1
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
Bunn Intercultural Center,
Georgetown
Room 305L University
3700
O Street, N.W.
(Box
(Administrative
Office)
Washington,
DC
20057571057)
1057
Telephone
Telefax:
Email:
WebSite:
(202) 687-7107
(202) 687-8295
davisw@georgetown.edu
http:/facultysenate.georgetown.edu
MINUTES OF THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
Thursday, November 13th, 2014; 4:00PM
Murray Room, Lauinger 5th Floor
(approved, Dec. 17th, 2014)
PRESENT: Abusharaf (by phone), Berlinerblau, Boettcher, Cumby, Danielsen, Davis, De
Fina, Engler, Ernst, Eshkevari, Goldfrank, Groves, Harris (by phone), Hinkson,
Kupke, LaRocque, Leister (by phone), Luta, Moran-Cruz, Natarajan, Pfeiffer,
Pinto, Sadowska, Shaw, Sonbol (by phone), Steenhuisen, J.Turner (sabb, spr
2014), Withy, Young
ABSENT:
Anderko, Arend, Augostini, Benson-Allott, Bloch, Bronstein, Byrne, Celenza,
Cohn, Colie, Diamond, Djakiew, Donoghue, Donohue, Dutton, Ecelbarger,
Evangelista, Federoff, Feinerman, Gillis, Glazer, Hyams, Iglarsh, Kamrad,
Kertesz, Kessler, Kirkpatrick, Lamm, Lieber, Marquez, McCabe, Mezey,
Montgomery, Moore, Morales-Front, Mulroney, O’Connor (sabb, fall 2014), Patel,
Pellathy, Reardon-Anderson, Roshwald, Ross, Salles-Reese, Sandberg, Santos,
Saunders, Sheppard, Singer, Tercyak, Thomas, Treanor, Tsung, S.Turner,
Vroman (sabb, fall 2014), T.Walsh
GUESTS:
Carol Benedict (SFS History Professor and Department Chair), Eilene Feurich
(Director, FSAP), Lisa Krim (Senior Advisor to the President for Faculty Relations)
The meeting was called to order by Wayne Davis, Faculty Senate President at 4:06 p.m.
No one spoke in the open forum.
Update on the Main Campus NTL Framework:
Wayne Davis noted that the “principles” approved by the Senate in May were approved by the
Board of Directors in June. A committee was formed to fill out the implementation of the
principles over the summer. It completed its work on the teaching and practice tracks in time to
be approved by the Main Campus Executive Faculty in September. Work is continuing on the
research track. Adriana Kugler will present a full update in December. The question arose as
to whether the Deans were reviewing salary data to bring low salaries up to acceptable levels.
The Provost’s office indicated that they were working on it.
2
Update on the Adjunct Union Contract
Lisa Krim gave and update on the adjunct union deliberations, process and outcomes. The The
unionized adjunct faculty now has a collective bargaining agreement which will remain in effect
from 10-23-2014 till 6-30-2017. The provision that will require the most adjustment for the Main
Campus concerns “good faith consideration,” which entitles an adjunct to continue teaching a
course under specific circumstances. Main Campus chairs and program directors will receive
guidance and assistance on implementing the terms of the contract.
Presentation of Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
Eileen Fenrich from the office of faculty and staff assistance program presented on this
resource available to all paid employees of the University, both staff and faculty. The services
provided include crisis management, and psychotherapy, and is confidential. Faculty and staff
are encouraged to utilize this resource as needed.
Approval of Minutes
Motion #1: The minutes of October 20th, 2014 were approved with the following votes:
Aye
21
Nay
0
Abstain
2
R&T Confidentiality and Transparency Policy (as of 11/5/14)
As requested by the Senate at the November 13 meeting, the Steering Committee combined the
confidentiality and transparency policies into one policy that would be added to Section III.D.5 of the
Faculty Handbook. This resulted in a revision to numbers 2 and 3 of the confidentiality policy. The
amended language is presented here:
2. After the department/unit vote, the faculty member's department/unit head will share with the
candidate (i) whether or not the department/unit vote was majority positive (the vote tally is not to
be shared); and (ii) when a decision is negative or significantly divided, a designated statement
from the department explaining the rationale for the vote (including strengths as well as
weaknesses) that does not jeopardize the confidentiality of the internal or external reviewers, or
(unless permitted by campus policy) go into the substance of their reviews. The designated
statement must be approved by the voting faculty and appended to the department/unit meeting
minutes. In schools with more than one voting body, the provisions of this paragraph would apply
to all.
3. The President or Executive Vice President (EVP) will share with the candidate the President’s
final decision on rank and/or tenure and upon request will share with the candidate and/or the unit
head the substance of the rationale for the decision without jeopardizing the confidentiality of the
internal or external reviewers.
The full text is appended below.
3
Motion #2 Approved the proposed addition to Faculty Handbook section III.D.5 “Applications
for Tenure and Promotion” as amended:
Aye
21
Nay
1
Abstain
1
Aye
9
Nay
0
Abstain
0
Motion #3: (to adjourn):
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
LE/WAD/jhg
J:\FACULTY_SENATE\AGNDA-MINUTES\MINUTES 2014-2015\SenMin 11-13-14 (approved 12-17-14).docx
4
Proposed Amendment to Faculty Handbook, Section III.D.5 “Applications for Tenure and
Promotion”
The entire process during which specific individuals are discussed and evaluated for rank and tenure is to be
held in strict confidence by all participants. The University takes extensive measures to protect the
confidentiality of the sources of information and evaluations used in these proceedings. The opinions
expressed in discussions by the school or unit faculty or by internal or external reviewers shall not be shared
with parties outside the official internal process. Any breach of these confidences by a participant in the rank
and/or tenure process or failure to safeguard rank and tenure materials shall be considered to be a serious
violation of the faculty member's responsibilities under this Faculty Handbook.
While maintaining this commitment to strict confidentiality, the University recognizes that faculty benefit
from feedback at critical stages in the process.
1.
If expressly permitted by campus policy, prior to the department/unit vote a summary of the
substance of the outside reviews may be shared with the candidate and the candidate given the
opportunity to address any relevant criticisms in those reviews. Sharing the substance of outside
reviews is permitted only to the extent that such sharing does not jeopardize the confidentiality of the
source’s identity. All candidates within the campus shall be given the same opportunity.
2.
After the department/unit vote, the faculty member's department/unit head will share with the
candidate (i) whether or not the department/unit vote was majority positive (the vote tally is not to be
shared); and (ii) when a decision is negative or significantly divided, a designated statement from the
department explaining the rationale for the vote (including strengths as well as weaknesses) that does
not jeopardize the confidentiality of the internal or external reviewers, or (unless permitted by campus
policy) go into the substance of their reviews. The designated statement must be approved by the
voting faculty and appended to the department/unit meeting minutes. In schools with more than one
voting body, the provisions of this paragraph would apply to all.
3.
The President or Executive Vice President (EVP) will share with the candidate the President’s final
decision on rank and/or tenure and will share with the candidate and/or the unit head the substance of
the rationale for the decision upon request.
Notwithstanding the above, if there is an allegation of a breach or violation of the process or University
policy, properly authorized University officials may review the rank and tenure process and all information
related to the process.