MINUTES: THIRD Meeting of the Villanova University Senate for Academic Year 2011-2012 in Bartley Hall, Room 2010 on Friday,
OCTOBER 21, 2011 at 3:30 p.m.

PRESENT:  Dr. Robert Styer, Chairperson; Mr. Andrew Benenati, Executive Secretary;
Dr. Joseph Dellapenna, Parliamentarian

Dr. Chiji Akoma; Ms. Gabrielle Bruno; Mr. Robert Capone ’62; Ms. Kathleen Carden; Mr. Jack Chong; Dr. Sohail Chaudhry; Dr. Q. Chung; Rev. Kail Ellis, OSA; Dr. M. Louise Fitzpatrick; Mr. Steve Fugale; Mr. Robert Byrnes ’76;
Dr. Gary Gabriele; Ms. Ellie Garbade; Dr. Christopher Haas; Dr. Beth Hassel; Ms. Minjeung Kim; Ms. Susan Leighton; Dr. Sarvesh Kulkarni; Mr. Dennis Kuhn, J.D. (representing Dr. Kevin Clark); Dr. Jean Ann Linney; Dr. Adele Lindenmeyr; Ms. Meghan McGrath; Ms. Emily Morse; Dr. Victoria McWilliams; Mr. Vince Nicastro; Mr. Kevin Noller; Mrs. Mary Quilter; Mr. George Soussou;
Mr. Kenneth Valosky; Dr. Barbara Wall; Dr. Thomas Way; Dr. Seth Whidden; Dr. Joyce Willens; Ms. Selma Koury Wunderlich

ABSENT:
Ms. Megan Copel (Notified In Advance -Unable to Attend); Dr. Kevin Clark (NIA); Ms. Dorothy Malloy, Esq. (NIA); Mr. Imaribe Iyamu;  Mr. John J. Murray (NIA); Mr. Phil O’Neill (NIA): Mr. Stephen Sheridan (NIA); Rev. John Stack, OSA (NIA); Dr. Maggie Wang;

AGENDA:

PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES.  PLEASE PICK UP YOUR NAMEPLATE.

INVOCATION - Senator Robert Capone

1.  APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 MEETING

2.  POWER OF INTERPELLATION (if any)

3.  ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE

a)   For attendance purposes, it is very important that you have your nameplate at
your place and then return it at the end of the meeting
b)   A notice was sent via Campus Currents soliciting questions from the
Villanova University community as possible topics of discussion for the Executive Committee of the University Senate.  

4.   GUEST SPEAKERS
Mr. Bob Byrnes ’76, President, VUAA 
Goals and Accomplishments of the Alumni Association
Ms. Nancy Dudak – Director, Career Services
Update on Career Services and Student Job Prospects

5.    READING OF AMENDMENT FROM THE RULES AND REVIEW COMMITTEE        

6.    OVERVIEW OF UNIVERSITY BUDGET FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2011-12
Mr. Ken Valosky, Vice President for Administration and Finance

7.   BRIEF UPDATE ON THE BIG EAST CONFERENCE
Mr. Vince Nicastro, Director of Athletics

8    SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND SPEAKERS

9.   NEW BUSINESS

10. ADJOURNMENT

                                                                                                                           
PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES.  PLEASE PICK UP YOUR NAMEPLATE.

The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. The Invocation was presented by
Senator Robert Capone:

            Our Father, God, as we pray to you please help us to be all we can be and please help us
            to be even more that we can be through your love and affection. God Bless all.
            Amen.

Senator Capone welcomed the Villanova Alumni Association President,
Mr. Robert Byrnes ’76 and thanked him for his many contributions.

I.APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 MEETING

The minutes were moved for approval by Senator Wunderlich and seconded by
Senator Capone and unanimously approved as submitted

II. POWER OF INTERPELLATION (if any)

III. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE

a)  For attendance purposes, it is very important to have your nameplate at
your place and then returned at the end of the meeting.
b)   A notice was sent via Campus Currents soliciting questions from the
Villanova University community as possible topics of discussion for the  meeting of the Executive Committee of the University Senate.

IV. MR. ROBERT BYRNES ’76, PRESIDENT OF THE VILLANOVA
UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION             

Before Mr. Byrnes began his presentation he acknowledged the outstanding
accomplishments of Ms. Selma Koury Wunderlich, a long-standing member
of the University Senate and a representative from the Villanova Alumni Association.

Mr. Byrnes’ presentation is as follows:

Mr. Chairman, members of the Villanova University Senate:

• I am honored and humbled to address this wonderful group on our annual Home Coming weekend. 

• I would like to acknowledge the dedication of Selma Wunderlich as the Alumni Association representative to the Senate.

• Every time I return to Villanova I am always so impressed by the students and always so energized by the under grads. 

• Every time I am here I make it a point to walk thru campus.  It is so beautiful! 

• And every time I call my wonderful wife and tell her I am re-enrolling!

• She knows I am kidding, as she knows I would never gain acceptance in today’s very competitive environment.

• Today, I would like to address the goals and objectives of the Villanova Alumni Association. 

• Specifically, I would like to discuss the four objectives I put forth when elected president eighteen months ago.

• First, please allow me to read the Mission statement:

“The Villanova University Alumni Association sustains a lifelong relationship with the University and its alumni.  As an integral part of the Villanova community, the Alumni Association supports the University’s vision and the Augustinian principles of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas – Truth, Unity and Love.”

• In May of 2010 I outlined four major goals as president:

• Expand the alumni volunteer network worldwide.  We believe the more alumni we can touch; the greater their stewardship will be to the University through regional chapters, class committees and volunteer organizations.
• Aligned with the University’s Strategic Plan
• Use of broad based alumni communications to enhance Villanova brand.
• Directly assist in the successful recruitment of high achieving students.

*There are now more than 700 alumni volunteers who interview potential students for
admittance to Villanova.  You cannot obtain a Villanova scholastic scholarship without an interview.

• Working in conjunction with Fr. Peter, Mike O’Neil and the University Advancement team to increase the percentage of alumni who invest in Villanova’s future.  We MUST move to a level competition with our aspirational peer institutions.

• Continue to enhance the Villanova Alumni Associations reputation as a world class organization.

• So………….how are we doing?

•  Expand the Network
• We have grown the Alumni chapter system from approximately twenty active chapters to approximately thirty-five chapters around the country.
• We require ever chapter to hold at least four events per year:
• Networking
• Community service
• Scholarship event
• New Student Reception
• In addition, we have set up a regional team of veteran chapter leaders to mentor three to four chapters around the country.  This group may also serve as potential Board members in the future.

• Alignment with the University’s Strategic Plan
• As mentioned earlier, we have more than 700 alumni volunteers in the Interview Program.  After just one year, the yield rates have increased substantially for high achieving applicants.

•  Increasing the Percentage of Alumni Giving
• This may be the goal I am most passionate about.
• In the last five years we have increased this rate from approximately 17% to just under 22%.
• This year we hope to cross the 23% mark.
• Please keep in mind; Boston College and Georgetown are around 27%. 
• Our friends in South Bend are near 50%!

•  Enhance the Villanova Alumni Association as World Class
• We have bench marked a number of Alumni Associations during my term. 
• We are one of the best in the country!
• The Association Vice President of Alumni Relations and the Executive Director of our VUAA is one today – Gary Olsen.
• Please allow me to read a letter from a recent recipient of one of the chapter scholarships (attached).

Now you may be asking - “How does the Alumni Association help me?”  Especially, how to gain employment in these terrible economic conditions.

How does the VUAA assist alumni and students with career development and job searches?

•  Students have access to the Nova Network, which has more than 35,000 registered alumni members.  Students can search the Nova Network by career category and make contact with alumni currently working in these careers.

• More than 300 alumni volunteer their time as mentors to students through Career Connections, which students can access through the Nova Network.

• Through a partnership with the Career Services Center, alumni and students can search for jobs and post jobs available in their organizations through the GoNOVA alumni system.

• The Alumni Association’s network of regional chapters sponsor close to 500 events per year which provides access to the vast network of 110,000 Villanova alumni.

• Many chapters sponsor Business Networking of Business Card Exchange receptions on an annual basis.

• The Greater Washington DC chapter will sponsor the DC Alumni Networking Forum on November 17 at the US Chamber of Commerce.  This program will feature a panel of Villanova alumni and faculty discussing the future of the American economy. 

• The Boston chapter sponsors Take a Cat to Work Day which gives students the opportunity to shadow an alumnus/a for a day to learn about a particular career or profession.

• Earlier this afternoon the Student Alumni Association sponsored Career Bites, a program where alumni meet students over lunch in the Italian Kitchen to discuss their careers.

• Members of the Financial Club, comprised of alumni who work in the financial services business, sponsor 30-35 summer internships each year and also host students at a forum entitled Working on Wall Street to learn about employment opportunities.

CONCLUSION:  My “Vegas story” that exemplifies this “Nova Network” is wide and deep!

The Chair thanked Mr. Byrnes for his presentation.

 MS. NANCY DUDAK, DIRECTOR OF CAREER SERVICES

Ms. Dudak’s presentation can be found at www.unisenate.villanova.edu

After the presentation, Ms. Dudak opened the floor to questions from the senators.
Senator Koury Wunderlich asked if during the normal hiring period, are there internships available for every type of majors?  Ms. Dudak replied that it would take more work to cover certain aspects, depending on how esoteric the interests might be, but felt that they could be handled.  She explained that many times if the student’s major does not translate automatically to a certain type of opportunity they then must decide what would be an appropriate placement. 

Senator Chung asked if when publishing the placement data, it would be possible to specify the major to match the nature of the job. For example, if there is a double major could it be matched with a job so that the data is more meaningful. Ms. Dudak felt as though that could be accomplished on an individual basis.  She suggested that one could call Kathy Bracken in Career Services.  She manages all of their data and could find information for any student.  She noted that it is just the primary majors that are represented on the website.

Senator Gabrielle asked if there were roadblocks due to of a lack of internships or a lack of internships in proximity to where the student lives.  Ms. Dudak felt that is was more a geographic issue.

The Chair thanked Ms. Dudak for her presentation.

V. READING OF THE AMENDMENT FROM THE RULES AND REVIEW
COMMITTEE

Senator Styer read the Constitutional amendment regarding faculty elections with the exception of one new section which will deal with term limits.

Proposed Election Changes, Oct. 21, 2011

Current Article 5 Section 2:

The faculty members shall be apportioned as follows: four from Arts, two from Sciences (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computing Sciences, Mathematical Sciences and Physics), two from Engineering, two from Commerce and Finance, one from Nursing, and one from Law. The Chairperson of the Faculty Congress shall be ex officio a member of the Senate. Five faculty Senators shall also serve on the Committee on Faculty (Article VII, Section 5) and six faculty Senators shall also serve on the Academic Policy Committee (Article VII, Section 2).

Proposed Article 5 Section 2

The faculty members shall be apportioned as follows:
one from Arts Humanities, also on the Academic Policy Committee;
one from Arts Humanities also on the Committee on Faculty;
one from Arts Social Sciences, also on the Academic Policy Committee;
one from Arts Social Sciences, also on the Committee on Faculty;
one from Science, also on the Academic Policy Committee;
one from Science, also on the Committee on Faculty;
one from School of Business, also on the Academic Policy Committee;
one from School of Business also on the Committee on Faculty;
one from Engineering, also on the Academic Policy Committee;
one from Engineering, also on the Committee on Faculty;
one from Nursing, also on the Academic Policy Committee;
one from Law, also on the Committee on Faculty.
The Chairperson of the Faculty Congress shall be ex officio a member of the Senate. 

Current Article 6 Section 1

…A majority of the votes…

Proposed Article 6 Section 1

…A plurality of the votes…

Current Article 6 Section 2

Minimum qualifications for faculty election to the Senate shall be the rank of assistant professor and three years’ service to the University.

Proposed Article 6 Section 2

Minimum qualifications for faculty election to the Senate shall be full-time status with at least the rank of assistant professor and three years’ service to the University.

Proposed Article 6, new Section 9

A representative serving in a Senate seat has a defined term of service of ten consecutive years, except for the ex officio membership.  A member with ten years of service may continue in the Senate only if elected to a different seat or if serving in an ex officio role.  

Current Appendix A

University Senate Election Procedures for Faculty

STEP ONE -- ELECTION OF FACULTY UNIVERSITY SENATORS
12 Faculty Senators will be elected at one time according to constituency:
4 from ARTS
2 from SCIENCES
2 from VSB
2 from ENGINEERING
1 from LAW
1 from NURSING
1 Chairperson of New Faculty Congress ex officio
____________________________________ equals = 13 FACULTY SENATORS

STEP TWO -- ELECTION TO ACADEMIC POLICY COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE ON FACULTY

1. ACADEMIC POLICY COMMITTEE - Six Senators on Committee
The 11 elected Senators (not Law) must choose to serve on either the APC or COF committee, but with a minimum of four Senators on each committee. Senators will be polled as to interest on the APC committee and at least four Senators will take the seats assigned to their constituency. After they choose, elections will be held in those constituencies not already filled.
A&S - Group I 2 seats
A&S - Group II 2 seats
A&S - Group III 2 seats
A&S - Group IV 2 seats
A&S - Group V 2 seats
Engineering2 seats
Nursing2 seats
Commerce & Finance2 seats
______________________________
Total faculty seats on APC = 16

2. COMMITTEE ON FACULTY - Five Senators on Committee
The 12 elected Senators will be polled as to interest on the APC or COF, but at least four senators must choose COF seats assigned to their constituency. The Law Senator may choose to serve on COF. After they choose, elections will be held in those constituencies not already filled.
However, in the case of VSB, the number of faculty has increased over the other two colleges, Nursing and Engineering, to the extent that C&F faculty has twice the number of faculty in each of those two colleges. Therefore, C&F has been awarded 3 seats on the COF, with Nursing and Engineering each adding 1 seat for a total of 2 seats each.
Faculty membership on the Committee on Faculty would be as follows:
A&S - Group I 1 seat
A&S - Group II 1 seat
A&S - Group III 1 seat
A&S - Group IV 1 seat
A&S - Group V 1 seat
Engineering (+1)2 seats
Law1 seat
Nursing (+1)2 seats
Commerce & Finance (+2)3 seats
Vice Chair of Faculty Congress, ex officio 1 seat
______________________________
Total faculty seats on COF = 14

Proposed Appendix A

University Senate Election Procedures for Faculty

• ACADEMIC POLICY COMMITTEE - Six Senators on Committee

Faculty membership on the Academic Policy Committee would be as follows:

Arts Humanities (Senator)
Arts Humanities (nonSenator from different department)
Arts Social Science (Senator)
Arts Social Science (nonSenator from different department)
Two additional Arts members (Humanities or Social Science)
Sciences (Senator)
Sciences (nonSenator from different department)
One additional Sciences
Engineering (Senator)
Engineering (nonSenator from different department)
Nursing (Senator)
Nursing (nonSenator)
School of Business (Senator)
School of Business (nonSenator from different department)
One additional School of Business
______________________________
Total faculty seats on APC = 16

• COMMITTEE ON FACULTY - Five Elected Senators on Committee

Faculty membership on the Committee on Faculty would be as follows:

Arts Humanities (Senator)
Arts Humanities (nonSenator from different department)
Arts Social Science (Senator)
Arts Social Science (nonSenator from different department)
Sciences (Senator)
Sciences (nonSenator from different department)
Engineering (Senator)
Engineering (nonSenator from different department)
School of Business (Senator)
School of Business (nonSenator from different department)
One additional School of Business member
Nursing (nonSenator)
Law (Senator and Parliamentarian)
Vice Chair of Faculty Congress, ex officio  1 seat
______________________________
Total faculty seats on COF = 14

Senator Quilter asked if this amendment could be sent out this week so that all may
have the opportunity to review the proposed amendment.

Senator Dellapenna (Parliamentarian) offered an alternative proposal and felt that should be sent to all the senators as well. This reads as follows:

Proposed Article 6, new Section 9

A representative serving in a Senate seat has a defined term of service of ten consecutive years, except for the ex officio membership.  A member with ten years of service may continue in the Senate only if elected to a different seat or if serving in an ex officio role.  

Proposed Article 6, new Section 9

A representative serving in a Senate seat, except for the ex officio members, shall not serve more than ten consecutive years unless elected to a different seat.  

VI. OVERVIEW OF UNIVERSITY BUDGET FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2011-12
Mr. Ken Valosky, Vice President for Administration and Finance

Senator Valosky began by presenting an economic overview that shapes the committee’s thinking in terms of the budget.  He started with information that he shared with the Administration Budget Committee in August. He referred to an article from the Washington Post whereby the economists state, “Recovery from the most recent recession is likely to be one of the most difficult and protracted in US history.  Because of the severity of this recession and the accompanying crisis hitting banks and other lenders they believe that recovery will be more difficult. The US history has been through a lot in the past few months. An unprecedented down-grade of the government’s credit rating, a debt crisis in Europe that threatens to spread across the Atlantic and a steep decline in financial markets.  A recession is still possible.  If consumers and businesses were to suffer a sudden shock, such as that in Europe, the US economy would abruptly reverse.

He noted that last week our independent investment advisors for the University’s endowment shared with the Board of Trustees the following view on the economy.  Unemployment remains stubbornly high. Household debt remains very elevated. Unless corporate spending picks up, other things being equal, the odds that the developed world slipping back into recession in 2012 are significant. This agreement over policy in the United States and Europe to deal with debt problems will fuel uncertainty for some time.

Senator Valosky states that we are certainly in a challenging environment which impacts our thinking as we put the budget together for 2013.  The working assumptions are very fluid and definitely subject to change.

In regard to undergraduate enrollment for 2013 that number would be 6,270 which is the university’s long term undergraduate enrollment target. He also anticipates a freshman class of 1,630.  The tuition increase again, subject to the economic outlook, is 4%.  He remarked that over the last few years we have been very moderate with regard to our tuition increase which is 3% or under.  Our budget model, at this point is 4%, but they are looking at that very closely. Their major concern with this economic outlook is the impact on our families and the debt they incur in order to fund the Villanova education.

The faculty and staff salary pool increases in the range of 0 to 3%.  If the economy is as bad as it was in 2008-2009, we know what the university did at that time in order to avoid lay-offs. He does not anticipate that to happen again.  They are envisioning a 0% increase, but felt it necessary to present the range they are considering. It will be determined by their surveys of Human Resources firms that give them a sense of what employers are anticipating for salary increases over the course of the coming year.

With regard to medical insurance, we have an increase of 15%.  His thoughts are that as they work with their insurance brokers and see the impact of self-insurance that increase will not stand at 15%. However, he feels as though it is still too early in the process to decide.

Unfortunately, regulations require that we, as well as many other employers throughout the United States who have Defined Benefit Pension Plans, deal with the other funding of those plans. That has been a direct result of what they have seen in the market place since 2008.  The year that we are presently in, we will make a Five Million Dollar contribution to that pension plan that we are anticipating for 2013.  It will decline, but it will be a significant Two and a Half Million Dollars.

Senator Valosky noted that there is a consistent endowment spending rate and a planned savings increasing to Ten Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars.  He feels as though we will make significant progress on the university’s strategic plan.  They continue with the funding of various academic initiatives, primarily additional faculty positions.  Financial aid will continue with their pilot program of increasing a Million Dollars a year for four years that is directed towards high achieving students.  They are also continuing their practice of increasing financial aid at a higher rate in tuition. They continue their support of university endowment.  University Development is now entering into a capital campaign.

He stated that there is much more work to be done. This is just a preliminary sense of what our assumptions are.  They are subject to change.

Senator Styer asked the following questions:

•  What is the inflation rate used for the budget model?

Senator Valosky responded that we do not peg a specific inflation rate that impacts the university budget.  They look at different categories and then research what they think those will be increase by. For example, Investment Income which has a significant amount of university cash.  They would be in touch with their investment bankers and our advisors from the Investment Committee to determine what they think will be an appropriate investment rate return.  He believes it will remain negligible as it is right now significantly under 1%, probably under ½ %.  With regard to salaries, they will go out into the market place and get a sense of what other employers are seeking to increase their salaries.  They will touch base with our insurance broker for health insurance. They will deal with Facilities and our various energy suppliers and will then determine what they believe to be the appropriate increase.  The same will hold true with food prices. 

• How is the endowment doing and what are its prospects for the coming year? 

Senator Valosky referred to an interview that he had that morning with one of the
student senators, Ms. Elizabeth Heurich, whereby he gave a few highlights of that interview.

The University’s endowment reached an all-time high of Three Hundred and Seventy-Five Million Dollars at the end of Fiscal Year 2011.  For the year end of June 30th the university’s endowment was 21.8%. When compared to similar sized endowments, for example those between Two Hundred and Fifty and Five Million Dollars, we are in the top quartile. He feels as though we had good performance.  He stated that our investment advisors asked how we compare to some of the top endowments.  Villanova is 21.8%, Dartmouth was 18.4%, Cornell was 20 %, Brown was 18 ½% and Harvard 21.4%, MIT 17.9%, Notre Dame 21.5%, Princeton 21.9% as well as Yale.

He remarked that we have been impacted by the recent volatility in the market
place. It has been a difficult quarter.  The endowment as of the end of
September is now three hundred and thirty-one million dollars.
Performance-wise we are down about 10 ½ %, however, that is less than our
benchmark. We are doing as well as can be expected in a very difficult
environment.

• Doesn’t the Campus Master Plan construction have a major impact on the

financial budget?  Isn’t that a Strategic Initiative though not listed here?  (plus
talking about this might provide a good excuse to discuss our favorable bond
rating and its positive impact on the budget)

Senator Valosky stated that we have accumulated a significant amount of cash    over the last five to ten years. We have been using that money in order to fund the many capital projects around the campus. For example, the Sullivan/Sheehan renovation and transforming the campus landscape. Because of this cash, the university does not have to borrow from outside sources.  He will have the opportunity in the next month to provide much more detail on the university’s financial position.   He will be making presentations to the University Senate, the University Staff Council and the Committee on Faculty.  He thanked
Senator Seth Whidden for arranging these presentations.

The Chair thanked Senator Valosky for his presentation.

VII. BRIEF UPDATE ON THE BIG EAST CONFERENCE
Mr. Vince Nicastro, Director of Athletics

Senator Nicastro pointed out that the realignment and consolidation, especially at the highest level, certainly has dominated the news over the last several months.  He
remarked that the Big East was impacted about five weeks ago when Syracuse  announced that they would depart the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference. Shortly after that Texas Christian University announced that they would be going to the Big Twelve Conference.  Although he feels they are still very fluid, he thinks there may be some dominos that could fall particularly focusing on what Missouri decides.

He explained that in terms of the Big East where we are as a group, as recently as this past Monday, the membership did endorse two issues.  The first is the increase in the withdrawal penalties. If a school leaves this may or may not serve as a deterrent for schools that are moving on to what they think are greener pastures.  Also, the schools unanimously endorse expansion plans to move to twelve football playing members. He could not discuss the target schools, but there was a unanimous endorsement of that expansion strategy.  Villanova is in the midst of executing that strategy to firm things up for us in the future.

He stated that Villanova has developed any number of contingencies that may or may not happen at the senior leadership level. He stressed that the overriding goal is to protect our membership in a preeminent national athletic conference.

The Chair thanked Senator Nicastro for his presentation.

VIII. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND SPEAKERS

IX.   NEW BUSINESS

The last scheduled meeting for the Academic Year 2011-2012 is:

           FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 in BARTLEY HALL,
ROOM 2010 AT 3:30 P.M.

X.   ADJOURNMENT
There being no new business, Senator Styer asked for a motion to adjourn.  Senator Wall motioned for the meeting to be adjourned.  Senator Akoma seconded the motion.  The meeting adjourned at 4:56 p.m.
.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Benenati