St. Mary's University
338th Meeting of the Faculty Senate
February 23, 2001
All senators were present with the exception of Senators Abney, Harston, Moras, Scott and Lene (excused).
The senate convened in Room 106 of the Alkek Building.
Senator Martinez led the Senate in prayer.
Approval of Minutes. Senator Telepak moved approval of amended minutes; Senator Castaneda seconded; motion unanimously approved.
President's Report:
Bob Howe Memorial Fund: the Senate decided unanimously to put these funds into the School of Business' Howe Fund
Status of the Tenured Faculty: no report
Summer School Policy: no report
Search Committee for the Academic V.P. : 3 of the 4 candidates had already been through the on campus interviews. One candidate remains. The Senate expressed some dissatisfaction with the manner and timing of its involvement in the search process and expressed a desire to talk about this at the next meeting. A discussion ensued as the ineffectiveness of the Senate.
Enduring Marianist Presence: Town Hall Meeting today. There is as yet no change in the plan to have a Vice President for Mission.
Board of Trustees Meeting: voted to reappoint VP Galvin
Senate Web Page: Senate VP Lesher reported ongoing work on the web page. She passed out copies of what is on the web page and also a copy of links to faculty senate web pages at other universities.
Old Business
Benefits for Part-Time Faculty: Senator Bolin reported that he has connected but was still searching for a live person at Seabury&Smith
Sabbatical Leave: Senator Bolin and Senator O'Connor will work on language expressing the senates desire to have more flexibility in the sabbatical policy.
Linking Tenure and Promotion: Committee C will work on it.
Thanksgiving Week Fall Break: Committee D met with Registrar. The Registrar will check to see if the proposal to have the Thanksgiving week be a Fall Break would violate any accreditation standards to which the University is subject.
Campus Beautification Project: Senator Cutting reported that the Physical Plant Committee was considering some renovation work that would adversely affect faculty parking. She would monitor this situation and provide more information by our next meeting.
New Business
Race Discussion: Senate discussed issues of the Women's Task Force and there being one ten years ago (loss of institutional memory), issues on diversity and forming a Senate Committee on these issues. Several senators agreed to meet to discuss this further and to report back to the senate at the next meeting.
CARS: Senate discussed the scheduling issues. Senator O'Connor to draft letter for President Hampton’s review and signature regarding the need to evaluate the suitability of the CARS systems, in light of the pending re-write of the CARS program.
There was a general discussion regarding ways to heighten the senate’s visibility including: broadcasting meeting dates and times, posting the minutes on the web page, soliciting comments and suggestions from faculty. Senators also express a desire to obtain the minutes during the week prior to the time of the faculty senate meeting.
Motion to Adjourn from Senator O'Connor and second by Senator Haddock; approved at 3:12.