Minutes, Truman State University Chapter of AAUP
October 20, 2000, 4:30 p.m.
Wooden Nickel
Meetings are open to all University faculty members.
Members present: David Gruber, Judi Misale, Gary Jones, James Harmon,
Martha Bartter, Kathryn Kuhlman, Kathryn Brammal, Sylvia Macauley,
Marc
Becker, Amanda Jones
1. The minutes from the September meeting were read and approved.
2. Treasurer’s report. Treasurer James Harmon reported that we
paid $60
for printing the newsletter, leaving a balance of about $123.
We need
contributions to continue printing the newsletter.
3. “Spotlight” newsletter. This month we printed 600 copies (an
increase
of 100 over last month) of our local AAUP newsletter which will allow
distribution not only to faculty but also to administrators and the
board
of governors. Judi Misale publicly complimented editor Gary Jones
for
doing an excellent job with the newsletter, a sentiment with which
the rest
of the members heartily agreed.
4. Attrition report. We continue to receive more data on faculty
attrition, and Marc Becker (marc@truman.edu) will continue to collect
this
information. VPAA Garry Gordon has stated that he will contact
other schools
for comparison data. The October 19 issue of the Index contained
an excellent article
on the subject.
5. Open faculty meeting. Gary Jones reported on the open faculty meeting
with Truman’s President and VPAA. The following points were discussed
relating
to that meeting:
a. The AAUP Redbook states that there should be faculty participation
in
planning institutional budgets.
b. Faculty should participate in the current Faculty Handbook revision.
c. Regarding discussion of division reorganization, VPAA Garry Gordon
stated
that he has learned that he has to move slowly when making major institutional
changes.
AAUP strongly believes faculty shouold be involved in this process.
6. Tenure and Promotion Policy. David Gruber discussed the VPAA’s proposed
revisions to the Tenure and Promotion Policy. He had the national
AAUP
office look at these policies, and came to the conclusion that the
existing
policy is very thin and that the impulse behind these changes was very
good. The proposal needs work specifically in 4 areas:
a. A stronger statement that disciplinary sentiments should go forward
with
divisional recommendations.
b. During an appeal process, the divisional recommendation should go
forward with an alternative recommendation.
c. Faculty need to have a role in the selection of the tenure and promotion
committee.
d. AAUP policy stipulates that in the case of non-renewal the candidate
needs to be provided with a written statement, and this needs to be
incorporated into the policy.
7. Web page oversight. Gary Jones presented a resolution for the
maintenance and
oversight of division web pages; the resolution was approved as amended.
8. Partner assistance program. AAUP decided to commend VPAA Gordon
for the
small advances in Truman’s Partner Assistance program. David
Gruber will
draft and circulate a statement in support of this initiative.
9. Announcement. Truman has canceled its search for a Faculty
Development Coordinator. The reason provided was that it looks
bad to
advertise this job year after year without filling it. The Faculty
Development
Committee will be meeting with Vice President Gordon in early November
to discuss this matter.
Meeting adjourned at 6:00.
Respectfully submitted by Marc Becker, Secretary