Minutes of the AAUP Executive Committee Meeting of October 31, 2007
Present: D. Burns (Chapter President), M. Crichton, W. Ensminger, W. Kaplan, K. Kearfott (Chapter Vice-President), R. Lomax, J. Maddock, T. Moore, C. Smith, M. Thouless
K. Kearfott called the meeting to order at noon. D. Burns arrived at 12:15 p.m. and assumed the chair. Secretary C. Smith left the meeting at 12:45 p.m. and Treasurer M. Crichton took minutes for the remainder of the meeting.
Agenda. The proposed agenda was adopted by consensus.
Announcements: C. Smith reminded the Committee of the Davis, Markert, Nickerson Lecture on November 9, 2007, and urged members to make reservations for the dinner that would follow the lecture.
Minutes. The minutes of the October 17, 2007 meeting were adopted with several minor modifications.
Treasurer's Report. M. Crichton reported that the Chapter neither received nor dispersed funds since the last Executive Committee meeting and that the balance in the Chapter's checking account remains at $1,255.34. The Treasurer's Report was adopted by consensus.
Active Cases. No active cases were presented.
Faculty Governance. C. Smith reported that the Senate Assembly had met on Monday, October 22, 2007, and had adopted motions that a) endorsed in principle the proposals of the report from the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics and b) endorsed in principle the "Addendum to Publication Agreements for CIC Authors" and the University Library's additional efforts on behalf of University authors' rights in the Library's negotiations with publishers. In addition, the Senate Assembly adopted by a split vote a motion that urged the President and Board of Regents to reconsider the Stadium Renovation project in light of arguments presented by Professor Goldstein and the serious concerns raised by more than 600 faculty and staff through their petition. M. Thouless and C. Smith reported that President M. Coleman met with the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) on Monday, October 29, 2007, and discussed a) the uses of endowment funds, noting that only about 2% of these funds are undesignated, b) the copyright policy adopted by the Senate Assembly the prior week, and c) stadium renovations. At that same meeting Provost T. Sullivan discussed with SACUA a) grievance reform, b) Fulbright fellowships, c) copyright policy, d) renovation of recreational sports facilities, e) a proposed document on shared governance and f) the relationship of the University of Michigan Press to Pluto Press. D. Burns pointed out that the University of Michigan Alumni Association is offering scholarships that are based on gender and ethnicity, as well as need, and that the University is considering starting an office of Veterans' Affairs.
Fall Chapter Meeting. After discussion, the Committee reached consensus that the Chapter should have a Fall Chapter meeting with Pat Shaw from national AAUP as speaker, that it should involve all units that have clinical faculty, and should be a discussion of options for people who are not covered by either tenure or representation such as the Lecturer Employees Organization (LEO) or Graduate Employees Organization (GEO). D. Burns agreed to explore possible dates and rooms. Late afternoon seemed to be the preferable time.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
C. B. Smith
Chapter Secretary
M. Crichton
Chapter Secretary pro tem