Minutes, Truman State University Chapter of AAUP
May 6, 2005, 4:30 pm
University Club

Meetings are open to all university faculty members.

Faculty present: David Robinson (presiding), Martha Bartter, Marc Becker, Roger Festa, James Harmon, Sylvia Macauley, Betty McLane-Iles, Steve Reschly, Janice Saffir

1) Minutes of April meetings were approved.

2) Social Science Dean. After conceding to faculty concerns over the proposal to name associate deans for the divisions of Social Science and Language and Literature, the VPAA has nominated Doug Davenport as the new interim Social Science Dean. Dr. Davenport had a preliminary meeting with the division on May 3 which portends to reestablish collegiality in Social Science. The VPAA’s mishandling of this issue, however, highlights serious concerns with his understanding of faculty governance.

3) Tacey Award for David Gruber. David Gruber, professor of philosophy, will be given the Tacey Award by Dr. Tom Guild, chair of the Assembly of State Conferences of the AAUP, on Monday, May 9, at about 11:20 a.m. in the Spanish Room of Student Union Building. This is a prestigious national award, recognizing outstanding service and accomplishment of someone in his/her State Conference and AAUP generally.

4) Salaries for sabbatical leaves. Apparently the Board of Governors policy states that fall sabbatical leaves are funded at the previous year’s salary rates, while spring ones are funded at current year’s rates? This is in contradiction to faculty handbook guidelines. There is also concern that the University requires people on sabbatical to return for two years rather than the standard one year. AAUP will send a letter of inquiry to the VPAA and personnel office.

5) University Club. English faculty have forwarded a proposal for a reconstituted board for the University Club. AAUP agreed to join the English faculty and provide one member to a faculty/staff board that is legally responsible for the clubhouse.

6) AAUP meetings are open to all university faculty members. The meetings are not open to students and the public in general.

7) Officers for 2005-2006: David Robinson, President; Judi Misale, Vice-President; James Harmon, Treasurer; Marc Becker, Secretary. We will ask some new people to come on as Officers at Large, though Tom Marshall and Roger Festa agree to continue if needed. The first meeting of the fall semester will be at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 9. We will decide then for the meeting schedule for the rest of the year. Most people seemed generally satisfied with this time, first Friday of the month, when possible.

Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Marc Becker, Secretary