EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Present: Bryant, Fuller, King, Logan-Peters, Miller, Sawyer, Siekman, Spann, Whitt, Wunder
Absent: DiMagno, Peterson, Wolf
Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Location: Academic Senate Office, 420 University Terrace
1.0 Call to Order (Miller)
Miller called the meeting to order at 3:07 pm.
2.0 Announcements
2.1 Meeting with President Smith
Miller reported that he will be meeting with President Smith along with the other Senate Presidents on Thursday, September 19th. He stated that he would report on the meeting the next week.
2.2 Meeting with the Parking Advisory Committee
Miller reported that he will be meeting with the Parking Advisory Committee next week to discuss parking issues on campus.
2.3 Academic Planning Committee Procedures Evaluation Study Committee
Wunder announced that the APC Procedures Evaluation Study Committee has been formed. He noted that the committee consists of himself, three faculty members, and three students from ASUN. He stated that information on the 1986 procedures and the 1993 procedures has been sent to the committee for members to review. He noted that the committee will be meeting soon and that its members plan to have a report to the Senate and the APC by December. Wunder stated that he has informed the Chancellor that the committee has been formed.
3.0 Approval of 9/11/02 Minutes
Wunder moved and Fuller seconded approval of the minutes as amended. Motion approved.
4.0 Budget Cuts to Extension
Wunder pointed out that the Senate needs to support all faculty positions, not just tenure and tenure track positions. The committee went into closed session to discuss the impacts of the budget cuts to extension.
Sawyer suggested that a subcommittee be formed to propose alternative budget cuts to the APC. Bryant seconded the motion. Motion approved. Wunder, Sawyer, and Fuller volunteered to work on the alternative proposal.
5.0 Unfinished Business
5.1 Probation Policies
The committee reviewed the current probation policy. It was agreed that the inclusion of summer sessions as a semester created problems. Spann pointed out that counting a summer session course as a complete semester distorts the intent of the probationary period. Wunder stated that the definition of a semester needs to be more clearly defined. Fuller suggested that the problem be referred to the Academic Standards Committee for them to review and make recommendations to the Senate. Griffin will send the charge to the committee.
5.2 Undergraduate Experience
Whitt noted that Wolf distributed a copy of an article referring to the 2001 National Survey of Student Engagement report. Whitt stated that the report shows the overall ratings for universities but does not provide a breakdown for individual universities. He noted that there is concern about how UNL was rated. Griffin will contact Student Affairs to get UNLs results from the survey.
Miller asked what the opinion is on the US News & World rankings of universities and the current standing of UN. Wunder stated that he has not heard any discussions on it. Miller pointed out that while the administration often claims to dispute the importance of the rankings, it does seem pleased when the university improves its standing. Wunder suggested that the committee discuss this issue further when it meets with the administrators on October 9th.
5.3 Executive Committee Goals
The committee made further revisions to the goals. Whitt moved and King seconded approval of the revised goals. Motion approved. A copy of the Executive Committee goals will be distributed to the Academic Senate.
5.4 Mergers of Colleges and Departments
Wunder suggested that a future agenda item be a discussion of the merging of departments and colleges and the implications for academic programs and faculty. He stated that the Executive Committee needs to consider whether it should play a role in any mergers. Spann stated that careful consideration needs to be given to whether there are real cost savings, whether there is a danger to the academic reputations of a college or department, and whether a particular merger makes academic sense. Wunder moved that President Miller appoint a subcommittee to review mergers at the college and department level. Siekman seconded the motion. Wunder noted that the subcommittee should give a report to the Senate in December. Motion approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 pm. The next meeting of the Academic Senate will be held on Wednesday, September 25th at 3:00 pm, in the Academic Senate office, 420 University Terrace. The minutes are respectfully submitted by Karen Griffin, Coordinator, and James King, Secretary.
