MINUTES SIXTH MEETING of the Executive Committee of the Villanova University
Senate for Academic Year 2007-08 on Friday, March 2, 2007 in CEER, Room 210, at
2:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Dr. Susan Mackey-Kallis, Chairperson; Dr. Sohail Chaudhry: Dr. Helen K.
Lafferty; Mr. John Von Euw; Mr. John Stellakis, Executive Secretary; Mrs. Mary
C. Quilter; Mr. Gavin Tully
Ms. Helen M. Heron, Recording Secretary
ABSENT:Dr. Lowell Gustafson (NIA); Fr. John P. Stack, O.S.A.(NIA)
AGENDA:
I. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 26, 2007 MEETING
11. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE
III. REVIEW OF QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING ON March 26, 2007 at 2:30 P.M. AT
PICOTTE HALL AT DUNDALE
IV. PREPARATION OF THE SENATE AGENDA FOR THE MARCH 16, 2007 MEETING
V. NEW BUSINESS
1) The bi-annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees
with the Senate Executive Committee has been scheduled for Monday, March 26,
2007 at 3:00 P.M.
Picotte Hall at Dundale. The meeting between the Senate Executive Committee and
the President has been scheduled for 2:30 P. M.
2) The Executive Committee Meeting for March 30, 2007 has been rescheduled for
Tuesday,
April 3, 2007 at 2:00 in CEER
3) A summary of the Budget Report presented at the February 2, 2007 Senate
meeting has
been included in the next issue of Blueprints
The Executive Committee Meeting was called to order by the Chair, Dr. Susan
Mackey-Kallis at 2:00 P.M.
I. The minutes of the February 26, 2007 meeting were amended and unanimously
approved as submitted.
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE
The Chair announced that she will be drafting an email to the Executive
Committee regarding the importance of confidentiality amongst its members. The
assumption is that when an issue is disseminated to the Executive Committee that
it will remain within the confines of this committee She would like to stress
the need for all those on the committee to feel that they can share certain
issues with other members of the board knowing that it will stay within the
confines of this committee.
III. REVIEW OF QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING ON March 26, 2007 at 2:30 P.M. AT
PICOTTE HALL AT DUNDALE
I. FACILITIES ISSUES:
A. I think they need to widen the driving part that goes up to Dougherty Hall
Dock before there is an accident.
Response From: Mr. Kenneth Valosky, Vice President for Finance
The University is beginning a campus master planning effort in March 2007. This
comprehensive review of our campus will include Dougherty Drive, as well as a
thorough study and analysis of pedestrian circulation and movement, parking, and
future projects like the renovation or replacement of Dougherty Hall. Because of
the large scope and the need for University wide participation, this effort will
conclude in October 2008.
In the meantime, only delivery trucks and authorized vehicles with HSB hang tags
should be going up Dougherty Drive. Because the parking spaces are limited, they
fill up quickly in the morning. It would be prudent for everyone to avoid
Dougherty Drive after 9:30 am.
B. Is the University notified when a train passing through the heart of the
campus is carrying "dangerous" cargo (explosives, deadly gases, etc)? With the
rash of train accidents nationwide, this would seem a viable issue to
investigate.
Response From: Mr. Kenneth Valosky, Vice President for Finance
Public Safety contacted both Septa and Amtrak and both confirmed these are
commuter train lines and as such freight trains (which might be carrying
dangerous cargo) are not permitted.
II. STAFF ISSUES:
A. As a part-time employee for over 4 years, I have to say this experience has
been a life-changing one for me. This schedule (21 hours/week in the office, and
emails/phone calls at home on my "days off") allows me the flexibility to spend
more time with my children, which I greatly appreciate. I feel much more
productive when I'm here and am much more motivated to get the job done so that
I can enjoy my days at home. I truly would love to encourage the University to
provide more part-time or job sharing I believe it would be a win-win situation
for both the University and for the employees.
As a very grateful part-time employee I am only eligible for a limited benefit
package which includes vacation days (3 days per year) and a 403(b)
contribution. I definitely appreciate the benefits that are offered, but they do
seem disproportionate to the full-time benefit package. Would the University
consider offering additional benefits (more vacation time and some sick time)?
Response From: Mr. Kenneth Valosky, Vice President for Finance
The University periodically reviews each of its benefit plans. In addition to
the benefits noted that are provided by the University, (403b retirement plan
and vacation), part-time employees who are regularly scheduled to work 1,000
hours or more per year may be eligible for: paid sick leave, tuition remission,
holiday pay, jury duty, bereavement leave, and parental/adoption leave. The paid
sick time benefit for eligible part-time employees was just approved in March of
2006. In view of the University’s generous holiday benefits; time spent away
from work for those on a part-time schedule; and in consideration of the benefit
programs of other employers, we believe that the vacation and sick time benefits
provided to our part-time employees are appropriate under the current
provisions.
III. TUITION ISSUES:
A. I would like to see the University re-evaluate the tuition benefit for our
dependent children. There are other universities in the surrounding area that
offer much more competitive tuition benefits. St. Joseph's University,
University of Delaware and University of Pennsylvania are a few examples where
the waiting period is shorter and the dollar amount is higher.
Response From: Mr. Kenneth Valosky, Vice President for Finance
The University has surveyed these and other schools in the Overlap Plus
institutional group, and compared to a group of 20 schools, the University’s
tuition program is comparable and competitive. For example, a number of Overlap
schools have five year waiting periods along with some level of co-payment.
However, the University is reviewing the current tuition remission policy,
benchmarking its tuition benefit with other institutions and looking at all
options in providing qualified education benefits to faculty and staff. We
anticipate this review will be completed shortly.
B. Will the 80% tuition remission be given to employees, who were hired
approximately November, 2000?
Response From: Mr. Kenneth Valosky, Vice President for Finance
The current tuition remission policy is as follows: For spouses and dependent
children of employees who were employed by Villanova on or after August 30,
1999: Effective with the beginning of the next semester or summer session
following the completion of five years of service, eligible spouses and
dependent children are provided tuition remission for courses taken at
Villanova, subject to a co-payment. The co-payment is currently the difference
between the Villanova tuition and the minimum tuition amount mandated each year
by the Tuition Exchange consortium for schools participating in the Tuition
Exchange (TE) program. However, as noted above the University is reviewing the
current tuition remission policy, benchmarking its tuition benefit with other
institutions and looking at all options in providing qualified education
benefits to faculty and staff. This review will be completed shortly.
IV. BAND SCHOLARSHIP ISSUES:
A. "Could the University examine the possibility of providing partial
scholarships to band members? The latter represents the University in many ways
at many functions - they deserve a partial scholarship. In addition, this will
assist in recruiting future member (musicians) of high quality".
Response From: Dr. John Johannes, Vice President for Academic Affairs
As is true for almost any proposal, the University could explore the addition of
scholarship assistance for student musicians. There are three possible sources
of such scholarship funding.
First, funds could be diverted from existing scholarship programs, either
need-based or merit-based. That would require the usual careful analysis of
likely impacts and trade-offs. Current need-based financial aid is available to
all students, including band members. Non-need-based (“merit”) aid could be
moved from existing programs, but at a time when demand for Villanova financial
assistance is at an all-time high, it would require a strong case. That case
would have to be built on the academic strategic plan, whose enrollment goals
and strategies currently focus on enhancing the academic quality, intellectual
climate, and diversity of the student body.
Second, consideration could be given to using a portion of the current and
future University annual operating budget for purposes of scholarships for band
members. That would require a decision that such scholarships are more important
than competing University needs – capital projects, academic equipment,
operating budgets, and so on. The case would have to be made in terms of the
University’s strategic needs and priorities.
Third, and most promising, scholarship assistance may also be explored with the
Office of Institutional Advancement in an effort to identify an external source
of financial support from an individual or organization. External funding can be
used to create an endowed scholarship fund. Currently, the University manages a
significant number of these specialized accounts. An endowed scholarship is a
particularly good way to ensure the long term funding of student financial
assistance.
Proposals for scholarship assistance – under any of these three scenarios --
should be sent to the author’s College Dean who will, if appropriate, forward
the request to either the Vice President for Academic Affairs or Institutional
Advancement for discussion and review. All proposals should contain a thorough
description of the scholarship’s purpose, justification in terms of the
University’s strategic planning, a specific funding request, a timeline for
implementation, and – if known – the identity of potential donors for such a
program.
QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESIDENT
1. TUITION REMISSION: Is there data available regarding how competitive we are
with benchmark schools nationally and locally in regard to tuition remission
benefits for faculty and staff? If so, what does the data indicate? If possible,
we would like to see and discuss the actual data regarding these benchmark
schools.
2. UNIVERSITY-WIDE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION
What progress are we making as far as Emergency Communication? Could we
implement Priority Access Email? What is the policy of snow closings and
situations such as the sniper incident? What would be the process for the
dissemination of information regarding these emergency situations?
A related issue is the plowing of parking lots and the salting and sanding of
walkways. The following is a comment received from one community member re: the
recent heavy snowfall: "Why does this plowing start so late after a snowfall? I
arrived at 7:30 am (had to leave early to make sure I was here on time for my
8:30 am class). The snowplow was just then getting to the SAC drive and parking
area. I had to drive over a big hump of snow the plow was making. Why wasn't the
area cleared starting very early in the morning, when there would have been no
cars or pedestrians to maneuver around? I hope the answer is NOT that there is
only ONE plow for all of campus and that it just took that long to get to SAC.
Also, the walkway and steps up to Mendel (from the lot behind the building) were
treacherous. No salt, no shoveling. This area is consistently poorly maintained
with respect to ice/snow removal. I am a displaced Spring Mill parker – if I am
supposed to park behind SAC, then the least Villanova could do is clear the way
for me to get to the building safely."
1) The Committee discussed the recent incident whereby the campus went into
lockdown because of a suspected gunman in the area. Some felt as though a
different approach should have been taken and that perhaps an Emergency
Awareness Plan should be put into place. Father Stack felt that the problem was
exacerbated for several reasons:
· No website or e-mail information
· Not enough information on the part of the Radnor police
· Too much hype from the media
The Committee felt it was a different situation in that the incident was not on
the campus, such as a bomb threat or fire.
QUESTION FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CLIMATE SURVEY: What was your reaction to the Climate Survey? Specifically, if
you could remark on the section which addressed staff and faculty
dissatisfaction with the benefit program? Also, the survey indicated that
faculty and staff particularly felt disenfranchised in terms of decision making.
Could you comment on this as well?
______________________________________________________________________________
IV. PREPARATION OF THE SENATE AGENDA FOR THE APRIL 20, 2007 MEETING
INVOCATION - Dr. Sally Scholz
PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PICK UP NAME PLATES FOR ATTENDANCE PURPOSES
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of the February 2, 2007 MEETING
2. POWER OF INTERPELLATION (if any)
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE
4. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Academic Policy Committee - Dr. Bijan Mobasseri
B. Athletic Advisory Committee - Dr. Dan Regan
C. Committee on Faculty – Dr. Q. Chung
5. MOTION FROM Co F REGARDING ENDOWED CHAIRS
- Dr. Q. Chung-
6. DISCUSSION REGARDING INVITING SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO UPCOMING MEETINGS
7. NEW BUSINESS
Ø We are in the process of executing the electronic dissemination of the minutes
of the Senate, Executive Committee and all Standing Committees.
Ø There was a brief discussion regarding consideration of ways to establish a
mentoring package for new Senators and Student Senators.
There being no further business, the committee adjourned at 4:05 P.M.
Sincerely,
John K. Stellakis
Executive Secretary
JKS/hh