Executive Committee (ECUS) Report

given to the University Senate on November 30, 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:

• The fall meeting of University System of Georgia Faculty Council (USGFC) advocates was held at the Macon Center on 13 November, 2009.  It appears that all institutions in the University System of Georgia will endorse the USGFC and it will move forward for recognition by the BoR.

     Routine business (little discussion):

• Reviewed draft of 26 October University Senate minutes prior to distribution to University Senators for their review
• Continued to work with Web-enabled Resources regarding the on-line motion database and the electronic presence of the University Senate. The “Guiding Principles” work group has met but the principles are not yet ready for members to review.
• Renewed work on “The Glossary” (developing operational definitions for the terms including but not limited to procedure, guideline, practice, exhibit, information item, concern, and resolution) begun by a previous administration. ECUS members felt that it would be useful to have more concrete definitions to guide US work.
• Editorial changes to bylaws were reviewed and will come before the US soon.
• Drafts of the at-large election process were discussed and finalized beginning the nomination process February third in order to provide enough time for a potential of a run-off election if needed.

Non-routine business (some discussion):

• Finalized the agenda for the 30 November University Senate meeting with the Standing Committee Chairs anticipating that more “presiding” than usual will be needed.  Provisions were made to promote healthy debate of several motions before the US.
• The selection process for officers of the University Senate articulated in the University Senate Bylaws was discussed several times and it was determined that widening the pool of eligible officers to promote shared governance is an important consideration.  This matter will come before the US soon with possible changes to be implemented as soon as fall 2010.
• Drafts of the Governance Calendar for 2010-11 were reviewed, discussed and continue to be refined.  Standing Committee Chairs will be asked for input at the next joint meeting with ECUS.  US may be asked for input on the need for August Standing Committee meetings.
• After incorporating feedback received at the last US meeting ECUS agreed to form a task force consisting of the Vice Chairs of the University Senate Standing Committees to be charged with making recommendations and developing guiding principles for the standardized review of policy.