February 1, 2007
Loyola Marymount University
Faculty Senate Minutes
February 1, 2007
Collins Center
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Present: Cynthia Becht, Jeffrey Davis, Charles Erven, Sonny Espinoza, Omar Es-Said, Véronique Flambard-Weisbart, Vicki Graf, Paul Harris, Gary Kuleck, Yvette Lapayese, Chun I. Lee, Blake Mellor, Mel Mendelson, Ed Mosteig, Liz Murray, K. J. Peters, Damon Rago, James Roe, Rhonda Rosen, Jonathan Rothchild, Sue Scheibler and Seth Thompson
Excused: Najwa Al-Qattan, Jennifer Offenberg, Ralph Quiñones and Nina Reich
President Graf called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. She began the meeting with an Ecumenical prayer written by Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy.
I. Approval of December and January Minutes – President Graf
It was moved and seconded to adopt and approve the minutes of December 14 and January 18. The minutes were approved unanimously.
II. Announcements – President Graf
- Ralph Quiñones is on medical leave for the rest of the semester. A get-well card was passed around the Senate.
- Only ten senators have filled out the Senate Evaluation Survey so far. President Graf requested that senators complete the survey by Monday, Feb. 5.
III. Committee on the Evaluation of Administrators – Michael Berg
Michael Berg distributed copies of the draft deans’ evaluation instrument to the Faculty senators for their review. His final committee report included the following points:
- The Committee on the Evaluation of Administrators found an existing evaluative document and used it to create the deans’ evaluation instrument.
- It is imperative that the Faculty Senate ensure faculty participation in evaluating the deans in order for the process to work.
- It is critical for the Senate also to analyze the data as it returns.
- The Committee on the Evaluation of Administrators, having completed their work, has now disbanded.
Senators discussed the deans’ evaluation instrument. Suggestions were made to incorporate additional components addressing issues of fundraising, diversity, bias, evolution of performance, collegiality, and fit with the LMU mission. Discussion emphasized the need to make it clear to faculty that the evaluative instrument comes from the Faculty Senate and Academic Affairs and is merely administered by Human Resources. President Graf called for volunteers to form a Senate sub-committee to work out the mechanics of administering the document with Human Resources. The sub-committee members are Gary Kuleck, Sue Scheibler and Paul Harris.
It was moved and seconded to thank Michael Berg for his work on the Committee on the Evaluation of Administrators.
Motion passed unanimously.
The Senate also thanked Omar Es-Said for his long-term efforts and assistance with this matter.
IV. CAO Evaluation Instrument – President Graf
- The draft of the CAO Evaluation Instrument was sent to the Faculty Senate from Margaret Kasimatis, Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness.
Discussion of the evaluation instrument included adding comment opportunities on the form for faculty to expand on any question, encouraging faculty to submit the evaluation even if responses are not supplied to all questions, and ending the instrument with an “over-all opinion” question as a status check.
V. Senate Updates
Task Force on Faculty Workload and Merit – Yvette Lapayese and President Graf
- The joint faculty/dean task force consists of a faculty representative from each college and two deans, Barbara Busse and Richard Plumb. Ricardo Machón and Richard Plumb are co-chairs of the task force, which meets every other week. CAO Rose is making faculty workload and merit a priority and has offered to give travel money for task force members to conduct in-depth research.
Task Force on LMU Values – President Graf
- A formal announcement about this task force has not yet been made. When formed it will be responsible for addressing recently voiced concerns and the ongoing need to establish a culture of respect on campus. CAO Rose and Lane Bove, Vice President of Student Affairs, are endorsing task force. Task force members will include President Graf and Linda McMurdock as co-chairs, Francesca Piumetti, Yvonne Huitron, Marshall Sauceda, K. J. Peters, Margaret Hunter, Abbie Robinson-Armstrong, and graduate and undergraduate students.
The Senate discussed the new Task Force on LMU values and offered a few suggestions. It was proposed that the task force be involved in the evaluation of the office of Intercultural Affairs.
Children’s Center – President Graf
- A letter was disseminated yesterday to the parents at the Children’s Center. An announcement by Fr. Lawton will be made next week to inform everyone that the Children’s Center will now be managed under the auspices of the Human Resources Department and no longer under Business and Finance.
Budget Committee Presentation / ESOF – President Graf
- On Friday, January 26 at the Budget Committee Retreat, President Graf made a presentation on behalf of the faculty, in which she linked faculty compensation to the strategic plan. The Cabinet currently is in deliberation and will meet again on February 13 to produce a final draft of their decision. Fr. Lawton thinks it is important for faculty and staff to get equal compensation percentages. President Graf shared her presentation details with the Senate. Data showing comparisons of average percentages increases were provided by Academic Affairs.
The Senate discussed President Graf’s presentation. It was requested that the presentation be made available electronically to the Senate so that senators could share it with their constituencies.
It was moved and seconded to thank and commend President Graf for her presentation.
Motion passed unanimously.
Senate Elections – Damon Rago
- The Senate will receive information about Senate elections shortly. The senators whose terms are up are Cynthia Becht, Ed Mosteig, Liz Murray, Ralph Quiñones, James Roe, and Rhonda Rosen.
During the discussion a suggestion was made that senators going on sabbatical find their own replacement rather than the Senate holding elections. President Graf will review the Faculty Senate By-Laws and verify if this is possible.
Next Senate Meeting – Fr. Lawton will be attending the next meeting on February 15. The Senate discussed possible ideas and issues around which to frame the conversation with Fr. Lawton. CAO Rose and Rebecca Chandler also will be guests of the Senate on February 15.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Submitted by: Cynthia Becht
Prepared by: Rosa Calderon