Minutes, Truman State University Chapter of AAUP

March 26, 2004, 4:30 p.m.

University Club

Meetings are open to all University faculty members.

Faculty present: Roger Festa (presiding), Natalie Alexander, Marc Becker, Martha Bartter, James Harmon, David Gruber, Judi Misale, Peter Rolnick

1) Minutes.  The minutes of the February 26, meeting were read and approved.

2) Proposed Sexual Orientation Policy.  Faculty senate passed the resolution yesterday supporting the inclusion of sexual orientation in the University’s Non-discrimination policy.  Now it goes to the Board of Governors.  AAUP has provided a leadership function on campus in supporting with process with our letter to the Board of Governors, and President Dixon referred to the AAUP letter in her statement of support of the resolution.  We applaud their decision.

3) Representation at Division Head meetings.  AAUP has requested that in the spirit of openness and transparency, faculty should have representation at Division Head meetings.  David Robinson replied to a memo from the VPAA denying this request.  In response we have received a second memo (available from David Robinson, drobinson@truman.edu) reiterating his opposition because the agenda is not always planned far enough in advance.  The VPAA’s first memo suggests that faculty might ask to attend when the agenda includes matters of interest; the second memo states that the agenda will not be available. The VPAA memo requests suggestions for improving communication.  With electronic communications and websites, minutes from the division heads meetings could easily be distributed, either by individual division heads or perhaps more efficiently by the VPAA’s office.  At a minimum, under Missouri's Sunshine Laws minutes of the meeting should be made publicly available.  Perhaps Divisions could request that their Division Heads report to them on the content of this meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Marc Becker, Secretary