Executive Committee (ECUS) Report

given to the University Senate on January 25, 2010

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)

     Routine business and reports

• The Executive Committee has met on three occasions, once in December and twice in January.  Much work has been a continuation of issues from earlier in the year.  We finalized minutes and created agendas for ECUS meetings and this meeting where these items will be presented: Transition of Core Work 1) GEIPC (Gen Ed Implementation Plan Committee) Closure -- Report back to US;  2) Core Task Force Update; 3) Update on Fifth Year Interim Report to SACS including QEP Impact; and 4) Selection process of US officers
• The provost reported on “Course Hero” where some course materials have been posted.  These are a part of public domain and therefore no legal action can occur at this point.  However, if there are continued concerns the Provost will continue to investigate the matter.
• University Senate Elections -- Oversight and At-Large
       At-Large Process finalized
       Elected Faculty Senator elections implemented
       Elected Faculty Senator results needed (were due Dec 1)
• The Governance Retreat Planning Work Group is engaged
• Some very minor issues were resolved: Staff Council Appointee to RPIPC, Plus/minus grading, and format of minutes
  
   

Non-routine business (some discussion):

• 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 and a draft has been created but this is still in the beginning stages.  The issue of how the US works with W-eR is more complex than perhaps initially thought.  For instance, the latest motions entered into the database are not displaying as entered.  Personnel in W-eR have many obligations and continue to work with ECUS to create useful products for the US.  
• 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. This awaits action by “yours truly”.