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