Professional … pragmatic … principled … progressive
Summary Minutes for
(approved
|
Executive
Board: Michael Harkins, President;
Paul Guymon, Vice President; Jim Edstrom, Secretary; Dan Loprieno, Treasurer;
Sue Overland, Grievance Officer; Julie Fleenor, Past President |
Actions
Taken
Michael
asked for a motion to amend the agenda to go immediately to item 1 under
Section VI—“Negotiations”—and then to “New Business.” Paul Guymon so moved; Dave Braunschweig seconded. The motion was approved.
VI. Old
Business
The
proposed negotiations team was discussed, having been previously moved and
seconded at the Senate’s meeting of September 15th. It was asked whether there is a “numbers
person” on the committee. The response
that Mike Vijuk can fulfill this function.
It was also noted that there are four volunteers who are willing to work
in support on this issue. The question
was called, and the Negotiations Committee membership appointed by Michael
Harkins was approved.
It
was asked what the next step would be.
Michael indicated that the team will meet soon and that meetings will be
set up to solicit input from the faculty.
VII. New
Business
Continuing
under the amended agenda, the Senate considered a communication from Kris
Piepenburg, who until recently was chair of the Academic Standards
Committee. He informed the Senate that a
report prepared by a steering committee for the Higher Learning Commission
under the title Request for Institutional
Change to Allow Offering Degree Programs Through Distance Learning Modules
claims that the Academic Standards Committee endorsed the offering of degrees
via distance learning. That Committee
did no such thing; Kris noted that the Committee only suggested making the
information about an HLC focus visit to Harper available in the HLC Steering
Committee newsletter. In other words,
the report misrepresented the response of the Committee to the issue.
The
Senate discussed this situation at some length.
It was felt that standing up for integrity—which is, after all, one of
the College Core Values—demands that the record should be corrected. Jim Edstrom moved that the Senate advocate that
the report be amended and corrected in the interests of the Core Values of
Integrity, Respect and Collaboration.
Kris Piepenburg seconded. It was
noted that the rules prevent voting on an issue in the same meeting in which it
was presented. Jim moved that the rules
be suspended to allow a vote; Patti Ferguson seconded. The motion was approved. The rule having been suspended, a vote on the
original motion was called and it was approved.
The
Senate now resumed its original agenda, going to the President’s report.
II. President’s
Report
Michael
reported that he advocated to the Insurance Committee that the proposal to add
more HMOs to the Harper insurance plan not be sent to the College Board of
Trustees, on the basis that the Senate needs more time to look at it and
evaluate its implications. The plan in
fact does not need Board approval and faculty need to get a chance to examine
it in more detail.
III. Officers’
Reports
Paul
Guymon reported that he is working with Jim Edstrom, Dave Clydesdale, Dave
Braunschweig and Chris Padgett to evaluate how academic reorganization will
impact Senate representation and faculty representation on shared governance
committees. He also noted that the
College Assembly will be meeting tomorrow.
Sue
made some suggestions for the negotiations team to look closely at the faculty
handbook for any conflicts with the contract.
IV. Consent
Agenda
The
minutes from the Senate meeting of September 15th were distributed
and examined. One minor wording
correction was made. Dave Richmond moved
that the minutes be approved; Sue Bajt seconded. The minutes were approved.
VI. Old
Business [continued]
Dave
Richmond noted that a couple of changes have been made to the reorganization
survey. He will bring the updated
document to the next Exec meeting on Monday and will work on the logistics of
conducting the survey.
Paul
Holdaway reported on the effort to evaluate Deans and Vice Presidents. He reviewed the forms that were used for the
Deans. There was some discussion of what
kind of followup should be done subsequent to the evaluation process. It was suggested that the Senate could form a
joint committee with the deans in the future to work on the process. Other issues include the cost of conducting
these evaluations and the manner in which the information gathered is
used. Paul asked everyone to look over
the VP evaluation form in preparation for the next Senate meeting.
VIII. Adjournment
Andrew
Wilson moved to adjourn; Mary Gawienowski seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 1:25 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Edstrom