Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Attendance: Jane Evans (Chair), Karen Turner (Vice-Chair), Paul LaFollette (CST), Robert Aiken (CST), Bonnie Averbach (FSBM), David Baron (Med), Zdenka Delalic (Eng), Judith Goode (CLA), Sally Harrison (Tyler), Pauline Hurley-Kurtz (Ambler), Luke Kahlich (BCMD), Diane Maleson (Law), Ira Shapiro (STHM), Joan Shapiro (Educ), Roy Stevens (Dental), Karen Schaefer (CHP), Maxine Chisholm (Coord)
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 1:10 PM.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Approval of the Minutes from October 10 was deferred, pending their appearance.
3. Special Guest - Ron Brown chair of the Provost Search Committee:
Dr. Brown reports that his committee has identified a search firm, and is now preparing to identify 10-15 candidates. He asks that anyone within the University who may have in-house suggestions along to his committee. Also, anyone within the University may suggest other external candidates to his committee. The next stage will be for the committee to study applications and identify people for "airport interviews."
Baron asked if Dr. Hart had made any nominations.
Ans: She has stated the qualities she wants and may perhaps suggest some names. She feels strongly that we cannot ignore our deep traditions and the symbols that accompany them.
Aiken thanked Brown for chairing the CST Dean's Search Committee
Kahlich suggested we look for someone who understands contemporary learning theories.
Aiken asked for a timeline.
Ans: Should have a person identified by spring. He expects airport interviews in February and campus visits by finalists in early spring.
Goode expressed concern about the values of academic freedom and the safety of critical discourse.
Harrison asked about community outreach.
Ans: Our values are central to what Temple University is, and it is critical that those values be respected.
J. Shapiro emphasized that there is diversity to be considered in terms of discipline along with such issues as gender, race, and so on.
Evans suggested that there remains a need to bring together faculty, students, and administration who have, in recent years, been at odds. We need a healing personality in our new provost.
Ans: We want someone who values this institution "for what it is."
Averbach said that we also want someone who plans to stay at Temple, not use this position as a stepping stone.
I. Shapiro proposed that we should be asking "How can we thrive?" rather than "How can we survive?"
Harrison asked what might threaten our survival.
Ans: Decreasing money from the state. Demographic changes.
4. President’s Report:
Senate attendance has been declining. We discussed several ideas for improving attendance.
The following were approved for the Mid-States Assessment Committee:
Mia Luehrmann
Larry Kraft
Morris Vogel
Alice Hausman - pending her agreement
EPPC passed a language requirement for Russian. They then argued with Peter Jones about the required number of free electives. It was pointed out that the existing document does NOT require any specific number of free electives.
There was considerable discussion about the need for flexibility with respect to this issue. Once again, one size does not fit all. A firm requirement of a specific number of electives would be particularly burdensome for many accredited programs, such as engineering and landscape architecture.
Maleson pointed out that the provost is in the unenviable position of having to implement a program designed by an unpopular president, but it is his job to do so.
There appears to be strong support for the idea that the details of free electives need to be decided by colleges and programs, not imposed centrally. Evans will convey this support to the EPPC
5. Vice-President’s Report:
We approved the following committee membership:
Koffman and Horvat for the Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics
Tedrick and Platsoucas to the Budget Review Committee
Porrata-Doria and Sloan to CATA
Goode pointed out that the Editorial Board of Review needs to be someone with expertise in those areas in which the Press publishes.
6. Old Business:
There was no old business.
7. New Business:
The opening of the new Learning Center at Ambler was announced.
8. Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 3:17 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul LaFollette, Jr.
Secretary
