Minutes
Faculty Senate Meeting
February 2, 2011
Professor Leigh Riddick called the meeting to order at 2:20 P.M.
Present: Leigh Riddick, Lyn Stallings, Jim Girard, Naomi Baron, Phil Brenner, Joe Dent, Larry
Engel, Brian Forst, Clement Ho, Jonathan Loesberg, Jie Lu, Stacey Marien, Sarah Menke-Fish,
Mary Mintz, Lenny Steinhorn; Provost Scott Bass, Dean Phyllis Peres
Welcome and Introduction, Professor Leigh Riddick
Professor Riddick called the meeting to order. She informed all present Senators that the
previous week’s meeting was only held for 30 minutes due to the closing of the University for
bad weather.
Chair’s Report
Professor Riddick asked Mary Mintz to read her draft of the resolution in celebration of the Life
of Robert Griffith into the record.
“RESOLULTION IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF PROF. ROBERT GRIFFITH
Whereas,
the Faculty Senate wishes to honor the memory of Professor Robert Griffith whose death
on January 24, 2011 was a great loss to American University and to the scholarly
community at large; and
Whereas,
after completing his undergraduate education at DePauw University and graduating with
the highest distinction and with membership in Phi Beta Kappa; and
Whereas,
while earning advanced degrees at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, he received a
Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and was a University Fellow; and
Whereas,
he launched a long and outstanding academic teaching career of forty-three years at the
University of Wisconsin, and subsequently taught at the University of Georgia from 1967
to 1971, at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst from 1971 to 1989, at the
University of Maryland at College Park from 1989 to 1995, and at American University
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from 1995 to 2010; and
Whereas,
Professor Griffith combined his outstanding teaching with many scholarly achievements
including his book, The Politics of Fear: Joseph R. McCarthy and the Senate and the
publication of articles in prestigious journals such as the American Historical Review, the
Journal of American History, and the Business History Review; and
Whereas,
he received many awards recognizing his scholarship including the prestigious Frederick
Jackson Turner Award for a first manuscript in history from the Organization of
American Historians, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the
Humanities Fellowship, and multiple grants from the American Philosophical Society
and the Harry S Truman Library, and
Whereas,
his service to the history profession included his text, Major Problems in American
History Since 1945, now in its third edition; more than sixty book reviews; and extensive
contributions to the Organization of American Historians in many different capacities,
including service as its Treasurer until his untimely death; and
Whereas,
Professor Griffith also distinguished himself as an academic administrator through his
service as chair of the Department of History at the University of Massachusetts at
Amherst, chair of the Department of History at American University, and Dean of the
College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Maryland at College Park; and
Whereas,
he served very ably as Provost at American University and provided collegial leadership
to the University Senate in that capacity from 1995-1997; and
Whereas,
his faculty colleagues at American University so valued his integrity and capacity for
leadership that they repeatedly entrusted him with service on many important committees
including the search committees for provost, dean of academic affairs (twice), university
librarian, and the dean of his college; and
Whereas,
he was a mentor to many undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty to whom he
provided warm and understanding guidance; and
Whereas,
he was a valued, respected, and beloved colleague who exemplified the ideals of
teaching, scholarship, and service;
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Now, therefore, the Faculty Senate resolves
to extend to the family of Professor Robert Griffith, including his wife Barbara and their
children and grandchildren, heartfelt sympathy, deep gratitude, and great appreciation for
his many accomplishments and his dedicated service, and to have this resolution placed
in the Minutes of the Faculty Senate and conveyed to his family. February 2, 2011.”
Professor Riddick informed the Senate on the status of the work of the ad hoc Regulations
Committee. The Undergraduate Committee will be holding their final meetings with the students
and the Deans and is hoping to have the final copy of the document ready for review at the
February 16 Senate meeting. The Graduate committee group is still a little behind but is moving
well towards completing the task.
Review of the Faculty Manual begins, Professor Lyn Stallings
The remainder of the meeting was spent reviewing the Faculty Manual. See memorandum to all
Faculty and Faculty Administrators dated February 7, 2011, titled “Second Review of Faculty
Input Draft Manual Part II.”
For the Good of the Order
Professor Steinhorn expressed his concern that a large number of Senators are not showing up
regularly. He feels that this needs to be addressed for the purpose of voting on such very
important issues being worked on in the Faculty Manual. Professor Riddick responded that she
will be addressing this issue via email.
Professor Engel invited all to attend the debut showing of the film he consulted on, “Potato
heads, Keepers of the crop,” which will be screened courtesy of the Center for Latin American
and Latino Studies.
Professor Peres announced that AU had eleven undergraduate students and two graduate students
from the International School of Service studying in Cairo. They have all been moved safely out
of Cairo and placed at other abroad locations thanks to the great work of many people on
campus. Their families have been kept informed through this process.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 P. M.
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