University Senate - April 30, 2018 Meeting Minutes

The University Senate was called to order at 3:50 p.m., in Room 111, Harrison Hall, Oxford Campus, on Monday, April 30, 2018. Members absent:  Jason Abbitt, Susan Baim, Lucas Elfreich, Nick Froehlich, Hana Hall, Hannah Kuethe, Tom Poetter, and Scott Walter.

Call to Order and Announcements

  1. Announcements and Remarks by the Chair of University Senate, Phyllis Callahan
    1. There were no announcements.

Approval of University Senate Minutes

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to approve the April 23, 2018, minutes of University Senate.

Consent Calendar

  1. There were no items received on the Consent calendar.

 

A motion was made from the floor to alter the agenda. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Senators were referred to resolutions that were distributed prior to the meeting.

  • Several friendly amendments were introduced to SR 18-11 and accepted. These are noted below. Provost Callahan indicated that this needed to be a Sense of the Senate resolution.

SR 18-11

Sense-of-the-Senate

April 30, 2018

Whereas Miami’s academic freedom statement (MUPIM 5.1) firmly associates academic freedom protections with tenure,

Whereas in 1950, when the statement was adopted, the board could not have predicted that seventy years later, the majority of faculty would lack due-process protections,

MUPIM 5.1 shall be amended to clarify academic freedom protections at Miami and ensure that they are robust.  Two statements will be added after the penultimate paragraph.

  1. The institution thus commits to the teacher-scholar model and seeks to preserveing and, whenever possible, expanding increase the ratio of tenure-line faculty to non-tenure line faculty.
  2. Where provisions for tenure do not exist, the university will work to ensure academic freedom by establishing the process protections, longer terms of employment opportunities for advancement through ranks, recognition of seniority, and conscientious peer evaluation.

SR 18-11 was passed by voice vote.

  • The second resolution is for the formation of an ad-hoc committee. There was one friendly amendment that was introduced and accepted. SR 18-12 is listed below and the friendly amendment is noted.

SR 18-12

April 30, 2018

Be it resolved that an ad-hoc committee be appointed by Senate Executive Committee in consultation with Faculty Welfare Committee and Faculty Rights & Responsibilities Committee to consider Miami’s needs, values and goals in relation to its faculty composition and to make recommendations about faculty composition that include due process and academic freedom protections appropriate to each category.

SR 18-12 was passed by voice vote.

Special Report

  1. Associated Student Government Report – Maggie Callaghan, ASG President (Attachment A-II)
    1. ASG is comprised of 51 senators and 13 cabinet members. This year, ASG focused on increasing safe drinking habits, bringing a bike rental program to campus, and sponsoring a Miami Farmer’s Market.
    2. Additionally, a Redbrick rewards system was implemented to assist student organizations with funding. Student senators approved 40 pieces of legislation and resolutions this year and hosted five events, including a Mental Health Forum and a State of the School address.
    3. Meaghan Murtagh will be the ASG President next year.

New Business

  1. SR 18-13 Dossier and Evaluation Guidelines for Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturers and Clinical Lecturers
    1. Provost Callahan discussed the Dossier and Evaluation Guideline changes relevant to the LCPL title change.

SR 18-13

April 30, 2018

Dossier and Evaluation Guidelines for Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturers and Clinical Lecturers 2018-2019

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate adopts revisions as amended to the 2018-2019 Dossier and Evaluation Guidelines for Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturers and Clinical Lecturers.

SR 18-13 was passed by voice vote.

  1. MUPIM 7.11.C, D, F Changes to support the LCPL Title Changes
    1. Due to the LCPL title change to Teaching Professor, Clinical Professor, Lecturer, and Clinical Lecturer, adjustments needed to be made to MUPIM 7.11.C, D, and F.

New Business

  1. Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturers and Clinical Lecturers – Raising Percentage to 25%
    1. The discussion continued regarding increasing the number of Teaching Professors, Clinical Professors, Lecturers, and Clinical Lecturers (formally LCPLs).After a short discussion, a motion was made, and seconded, to table the debate until next week.
    2. There will be a meeting on May 7, 2018.

Executive Session

  1. SR 18-14 - 2018-2019 University Senate Committee Appointments
    1. A resolution was presented to allow Committee appointments to continue over the summer.

SR 18-14

April 30, 2018

Appointments to Standing and Advisory Committee of University Senate

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate confirm the 2018-2019 appointments to open seats of the standing and advisory committees of University Senate; and

BE IT FURTHERMORE RESOLVED that Senate authorizes Senate Executive Committee to confirm remaining 2018-2019 appointments to the standing and advisory committees of University Senate.

SR 18-14 was passed by voice vote.

Adjournment

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to adjourn the Executive Session of University Senate.

Call to Order

  1. The Regular Session of University Senate was convened.

Approval of University Senate Abbreviated Minutes

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to approve the April 30, 2018, abbreviated minutes of University Senate.

Adjournment

  1. A motion was received, seconded, and carried to adjourn the Regular Session of University Senate.