Minutes of the AAUP Executive Committee Meeting of July 25, 2007
Present: E. Chudacoff, M. Crichton, W. Kaplan, K. Kearfott (Chapter Vice-President), R. Lomax, C. Smith, M. Thouless
K. Kearfott called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m.
Agenda. The proposed agenda was adopted as submitted.
Announcements: M. Crichton reminded the Committee that the New Faculty Orientation will be held on Wednesday, August 29, 2007, in the ballroom of the Michigan League and that D. Burns and K. Kearfott will represent the Chapter at that meeting. R. Lomax reported that the University has posted on its web page new health benefits rates for the upcoming year, effective January 1, 2008.
Minutes. The minutes of the June 27, 2007 meeting were adopted unanimously as submitted.
Treasurer's Report. M. Crichton reported that the Chapter has received $246.95 in payroll deduction dues and $450.00 in donations since the last Executive Committee meeting. She said that $572.00 in payroll deductions dues had been sent to AAUP national headquarters and $143.00 in dues to the Michigan Conference, and that the current balance in the Chapter's checking account was $1,275.34. M. Crichton noted that she had sent the annual $20 filing fee for 501(c) (3) non-profit corporations to the State of Michigan. The Committee voted unanimously to accept the Treasurer's report. The Committee discussed a proposal that the Treasurer's Report be submitted by email in advance of Executive Committee meetings. C. Smith expressed the opinion that it was important for the Treasurer to make a presentation at the Committee meetings since that provided an opportunity to discuss fiscal matters, such as fund-raising, on a regular basis. A motion in support of an oral presentation of the Treasurer's Report at each Executive Committee meeting was tabled until the next Executive Committee meeting.
Active Cases. C. Smith reported on two active cases. The first case involves a grievance that has arisen from a tenure-denial decision. He said that the case has been referred to the SACUA Faculty Hearing Committee since it involves major procedural issues. The second case involves a clinical faculty member who has been forbidden to see patients in the clinic yet is still allowed to teach students. C. Smith reported that the reason for the decision about the patient care duties is related to allegations about the professor's mental capabilities and that the professor is waiting for results of tests for diminished mental ability.
Faculty Governance. C. Smith reported that a group of faculty opposed to renovations of the Michigan stadium, approved by the Regents, had made a presentation to SACUA on July 16, 2007, and that SACUA had agreed to their request to address the Senate Assembly at one of the fall Senate Assembly meetings. He said that SACUA at its meeting of July 23, 2007, met with Jessica Litman, Professor in the Schools of Law and Information; and Paul Newman, University Librarian, to discuss the Statement on Publishing Agreements of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) that includes a proposed addendum for publishing agreements. SACUA and the Senate Assembly have been asked to endorse the statement.
C. Smith reported that a new committee will be formed to discuss the acquisition of salary data which has been requested by the Committee on the Economic Status of the Faculty (CESF). Members of this committee will include: P. Hanlon, Associate Provost; T. Palmer, Manager of the Human Resources Information Services; L. Pierce, Associate Provost; G. Schweitzer, Assistant Provost and Director of the Office of Budget and Planning; F. Askari, Chair of CESF; R. Fraser, member of both CESF and SACUA; C. Smith, Chair of SACUA and member of CESF; and J. Gatewood, University Librarian and Chair of the CESF faculty salary subcommittee.
C. Smith announced that SACUA member B. Frier will be a member of the General Counsel Search Committee and that Professor Frier asked SACUA to discuss the function and purpose of the Office of the General Counsel. He said that new members have been added to the Faculty Hearing Committee. The following SACUA members will serve on that committee: R. Friedman, B. Frier, and W. Stark. He noted that the Faculty Hearing Committee hears grievance cases that, for some reason, cannot be resolved within the individual unit.
State Conference. C. Smith reported that the Michigan Conference Executive Board will meet at Wayne State University on Saturday, September 8, 2007, and that the proposal to restructure the national AAUP will be discussed at that meeting with acting Executive Secretary Ernie Benjamin.
Other. The Committee held a lengthy discussion of ways in which current and former Chapter members might be reengaged in Chapter activities. It was suggested that these members be contacted and asked to recruit new members, mentor new faculty with respect to the ways in which tenure might be achieved, advise faculty who might have grievances, and counsel faculty members about retirement issues such as those related to health care benefits. K. Kearfott distributed a list of current Chapter members.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
C. B. Smith
Chapter Secretary