Motions and Referrals

By-Law – UM Legal had a number of suggested changes to the by-laws passed earlier by the General Faculty. RP&A forwarded those suggested changes to the ad hoc By-law Committee chaired by Kurt Kosbar. It is expected that Dr. Kosbar will have a report on these suggested changes at the General Faculty Meeting on December 1, 2009.

ITCC –RP&A referred to the ITCC Committee the following motion: “IT has recently begun implementing decisions concerning changes in operating systems of faculty computers. RP&A refers the issue of transitions between operating systems for the Desktop Enhancement Program to the ITCC. The ITCC is requested to consider this matter at its next meeting and should report on its recommended policies for these transitions to the November 19, 2009 meeting of the Faculty Senate.” Dr. Donald Wunsch, chair of ITCC, will be making a report on the referral later in this FS meeting.

Capacity Taskforce – Vice-Provost Jay Goff informed the RP&A Chair that, under direction of Chancellor Carney and Provost Wray, a Campus Capacity Taskforce had been created by Vice-Provost Goff to “collect and review all pertinent data to assess whether the current student population is at, below, or above the university’s capacity to provide each student with a quality education. “ The members of the taskforce were provided to the RP&A Chair and Vice-Provost Goff asked RP&A to consider whether additional faculty names should be added to the taskforce roster. RP&A debated and decided to recommend two additional faculty for inclusion on the taskforce: Dr. Steve Raper and Dr. SN Balakrishnan. It is the understanding of RP&A that both faculty are now members of he taskforce.

Sustainability Minor - Provost Kent Wray referred to RP&A a proposal for a new interdisciplinary academic minor called a “Sustainability Minor.” After discussion, RP&A voted to refer this minor to the Curricula Committee and the committee is presently in discussion with Provost Wray and Vice-Provost Schwartz concerning the minor.

Motion to the Department Chairs Council –At the last RP&A meeting the following motion was made and approved: “RP&A requests that Department Chairs place reports from Faculty Senate and Standing Committee representatives on the agenda of their faculty meetings. “ This motion was conveyed to the DCC by the RP&A chair.