I want to inform the entire faculty of an important decision I announced
yesterday at the final Senate meeting, and the rationale behind it.
Two hundred and ninety of you were not at the Faculty Meeting last week,
but you may have heard that a quorum was called that postponed discussion
of the calendar issue until next fall. I am persuaded that the majority of
faculty did not consider the issues I thought "major" sufficiently
important to attend and debate and vote with a quorum. Therefore I have
declared the Handbook revisions not major after all, and Senate approval
stands.
Of course this was not a Reading Day meeting, and I recognize that many
could not attend. Most of the Handbook items were not really of
significance, and the debates are available at the Senate web site. The
business of the university needs to move on, and I do not intend to negate
all the hard work of committees and the Senate during this last year by
passive neglect (recognizing of course that there were classes and no doubt
sick children and other unavoidable conflicts in some cases). As you may
know, I suggested revising the quorum downward to 100 last fall to reflect
actual attendance in the last 6-7 years, but that was defeated soundly.
Neither do I think an Australian solution requiring attendance will be
popular or workable: you can't push a rope.
I anticipated the summer calendar issue would have guaranteed a quorum, as
did the difficult 120 hour decision (the only time in recent memory when we
did have a quorum), but it did not. Since the vote in the Senate was so
divided (14-13) on the calendar, and since we did initiate discussion
(largely negative), I will place it once again on the agenda in the fall,
as calling a quorum (by an administrator no less, albeit with faculty
status), has left that issue alive and unresolved. The handbook revisions,
on the other hand, were passed with unanimous or nearly unanimous votes in
the Senate, depending on the motion, and I take that as a mandate.
Most of the handbook issues were minor matters that have already been
incorporated as we discussed and approved them during the year, and I
cannot imagine faculty objecting to the new improved EDO appeals process.
If so, they have recourse (see below).
My decision may not be popular, but as I read the handbook it is allowed,
and I intend to use the "major item" provision sparingly in the future
until such time as the quorum issue is resolved. This is not the first time
our governance process has been hostage to an understandable but idealistic
standard: former President Prevost once had to declare an intermission
while she and others scoured the buildings to create a quorum, and
President Ernst also experienced a called quorum. I assure you it is with
great reluctance I make this decision, but we need to face reality in
faculty governance. There is no governance if faculty do not participate.
In future, I intend to instruct the faculty secretary to make sign-in lists
available at all entrances and at the usual reception area so that we can
determine accurately and efficiently at the very start of any meeting if a
quorum is in effect. I would note that faculty retain an active voice in
governance:
1. election of representatives from their division and at-large
2. contact with representatives or members of the executive committee
about issues of concern for the Senate
3. attendance and voice at the open Senate meetings
4. attendance at faculty meetings, and debate followed by a vote when a
quorum is present (or not called)
5. collecting 15 signatures to call a faculty meeting or place an item on
the agenda
Finally, I want to thank the Executive Committee, the members of the
Senate, the Chairs and members of committees where so much of the work is
done, our Parliamentarian, and others who have contributed this year to
faculty governance. If you know any of these people, please take the time
to thank them for their hard work on your behalf. It is their service to
the university that allows you more time for teaching, research, and family.
Richard Rice
Senate President
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