Academic Senate
Minutes from September 18,1996

The meeting was called to order at 2:46 p.m. by Senate President, Erwin Chemerinsky. He welcomed the Senate members to the first Senate meeting of the 1996/1997 academic year.

The minutes for the May 1996 Senate meeting were approved as presented.

Professor Chemerinsky advised members of Executive Board actions during the summer. He stated that the Board met regularly, and their work included:

A. Senate Retreat Plans
B. Nominating Committee Chairpersons
C. Discussions re: The Grievance Process and the Tenure and Privileges Appeals Committee

In keeping with the requirement as stipulated in the Faculty Handbook, the Academic Senate officers were declared as installed in their respective offices for the 1996/1997 academic year. E. Chemerinsky announced the elected members of the Executive Board for 1996-1997:

He advised that Jean Keene continues to serve as Director of Senate Faculty Services, and that there may be an invited member added to the board. In addition, the Editor of the Academic Senate Forum, the Senate Newsletter, serves on the Board.

Provost Armstrong presented a bronze University of Southern California medallion to Tu-Nan Chang in recognition of his two years of outstanding performance as Senate President. Provost Armstrong noted the dedication with which Professor Chang had served his colleagues. The Provost said that Tu-Nan Chang was an extremely effective leader during his service, and that both Professors Chang, and Joseph Aoun who preceded him as Senate President, are both first-class scholars. Provost Armstrong said that their standing as scholars epitomizes in many ways, the vision of outstanding faculty at this University. The Provost said that the Senate will continue to have the highest quality leadership with Professor Chemerinsky, the 1996/1997 Senate President, who brings to the job a reputation of outstanding academic excellence, and university citizenship, which the Provost believed would continue to move the Senate forward in effectiveness in helping to advance the University to the next level of excellence.

Professor Chang accepted the medallion, and said that he was happy to devote two years to his faculty colleagues through his Senate service, but laughed as he advised that two years was quite enough, and that he was looking forward to returning to his physics interests with full vigor.

The Provost gave his report to the Senate members. He stated that he had just returned from an AAU Provost's meeting. He advised that throughout discussions at this meeting a single theme was addressed -- that of faculty governance. The Provost said that faculty governance will play a very significant role in a university only when the very best faculty take part. He encouraged the Senate members, and the Senate President to seek the very best faculty to participate in the Senate and in the Faculty Councils.

The Provost said there is another area where the Senate can play a major role. He said the really hard part in moving forward in excellence is having the faculty themselves move the University forward. The faculty must be prepared to do difficult things in order to increase the excellence of the whole. He continued by saying that faculty must be willing to work closely with other faculty members and keep all faculty aware of the levels of scholarship and research that are acceptable. He said that faculty peer input is important -- both praise and pressure -- in moving a department, a school, a university forward to greater excellence. The Provost said that the Strategic Plan calls for our making advances in our interactions with the community around us through the efforts of our faculty, students and staff. He said that if there are actions which are counterproductive, that peers must make it known, and the individual is to be encouraged to make appropriate changes and to strive for excellence. He said that it is important that faculty apply the pressure to make excellence happen -- no dean, no administrator can make it happen -- but the faculty, as a group, can. Peer-pressure can be positive peer-pressure to produce positive excellence.

President Chemerinsky thanked Provost Armstrong on behalf of the Senate for his inspiring words and for his challenge to excellence. Professor Chemerinsky said that he, and he is sure the Senate members, are determined to work with the Provost to help the University in reaching those goals.

Resolution 96/97-01, Humane Approaches to Adverse Employment Actions, was presented to the Senate. Following discussion, and the incorporation of friendly amendments, the motion was passed by voice vote with one abstention. The full text of the resolution will be published in the Academic Senate Forum. The action elements of the resolution call for the University to make available appropriate assistance and counseling when adverse employee actions are taken. It states that in appropriate circumstances, the University should make available career counseling for those for whom it might be useful. The test urges the University and all of its departments and schools to take steps to implement the resolution immediately.

Resolution 96/97-02, Faculty Tenure and Privileges Appeals Committee, was presented to the Senate, including a brief history of actions leading to the development of the motion. Following discussion, the motion was passed by voice vote with no abstentions.

Professor Chemerinsky said he will transmit the passed resolutions to the Office of the Provost.

President Chemerinsky called for discussion on the topic of Ethical Standards for Faculty Members. Following discussion, the motion was made to create an Academic Senate Task Force to draft a minimum set of ethical principles for faculty members. The motion was assigned the log number Resolution 96/97-03, Creation of Task Force on Ethical Standards for Faculty Members. The motion passed with no abstentions.

The meeting was adiourned at 4:30 p.m.