EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Present: Buck, Carlo, Fech, Fuller, Logan-Peters, Miller, Peterson, Shea, Spann, Whitt, Wunder
Absent: Alexander, Beck
Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Location: 201 Canfield Administration Building
1.0 Call to Order
Wunder called the meeting to order at 3:06 pm.
2.0 Announcements
2.1 Quality Indicators Report
Wunder reported that the Quality Indicators Report is now available on the web
(http://www.unl.edu/svcaa/quality/report2003.pdf ). He stated that Martha Stoddard, reporter from the Lincoln Journal Star will be contacting members of the Executive Committee to discuss the report.
2.2 Chronicle of Higher Education Article
Wunder reported that the Chronicle of Higher Education contacted him to say that are writing an article concerning the perks that athletic department personnel and some faculty members receive at universities. He stated that he does not know anything more than what has been written in the local papers. Wunder stated that he will call the Chronicle and suggest that they look at the articles written by the Lincoln Journal Star.
2.3 Letter from University of Missouri-Columbia
Wunder stated that he received a letter from Professor Gordon Christensen, Chair of the Faculty Council at UM, regarding a resolution made by their faculty senate on the role of intercollegiate athletics. Wunder noted that Christensen was asking whether the UNL Senate has passed something similar to their resolution and whether we believe that a Faculty Big 12 conference on the issue should be held. He stated that the email would be sent to the Executive Committee for their review. Fech noted that the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee here has passed a resolution to send people from UNL to attend the American Association of University Presidents Governance Conference where the issue of intercollegiate athletics will be discussed. Wunder stated that Professor Gaussion, Chair of the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, will be meeting with the Committee next week to discuss the IACs resolution to join the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics.
3.0 SVCAA Edwards/VC Owens
Both SVCAA Edwards and VC Owens were unable to attend the meeting due to conflicts of schedules.
4.0 Approval of 9/10/03 Minutes
Miller moved and Peterson seconded approval of the minutes as amended. Motion approved.
5.0 Nominations for Presidents Search Committee
Wunder reported that he received on Monday, a letter from Regent Ferlic, Chair of the Board of Regents, requesting that two to four faculty names be nominated by the Faculty Senate for the search committee. He noted that the nominations are due on Monday, September 22nd. Wunder pointed out that the Executive Committee can act on behalf of the Senate when it is not in session, but the quick turn around time does not allow for the full Senate to participate in the discussion. The Committee discussed nominations.
Wunder stated he would raise an issue with the Board regarding the number of faculty members from UNL who will be allowed on the search committee. Of the four nominations made, only one will be selected to serve on the search committee. Wunder stated that he believes this is unfair since UNL gets approximately 50% of the budget, and consequently 50% of the budget cuts. It has 50% of the students, and 50% of the faculty. He pointed out that although the search committee is large, there will only be four faculty members on it, one from each campus.
The Committee discussed the composition of the search committee. Peterson moved that President Wunder forward four names designated by the Executive Committee along with comments regarding the amount of faculty representation and an explanation that reflects the concern about the deadline date. Carlo seconded the motion. Miller offered a friendly amendment that the names of the nominees be kept confidential until they have been contacted about the nomination. Spann seconded the motion. Peterson accepted the friendly amendment. Motion approved.
The Committee discussed whether the issue regarding the role and need of Varner Hall should be raised at the next Senate meeting. The Committee agreed to place it on the agenda under unfinished business for the October meeting. The committee also discussed the issue of faculty governance and whether it is being respected by the Regents.
6.0 New Business
No new business was discussed.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:56 pm. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be on Wednesday, September 24th at 3:00 pm. The meeting will be held in the Academic Senate Office, 420 University Terrace. The minutes are respectfully submitted by Karen Griffin, Coordinator and Shelley Fuller, Secretary.
