February 17, 2006

 

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 2:12 pm.

 

Members Present:  Misty Bennett, Jason Cooper, Charlotte Daughhetee, Brook Miller, Michael Patton, Elizabeth Thrower, Cindy Tidwell, Eric Vaccarella, Jill Wicknick.

 

Approval of the January 27, 2006 Minutes:  Elizabeth Thrower moved that the January 27, 2006 minutes be approved, Jason Cooper seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

President’s Report: 

• The senate reviewed the schedule for the upcoming presidential candidate visits.  Michael Patton emphasized the importance of attending the faculty senate and general faculty meetings with the candidates. 
• Using suggestions from the faculty assembly, the senate generated questions to ask the candidates.  Michael Patton will email a copy of the questions to the faculty.
• Since the next scheduled senate meeting (March 3, 2006) will conflict with the Board of Trustee’s meeting, the senate decided to cancel the next meeting.
• Senators were reminded that colleges need to have senate elections prior to the April 20^th faculty senate meeting.  Faculty senate officer elections for next year will take place on April 20^th and new senators must be in attendance.

 

Committee Reports:

• Bookstore-The committee has contacted SGA and received feedback on student bookstore concerns.  The committee will be meeting with bookstore representatives in early March.

 

Liaison Reports: None at this time

 

Old Business:

• The faculty survey will go out after Spring Break

 

New Business:

• The CDC asked the faculty senate for feedback on several issues.  After discussion the senate agreed upon the following recommendations:
• Fall Break-the senate recommended using the Friday and Monday after Founders Day for a Fall break.  We also suggested having the entire Wednesday before Thanksgiving off for traveling purposes.
• The senate is in favor of a picnic on the quad after the Founders Day program.
• Seating during graduation-Graduation is for the students and the Flowerhill setting is very pretty and is a tradition.  Moving faculty seating under the trees might interfere with shade access for family members and attendees with health problems.  Changing the time of graduation would do very little to rectify the heat problem.  The senate recommended that chilled bottled water be provided for faculty.  It was also suggested that canopies could be erected to provide shade for faculty.
• Exit interview-the senate discussed the merits of conducting a faculty senate exit interview for departing faculty.  The results could provide information that might help with retention.  Also, a fact sheet with information for both entering and departing faculty members should be developed.

 

Announcements: 

The next Faculty Senate meeting will be on March 17, 2006 at 2:00 pm in the Merrill Room.  The meeting adjourned at 3:25 pm.

 

Adjournment:  Misty Bennett moved that we adjourn and Cindy Tidwell seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Charlotte Daughhetee, Faculty Senate Secretary