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Governance Minutes ArchiveFebruary 1, 1991
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE & STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE Meeting Agenda February 1, 1991 200 Human Resources Annex Present: Senators Wang, Kriz, Farkas, Eng, Geyer, Canestero, Rakes, Eiss Guests: Provost Fred Carlisle, Wayland Winstead, Office of University Planning, and Phil Shelton, Institutional Research 1. Announcements. a. Senator Joseph Falkinham has agreed to chair the Senate Reconciliation Committee. b. The library has recently undergone an outside management review. The report to Robert Heterick will be completed soon. Concern was expressed over whether the report would be reviewed at the appropriate level of administration. The Provost assured us that he will receive the report and take appropriate action. c. Education Secretary Dyke met with senate officers at the recent meetings of the Virginia Association of Colleges and Universities. He promised to meet with university faculty at a meeting hosted by the senate on April 11th or 12th. (It has since been set for 2:30 February 27.) 2. Update on Faculty Senate and University Council Constitutions. a. President Eng announced that the Faculty Senate Constitution will be before the BOV for approval at its February meeting. b. Senator Farkas presented a review of the proposed University Governance System with a review of the philosophy behind shared governance. The first concern was to make sure all major university activities are represented in university governance. Such areas as university development, admissions, central budget formulation, and planning have not had a well-defined place in the governance system. Hence, a reformulation of new commissions are under consideration. Shared governance requires informed and knowledgeable members of the university community. Appropriate internships are proposed for faculty and staff. Communications would be improved with all committees reporting to appropriate commissions and then to the council. Senator Farkas asked the senate cabinet to respond to several issues: 1. Larger commissions will require more faculty participation. Should the committee on revised governance determine how many are senators or should that be left to the bylaws. With an increase of commissions, can we keep the number of members down? 2. Faculty may need to commit to twelve months service on some committees such as budget planning, are faculty willing to do so? 3. Is there dissatisfaction with EO/AA focus at this time? There has been a push for a human relations committee on campus climate because of concern over broader issues that may not be being addressed by the EO/AA committee. Discussion followed from the above questions. Observations include the following: 1. Revised governance should have the EO/AA committee reporting to the appropriate commission. 2. Faculty would/should be willing to participate on a twelve month basis in the governance process. 3. Commission size should be kept small. Concern over the proposed make up of several of the commissions was discussed in great detail. The lack of a majority of faculty membership on selected commissions, representation that might not be necessary, and opposition to proliferation of commissions were discussed. Concern was expressed over where to place university library resources needs in the governance process. 3. Report of Credentials and Elections Committee. Senator Kriz reported on the results of the tabulation of senators under the new constitution. Although the new constitution has not been approved by the BOV, it was the consensus of the cabinet that colleges and other units be informed of the number to elect for the next year based on the new constitution. This will provide colleges and other units ample time to prepare for election. If the BOV rejects the constitution, fewer individuals will be needed. Constituency Current # New Terms Expiring Number to Senators Senators Elect Agriculture 8 9 5 6 Architecture 2 3 0 1 Arts & Sciences 13 14 3 4 Business 3 3 1 1 Education 3 3 0 0 Engineering 6 8 2 4 Extension 0 2 0 2 Human Resources 2 3 0 1 Library 1 2 1 2 Veterinary Med. 2 3 0 1 ------------------------------------------------------------ Total 40 51 12 23 4. Planning. Provost Carlisle and Planners Shelton and Winstead presented an update on the Second Draft of the University Plan 1991-1996. The comments from this discussion follow. Provost: This plan is to be presented to the BOV by April. Provost will discuss the plan with the Interim Budget and Planning Committee. The plan is a basic statement of what the university has become and the direction it wants to over the next five years. It is not an empty statement. It is the first of several plans. Action plans are to come from the colleges and departments and can be attached to the university plan. Once the University and Colleges have dollars, we can allocate and make the plan work. Winstead: One of the actions of planning has been to help us review the University mission. The Second draft has reflected comments received. Objectives have been changed to reflect the changing University and lack of money. The new draft reflects fewer objectives and a "better" organization. For example, because of Senator Walker's letter, the physical quality of facilities has been added as a goal and other items have been rearranged in more appropriate sections. The Plan is a compromise of many views and ideas. One goal has been to keep the document focused and a number of objectives have been reduced. We will come back to the Senate/Cabinet as needed. Eng: Where do we go from here? Winstead: This document will be used to drive 92-94 budget outlays that will be put together by August. Arts and Sciences are already working to meet the goals and objectives of the Plan. Provost: We will use it to address budget and procedure. If tuition or other money is available, we will allocate or reallocate positions according to the Plan. We will use it to reallocate resources in 91-92 if there are any resources according to the plan. Winstead: Colleges can develop college plans consistent with the priorities as outlined in the plan. Provost: The plan and the budget are to be congruent. College and University plans need not be deduced from University plan but the Provost is looking for consistency, congruency. Winstead: All colleges and departments, Vice Presidents are to work with Carlisle and Ridenour to encourage carrying out goals as far as possible. Provost: Burruss is not a bunker even if it looks like a fort. Burruss wants input into the process. Farkas: How do we prioritize the goals as to which ones to carry out first? In process of setting priorities, what kinds of discussion processes are to be undertaken? Provost: The Interim Budget and Planning Committee will function analogous to a "Commission" and work to plan the budget. The Budget and Planning and Planning Coordinating Committee will merge as part of the process. Levels of input include: a) Deans, b) Vice Presidents and c) Colleges and Departments. All need to be working with analogous groups in the college to implement goals. Deans and Heads should engage in conversation with Faculty. So also should the Interim Budget and Planning Committee. Canestero: Facilities are important, but legislators and others often see only the outside-not the classroom. Physical facilities are important to classroom work. Winstead: We are already reviewing facilities with the faculty. Consensus: 1) The Second draft will be distributed to the Faculty Senate (attached to these minutes for Senators only) and published in Spectrum for the University community. 2) The Second draft was greatly improved and well focused. 3) Concern over how and who determines priorities remain a concern of the cabinet. How this process is integrated into the governance process system should be an ongoing dialogue and concern on the part of the Senate. 5. The Cabinet decided that reports that are available prior to the mailing of the agenda may be attached to the agenda or electronically transferred to Senators prior to Senate meetings. 6. Options for future meetings are as follows: February 12 - Past Presidents Address - Senator Pat Scanlon March 5 - President McComas April 9 - Election of Officers April 23 - Election of Commission/Committee Discussion of Proposed changes in Governance as needed. 7. Other Senator Farkas will provide the Senate with a report on proposed governance changes at the next Senate meeting. Cabinet expressed strong concerns over the composition of selected commissions and urged a continued dialogue on this issue. Concern over the process of naming buildings had been raised at a previous Senate meeting. Secretary Geyer reported to the Senate that Mr. Charles Forbes has provided the Senate with a copy of the Policy and Procedures on Commemorative Tributes. The full policy is available from Mr. Forbes or Secretary Geyer. Selected excerpts and membership of the Committee on Commemorative Tributes follows: 1) Committee Membership Vice President for Development and University Relations, chairman University Provost Vice President for Administration President of the Faculty Senate Executive Vice President of the Alumni Association President of the Senior Class 2) Basic Policy The Board of Visitors is responsible for the naming of all buildings, portions of buildings, and other significant physical facilities on the University's properties. The Board also is responsible for authorizing the naming of professorships, endowed chairs, and major academic components of the University. A Committee on Commemorative Tributes is responsible for reviewing proposals for the naming of buildings and other physical facilities, and for making recommendations to the President for possible further recommendation to the Board. Similarly the Committee will review proposals for naming professorships, endowed chairs, and major academic units of the University and making recommendations to the President for possible submission to the Board of Visitors. The Committee on Commemorative Tributes, with the concurrence of the President, will authorize the erection of plaques, permanent signs and other memorials, and the commissioning and hanging of portraits.
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