Executive Committee (ECUS) Report

given to the University Senate on October 26, 2009

submitted by Karynne Kleine

Steering Committee of the University Senate and Faculty Advisory Committee to the University President

Voting Members:  President Leland, Provost Sandra Jordan, Tanya Goette (CoB), Craig Turner (CoAS), Christine Zuger (Library)

Non-voting Member: Deborah Vess (ex officio non-voting, 2008-09 ECUS Chair)

Officers:  Secretary: Dean Baker (CoHS), Vice-Chair: Ken McGill (CoAS), Chair: Karynne Kleine (CoE)

     Announcement:

• Fall Meeting of University System of Georgia Faculty Council advocates at the Macon Center is scheduled for 13 November, 2009

     Routine business (little discussion):

• Reviewed draft of 28 September University Senate minutes prior to distribution to University Senators for their review
• Finalized the draft agenda for 26 October University Senate meeting
• Continued to work with Web-enabled Resources regarding the on-line motion database and the electronic presence of the University Senate. Determined that this electronic presence should have some guiding principles for its development. These principles will be drafted by a work group headed by Ken McGill and additionally consisting of Tanya Goette, Craig Turner, and Deborah Vess where the draft produced will be reviewed by the Executive Committee.  Whether and before these principles become “official” in any way members of the University Senate will be asked to review them.
• Used E-mail for communication and meetings (16 October) more frequently while clarifying how ECUS meetings will be cancelled in the future 
• A representative from Executive Committee for each academic unit (college, library) met with his/her academic dean to provide guidance to ensure elected faculty senator elections within each academic unit will be conducted in compliance with the University Senate Bylaws
• Circulated draft of proposed by-laws revisions among the members of the Executive Committee.  These proposed revisions continue to undergo review by the Executive Committee and are editorial changes that either correct “errors” in the current bylaws or promote consistency in format and language within the by-laws.

 Non-routine business (some discussion):

• Discussed whether ECUS is a Standing Committee of the University Senate and thus whether it is subject to the “three senator rule” for bringing items before the committee.  At this point it appears that ECUS is not considered a standing committee within the University Senate bylaws and there are multiple means for the university community to have items considered by the University Senate and/or its standing committees, as ensuring voice is a goal of ECUS.  
• Have just begun and will continue vetting the issue of the eligibility criteria [specifically the number of years remaining in a candidate’s term of service] for Presiding Officer Elect [as well as selection procedure for University Senate officers] in consideration of possible by-laws revisions.
• Extend(ed) invitation to serve on GRPC (Governance Retreat Planning Committee) 2009-2010
• Discussion topic today of “Standardizing Review of University Policy”

 Upcoming ECUS meetings:

• Wednesday, 28 Oct. [Work Session in library] and 4 Nov. [Regular in the President's Conference Room], 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, 16 Nov. [Joint meeting with Standing Committee Chairs] 12:30 p.m.- 1:45 p.m. in the President's Conference Room