1) The meeting was called to order at 11:10 A.M. by Dennis Rome, Chair.  Also attending were members Chris Evans, Fran Kavenik, and Mary Lenard.  Anne Statham was excused.  Evelyn Zepp was present as Secretary of the Faculty and Gerald Greenfield, Interim Provost, was a guest.

2) The minutes of the meeting of December 12, 2006 were approved.

5) New Business:

              The discussion with the Interim Provost was taken out of order, by common consent of the members.

              Members raised concerns on technology issues (e-mails from home lost in transit, some personnel issues) and issues with the affirmative action office, particularly relating to search procedures.  They also noted how staff, in particular, are currently spread very thin, as some people cover two or more positions.

              The Interim Provost shared a schedule of Provost Cabinet meetings and plans for the March Regents meeting (March 8 and 9).  Our theme is Academic Excellence.  He also noted that the enrollment task force is looking at stressing academic excellence in our image, as well as diversity, etc.

The Interim Provost left the meeting at 11:45 A.M.

 

The Committee returned to the Agenda:

 

3) Announcements

              The Chair noted that the Faculty Reps are dealing with a new attack related to sick leave--on colleague coverage.  The Committee in charge of this year's evaluation of administrators is meeting Monday.  The Chair will seek to meet with the Chancellor regarding serious concerns related to searches.

 

4) Unfinished Business

              a) First Friday: The first event will be January 26th in the Faculty-Staff Lounge, 3:30-6:00.  Members volunteered to bring various items.

              b) Results on the University Committee Special Election--Prof. Rome volunteered to collect ballots from the post office and he and Prof. Kavenik volunteered to help count them after the meeting.  The results will be reported then.

              c) Issues raised in e-mails from Dean Cress

                            "Twenty days," taken to include week-ends and holidays, should be changed to "ten business days."  This will go on the SENATE AGENDA.

              Questions of tenured part-time positions and family issues were tabled until the Feb. 16th meeting.

              The Secretary of the Faculty noted that Chapter 6 is in need of revision, particularly in relation to issues relating to tenure.

 

5) New Business

              There was no other new business.

 

6) Miscellaneous Business

              a) CRCA sabbatical replacement: the SS candidate from the Spring 05 election will be asked to serve.  If this person is unwilling to serve, the U.C. will seek someone else from that division.

              b) Confusion relative to the end terms of some U.C. members, resulting from the departure of Susan Haller and the resignation of Paul Mohazzabi prior to the current Secretary of the Faculty taking office, was discussed.  The U.C. minutes from that period are missing.  It was decided that the persons occupying the Haller and Mohazzabi positions will have their terms end, as was the case for those originally elected, at the end of Spring 07.  These persons may certainly run again.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 P.M.

l

Submitted lby Evelyn Zepp, Secretary of the Faculty