MINUTES: SEVENTH MEETING of the Executive Committee for the Academic Year 2010-2011 on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. in the Rosemont Room

PRESENT:  Dr. Robert Styer, Chairperson; Mr. Andrew Benenati; Mr. Kevin Noller; Dr. Barbara Wall; Rev. John Stack, OSA; Ms. Selma Koury-Wunderlich; Dr. Victoria McWilliams (representing Dr. Chung); Mr. Bryan Kerns

ABSENT: Dr. Sohail Chaudhry, (NIA); Mrs. Mary Quilter, (NIA); Dr. QB Chung (NIA); Ms. Bridget Halligan, (NIA)

Ms. Helen Heron, Recording Secretary

AGENDA:

I. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 11, 2011 MEETING
II. POWER OF INTERPELLATION (if any)
III. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE
a) Date, Time and Place for Annual Executive Committee Dinner
b) Date for the ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
c) Dates for Senate Meetings for Academic Year 2011-2012
IV. PREPARATION OF THE SENATE AGENDA FOR THE APRIL 15, 2011 MEETING
V. NEW BUSINESS

Dr. Robert Styer opened the meeting with a prayer.

I. The MINUTES of February 11, 2011 were unanimously approved as written.

II. POWER OF INTERPELLATION (if any)

III. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE

1. The Annual Executive Committee Dinner will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at Fleming’s Steak House

c)  Dates for Senate Meetings for Academic Year 2011-2012

Friday, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
Friday, FEBRUARY 3, 2012 (Budget)
Friday, OCTOBER 21, 2011
Friday, MARCH 9, 2012
Friday, DECEMBER 2, 2011
Friday, APRIL 13, 2012

(President’s Annual Address)
All meetings will be held in BARTLEY HALL, ROOM 2010 at 3:30 p.m. 

IV. PREPARATION OF THE SENATE AGENDA FOR THE APRIL 15, 2011 MEETING

Invocation ~ Senator Andrew Benenati

1. CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES of the MARCH 11, 2011 MEETING

2. POWER OF INTERPELLATION (if any)

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE

a) Date for the ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING of the Senate for the coming 2011-2012 Academic Year. April 26, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. in Bartley Hall, Room 2010.

b) Dates for Senate Meetings for Academic Year 2011-2012

Friday, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
Friday, FEBRUARY 3, 2012 (Budget)
Friday, OCTOBER 21, 2011
Friday, MARCH 9, 2012
Friday, DECEMBER 2, 2011
Friday, APRIL 13, 2012

(President’s Annual Address)

4. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

Student Life Committee- Rev. John P. Stack, O.S.A.-Chair
Academic Policy Committee – Dr. Susan Mackey-Kallis, Chair
Committee on Mission and Social Justice – Dr. Bernard G. Prusak, Chair

5. GUEST SPEAKER

Mr. Bob Morro, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management
“Upcoming Transformations of the Campus Landscape”

6. REPORT FROM FACULTY CONGRESS – Dr. Q. Chung, Chair

7. REPORT FROM UNIVERSITY STAFF COUNCIL – Mr. Kevin Noller, Chair

8. REPORT FROM GRADUATE COUNCIL PRESIDENT – Mr. Damien A.Germino

9. UPDATE ON FOOTBALL DECISION

10. FAREWELL ADDRESS OF THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
Senator Bridget Halligan

11. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NAMES OF NEW STUDENT SENATORS
Thanks to departing student senators

12. SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR FUTURE SENATE MEETING AGENDAS
OR SPEAKERS

13. NEW BUSINESS

14. ADJOURNMENT

Bob Styer suggested that the newly-elected senators should attend the April 15th Senate meeting and conduct the Organizational meeting directly thereafter.  After a lengthy discussion, the committee decided that Bob would email Tom Mogan and Bryan Kerns regarding this issue.

In regard to the Senate Constitutional changes, Bob spoke with Father Donohue at which time Father explained that his main concern is that the Senate is as active in the community as possible and to be more effective. His concern is not a reorganization of the Senate, but empowering the Senate as an effective vehicle in communicating with the community.  Father stated that Ann Diebold has some ideas on a new way of handling the President’s Address.

Barbara Wall asked if there was any feedback from the Middle States on the effectiveness of the University Senate.  Bob stated that he had heard of no data. However, Father Donohue would like OPIR to include a question as to whether the community views the Senate as being helpful in the next survey.

Father Stack observed that the Senate does not have the same meaning as it once had.  He noted that most faculty have more interest in what the Faculty Congress is doing than in the Senate.  He now notices that it is not easy to get faculty on the Senate.  Selma Wunderlich commented that the issues years ago are not the same issues that we face now.  She remarked that there are different outlets that each of these groups can go to.  She feels that with the present constitution there are more direct lines to the Vice-Presidents that these groups can go to so that they don’t necessarily bring their issues to the Senate. 

Father Stack noted that in the beginning there was no effective means of communication.  The
Senate provided people a means to express their concerns.  He felt that when Father Dobbin became president, he enabled better communication to take place.

Barbara Wall feels that many times in the Senate the things that are dealt with are redundant.  She feels as though there is never an “action” in the Senate.   Bob said he would like to see that every committee has a direct line to a Vice President. This way the administrative actions could be taken care of immediately.  He sees the Senate as more of a clearing house rather than a legislative body for information so that all can work together on a common page, more as a communication vehicle.

Father Stack, in speaking to Barbara Wall’s question, wondered if the University Senate has a purpose and should it still exist?  Selma feels as though Bob’s proposal is attempting to show that if this change is made, this is one possible way of making the Senate more affective.

Barbara asked that if the committees are connected to Vice Presidents then does the Senate just become a reporting station.  Selma explained that there must be some vehicle so that everyone knows what is going on in Villanova. She felt Ann Diebold could help in streamlining this idea of a town meeting.  Both Selma and Barbara agreed it is getting redundant having as many meetings as we do now which seem to be unproductive. 

Father Stack stated that he thought that most schools have the President’s Address at the beginning of the new school year whereby we would get a better turn out of people than at a Senate meeting.

Victoria McWilliams remarked that there may have been a comment made at the Middle States Summary Report whereby the faculty did not feel as though their voice was being effectively heard. She was not sure if they were referring to the Senate or the Faculty Congress.  She hoped Bob Styer could look into this matter to make sure it is the correct body.

Bob concluded the meeting by asking if anyone would have the need for an alumni with an impressive financial background, Bill Duffy. He is very interested in getting involved with Villanova. The secretary agreed to send the resume to the committee members.  

V. SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS AND SPEAKERS

VI. NEW BUSINESS

There being no further business, the committee adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

Sincerely,

Bryan Kerns
Executive Secretary
BK/hh