MINUTES FIFTH MEETING of the Executive Committee of the Villanova University Senate for Academic Year 2007-08 on Friday, January 25, 2008 in the Rosemont Room, in the Connelly Center at 11:30 AM

PRESENT: Dr.  Susan Mackey-Kallis, Chairperson; Mr.  Brian Murray Executive Secretary; Dr.  Sohail S.  Chaudhry; Mr.  Robert Dormish; Dr.  Lowell Gustafson; Mrs.  Mary Quilter;  Fr.  John Stack, OSA; Mr.  John Von Euw; Dr.  Barbara Wall

Ms.  Helen Heron, Recording Secretary

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AGENDA:

             I.       APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 9, 2007 MEETING

          II.       ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE

       III.       PREPARATION OF THE SENATE AGENDA FOR THE FEBRUARY 8, 2008SENATE MEETING

       IV.       SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS and BLUEPRINTS ARTICLES

          V.       NEW BUSINESS

The Executive Committee Meeting was called to order by the Chair, Dr.  Susan Mackey-Kallis, at 11:30 AM.

The chair, Dr.  Mackey-Kallis began the meeting by welcoming Ken Valosky, who attended the meeting in order to discuss the process by which questions from the university Community are gathered and disseminated for answers fro the appropriate VP. 

The Chair explained that at the biannual meeting with the Executive Committee of the Senate, the President and the Board of Trustees we discuss issues and topics of concern to the larger university community. The process now is that once questions are solicited from the University community, the Executive Committee decides on the appropriate Vice President to whom to send the questions. Once answers are received, a copy of all of the questions and answers are sent to the President as an “’fyi”.  While the answer to a question posed by the specific individual is then sent to them. In addition, all of the questions and answers will be posted on the Senate’s newly developed Intranetsite for the larger community to view. This will also help people to know whether or not a question has previously been answered to avoid redundancy. In the email send to the community once a semester asking for their questions, they will be reminded of this intranet site and asked to check first to see if the answer to their question has already been provided from an earlier semester. Finally, using ideas from the University community and questions of our own, the Executive Committee puts together an agenda for our bin-annual meeting with the President and the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees. At these meetings we discuss various topics and issues of concern to the Senate and the University community.

Mr.  Kenneth Valosky, Vice President for Finance, graciously accepted an invitation to attend the meeting so that he could offer valuable feedback.  He felt as though there should be a screening process in the Senate whereby the questions could be summarized before they come to administration or other areas. 

Extensive discussion ensued on how to best streamline the question and answer process will staying true to the spirit of the call to the University community to submit their questions in good faith to the Senate Executive Committee.

The Chair summarized what appropriate steps needed to be taken to restructure the function that currently takes place.

The steps are as follows:

·         establish an Intranet site where we will post the questions that have been asked and responses that have been provided.  To provide some general contact along with the proper offices listed for referral information

·         include a new preface to the email that is sent out twice a year to the community to encourage people to think of the type of questions that would be specific to the larger university Community, although this would not apply to benefits questions. The email will also remind them to check the intranet board for previously submitted questions and answers. 

·         When appropriate, to summarize and condense the context provided for each question and just send this summary to the appropriate VP.

·         Decide if some questions are really concerns that should be sent on to the appropriate VP with the note that they are simply being sent as an “fyi” so that this individual’s concerns will have been heard, but that no formal response is expected. .

Dr.  Mackey-Kallis then welcomed Dr.  Barbara Wall as a new member of the Executive Committee who is filling the remainder of Helen Lafferty’s term (through May 2008). At this time the Chair professed our profound gratitude to Dr.  Helen Lafferty for her leadership and guidance for many years on the Senate and on the Senate Executive Committee. She acknowledged that the Committee sent her flowers.

I.             The minutes of the November 9, 2007 meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.

II.             ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE

Regarding the motion on Darfur, it was acknowledged that Father Donohue approved the motion and passed the motion onto the Board of Trustees for their approval (subsequently, a letter was received from Father Peter indicating that the motion was approved by the Board). 

Change of date for bi-annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the University Senate and the Boards of Trustees will be now be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 2:30 PM in Picotte Hall at Dundale

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III.             PREPARATION OF THE SENATE AGENDA FOR THE FEBRUARY 8, 2008 MEETING

Invocation ~ Mr.  John Von Euw

1.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES of the NOVEMBER 30, 2007 Meeting

2.       POWER OF INTERPELLATION (if any)

3.       ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE

a.  In regard to the motion to remand the motion on Darfur back to the Committee on Mission and Social Justice, it should read in the minutes as follows:

ALL IN FAVOR15OPPOSED 16

The motion to remand failed

The motion regarding Darfur was then voted upon and passed with:

32 IN FAVOR2 ABSTENTIONS (1 + 1)

 b.  Change of date for bi-annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the University Senate and the Boards of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 2:30 PM in Picotte Hall at Dundale

IV.             UNIVERSITY ANNUAL BUDGET REPORT:

Dr.  Wayne Bremser – Chair

Guests – Mr.  Ken Valosky, Vice President of Finance

Mr.  Rick Sieber, Executive Director for Budgeting andAuxiliary Services

V.              STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Academic Policy Committee - Dr.  Julie Klein-Chair

Athletic Advisory Committee – Dr . Daniel Regan- Chair

VI.             SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS and BLUEPRINTS ARTICLES

 7. NEW BUSINESS

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VII.             REVIEW OF QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE VILLANOVA

COMMUNITY FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING ON MARCH 25, 2008 IN

PICOTTE HALL AT DUNDALE

There being no further business, the committee adjourned at 1:32 PM. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 11:30 PM in Picotte Hall at Dundale.

Sincerely,

Brian M.  Murray

Executive Secretary

BMM/hh