Minutes
Faculty Senate Meeting
September 5, 2007
Gary Weaver called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.
Present: Professors Weaver, Silvia, Loesberg, Belson, Douglass, Forst, Girard, Hall, Kim, Klein,
Langbein, Leap, Mintz, Pike, Reece, Riddick, Sha, Stallings, Steinhorn, Wanis-St.John,
Willoughby, Yates, Young, Dean Mardirosian, and Provost Broder.
Welcome and Introduction, Gary Weaver
Professor Weaver welcomed everyone to the meeting. The May minutes were approved.
Report of the President, Neil Kerwin
Facilities
Dr. Kerwin provided an overview of the facilities work being done on campus. For instance, the
Mary Graydon Center first floor has been substantially redone, with new furniture and new
flooring. Additionally, the Nebraska residence hall has been upgraded. Work is still being done
on the addition to the Kogod Business School.
Finances
Dr. Kerwin stated that the university is beginning the academic year in a fairly strong financial
position. Based on this, it seems as though we will be operating within a balanced budget for the
entire year.
Board of Trustees
This is the second academic year since the Board has adopted the policy of meeting four times
per year. The first meeting for this academic year is in September.
Dr. Kerwin will discuss with the Board the initiation this fall of the development of a new
strategic plan for the university. He would like to include the entire university community in an
effort to redefine the future direction of American University. Dr. Kerwin would like the draft to
be completed by November 2008 and presented to the Board at that time.
Searches
Dr. Kerwin mentioned that the university will be conducting two searches for top administrators
this year, one for a provost and the other for a vice president of development. The nation-wide
search for provost will be conducted by a search committee, as specified in the academic
regulations, which will then recommend a candidate to Dr. Kerwin. At that point, Dr. Kerwin
will in turn present the candidate to the Board for approval. It is expected that the new provost
would begin work in July 2008. The search for vice president of development will be conducted
somewhat differently, given the nature of this position and the job market for this type of
position.
Campus Communication
Dr. Kerwin will be sending out a memorandum regarding campus emergency preparedness.
Also, he will be sending out a memorandum about the work of the army corps of engineers, and
their work on the Glenbrook Road house of the President and the adjacent house.
Report of the Provost, Ivy Broder
Dr. Broder mentioned that there are 28 new tenure-track faculty members and more than 100
new faculty were invited to the fall New Faculty Orientation last week. The new group of faculty
is extremely well-qualified and impressive. Dr. Broder introduced the new university librarian,
Bill Mayer. Mr. Mayer was the associate librarian for information technology and technical
services at George Washington University and previous to that worked at MIT and Harvard.
Also, Dr. Broder introduced Keith Gill, the new Athletics Director. Mr. Gill has just come from
working at the University of Oklahoma, and previous to that was working at Vanderbilt.
Budget
Dr. Broder announced that summer enrollment and programs were very successful. This
happened for several reasons: more realistic budgeting, holding the price of the summer
undergraduate tuition credit at the previous year’s rate, expanding our distance learning
initiative, and changing last year the academic regulation limiting the number of courses a
student can take outside the university (passed by the Faculty Senate). The budget was in a better
position because of a combination of improved offerings and more effective pricing.
Although we did not reach the expected target for new freshmen, quality remains high and there
was a solid increase in the number of multicultural and international students in the freshmen
class. The new full-time transfer students will be at the target, and for returning undergraduate
students we are exceeding the budgeted numbers. Graduate credit hours are above budget, and
the Washington College of Law has had spectacular enrollment.
Salary Structure
Dr. Broder outlined a few changes to the salary structure. For promotion and tenure, we were
giving faculty a total of $2,500 (i.e., a $1,000 increase for tenure and a $1,500 increase for
promotion to associate professor). This will be increased to $4,000. And for promotion from
associate to full professor, we are increasing that amount from $2,000 to $4,000. This increase
will also be applied retroactively to anyone who received promotion and or tenure over the past
five years. For anyone not in these categories, we will be looking at any discrepancies in salary
structures and making any appropriate adjustments.
Committees
Several committees will be formed to further consider learning communities beyond the
University College, to develop further our distance education initiatives, and to promote
interdisciplinary and international “joint degree” opportunities. Additionally, since retention is an
important goal of the university, Dr. Broder and Gail Hanson have begun discussing the
establishment of a retention council.
Open Discussion
Dr. Broder distributed to the Faculty Senate a copy of her annual report to the president which
outlines the accomplishments of the academic division during AY 2006-2007.
There was some discussion initiated by Brian Forst regarding the recruitment and retention of
faculty. Dr. Broder mentioned that course load has been an issue in some instances of
recruitment, but to her knowledge salary has been less of an issue.
Professor Willoughby asked how we are doing in terms of diversity in the faculty. Dr. Broder
mentioned that hiring a highly qualified and diverse group of faculty remains a top priority.
Report of the Chair, Gary Weaver
• The slate of nominations for faculty representatives to the Board of Trustees committees was
approved.
• Brian Forst and Richard Sha are working on reviving The Senator. Professor Forst mentioned
that they see The Senator as a tool with which to reach out to the rest of the faculty and be more
accessible. He added that there will be a fall and spring edition, and possibly a third if a special
topic warrants. There will be a small print version and a longer on-line version. The on-line
version will have summaries and highlights from the committees.
• Professor Weaver mentioned that everything has been moved from the old Faculty Senate
office in the McKinley building to the new office in the Sports Center Annex. Professor Weaver
encouraged everyone to use the Faculty Senate conference room. When the Faculty Senate
assistant is not available, the keys for the office can be obtained from Peggy Eskow in the Office
of the Provost.
• Professor Weaver requested that the Senators provide him with suggestions for the agenda. For
the October agenda, some topics will be the Willoughby four-course load, Dean of Academic
Affairs Haig Mardirosian’s discussion of the multi-year appointments, a talk with Gary
Abramson, Brian Yates may introduce some new IT people, and Sarah Irvine’s report on
eliminating the Advanced Placement exam.
• Professor Weaver stated that there has been some interest in having the committees give reports
at the Faculty Senate meetings to inform everyone of their activities.
• Professor Ahrens is working on a report regarding the evaluation of faculty research
contributions.
• Professor Weaver asked Professor Leap to propose a resolution to form an ad hoc committee on
the strategic plan. After some further discussion, Professor Loesberg came up with language for
the resolution: The Senate resolves to set up a committee to participate in strategic planning.
That committee will be in place by the October meeting of the Faculty Senate, at which time
charge will be defined. This proposal was approved by the Senate.
For the Good of the Order, Gary Weaver
Professor Forst expressed congratulations to the Katzen Center Director, Jack Rasmussen, for
bringing the exhibit of paintings by Fernando Botero on Abu Ghraib to American University this
November.
Professor Douglass read a sense of the Senate resolution: The Faculty Senate extends
enthusiastic expression of congratulations to Neil Kerwin upon his selection to become president
of American University. The Senate recognizes Neil Kerwin as an active scholar, respected
teacher, and proven leader. Thirty-nine years of dedication and service as student, faculty
member, dean, provost, and interim president have given Neil Kerwin unparalleled experience
and knowledge of American University. Whereas the University has progressed substantially in
recent years, thanks in no small measure to Neil Kerwin’s contributions, we the members of the
Faculty Senate resolve to work closely with President Kerwin in continuing to advance the
mission of American University. This resolution was passed.
The meeting adjourned at 4:45.