Faculty Senate Minutes; September 1999

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DRAFT MINUTES

First Meeting Academic Year 1999-2000
of the Faculty Senate of Villanova University
in The Cinema, Connelly Center
Monday, September 13, 1999 at 4:00 PM

Present:Professors Rick Eckstein, Vice-Chairman; Trudi Graves, Lowell Gustafson, Chair; Karyn Hollis, Edward Kresch, Kenneth Kroos, Michael Levitan, Executive Secretary; Howard Lurie, Masako Hamada, Harry Strack, Robert Styer, and Joyce Willens.

1. Approval of Minutes

The Minutes of the April, 1999 Meeting were approved as read.

2. Announcements and Correspondence

Professor Lowell Gustafson congratulated Faculty Senate members Professor Rick Eckstein on winning the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and Professor Michael L. Levitan on winning the Lawrence C. Gallen, O.S.A. Award for Distinguished Faculty Service.

3. University Governance

The proposal concerning a new constitution concerning faculty was presented by Professor Harry Strack. The following motion was then presented:

FS 9900-1-1: RESOLVED

The Faculty Senate endorses the Guide to the Faculty submitted by Professor Harry Strack as presented to the Faculty Senate and recorded in the Minutes of April 20, 1999. Furthermore, Professor Harry Strack reflects the judgment of the Faculty Senate when dealing with the Working Group on University Governance and the Rules and Review Committee.

The motion passed with 10 in favor; none opposed; and 2 abstained.

4. Consideration of Faculty Unionization

The Faculty Senate will hold a forum discussing the pros and cons of unionization. Professor Rick Eckstein presented a brief history of the movement toward unionization by colleges and universities since the Yeshiva Decision was made by the Supreme Court.

5. Changing the Conditions for Tenure

A discussion ensued concerning the legality of changing the conditions of tenure once tenure has been granted. For example, in the present contract, the University may "bring about a general reduction in staff because of financial or other exigencies." There have been suggestions by the Administration to add the phrase "or due to discontinuance of a program in the curriculum."

6. Elections for Faculty Senate

There will be elections for open seats on the Faculty Senate within the next month. The open seats are as follows:

2 in Commerce and Finance
2 in Sciences
1 in Arts

Motion for adjournment was carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Michael L. Levitan
Executive Secretary

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, OCTOBER 11

THE CINEMA, CONNELLY CENTER 4:00 pm