Minutes of 27 November 2006

Circulated: 27 November 2006
Approved: 4 December 2006

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs

6048 Fleming Administration Building

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1340

Phone: (734) 764-0303

Fax: (734) 764-6564

Internet Address:  http://www.umich.edu/~sacua/

Approved minutes:  http://www.umich.edu/~sacua/sacmin/sacuaminutes.html

MINUTES OF THE SACUA MEETING OF 27 NOVEMBER 2006

Present: Combi, Frier, Giordani, Meerkov, Potter, Riles, Smith (chair); Lehman; Carr, Schneider

Absent:  MacAdam, Seabury

Guests:  none

MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED:

1.        Draft Agenda

2.        Electronic mail message from President Mary Sue Coleman and Provost Teresa A. Sullivan to the University Community dated 21 November 2006 regarding Diversity Blueprints:  Your ideas wanted

3.        Electronic mail message from K. Riles to SACUA dated 27 November 2006 regarding draft December Regents Update report

4.        Two drafts of the December 2006 SACUA Report to the Board of Regents and related electronic mail messages exchanged by SACUA members on 26 November 2006

5.        Senate Assembly Resolution for Senate Assembly consideration on 18 December 2006 endorsed unanimously by AAAC on 22 November 2006 regarding student registration for classes

6.        LSA student government Resolution for Reforming Registration Brackets dated 10 October 2006 sponsored by Justin Benson, Hannah Madoff, Katherine Musbach, Shelly Rosenberg and Joanna Slott

7.        Electronic mail message exchange between C. B. Smith and T. Slottow dated between 20 November 2006 and 22 November 2006 regarding Faculty Benefits Oversight Committee

8.        27 November 2006 Current Benefits Issues by the CESF Subcommittee on Benefits

9.        Report to Senate Assembly by C. B. Smith on the University of Michigan Pharmacy Benefits Oversight Committee

10.     27 November 2006 Current Benefits Questions by the CESF Subcommittee on Benefits

11.     Motion to establish a Faculty Benefits Oversight Committee

12.     SACUA/Senate Assembly Planning Schedule updated 21 November 2006

Chair Smith convened the meeting at 2:30 P.M. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES

Chair Smith announced:

1. The chair met with the provost to discuss a newly announced Diversity Blueprints Committee; SACUA is invited to name three members.
2. Grievance Revision Taskforce will present report to SACUA next Monday; it will meet with the provost on Wednesday, 29 November at 4 P.M.
3. The chair and Professor Frier will meet with the president on Tuesday, 28 November at 2:30 P.M.

FACULTY GOVERNANCE UPDATE

SACUA discussed a draft of the December Update report to the U-M Board of Regents.  SACUA opted to develop a 2-page report with statistical summaries.

PREPARATION FOR SENATE ASSEMBLY

SACUA reviewed the draft agenda for the Assembly meeting as well . 

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ACTION OF SACUA 112706-1

Professor Riles moved that SACUA endorses the following resolution, and commends it to the Senate Assembly (multiple seconds):

Whereas the existing system and rules for student registration date back to a time when students were required to report in person for registration interviews, and the system has been made obsolete by modern technology, the faculty calls for changes to the antiquated system which:

(1)   remove an existing constraint which prevents students from being granted permission to register according to their credit hour standing if they are registered for a course that meets at that same time, and

(2)   enact provisions of a resolution passed by MSA that calls for implementation of registration brackets that are scaled to 5 credit hour increments. 

The Action was approved by unanimous vote.

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ACTION OF SACUA 112706-2

Professor Frier moved that SACUA endorses the following resolution, and commends it to the Senate Assembly (Giordani seconded):

Whereas the University of Michigan has made and is expected to make significant changes in the benefits that it offers its currently active and retired faculty, and

Whereas the members of the University Faculty Senate and their elected representatives on the University Senate Assembly and its executive committee, the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA), have either not been consulted or have been inadequately consulted prior to the announcement of such changes in benefits,

Be It Resolved That:

The University of Michigan establish a Faculty Benefits Oversight Committee with representation on that committee by faculty members selected by SACUA and confirmed by the Senate Assembly.

The Action was approved by unanimous vote.

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OLD/NEW BUSINESS

There was no other business.

The meeting adjourned at 3:00 P.M. 

Respectfully submitted,

John Lehman

Senate Secretary

University of Michigan Bylaws of the Board of Regents, Sec. 5.02: 

Governing Bodies in Schools and Colleges