FACULTY SENATE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
MARCH 9, 2021
ZOOM
Steering Committee Attendance
ATTENDING: Barb Dahlbach, Rona Donahoe, Chapman Greer, Ignacio Rodeno, John Vincent, Babs Davis, Rainer Schad, John Van Zee, Matthew Hudnall, Patrick Kung, Ajay Agrawal, Sriram Aaleti, Jennifer Dempsey, Ruth Ann Hall, Joy Burnham, Steven Yates, Susan Appel, Ibrahim Cemen, Jeri Zemke, Parliamentarian Robert Riter.
ABSENT: Lyndell McDonald, Christopher Lynn, Past President Donna Meester.
GUESTS: Laura Braddick-Strategic Communications, Javon Williams-Crimson White.
The Faculty Senate Steering Committee meeting minutes of February 9, 2021 were approved.
President Donahoe gave an update on the Presidential Advisory Committee. The State mandated wearing of masks will expire on April 9, 2021. The University will extend the wearing of masks and social distancing with no change for indoor use. The Systems Office states this will be for all three campuses. UA will look at logistics for summer camps and day camps-20-25% capacity. Test numbers are at an all-time low in terms of sentinel testing and positive test results. The numbers for sentinel testing participation are twice as high as those from the fall semester. As of last Friday there are four students in quarantine; sixteen students and five faculty/staff tested positive last week. There are nineteen COVID patients at DCH. The University Medical Center will be vaccinating on Friday and Saturdays only giving an exhausted staff Sundays off. Over 6,500 injections have been given and efforts will circle back to employees with underlying health conditions. The student list has not been vetted at this point. If student vaccinations begin in April or first part of May, the time of the second injection would come after students go home. Updates will continue on this situation. Post docs will be treated as employees.
President Donahoe suggested a resolution of commendation be written for the outstanding service of the University Medical Center and the Student Health Center in the administration of vaccinations and health care performed during the Pandemic. It was also suggested the Faculty Senate look at the Meritorious Service Award possibly to be given for recognizing administrators in an outstanding role during the Pandemic. There should be recognition/resolutions/awards for service and dedication during the COVID crisis. There was further discussion on this topic with Jennifer Dempsey and Ruth Ann Hall of the Student Life Committee to write the SHC/UMC resolution.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT – (Chapman Greer) The General Education Taskforce will have an open forum on April 8, 2021. The progress report for fall 2020 will be posted on the General Education Taskforce web page. The next step for the taskforce will be for the Faculty Senate to vote and rank three concepts with the two receiving the most votes going to a feasibility study this summer. The taskforce will meet on Thursday from 1:00 until 3:00 and the following Thursday at the same time. Power points have been posted on the web page. Feedback is needed and any questions will be answered. Assessment, working on logistics and oversight are among the next steps toward implementation.
There are concerns being expressed about the new final exam schedule. It was suggested a list of rationales for the changes be sent to each college and the entire faculty. Slides and information were sent to the entire faculty by President Donahoe. Some have email problems receiving items sent to the University listserv. The final exam schedule was posted yesterday.
SECRETARY’S REPORT – (Barb Dahlbach) The election of new senators is ongoing. Seven college results have been received with seven to go. Committee preference surveys are delayed when election results are delayed. Committee assignments are made from those surveys with the goal of committee assignments going to those most interested in that particular committee.
FACULTY & SENATE GOVERNANCE – (Ibrahim Cemen & Jeri Zemke) Lauri Bonnici (CCIS) and Ron Dulek (Business) have been elected to the Mediation Committee to begin serving on August, 2021. The election results for Ombudsperson will come in the new senator election results. The Faculty Senator officer election will be held in the March Faculty Senate meeting. The candidates are: Steven Yates and Chapman Greer for President; Matthew Hudnall for Vice President; and Barb Dahlbach for Secretary. The election will be held by Zoom during the meeting.
STUDENT LIFE – (Jennifer Dempsey & Ruth Ann Hall) This committee has composed the UMC/SHC resolution which will be forwarded to the entire Steering Committee for input.
COMMUNITY & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS – (Steven Yates & Joy Burnham) The reception for Legislators hosted by the Faculty Senate Steering Committee will be held on Monday, April 5 from 4:00 until 6:00 P.M. in the Camilla Room of the Gorgas Library. Some type food carry-out is being checked on with a bottled water to go.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS – (John Vincent & Babs Davis) The two most problematic statements in the “Leaves Associated with Distinguished Fellowships, Awards and Grants Policy” (aligning with sabbatical and not count as a year of service) have been removed. The following discussion included codifying policy, wordsmithing, and adding sections that would be objected to by faculty. There was a call to question to table the handbook change. The vote was (18) affirmative by unanimous vote.
The committee will be meeting with Dean Messina on Friday to discuss annual faculty evaluation changes.
Faculty Senate next meeting is March 23 and the Steering Committee on April 13.
The University of Alabama is on probation by the State of Alabama Radiation System. UA went five months without doing five essential activities of Level One.
UA has a Space Manufacturing Institute with a director, James Reilly, under the College of Engineering. The Research and Service Committee will follow up on this information.
Meeting adjourned 5:30 P.M.
PDF Version Faculty Senate Steering Committee Meeting Minutes, March 9, 2021