BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
FACULTY SENATE
Minutes of the Third Meeting
3 November 2005
The Faculty Senate held its third meeting at 3:00 p.m., 3 November 2005, in the Volen Center
Conference Room. Senators present: Marc Brettler, Bulbul Chakraborty, Jon Chilingerian,
William Flesch, Richard Gaskins, Ira Gessel, Jane Hale, Jytte Klausen, Margie Lachman, Harry
Mairson (Chair), Robert Moody, Laura Quinney, Leonard Muellner, Aida Yuen Wong. Senators
absent: Stephen Cecchetti, Richard Parmentier.
Professor Robert Moody was elected to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Professor
Richard Parmentier from the Senate Council.
Provost Marty Krauss met with the Senate to discuss her decision to offer tenured positions to two
contract faculty members, without an open search, pending an ad hoc review. After the Provost
left the meeting, the Senate heard from Professor Bulbul Chakraborty, Chair of the Faculty
Committee on Rights and Responsibilities. She summarized the Committee’s response to related
procedural questions posed by the Senate at its meeting of September 29. (Please see attachment
for the Committee’s report to the Senate.)
The Senate deliberated both on the information provided by the Provost, and the procedural
matters regarding tenure detailed in the Faculty Handbook. The Faculty Handbook words were
recalled that “The Provost is the chief academic officer of the University and has responsibility,
under the President, for implementing academic policy for the University in accordance with the
provisions of this Handbook.” (p. 7)
After thorough discussion, the Senate approved the following statement:
The Faculty Senate met with the Provost to discuss the exigent circumstances under which two
contract faculty members are being considered, without a national search, for tenured positions.
After having also queried the Faculty Committee on Rights and Responsibilities, we believe that
the Provost’s decision contravenes the Faculty Handbook.
We discussed the establishment of mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of this situation. We also
agreed to send the Provost a detailed letter clarifying our position.
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The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.