FACULTY SENATE MINUTES December 5, 2024

December 5, 2024, 3:30p.m.,ZOOM

Present: A. Rosenfeld (Chair), D. DeFino (Secretary), M. Bard, D. Brophy, C. Carlson, K. Engemann, M. Higgins, M. Hughes, L. Ivanov, S. Petrovic

Excused: B. Gaines, G. Grimaldi, J. Haber, Y. Kang, J. Klein, N. Kyaw, A. Qayyum

A. Rosenfeld called the meeting to order at 3:37pm. Quorum was met.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes for the Faculty Senate meeting of 10/31/24 were approved via e-mail on 11/6/24

Announcements

None

Discussion Item: LaPenta School of Business Dean’s Search

The Senate discussed the Provost’s proposal to eschew a national search and hire the current interim Dean of LSB to a permanent position; while the Senate agreed that, in practice, hiring internally often has advantages (cost saving, prior institutional knowledge, prior working relationships), it expressed significant reservations about hiring a permanent dean without a terminal degree from among the ranks of clinical faculty, especially given the Dean’s role in evaluating faculty for renewal and promotion; these comments and concerns will be communicated to the Provost

Discussion Item: Meeting Invitations

Following on its recent custom of inviting various officers of the University to offer their perspectives on matters of faculty concern, the Senate will see if any of the following would be available to attend a Spring 2025 Senate meeting: a member of the Board of Trustees, the head of Facilities, the Chief Financial Officer

Discussion Item: Proposed Changes to the Faculty Senate Constitution & University Council Constitution

The Senate reviewed changes to the Senate and Council constitutions, recommended by its working group and M. Callaghan; several minor corrections were offered; the Senate lost quorum before the recommendations on both the Senate and Council constitutions could be put to a vote, so the votes will be taken up via e-mail

Discussion Item: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

A question was raised about how faculty should respond to the possible campus/classroom arrest of students, should the new federal administration mobilize ICE or other forces against undocumented immigrants; the Senate will seek clarification from the administration and campus security

There being no other business, A. Rosenfeld adjourned the Faculty Senate meeting at 5:29 pm. The next Senate meeting will be held on 1/23/25 at 3:30pm via Zoom.