MINUTES
Reynolds #210
10/15/2015 3:40 PM
Attendance: Tim Wise, Sara Day, Denise Moseley, Pat Clanton, Stacy Clanton, Charles Young , Ron Smith, Sheila Pearson, Abdel Bachri, Marla Strecker, Svetlana Paulson, John Hutchens.
Agenda Topics
Call to Order
Reading of Proxies- Stacy Clanton was proxy for Juping Wang, Abdel Bachri was proxy for Copie Moore, Ron Smith was proxy for George White, Sheila Pearson was proxy for Shane Warrick, and Marla Strecker was proxy for Alec Testa,
Approval of Minutes
Stacy Clanton moved to approve the October 15 Faculty Senate minutes, and Sara Day seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Special Orders of the Day
Remarks from Administration
Dr. Berry reported that as of now, enrollment for spring semester is looking very positive. New majors are drawing new students, and ground has been broken for the new residence halls. “Making Magnolia Blossom” will be a good way to make SAU’s presence known in the community. He also noted that SAU student Taylor McNeel was elected National FFA president. The last time an SAU student held that office was in 1956.
Old Business
Mission Statement Committee Report – Deana Taylor reported that the Staff Senate reviewed the proposed revised mission statement and is agreeable to leaving the mission statement as it is with no changes needed.
The Handbook Committee was charged with investigating whether it is possible for each college to have an approved variation of the university’s evaluation procedures of faculty. The committee noted that College of Education has different forms and that page 70 Section B.1lists required documents that allow flexibility. Further, Form F Appendix P has added wording to clarify.
The committee was also charged with investigating whether the wording of the peer review process is broad enough to allow for the digital summaries and the improved peer evaluations as substitutions for what is currently being used.
Motion to accept the report was made by Charles Young and seconded by Sara Day.
Student participation in on-line evaluations was reported to be 35%.
New Business
Reserved Parking Policy-
VP Donna Allen distributed a new “Policy for Reserved Faculty/Staff Parking” document. (See attached).
Some major concerns about the policy were voiced by faculty senators. 1) Faculty/staff were not included or consulted in creating the new policy. 2) According to the new policy, if someone other than the owner of the reserved spot is parked in the reserved spot, the faculty/staff owner of the spot must take a picture of the car, tags, and email it to the UPD. The UPD will try to contact the driver of the vehicle. If the person is in class (which they likely will be) either the class will be interrupted to pull the student out to move the vehicle or UPD can only try to contact the student between classes. 3) The person parked illegally has two hours to move the vehicle before the towing company is called to remove the vehicle. This would, in effect, give the illegally parked vehicle two hours of free reserved parking that someone else has paid for. Other concerns were when does the two hour time frame begin, who does the timing, and how long will the towing company take to come to the spot after they are called. There was also a mention of retrieving the key to the vehicle, which was unclear in meaning.
Abdel Bachri suggested that an ad hoc committee made up of faculty/staff/administration be established to look into a more coherent and fair Reserved Parking policy. Faculty Senate president Tim Wise will appoint a committee in the near future to consider Reserved Parking Policies.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Denise Moseley and seconded by Stacy Clanton.
Meeting adjourned at 4:35.
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