Attending: Ruth Allen (Chair), Phil Fastenau (Psych), Dring Crowell (Bio), Jon Luke (Math), David Malik (Chem), BDN Rao (Physics), Kathryn Wilson (Assoc Dean), Fritz Kleinhans for Kathy Johnson (Sec).
The SOS ByLaws ballot is out and due back May 7. This is phase one of incorporating Lecturers into our structure.
Administrative Reviews: The ByLaws specify these should be done every two years. We would like to do these in a way which is less burdensome, more meaningful. Technically, we should be in review mode right now. Several points were discussed:
Provide lecturer input in the process.
Tie administrator reviews to their campus wide reviews.
Can we find a format that we won't keep changing?
Numbers are easy for the faculty and the SC reviewers.
Comments are preferred by the Dean's Office.
Old reports are hard to find. We do all this work; then it just disappears.
The frequency of the reviews is an important parameter.
The current scheme is a lot of work to complete every two years.
Frequent reviews are more helpful to those being reviewed.
Faculty need a mechanism for venting frustrations (more often rather then less often).
As always, there is the need to protect the ID of the reviewers.
Should reviews be forwarded to higher administration?
We will ask John Hazer and/or Jane Williams to give us advice.
Promotion and Tenure Document: DM and BDNR updated the committee on this work. The major objective was to incorporate Lecturers and 'Scientists' into the document. High expectations were incorporated as promotion is not a case of 'up or out' for these individuals. Also, the document was made gender neutral and minor issues cleaned up. Changes will be posted on the web. We discussed what/whether approval of the changes were required. The Bylaws are ambiguous/contradictory on this point. We will seek input on changes this spring and put to a faculty vote next fall. Whether or not we get to formally approve the document, we are entitled to express our collective SOS faculty opinion and we shall do that.
Search Process for New SOS Dean: The SOS SC thought it important, with a new Chancellor coming on board, to clearly express their desire for involvement and input in the search process for a new Dean when it is begun. This is expected to occur during the next year or two. The sense of the committee was that we should send a letter to Acting Chancellor Plater now putting our wishes on record. Specifically, we desire input into the selection of the Search Committee and into the search criteria.
The next SOS SC meeting is May 9, 2003.
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Fritz Kleinhans for Kathy Johnson, Secretary SOS
April 18, 2003