FACULTY COUNCIL

Minutes

September 25, 2008

Present: Mohanned P. Akhter, Bruce E. Aronson, Jason C. Bartz, Olaf E Böhlke, Philip R. Brauer, Anthony J. Bull, Susan A. Calef, Murray J. Casey, Bartholomew Clark, Diane M. Cullen, Joan M. Eckerson, Ronald E. Flinn, Mark A. Freitag, Robert I. Garis, Venkatesh Govindarajan, Richard J. Hauser, S.J., Lynne E. Houtz, Margaret A. Jergenson, G. Patrick Lambert, George W. McNary, Linda J. Miers, Neil S. Norton, James E. Platz, Paul L. Price, Thomas H. Quinn, Russell R. Reno, Christy A. Rentmeester, Enrique Rodrigo, James L. Sheets, Susan Tinley, Meera E. Varman, and Guishan Xiao.

Absent: Jean-Claude Desmangles, R. Armour Forse, Natalie Harms, and Edward T. McGonigal.

Excused: Richard J. Baltaro (proxy, Garrett Soukup), J. Bradley Barr (proxy Julie Ekstrum), Laura C. Berritt (proxy Sonia M. Sanchez), Shashi K. Bhatia (proxy Josef Welie), Charles S. Bockman (proxy Margaret Scofield), Stephen J. Cavalieri (proxy Lisa Tyler), Lynn E. Olson (proxy, Thomas F. Coffey) Victor A. Padrón (proxy Brian Henriksen), and Sean M. Watts (proxy David Weber).

Call to Order:

Faculty President Dr. Neil Norton called the September meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.

Approval of Minutes:

A motion to approve the minutes of August 28, 2008 as distributed was made and seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Report of the Tenure/Non Tenure Faculty in the Health Sciences

It was noted that Dr. Heaney would be presenting the report to the Academic Council as we allowed it to be delayed at the August meeting due to his recent appointment as VPHS.

Update from the Task Force on a Speakers Policy:

Dr. Norton noted that the Policy is available on the web at: for each member to review, and that Professor Borchers would give the presentation at the Academic Council.

Update on the Search for Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine:

Dr. Norton noted that Professor Borchers would give the update at the Academic Council; a professional search firm has been engaged, and faculty from the Health Science Schools will meet with the representative from the search firm.

Strategic Planning Update

Dr. Norton noted the need for faculty input, and that the PowerPoint presentation was attached to the Academic Council Agenda for faculty to review. Dr. Purcell is heading up the Strategic Planning process as facilitator and will give the presentation at Academic Council.

Update on Benefits Issues:

Dr. Norton noted the deadline for signing up for the change in retirement benefits was September 26. There was considerable discussion about the Retirement Plan. Concerns surrounding the meetings, discussions with Principal employees not yielding satisfactory information particularly in regards to TIAA-CREF and its forms, the fact that it appeared the Principal employees seem to be just going through the motions and not giving faculty all of their options, and that the lack of a confirmation that the changes were accepted are troubling. With those concerns the following motion was made and seconded:

To revisit the retirement issue in six months;

the motion passed unanimously.

The remaining issues in benefits included discussion on how effective the smoking ban was, and a need to review the effectiveness of the policy by the Wellness Council. One of the items raised in this area is the gauntlet non-smokers must pass under the Interstate where it is legal to smoke and where smokers have taken shelter in inclement weather.

Old Business:

None

New Business:

None

Announcements:

Dr. Norton made the following announcements:

The University Committee on Rank and Tenure will hold its informational forum in the Harper Center, September 29, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. Faculty are reminded that Rank and Tenure materials are on the Faculty President’s Web Page:

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

George W. McNary, J.D.

Secretary, Faculty Council