Villanova University
Minutes of the Rules and Review Committee
October 31, 2013
Present: Jay Strieb, Robert Styer, Selma Koury Wunderlich, Chair, Tom DeMarco,
Allison Venella, David Fiorenza, Aaron Moore, Helen Heron, Secretary
Absent: Steve Fugale (NIA), Rev. Kail Ellis (NIA), Ryan Gatti (NIA),
Yannis Koukounas (NIA),- Ward T. Williams (NIA)
The meeting convened at 12:00 PM
Mrs. Koury Wunderlich opened with a short prayer. She also stated that there will be at
least two meetings each semester lasting one hour.
I.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of 2-22-13 were electronically approved
II. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS
III. UPDATE ON EVALUATION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
o A decision was made to send out the survey in late November due to the fact
that many of the same members will be receiving the Task Force survey in
early November.
o The sub-committee will consist of Ward T. Williams, Chair, Dr. David
Fiorenza, Mr. Aaron Moore and Mr. Yannis Koukounas.
o The Student Life Committee survey will be conducted in the Spring.
IV. REVIEW OF PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR EVALUATIONS FOR STANDING
COMMITTEES
Cycle: At Least Once Every Six Years
Prepared by the 2013-2014 Rules and Review Committee
COMMITTEE
EVALUATION
LAST EVALUATION
NEXT
Rules & Review
2010-2011
2016-2017
Academic Policy
2009-2010
2015-2016
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Mission & Social Justice
2010-2011
2016-2017
Budget
2009-2010
2015-2016
Committee on Faculty
2011-2012
2017-2018
Executive
2013-2014
2019-2020
University Senate
2012-2013
2018-2019
Student Life/Student Government
2013-2014
2019-2020
Athletic Advisory
2011-2012
2013-2014
Note ---The evaluation of the Athletic Advisory Committee dated October 28, 2009
recommended another evaluation by Rules and Review in two years.
V. REPORT TO THE UNIVERSITY SENATE REGARDING MOTIONS FOR
SUSPENSION OF SENATE
Some of the following historical background is from Dr. Robert Styer's notes which you
received at this Senate session.
The Villanova University Senate with its initial Constitution and unique tripartite
representation was established in 1970 by the Board of Trustees. It had a very active
agenda with enthusiastic debate on motions sent up from its committees. By the 1990s, it
was determined that the Constitution needed revision to meet the growing needs of the
faculty and the student body. A committee was formed to revise the Constitution, and in
2000 the Board of Trustees approved the new Constitution. The present Senate is
governed by this revised Constitution of 2000, and any ensuing amendments.
The revised Constitution provided some of the Senate committees with a direct line to
their administrators. This procedure worked so efficiently, that eventually every
committee was given a direct line of communication to the respective administrators to
handle committee concerns, thus eliminating long debates before the Senate. This has
produced a very positive response from the Senate committees as indicated in their
evaluations. As a result of the success of the direct line option, fewer motions were sent
to the Senate. As a result, the full Senate meetings have become merely information
sessions. In addition, in order to increase communication within the University, Father
Peter Donohue, University President, wisely introduced the community forum. However,
this further weakened the perceived value of the Senate presentations.
Beginning in the Fall of 2009 and continuing to the present, the Rules and Review
committee has discussed possible restructuring of the Senate. Various ideas were
presented, including abolishing the Senate. However, a consensus could not be reached.
Restructuring the Senate continued to be considered especially in light of the Middle
States Self-Study recommendations presented at the October 10, 2010 Senate meeting. It
stated that "The University should conduct a formal evaluation of the University Senate
with special attention to structural changes that might improve its functioning".
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On February 14, 2013, the Rules and Review Committee met in a joint session with the
Senate Executive Committee at the request of the R&R Committee. At this meeting, a
two year suspension of the Senate was suggested. The meeting resulted in the two
motions before us, namely:-- Motion #1---The Senate Executive Committee shall appoint a Senate
Reconstitution Task Force to consider various alternatives to the present Senate
and to recommend a revision or replacement for the current University Senate
structure.
 Motion #2---The University Senate shall suspend its regular full Senate meeting
commencing September 2013 until such time as the Senate Reconstitution Task
Force issues a report for its consideration. (The Senate committees will continue
as usual.)
Following are some additional thoughts regarding the Motions if the Senate is
suspended:- Suspension for the suggested two years is a relatively short time. The
Reconstitution Task Force would be in place to do their study as described in
Motion #1.
 During the suspension, the committees would still function, including the
Executive Committee.
 The committees would still have their direct line option to their administrator.
 The committee minutes would be posted online for all to read.
 The Executive Committee will still include the Chairperson of each standing
committee.
 If the Standing committees wish further discussion, in addition to their direct line
option, the Chair of the committee can bring the matter to the Executive
Committee at any time for possible resolution. Currently, at the Executive
Committee meetings, the committee chairs report on the activities of their
committees as part of the Executive Committee agenda.
 If further communication or debate is required, the matter could be discussed at a
Community Forum. The Community Forum venue is already in place at
Villanova.
 During the suspension, the Executive Committee could be considered the
"organized gathering" of committee work.
 Article VIII, Section 1 of the Senate Constitution provides for “The Executive
Committee to act for the University Senate between meetings of the Senate...and
it shall have such powers, functions and duties during periods when the Senate is
not in session..."
Since the Senate Constitution already provides the Executive Committee with the power
to act for the Senate when it is not in session, then probably a governing document would
be not be required. The Executive Committee will continue overseeing the committee
appointments and assignment of issues to the appropriate committee. The Senate
administrative secretary will continue all coordination between committees and the
posting of their minutes online.
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This report is the result of the combined efforts, over the years, of many individuals who
have participated in the numerous phases of the Villanova University Senate. Thank you.
Selma Koury Wunderlich
Chair-Rules and Review Committee
March 15, 2013
Mrs. Wunderlich pointed out that Bob Styer felt that the longer we keep the Senate in
limbo the weaker it will become and it will lose its power. He suggested that the Task
Force deadline, with a recommendation, should be April, 2014.
VI.
REPORT ON SENATE CONSTITUTION TASK FORCE
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Consists of ten people
Two from each constituency
List of twenty-six interviewees
The list has been divided into two parts, consisting of List A and B
Those on List A are being interviewed personally
Those on List B will be sent a written interview conducted by OPIR using
Qualtrics to send out the questions
Reverend Donohue, OSA and Bob Styer have already been interviewed in
person
All information regarding the Task Force interviews can be found on
SharePoint
The Committee has been paired into two people from the Task Force
interviewing two interviewees
If there is anyone on the committee who would like to join in on the
interviews they may do so
The interviewers will take notes and share them with the members of the
committee
The interviews will be completed by December
During the second semester the results will be discussed and analyzed by
the Task Force
The recommendations will be formulated and then presented to the
Executive Committee
Mrs. Wunderlich explained that Bob Styer attended one of the meetings and gave a
brief overview of his suggestions. Bob’s evolution of the Senate can be found on
SharePoint.
The Task Force then met with Father Peter. Father very graciously gave the
committee forty-five minutes in which to discuss their issues. Father remained, in a
sense, non-committal. He stated that he is impressed with the “uniqueness” of the
Senate in that we are a multi-partite body. He would like to see that retained.
However if we can find a something better, he would be open to that as well. Father
was very open to all of the ideas that the committee presented to him. It was also
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suggested to Father about replacing the Senate with his Community Forums.
This interview can also be found on the SharePoint web site.
The following are members of the Senate Reconstitution Task Force:
Mrs. Selma Koury Wunderlich, Chair
Dr. Adele Lindenmeyr
Dr. Craig Wheeland
Dr. Matthew Kerbel
Dr. Lauren Shohet
Mr. Richard Travia
Ms. Cathleen Kolongowski
Ms. Bridget Boston
Mr. Sean Dolan
Mr. Thomas Soussou
VII. NEW BUSINESS
VIII. APPROVAL OF DATE FOR FUTURE MEETING DATES
The next scheduled meeting will be held tentatively on January 27th.
IX.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Helen Heron
Secretary
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