FACULTY
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Minutes
PRESENT: William Beeman (Chair), Carolyn Dean, Mary
Ann Doane, James Egan, Anne Fausto-Sterling, Constantine Gatsonis, Michael Rosen, John
Savage, Susan Short
GUESTS: Elizabeth Huidekoper, Richard Spies, Martin
Weinstock
Professor
Beeman opened the meeting at
Professor Beeman gave a Chair’s Report. At the November faculty meeting, the faculty voted to eliminate the Nominations Committee and create the Nominations Committee for the Faculty Executive Committee. The faculty also voted on revisions to the FEC charge. There are some committee vacancies that need to be filled soon. The Tenure, Promotion and Appointment Committee (TPA), formerly known as ConFRaT, needs a one-semester replacement for Sheila Blumstein, and the Medical Faculty Executive Committee (MFEC) needs a one-semester replacement for Alan Erickson. Professor Beeman described the distribution requirements for both vacancies and asked that the FEC e-mail their suggestions to him. They have until the February 4 faculty meeting to find nominees for these vacancies. Professor Dennis Hogan, past chair of the Nominations Committee, will be contacting Professor Beeman about other committee replacements.
Dr. Weinstock reported that the MFEC is currently
considering ways of restructuring its committee membership and charge so that the
MFEC can be more involved in major decision-making processes in the
Mr. Richard Spies, Executive Vice President for Planning, was invited to speak with the FEC about the long-term planning process that is designed to help shape the direction of future development. This planning is in the very early stages, a framework from which to develop new ideas, and is currently being “tested” through informal discussion. Investment in academic enterprise is the overall goal for this plan, based on the priorities that President Simmons outlined in her plans for Academic Enrichment last year. These long-term goals will be discussed with the Corporation in February.
A confidential draft document was distributed about the goals for the long-term plan and some cost estimates for what it might take to reach those goals. Mr. Spies is looking for answers to three major questions: (1) Do the goals seem right? (2) Does the scope seem right and is it adequate and focused enough to achieve those goals? (3) Do we have the right pieces in place and in the right balance? He elaborated on some of the ideas for the plan and invited the FEC’s comments and suggestions whereby lengthy discussion ensued. He thanked the FEC for their input and encouraged them to contact him with more feedback.
Ms. Elizabeth Huidekoper, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, was invited to speak about plans for the Organizational Review. The focus has been on the financial situation of the University so far, and she has been meeting regularly with the University Resources Committee. The original budget plan for the next few years is being revisited to some extent because of unexpected, unplanned incremental expenditures and loss of income in certain areas. Ms. Huidekoper has been working on identifying the most critical areas that are under-funded and is trying to find ways to generate resources for those areas. She recently presented to the Administration a list of approximately 70 administrative improvement projects that can be undertaken to offset the incremental expenses and lack of income. There may be a freeze on staff hiring soon to ensure that the budget will be on target this year and the following year.
Beginning in January, Ms. Huidekoper is planning to review the entire administrative organization to see if certain areas need to be reorganized and if the reporting relationships are appropriate. She hopes to complete this project in approximately three months. The goal is to ensure that the administrative departments are organized and situated so that they are contributing effectively to academic and student life goals. The Cabinet has recommended there be a Steering Committee for this review on which four cabinet members will sit. Ms. Huidekoper would like to see a faculty member appointed to the Steering Committee as well. There will also be a Working Group that will meet at least once a week over the three-month period doing the actual reviewing. Recommendations from the Working Group will be made to the Steering Committee who will then forward them to the full Cabinet. In the initial phase of the process, a memo will be sent to people asking them if they want to be interviewed or if there are others they feel should be interviewed. Hopefully, there will be lots of input. Discussion ensued after which Professor Beeman thanked Ms. Huidekoper for attending today’s meeting.
The meeting adjourned at
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl A. Moreau
Secretary