Faculty Senate Steering Committee

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Attendance:  Robert Aiken (Pres.), Karen Turner (V. Pres.), Paul LaFollette (Secretary), Bonnie Averbach (FSBM), David Baron (MED), Jon Clark (TYL), Joan Delalic (ENGR), Margaret Devinney (CLA), Luke Kahlich (BCMD), Pauline Hurley-Kurtz (AMBL), Diane Maleson (Law), Bernie Newman (SSA), Ira Shapiro (STHM),  Joan Shapiro (EDUC), Joel Sheffield (CST), Roy Stevens (Dent), Cheryl Mack, (Coord.)

1. Call to Order: 

The meeting was called to order at 1:00.

2. First Guest - Tony Wagner Vice President of Finance:

Wagner gave a fascinating and comprehensive presentation about Temple's finances.  He discussed our various revenue sources, compared the State contributions to Temple with those to other Pennsylvania schools, talked about the projected demographic decline in available students, Temple's bond ratings, and the need for financial planning and enrollment management.

3. Second Guest - Jodi Laufgraben

Ms. Laufgraben discussed the current status of the periodic review process and how the results are being used.  Departments that have gone into the process with honesty and realistic expectations have found it highly useful.  Several deans have made use of it to help with academic planning.  Some reports have also proven helpful either prior to or following accreditation visits.

So far 16 programs have completed the full cycle of the review process, including the post-review activities.  Thirteen of the 16 have made new hires, 12 have reviewed and changed their curriculum, and 10 have increased their research activities.

4. Approval of the Minutes:

The minutes from the previous meeting were approved as distributed.

5. President's Report (Aiken):

Aiken has met with Peter Jones to talk about the CATES review which is going on now.  We have some concern that if the committee's report is not given to the FSSC quite soon, there will not be time for us to comment on it if its recommendations are to be implemented in the fall.  Aiken will discuss this further with the Provost.

Turner reported that Jones has also discussed the review with EPPC. It seems to be quite close to completion.

Averbach pointed out that it is difficult to tell if faculty are "buying" good scores on the CATES with grading policies.

Aiken met with President Hart yesterday.  She is planning on moving Student Affairs and Admissions to the control of the Provost's office.  Turner asked whether the office of Multicultural Affairs would also be so moved.  Aiken said that Hart has this on her list of things to fix.

CATA has been asked to provide 5 nominees for the search committee for the new dean of SSA.

Aiken circulated a letter from Frank Friedman, chair of the Faculty Herald oversight committee which stated that we need to find a new editor as Dr. Gordon's term has expired.  We agreed to circulate their letter to all full-time faculty but we also suggested that the committee be made aware that we generally feel it would be a bad idea for the Herald to be edited by someone not protected by tenure.

We agreed that the ballot for changing the handbook to allow NTT's to be members of the Faculty Senate should be combined with the ballot for officers and elected committees if that be possible.

We discussed the matter of the minutes from the Feb. 25th, 2008 Representative Faculty Senate meeting, and concluded that we would recommend that no change be made to the minutes which have already been approved.

6. Vice President’s Report

None

7. Old Business:

None

8. New Business:

None

9. Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 PM

Paul S. LaFollette, Jr.

Secretary