AU Steering Minutes

Senate Steering Meeting

09/12/2023 | 107 Samford | 3:30 PM

Attendance

Present: Lisa Kensler (Chair), Linda Gibson-Young (Secretary), Jaena Alabi (Secretary-elect), Laura Kloberg (Admin Asst), Mark Carpenter (Past-chair), Lori Eckhardt (Chair-elect), Vini Nathan (Provost), J. Brian Anderson, Robert Cochran.

Absent: Danilea Werner excused, Jury Duty (substitute for L. Octavia Tripp), Evenlyn Hunter excused, Conference.

Guests: Kelvin King (Campus Safety and Security), Dr. Clarence Stuart (Asst Chief Auburn Police Dept), Kevin Robinson (Floyd Johnson, Director, Emergency Management), Ashley Gann (Public Information Officer).

Minutes

  • Meeting called to order by Senate Chair, Lisa Kensler

  • Steering Minutes from August 22, 2023. Approved unanimously as posted.

  • Discussion of Agenda Items for September 19, 2023

Information Items

  • Safety Presentation by Kelvin King and Dr. Stuart highlighted Initial Presentation Safety. Planning for 10-15 minutes and will share the Active Shooter Plan for AU in collaboration with Auburn Police. Biannual evaluation of more than 240 emergency plans. Encouraged to have a link to extra resources and a plan for specific buildings on campus.

  • Announcements from Provost Nathan- US News and World Report outcomes, Interim Dean, Business will be announced. Mission Enhancement Fund (budget $4M, Senate, 2 Dept Chairs)  35 projects with $14M request.

  • Senator Orientation Evaluation summary will be presented by Jaena Alabi, Secretary-elect.

Unfinished or New Business

  • Motion to create Policy Advisory Committee (Senate Committee) - Lori Eckhardt

    • Presented to University as part of shared governance. Aimed to be a consistent and transparent process for all policies forwarded to Senate as directed by the Policy on Policies. Committee makeup highlighted and will be added to the presentation.

  • Action Item - Voting on Senate Committees - Linda Gibson-Young

  • Discuss Fall Faculty Meeting, Agenda due October 9, 2023

    • AAUP, childcare study (Provost AAUP meeting planned September 26, 2023).

    • Martha Taylor and Faculty Research Committee - eRA rollout? Will ask FRC.

    • SGA overview, would like to hold off presenting at this time.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.

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.