President’s Remarks

 

CCSU Faculty Senate

September 12, 2005

 

I.  Welcome

As a member of the faculty senate you play and important role in the governance of this university.  The Senate Constitution reads

2.2. The Faculty Senate has decision-making authority in such areas as curriculum matters, degree requirements, scholastic standards, academic freedom, admission policies, and student behavior.

2.3. The Faculty Senate serves in an advisory capacity in the appointment of administrative officers, budget and planning matters, university organizational structure, promotion and tenure policy, and in other matters affecting the educational quality and mission of the university.

2.4. The Faculty Senate is the sole legislative body representing the faculty. Therefore, all of the University's Standing Committees shall report directly to the Faculty Senate.

I intend in my remarks today to discuss our Constitution and By-laws, elections of officers and committees, and the rules for parliamentary procedure.

 

II.  Constitution and By-laws are the fundamental documents that govern our procedures.  I urge all senators, especially those who are serving for the first time to study them.  They are available on the web site.  These were both revised last spring.

 

The Senate is the sole authority for amending the by-laws.  The changes in the Constitution must be approved by a majority vote of the faculty and by the President.  Last spring a majority of faculty approved the new constitution.  Our incoming president Jack Miller concurred except for the second sentences in sections 3.9 and 3.10 regarding released time for the Vice President and Secretary, and issue he wishes to defer pending a full analysis of the use of faculty release time.

 

III.  Officers:  Pres and VP were elected in Fall 2004 for  two year terms.  New constitution provides for our replacements to be elected in Spring 2006.

 

Secretary was elected Fall 2004 for a one year term.  New constitution provides for his replacement to be elected in the Spring.  However, since the constitution was not in effect at our last meeting in Spring 2005, that election will be held today.

 

Once a secretary has been chosen, it will be my responsibility under Section 2.6.1 of the by-laws to appoint a steering committee.  I will present my nominations for your approval at our next meeting.

                                                                                                              

IV.   Committees

 

Elections committee:  By-laws specify that it be elected at this meeting.

2.1.1 The first order of business of each initial fall meeting (September 12) of the Faculty Senate shall be the election of the members of the Elections Committee. Nominations shall be made from the floor and seconded. Election shall be by a majority of the Senators present and voting.

The Elections Committee shall make nominations for all vacant positions on other elected committees at the next regular Senate meeting. (September 26).  All faculty members shall be asked by the President of the Senate to indicate their committee preferences at the beginning of each fall semester.

Vacant positions to be voted on September 26

2.6.3. The Committee on Committees shall consist of three Senators elected by the Senate annually to review and keep up-to-date the committees of the Senate and the Functions and Responsibilities of Standing Committees of the Faculty.   

2.6.4. The Committee on Appointments and Personnel shall consist of three Senators elected by the Senate annually.

2.6.5. The Committee on Constitution and By-Laws shall consist of the Parliamentarian and two Senators elected annually.

2.6.6. The Committee on Academic Freedom shall consist of three Senators elected annually and shall review and report to the Senate all matters involving academic freedom within the University, advise and consult with the faculty and administration on issues of academic freedom and promote an awareness of these issues throughout the University community. (new) 

2.8.1. Standing Committees of the Faculty with Members Elected by the Senate

The Elections Committee shall solicit nominations, shall determine indications of willingness to serve, and shall conduct elections in the Senate for the following Standing Committees of the Faculty: 

                        Committee on Academic Integrity (new) 

                        Committee on Diversity (new) 

There are other committees mentioned in Section 2.8.1, but they were all elected last spring by the entire faculty.

 

V.  Robert’s Rules of Order as applied to the CCSU Faculty Senate

 

a.  First and foremost we recognize why we follow Robert’s Rules of Order:

 

to protect the rights of all members

to protect the rights of the majority to decide

to protect the right of every member to be heard

to promote full and fair discussion

to promote fairness and the treatment of all members with respect

 

b.   We expect all members to be conversant with the basic principles of parliamentary procedure, however

 

*  We don’t expect everyone to read all 643 pages of the current 2000 edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (RONR).  Note:  this compares with 301 pages in the 1951 edition.

*  We don’t make a fetish out of crossing every t and dotting every I (e.g. we don’t ask members to stand when taking votes or insist that the chair refer to himself in the third person)

*   No member should feel inhibited from speaking up and fully participating in debate simply because other members appear to exhibit superior knowledge of Robert’s rules.

 

c.  In retrospect, there was too much business to consider at the May 16, 2005, meeting.  As a result the meeting was too long and consideration of many issues too rushed.  As president I pledge to avoid any business except approval of graduates at the last meeting of this academic year.  This will require more careful planning on the part of the steering committee and an insistence that all committees submit reports in a timely manner.

 

d.  A controversy arose following the May 16 meeting regarding the minutes prepared by the secretary.  This body will have the opportunity to correct and approve the minutes of the May 16, 2005.  However, because a quarterly time interval has elapsed and there has been a change in the membership of this body, RONR states that “the executive board or a committee appointed for the purpose should be authorized to approve the minutes.”  (Section 48, p. 457, 2000 edition).  The Senate was remiss in not authorizing such a committee to approve the minutes.  I recommend that the by-laws be amended to allow for the Steering Committee to exercise this authority with respect to end-of-year meetings in the future.

 

e.  The controversy surrounding the minutes was carried on via email for a period of about a month following the May 16, 2005 meeting.  In my opinion the real reason for the controversy was the substance of the motions passed at the meeting, on which there had been division within the body, not the form in which the minutes were reported.   I believe it is natural that issues of a controversial nature will be discussed even after a vote is taken. Unfortunately the contribution of several senators in this discussion included attacks of a personal nature on other senators.  I urge members of the Senate to abide by the provisions of the subsection on Decorum in Debate (Article 43, pages 379-382) both on and off the floor of the senate.  The principle as enunciated in RONR (page 380) is that “the measure, not the member, is the subject of debate.”  That same section also places a responsibility on the chair to maintain civility.  It states, “The moment the chair hears such words as ‘fraud,’ ‘liar,’ or ‘lie’ used about a member in debate, he must act immediately and decisively to correct the matter and prevent its repetition.” (p. 380)  If it becomes necessary, I will do so.

 

Email can be both a blessing and a curse.  For several years now I have pondered why it has become a medium that has led to the deterioration rather than the improvement of public discourse.  At times I have been tempted to hit the reply button without pausing to thing carefully about both the content of my response and the tone.  I would like to encourage all of us, as elected leaders of the faculty, to set an example for the rest of the campus.  May our discussion on the list serve be lively and controversial, but always respectful of each other.

 

VI.  Reporting requirements

 

I have asked the secretary to prepare a report of all bills and resolutions passed by the Senate during the 2004-05 academic year.  In accordance with section 2.3.1 of the by-laws I am directing that this report be appended to the minutes of today’s meeting.

 

VII.   Conclusion

 

This promises to be an exciting year with many important decisions ahead.  Again I welcome you and thank you in advance for your agreement to serve on the Senate and your dedication to the advancement of CCSU.

 

 

Tim Craine

9/12/05