Subject:                                 University Senate Meeting Report

Date:                                      29 August 2005

Committee:                           Executive Committee

Submitted by:                       Dr. Betty A. Block, Ex-officio

Members of the out-going Executive Committee met twice this summer with the in-coming Executive Committee and throughout the summer in other roles to accomplish the following.

• The proposed revisions of the Institutional Statutes were approved by the Board of Regents in June.  A committee consisting of the 2004-2005 Executive Committee members and others with Statutes and Bylaws experience reviewed the set of statutes that did not survive the latest modifications.   Our task was to review items removed from the Institutional Statutes during their revision and make recommendations regarding their status within University Policy.  These recommendations were presented to the President in July and at present she is reviewing these recommendations.

• Dr. J.W. Good is drafting charters for University Policy Committees.  One committee will make recommendations on the organization and oversight of University Policy, while the other will engage in a review of the University Senate Bylaws.  The Executive Committee will review these charters, and updates on this work will be provided as progress is made.  All Senators will have an opportunity to inform and review the work of the bylaws review committee.
• Approved modifications to the common meeting block priority calendar
• A summary of the work at the President’s Governance Retreat, complete with pictures, is available on the University Senate Webpage.  Some important information that came from the retreat included the following:
  • A need to revisit the depth of reporting in the meeting minutes of Senate committees to include more detail
  • We need a mechanism for reviewing policy and procedures
  • Senators have a responsibility to be diligent in educating, seeking out information,  and reporting to constituencies
  • Standing Committee chairs should continue to communicate with ECUS and each other
  • Committees need to work to engage the university community in dialogue
• The nondiscrimination policy statement will be amended to incorporate “sexual orientation” as recommended in the Non-discrimination statement resolution of the University Senate
• The Staff Council is now registered as an Administrative Committee reporting to the President until such time as an alternate recommendation on its role within institutional governance is proposed and approved
• Under the leadership of Dr. J.W. Good, senate leaders read articles and books related to best practices in management and leadership and then engaged in discussions about how to use this information to move the university forward.  These discussions will continue this year and you are welcome to attend if you have an interest in this area.
• Allow me to introduce members of the 2005-2006 Executive Committee (ECUS).

• Anne Gormly – Vice President of Academic Affairs
• Dorothy Leland – University President
• Mike Whitfield – School of Business
• Jude Hirsch –  School of Health Sciences, ECUS Vice Chair
• Craig Turner – School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, ECUS Secretary
• Cheryl Reynolds – School of Education, ECUS Chair

• Dr. Cheryl Reynolds, Chair of the Executive Committee, will now provide information on activity of the 2005-2006 Executive Committee.