Share:

University Senate action Dec. 2

On Monday, December 2, 2013, University Senate heard reports from:
(1)    Provost Bobby Gempesaw, chair, University Senate.
(2)    Steve Wyatt, chair, Executive Committee of University Senate.
(3)    Cindy Klestinec, interim director, University Honors Program, University Honors Program Restructuring.
    University Senate endorsed the restructuring of the University Honors Program by a sense-of-the-Senate-voice vote.
(4)    Michael Kabbaz, associate vice president for enrollment management, Fall 2014 Enrollment Update.
(5)    Michael Kabbaz, Academic Partnership Committee co-chair, Academic Partnership Committee Update.
(6)    Carolyn Haynes, associate provost, Accreditation Update.


Senate received items on the consent calendar including:
(1)    November 4, 2013, minutes of University Senate, approved via email.
(2)    Curriculum report dated November 20, 2013.
(3)    Minutes of Senate committees.
(4)    Midterm Grades Policy – Miami Policy and Information Manual, Section 10.3.G and Miami Bulletin, Academic Planning.
(5)    Independent Work Policy – Miami Bulletin and the Curriculum and Assessment Handbook.
(6)    Add Drop Course Policy – Student Handbook, Section 1.2.C.1.

With the approval of the Dec. 2, 2013, abbreviated minutes, University Senate endorsed Senate resolutions SR 14-07 and SR 14-08.

SR 14-07
Sense-of-the-Senate Resolution
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that by a sense-of-Senate vote, University Senate supports the repeal of Section 3.19, Drug Testing, Miami University Policy and Information Manual, and that reasonable cause and post-accident drug and alcohol testing may be conducted pursuant to properly adopted work-place rules or a collective bargaining agreement;
3.19 Drug Testing
Miami University is dedicated to providing a safe, healthy, and efficient work place for its employees and for the entire University community.  As a result, Miami University recognizes that one of its most important obligations is to maintain a drug and alcohol-free workplace. Reasonable Cause and Post- Accident drug and alcohol testing may only be conducted pursuant to properly adopted work-place rules or a collective bargaining agreement.  Employees are encouraged to take advantage of the University’s employee assistance program (EAP) for substance abuse issues.
FURTHERMORE, that the repeal will become effective immediately when adopted by the administration.  
SR 14-07 carried by voice vote.

SR 14-08
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that University Senate endorses proposed revisions to the Bylaws of University Senate as set forth below and with the understanding that the intention of the Governance Committee will be to give consideration of a proposal that College of Professional Studies and Applied Sciences (CPSAS) faculty be represented by at least one seat, Hamilton Campus non-CPSAS faculty be represented by at least one seat, and Middletown Campus non-CPSAS faculty be represented by at least one seat:
       Section 1.A.
Members of Faculty Assembly vote in the representational unit to which they are contractually assigned according to their annual letters of appointment.  Each representational unit must be represented by a member of that unit.  Each member of Faculty Assembly whose primary appointment is not to an administrative unit shall be counted as a member of one, and no more than one, representational unit. Faculty Assembly members whose contractual responsibilities are equally divided shall choose with which representational unit they wish to caucus for the purposes of electing Faculty Assembly members to University Senate.  Faculty Assembly members primarily assigned to a/multiple regional campus(es) and who are not part of the College of Professional Studies and Applied Sciences (CPSAS) may caucus either with other non-CPSAS faculty on (one of) their regional campus(es) or with the Oxford-based department or program in which they hold a primary appointment, but not more than one of these.  Faculty Assembly members for whom the above criteria are indecisive shall inform the Election Coordinator of the representational unit in which they shall vote and by which they shall be represented.  Faculty Members whose appointments allow them to choose the location of their representational unit may change units of representation only when redistribution of Faculty Assembly seats on University Senate occurs as specified in Section 1.C. of the Bylaws of University Senate.
       Section 1.B.
The thirty-four (34) seats on University Senate which are to be filled by members of Faculty Assembly who are elected by their representational units shall be distributed as described below. They shall serve three-year terms. Election shall be by majority vote within each representational unit.
       Section 1.F.
Procedures for electing members of Faculty Assembly by majority vote to fill these divisional seats shall be established by each representational unit and shall be acceptable to a majority of Faculty Assembly members in each department or program of a representational unit.
These procedures must include the processes for (1) making nominations; (2) conducting elections; (3) declaring a seat vacant prior to the end of a term; and (4) filling seats vacated prior to the end of a three-year term. Changes to the procedure occasioned by regroupings or changes desired by the representational unit shall be submitted to the Governance Committee for review. The Governance Committee will forward its recommendations to University Senate for approval.  Any member of a representational unit with a concern over unit procedures may notify the Governance Committee and ask for a review.
Whenever two (2) seats must be filled simultaneously by the same representational unit, two separate elections shall be conducted, and each person elected shall be determined by majority vote.
Section 1.G.
The names of those elected shall be reported to the Election Coordinator. These names, along with the names of continuing divisional members of University Senate, are printed in the e-Report (i.e., the daily electronic newsletter of Miami University) or other suitable medium as approved by University Senate).
Section 3.
3.B. The Classified Personnel Advisory Committee shall appoint one (1) classified staff member to University Senate.
3.C. The Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee shall appoint one (1) unclassified staff member to University Senate.
3.D. Procedures for appointing representatives of the Classified Personnel Advisory Committee and the Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee shall be established by each group. These procedures shall include the processes for (1) appointing representatives; (2) declaring a seat vacant prior to the end of a term; and (3) filling seats vacated prior to the end of a term.
SR 14-08 carried by voice vote.

The next meeting of University Senate is scheduled at 3:35 p.m. Jan. 27, 2014, 111 Harrison Hall.
 
Twenty-five members of Faculty Assembly can challenge the resolutions by filing a petition with the Office of the University Secretary during the ten class days after publication in the e-Report.