Minutes, Truman Chapter of AAUP

September 8, 2006, 4:30 pm

University Club

Meetings are open to all university faculty members.

Faculty present: Betty McLane-Iles (presiding), Martha Bartter, James Harmon, Diane Johnson, Sylvia Macauley, Judi Misale, David Robinson, Peter Rolnick, Lynn Rose, Tom Stewart

1. Minutes of May 5 meeting were approved.

2. Confirmation of officers: Since Mark Nordstrom died suddenly, soon after our May 5 meeting, we need a new secretary (and webmaster). David Robinson has agreed to step in for the interim. If no other member steps forward, he will serve for the academic year. [As no one stepped forward, David will continue in this capacity for the academic year. Also, our chapter is planning to send a representative to a memorial being planned for Mark, here on campus.]

3. Brief treasurer’s report from James Harmon: current balance is $368.48. We expect more dues to come in from the national office; a written summary was given to president and secretary.

4. Discussion of the best meeting-times for this semester. We settled on first Fridays, 4:30, at the University Clubhouse. [Turns out, we had to make one exception, for October.]

Meeting times this semester:      September 8, 4:30 pm, University Clubhouse

                                                October 4 (a Wednesday), 4:00 pm, University Clubhouse

                                                November 3, 4:30 pm, University Clubhouse

                                                December 1, 4:30 pm, University Clubhouse

5. Ideas/ambitions for this academic year:

a. Our nearly-annual State of University Survey was completed last spring, but the results have yet to be circulated. Judi Misale wants to polish the summaries and analysis, then present the survey to President Dixon and circulate it to the faculty. Judi will try to schedule a time when a small group (our officers perhaps) can have a conversation with the president about the results (maybe together with the VPAA). We hope to accomplish this within the next month or so. We could also offer this information to division deans or divisions, if they are interested.  

b. How do we see the role of our chapter, this year? In general, we should look for opportunities to remind the administration that our AAUP chapter is informational and consultative, advocating for the faculty position and for more complete and timely exchanges of information. For example, as the Personnel Policy Committee makes progress toward its final report, AAUP policy recommendations should be closely considered. We are adversarial really only in rare instances, such as when we defend a faculty member who has been disciplined, mistreated, or dismissed. Betty McLane, our new chapter president, suggested that we also look into the possibility of socializing, setting up informal meetings with administrators and broader faculty groups.

c. In the past we have held town-hall meetings, and we have had smaller meetings with administrators. We are still worried about the culture of secrecy at Truman, the fact that deans still meet in secret, etc. One hopeful sign: the Personnel Policy Committee is meeting the president’s challenge to require more peer review, as proper professional standards (and certainly AAUP policy) recommend. Also, President Dixon’s speech at the convocation that opened this academic year made a strong point that we must always know who is accountable for the decisions that are made in this university. We heartily applaud this sentiment.

d. We can poll our members, using the list-serve. Are there fires that need to be put out, or are there wide issues that we should discuss; how can we facilitate broader discussion? We want to keep searching for better ways to advocate for the faculty.

6.  New business. Announcements.

Last semester a Student Senate resolution came before Undergraduate Council, calling for a ban on any meetings or classes involving students on Reading Day. UGC received the idea with some reservations, but Faculty Senate never voted on it.  Greg Siewert informs us that foreign language faculty are now being told by their dean that their capstone courses can no longer use Reading Day for student presentations, which creates serious problems for these capstone courses. Our chapter officers will consult UGC and Faculty Senate records, and also foreign-language conveners, to see if AAUP needs to assist on this issue, or if we should refer the interested parties back to UGC and Faculty Senate.

We were reminded of the various upcoming activities on the topic of the death penalty, scheduled in conjunction with the appearance of Sister Helen Prejune on September 14. [These activities, Betty M-I reports, were very successful, with impressive attendance.]

7. Adjournment, ca. 6:00 PM

Respectfully submitted by David Robinson, secretary