CSU Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

Members Present : Y. Searcy, V. Shen, J. Florine, D. Block, A. Richardson, J. Lynch, G. Place, D. Hrozencik, A. Abraha, A. Nkansah, B. Meeker, D. Potluri, S. Busch, Z. Bokhar, K. Haefliger, S. Kang, M. Kelly, S. Ifatunji, K. Gilchrist, P. Beverly, L. Bryant, P. Gomberg, E. Wittbrodt.

I. Visitors and members welcomed to meeting

II. Review and approval of February 5, 2008 minutes. Motion approved to accept minutes.

III. Reports: Library committee discussed briefly procedures faculty should take related to travel. Senator Potluri thanked an unidentified librarian publicly for her assistance.

IV. Faculty senate meeting location will remain in ADM 301, as other locations could result in senate meetings being bumped.

V. Discussion of the process of faculty search committees. The process of ranking candidates was discussed; faculty should not show preferences for candidates or rank them as this is a legal issue. Faculty concerned their preferences were ignored in the process if their first choice not selected. Senator Meeker asked if there were university procedures outlining what could be done. Senator Dean concurred that we need guidelines on the policy. President Searcy indicated that faculty cannot rank according top the legal dept. to avoid lawsuits, instead faculty should write letters to indicate preferences but the final selection is with the administration. President Searcy indicated that departments should have recourse or they have to live with administrative choices. Senator Ifatunji suggested that because the administration controls the money they make decisions based on that and often candidates reject offers because of the money offered. Senator Soo suggested it was not an issue of money but that the administration makes the actual selection. President Searcy suggested a committee be formed to draft a paper on recommendations is faculty search committees. The members of the committee are Senators Meeker, Beverly, Kelly and Block.

VI. Presidential Search Committee nominations- College of business gave their nominations at the meeting, Arts & Sciences had four nominations, and College of Education had 2. Senators were needed to count the votes.

VII. President Searcy discussed the need to update faculty senate representation, currently the senate is at 32 members, and presently the procedure is 1 senator per every 14 faculty in a department and 2 per every 15. The number of senators will increase with the addition of the College of Pharmacy.

VIII. Senator Beverly suggested the senate review the bylaws and faculty census. President Searcy indicated he is in the process of completing this now, senators Busch and Beverly agreed to assist in this. Senator Beverly also suggested that the university faculty be surveyed on the university climate he volunteered to look into created a link for the senate to complete this and address such issues as: reduction of faculty load, research and travel support and faculty safety drill.