Minutes of the Faculty Assembly

St. Ambrose University

March 15, 2007:  Rogalski Center Ballroom

 

1.   The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. by Faculty Assembly Chair, Jim Van         Speybroeck.

 

2.   Jim Van Speybroeck called for a moment of prayer of choice in remembrance of SAU community members recently deceased:  Robin Lund, Paul Vortriede, and            Jim Resnik.

 

3.   A motion was made to accept (with minor corrections) the minutes of 2/15/07 (R.         Mitchell,           M. Hustedde). Motion passed unanimously.

 

4.   Jennifer Timmons addressed the Assembly regarding new services and events being offered by the SAU Career Center.  These included:

·        Student Learning Objectives Contracts which could result in students being granted zero hour Exploratory Learning credits for performing non-credit career-related experiences.

·        New “Don’t Cancel Class” topics including ”Life After College.”

·        Meeting with departments regarding departmental goals and objectives which could be mentioned during encounters with prospective employers.

·        Social Work Career Fair

·        General Career Fair at Augustana College

·        The “Energizing Professionals Network”

·        The Etiquette Dinner

The Career Center will send messages announcing each event.

 

5.   Lori Rodrigues-Fisher presented a proposal to create a new official designation for faculty         – that of Non-Tenure-Track Visiting Faculty.  A motion was made to accept the proposal           (T. Burns, G. Bailey).  Discussion followed during which L Rodrigues-Fisher clarified the          following points:

·        A term of four years for such a position

·        Replacement of a visiting faculty member who was not performing satisfactorily.  This would be determined within departments rather than by PTS. Regular student evaluation forms would be used.

·        The advantage of having Visiting Faculty – full-time faculty would be teaching rather than numerous adjuncts

·        Meaning of approval.  Approval of this motion would send the proposal to the Faculty Handbook Committee.

The motion passed unanimously.

 

6.   Fr. Bud Grant presented a report on the recently-established First Year Exploratory      Committee.  He stated that the Committee had been commissioned by President Rogalski   and charged with developing strategies for increasing retention.  Fr. Bud then listed those           strategies that were already in existence, stated that the Committee will be developing a proposal which will be brought before the Faculty Assembly in Fall 2007 to be          implemented, if passed, in Fall 2008.  Fr. Bud promised frequent “nuisance e-mail” which would keep the faculty continually informed as to the work of the Committee, and then       exhorted those present to (a paraphrase):

·        Be aware

·        Be insightful

·        Be critical

·        Be involved

The question was raised as to what would be the fate of the New Student Seminar.  Fr. Bud responded that it was not the intention of the committee to destroy what was already working, but that everything was “on the table.”

 

7.   Nancy Hayes presented a second reading of the Academic Integrity Policy.  A motion was        made to accept the policy (R. Serianz, K. Kelly).  The motion passed unanimously.  Jim    Van Speybroeck requested that a praise to Nancy Hayes for her patience and persistence be             included in these minutes.

 

8.   Dr. Jon Stauff presented a second reading of sections VI and VII of the Faculty Handbook.      A motion was made to accept these two sections (J. Stauff, S. Cassady).  The motion        passed unanimously.  J. Van Speybroeck requested that Handbook Committee be given a         hand for their hard work.

 

9.   A motion was made to hold subsequent meetings of the Faculty Assembly in the Rogalski          Center Ballroom. (L. Rodrigues-Fisher, G. Bailey).  The motion passed unanimously but for one abstention.

 

10. The meeting was adjourned, not by motion, but by the Chair’s decree at 3:36.

 

 

Minutes Submitted:

Rachel Serianz

3/15/07