EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES Approved,11-5-98
Thursday, October 22, 1998
SS115, 2:00 p.m.
MINUTES
Karen Dewey: Motion to accept the minutes of October 8, 1998
Second: Diane Pugmire
Outcome: The minutes were approved
DAN GALLEGO
We all mourn the loss of Dr. Dan Gallego. He will be honored at the November Senate meeting. The Faculty Senate Office will send a fruit basket to his family.
UAAP
Dick Alston and Wendell Rich reporting that the Utah Association of Academic Professionals has liquidated. The assets of the Weber State chapter amount to $ 17,628.65. This money will be used as an endowment from which interest income will be used to fund an annual Faculty Award for Service to Faculty Governance. An award of one stipend of $900 (before taxes) per year will be made by the Faculty Senate. The selection will be made through a process of nominations coming to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate or from the Executive Committee itself, based upon their own criteria established to recognize faculty who have led efforts to improve faculty governance at Weber State.
MOTION
Judith Mitchell: Motion to place the UAAP endowment to fund an
annual Faculty Award for Service to Faculty Governance on the Senate agenda for November
19, 1998. The check will be presented to the Senate at that time.
Second: Judy Elsley
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously. The Executive Committee expressed its
commendation for using the money in such a manner.
SIDEWALK TRAFFIC
Craige Hall talked about the issue of vehicle traffic on the sidewalks. He is concerned about the safety of pedestrians on our campus. Campus Police stopped all vehicle traffic on the sidewalk between A-2 parking and the UB on October 21. There were 17 vehicles stopped that should not have been on the sidewalk, 7 within one hour. The current regulations are not being followed by WSU employees, outside contractors, vendors, and students. In the interest of the safety of pedestrians on our campus, concrete barricades will be installed along the sidewalks. Some sidewalks will be totally off limits to vehicles. Campus police will issue a warning for first time violators driving on campus sidewalks, a campus citation will be issued for the second violation, and after that a city citation will be issued. The next step beyond the city citation would be personnel action against our own employees. Craige Hall welcomes your comments and suggestions, 626-7188 or e-mail, chall2.
MOTION
Alden Talbot: Motion to support the action of Craige Hall to
forcibly regulate the vehicle traffic on the sidewalks and place this item on the
Senate agenda for November 19, 1998.
Second: Bruce Handley
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.
Y2K
Kathleen Miller and Fred Hansen reported on the Year 2000 Awareness Program. Weber is taking action to ensure that the year 2000 will begin with no technological disasters. They have established a steering committee, which is President=s Council, a project team with representatives from each division, and several action committees who will be responsible for computers and office equipment, embedded chips, training/communication, and quality assurance. A training awareness presentation is available, and every department is encouraged to receive this training. The presentation is short and easy to include in a staff meeting. Every salaried employee will be mailed information. Deans Council will be trained in November. The Academic Leadership Retreat December 4 with Chairs will also receive include this training. Kathleen Miller will then work with smaller groups of people to help disseminate this information.
The Executive Committee felt this information would be better disseminated through the colleges rather than through the Faculty Senate.
EARLY RETIREMENT
Bruce Handley reported on Weber State=s Early Retirement Policy. This policy was based on the early retirement regulations passed by the United States Congress. The law has now been amended to exempt tenured faculty. The early retirement policy at Weber State was developed in reaction to the law and now the law has been changed to exempt tenured faculty. He recommends that the Executive Committee charge the Salary, Benefits, Budget, and Fiscal Planning Committee to revisit the issue of early retirement, and look at possible options available for early retirement. There is no legal reason to cap at age 65, however, there may be economic reasons.
MOTION
Bruce Handley: Motion to charge the Salary, Benefits, Budget, and
Fiscal Planning Committee to revisit the issue of early retirement, look
at possible options and come back to the Faculty Senate with an early retirement policy
recommendation.
Second: Judith Mitchell
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.
COUNCIL OF FACULTY LEADERS
Judith Mitchell and Candadai Seshachari sit on the Council of Faculty Leaders which is made up of Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Chairs, across the state. Judith Mitchell shared a copy of the Senate Summary etc. . . newsletter published at the University of Utah. This newsletter discusses the future of shared university governance with views from the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College, and the Board of Regents. The newsletter is put together by the Office of University Communications. In addition to the official Senate Meeting minutes, a newsletter of this type would be a way of dispersing information at Weber State, and keeping faculty aware of current issues on our campus.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be on November 5 at 2:00 p.m.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.