Faculty Senate Minutes – Friday, August 26, 2016

LSF 002, Westville Campus

 Senators Present:

A. Angriawan, M. Block, C. Boiarsky, C.V. Chandramouli, B. Chen, D. Detmer, T. Dobrowski, J. Duzinkiewicz, T. Elmendorf, M. Fathizadeh, J. Garwood, J. Hack, P. Hecht, E. James, G. Jin, J. Kuhn, Y. Lee, S. Mo, N. Nemeth, N. Patel, L. Pelter, J. Pula, V. Quinn, S. Rezak, C. Roper, P. Rose, R. Rupp, G. Schultz, K. Scipes, J. Thomas, S. Trekles, F. Wang, E. Weber, D. Whitten, D. Wilbur, N. Zeytinoglu.

Senators Absent:

A. Kokalov, S. Nakayama, J. Spores, L. Tan.

Others present:

C. Arroyo, R. Biddings-Muro, K. Falzone, L. Goodnight, B. Law, W. Lukoshus, S. Lerner, M. Lynn, R. Mueller, V. Ott, C. Panlilio, S. Steele, J. Shires, R. Stankowski, S. Turner, M. Watson, T. Winders, J. Yothment.

1. Determination of quorum

   A quorum was declared at 10:09 a.m.

2. Call to Order

   D. Wilbur, bylaws drafting committee co-chair, called the meeting to order. Members of the bylaws drafting committee were introduced: D. Wilbur (co-chair), G. Schultz (co-chair), M. Block, J. Hack, P. Hecht, V. Ott, C. Roper and F. Wang.

3. Acceptance of Agenda

   T. Elmendorf moved and C. Roper seconded to accept the proposed agenda. The agenda was then amended to allow for a statement from R. Mueller, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

4. Report of the Provost

   R. Mueller informed senators that Chancellor T. Keon was attending the Board of Trustees meeting and sent his greetings. The provost expressed his appreciation for the welcome he has received since arriving on campus and related his experience in governance as a faculty member.

   He reiterated the three areas that he will emphasize in the Academic Affairs office: excellence, success and effectiveness. He informed the group that Bill Law and Michael Lynn, the two interim associate vice chancellors for academic affairs, would continue in their positions. Law will be responsible for the excellence of the academic programs and Lynn will be responsible for the support and development needed for academic success.  He announced the appointment of Rebecca Stankowski as interim executive director for institutional effectiveness. He said that procedures for formal searches to fill the three positions permanently would be announced later. Four ongoing searches are underway for the deans of Engineering and Sciences, and Humanities, Education and Social Sciences; the director for Engineering; and the director for the School of Education and Counseling.

5. Approval of the PNW Faculty Senate Bylaws

   Potential amendments were offered by T. Elmendorf concerning student attendance at the Senate meetings, staggering the terms of the senators, omitting references to graduate responsibilities and populating committees. G. Schultz said the bylaws document was not perfect, but there were no substantive issues that would prevent its immediate passage. He said the bylaws committee members understood that changes would be made and that it is comparatively easy to change the bylaws. S. Lerner suggested that passing the bylaws with the understanding that they would be changed represented a practical way to ensure that the Senate can move forward as a functioning body. The senators discussed student representation. J. Duzinkiewicz said that students should be represented on the Senate, but pointed out a potential conflict between the constitution and bylaws about who could serve. P. Hecht noted that students serve on the Student Affairs Committee and its subcommittees, so there is student representation. He said the constitution could be amended if need be. J. Hack reiterated her pledge made during the PUC Senate’s consideration of the constitution that students would have representation when the PNW Senate was created. Discussion also ensued about the language that includes Senate oversight of graduate programs. The decision was made to evaluate proposed amendments singly rather than as a group.

   C. Boiarsky moved to revise Article I, Section B, subsection 6c to remove reference to graduate courses and degrees that require approval of the Senate. T. Elmendorf seconded. E. James suggested that the language be revised to stipulate “require review.” The amendment was approved unanimously by voice vote.

   J. Thomas offered an amendment that the student representatives of the Student Affairs Committee are invited to attend Senate meetings ex officio without vote. T. Elmendorf seconded. Discussion ensued to ensure that language not indicate that the students are members of the Senate. The final language was: Student representatives of the Student Affairs Committee are invited to attend Senate meetings as ex officio without vote. Amendment approved unanimously by voice vote.

   Article I, Section B, subsection 2a was amended unanimously by voice vote to correct the citation of the subcommittee structure.

   T. Elmendorf noted that Nominating, Intercollegiate Athletics and Budget remain subcommittees in the PNW bylaws. G. Schultz said that as many as 11 different standing committees been under consideration for the PNW Senate. M. Block noted that having so many standing committees would require that senators become members of more than one committee, which the bylaws drafting committee wanted to avoid.

   F. Wang wanted to know whether the Board of Trustees had taken action on the PNW Faculty Senate constitution as it was supposed to do on the same day as the Senate meeting. G. Schultz said he was told by the university’s legal counsel that the constitution was in “good shape” for passage.

   R. Rupp asked for a roll call vote on the adoption of the bylaws. Discussion ensued about whether the document required a simple majority or a super majority vote for passage. The document was approved unanimously by voice vote. G. Schultz suggested that a roll call vote would be appropriate, given the significance of the document. The roll call vote ensued.

   Senators voting in favor of approving the proposed bylaws were A. Angriawan, M. Block, C. Boiarsky, C.V. Chandramouli, B. Chen, D. Detmer, T. Dobrowski, J. Duzinkiewicz, A. Elmendorf, M. Fathizadeh, J. Garwood, J. Hack, P. Hecht, E. James, G. Jin, J. Kuhn, Y. Lee, N. Nemeth, N. Patel, L. Pelter, J. Pula, V. Quinn, C. Roper, R. Rupp, G. Schultz, K. Scipes, J. Thomas, S. Trekles, F. Wang, W. Weber, D. Whitten, D. Wilbur, N. Zeytinoglu. No Senator opposed the bylaws. The following Senators were absent at the time of the vote: A. Kokalov, S. Mo, S. Nakayama, S. Rezak, P. Rose, J. Spores, L. Tan. The bylaws were approved by a vote of 33 in favor, 0 opposed and 7 absent.

6. Election of Faculty Senate Chair/Vice Chair

   Nominations for chair of the PNW Senate were considered next. D. Wilbur was nominated and selected from the Westville campus. G. Schultz was nominated and selected from the Hammond campus. D. Wilbur was selected as chair for the 2016-2017 academic year as the result of a coin flip. G. Schultz will be vice chair for the 2016-2017 academic year.

7. Committee Members Sign-Up

   After a short break, Senate members provided their three choices for committee membership. The officers will tally the results and make the assignments.

8. Adjournment

   The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

Minutes Approved, September 9, 2016