1. WELCOME BY THE CHAIR
The meeting started at approximately
2. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 2001 MEETING
The November 13th meeting minutes were approved.
3. CHAIR’S
REPORT/ANNOUNCEMENT
The Chair opened up with a
discussion about the UMES Senate’s purpose.
The Chair would like to advocate for the administrators, staff, students
and faculty to come together to discuss the issues as they relate to the
University. It was suggested that the
Chair write a letter to the Acting President outlining what the purpose of the
Senate is, and to invite them to the meetings as they are members of the
Senate.
4.
COMMIITTEE REPORTS
Academic
Affairs Committee: Course description for the MS
in Rehabilitation Program has been sent to the Academic Affairs Committee for
approval.
Student
Concerns Committee: The Committee has met one
time. The students have met with Dean
Jones and there has been no progress in getting their needs met. The Senate Chair suggested that instead of
Dr. Spinner being the Chair of this Committee, that a student be the Chair. Mr. Ken Medley has agreed to be Chair. It was suggested that the Committee look at
UMBC’s and SU’s policy for room and board.
5. BY-LAWS UPDATE
There
was discussion concerning the Titles of individuals in the by-laws,
particularly as it relates to professional and classified staff, now called
exempt and non-exempt respectively. A
motion was passed to change, throughout the Senate by-laws document,
professional staff to “Exempt” and Classified staff to “Non-exempt”, and to add
Librarians as faculty to the document.
There
was another discussion concerning making
the Faculty Grievance Committee active.
Further, does the Faculty Grievance Committee make recommendations
(procedures) or does the Committee make policy changes? A suggestion was made to look at the history
of the Faculty Grievance Committee, examine who has overseen the Committee, and
have the Senate Chair meet with the Acting President to resolve issues of
standing committees – to bring the committees back under the purview of the
Senate as it is stated in the By-Laws.
6. PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH
The
Search Committee has met. The Senate
wanted to convey to the Search Committee
that they would like the process to be an open one. The Search Committee has told the Senate
Chair (a member of the Search Committee) that the search process will not be
open. A motion was passed (11 yea, 2 in
opposition) that a letter be jointly drafted and signed by the Senate
expressing its’ dissatisfaction with the closed process. The Senate Chair removed himself from this
process because he is a member of the Search Committee. In
addition, the letter will be carbon copied to the Chancellor and the Board of
Regents. Drs. Spinner, Gupta and Mollett
will draft the letter.
7. OLD BUSINESS
There
was discussion about the mandatory rehearsal for students graduating. If students do not attend the rehearsal, they
will still walk, however, it is strongly recommended that students attend the
rehearsal.
8. NEW BUSINESS
None
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy
Holidays! Please bring all issues to the
February 2002 meeting.
8. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at
Submitted by:
Dr.
Brigid Noonan (Secretary)