Steering Committee Minutes – September 5, 2007

Steering Committee Minutes – October 17, 2007

Present: Voting Members: Silvia Bigatti (Psych), William Bosron (Dean), William Geller (Math), Kathy Licht (Earth Sciences), Snehasis Mukhopadhyay (CS), Steve Randall (President), BD Rao (Phy), Stephanie Sen (Chem), John Watson (Bio). Non-Voting Ex-Officio Members: Ray Chin (Past-President), Pam Crowell (Associate Dean), Andy Gavrin (Associate Dean), Jane Williams (Secretary). Absent: None

11:05 President Randall opened the meeting.

1. The meeting agenda was approved. After a few minor changes were suggested, the minutes of the 9-17-07 meeting were approved.

2. SR initiated a discussion of the date for the Fall Faculty Assembly and a possible agenda. Nov. 26, Nov. 27^th, and Dec 3^rd were identified as potential dates, from 11-1 pm. The Secretary will contact the library to confirm a date and time. Agenda items will include a discussion of the proposed bylaw changes, Dean’s search status (Greg Lindsey will attend part of the meeting), committee reports, budget report and update from Dean Bosron. SR asked the committee when they would like to have a specific SC meeting re: the budget. It was decided that we would ask WB to provide an update this semester about how the school stands in relation to the financial goals to decrease the deficit and then we will convene a meeting in the Spring to provide guidance to the Dean as he begins to construct the next fiscal year’s budget.

3. A discussion of the bylaw changes began. Suggestions were made to change the title of the undergraduate education committee and a discussion ensued about whether the research committee was truly a faculty or was an administrative committee. Changes to the bylaws regarding the inclusion of NTTF in the administrative review process included removal of a listing of non-voting faculty titles. Finally, discussion about making the adhoc diversity council a standing committee took place. Several members had concerns about the make-up of the committee, the mandate and goals of the committee and how the work of this committee would affect other school wide committees and faculty workload. Given a lack of time, this discussion was tabled until the next SC meeting, after the faculty can provide more input to the discussion.

4. Dean Bosron gave a few quick updates: the rumored merger between Science and Liberal Arts is dead.

5. Dean Crowell distributed some information about the United Way Campaign on campus.

6. RC closed the meeting at 1:07.