; 796 votes total, minus guest and abstention votes. 589/666= 88.4%, Motion passes. Will go to vote and debate will end.

Vote to support motion: Yes-supports proclamation motion and No-does not support proclamation motion. 789 total in locked room; 103 YES /542 NO (84%= NO). Proclamation does not pass.  

New Business

  • No new business noted.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 4:52 p.m. by Senate Chair, Lisa Kensler.