Present: Andrews, Antonucci, Brown, Dick, Drach, Dunkle, Erickson, Faerber, Fisher, Gobetti, Green, Greenberg, Guthrie, Hart, Kalisch, Karr, Marcelo, Merchant, Navvab, Ni, Peterson, Powell, Reisch, Riebesell, Robertson, Rush, Sheil, Watkins, Winger, Yeo

Alternates: Walker

Absent: Alcock, Anderson, Atreya, Bhavnani, Bonner, Boyd, Brophy, Brusati, Burdi, Burns, Clark, Deskins, Harrington, Hills, Jacobsen, Juster, Karni, Karnopp, Ketafian, Lindner, Lubeck, Malkawi, Masson, Mateo, McDonagh, Moseley, Murphey, Papadopoulos, Perfecto, Rocchini, Rosenthal, Savage, Scheiman, Sears, Sedman, Taghaboni, Taylor, Trumpey, Uribe, Vicinus, Ward, Wingrove, Wright, Yakel

MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED

1. Senate Assembly agenda

2. Draft minutes of the Senate Assembly meeting of 22 January 2001

Chair Navvab convened the meeting at 3:25 P.M.

CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF 22 JANUARY 2001

The minutes of 22 January were approved.

ANNOUNCMENTS

Chair Navvab reported that the faculty governance website (www.umich.edu/~sacua/) has experienced up to 8000 visitors every month. He stated that he regarded it as an emerging informational resource for the Senate Assembly and faculty generally.

On 29 January 2001, SACUA conducted elections for its leadership during 2001-2002. Professors Navvab and Gobetti were elected to the positions of chair and vice-chair, respectively.

VISIT OF PRESIDENT BOLLINGER

Chair Navvab introduced President Bollinger and invited him to report about on-going university activities. The president delivered a commentary that included the following points: 

1. At their February meeting, the Regents voted approval for construction of a new residence hall, the first since 1968. The new structure will provide surge space while renovations to existing residence halls proceed over the next decade.

2. The performance of four Shakespearian historical plays by the Royal Shakespeare Company marks the beginning of a partnership. The Company will return to Ann Arbor in 2003 and 2005.

3. The School of Public Policy will expand its presence by hosting a series of visiting scholars.

4. Reports are anticipated from presidential commissions on the undergraduate experience, and on the information revolution. Important questions to be addressed by the latter report are: 

    b. What do we need to teach about information technology?

    c. What should be our role in distance learning and electronic education?

5. The university administration has joined the U-M with Fathom.com as an academic partner. In that capacity the institution has agreed to provide content from faculty at institutional self-expense, but will not share any profits from the venture. Negotiations are underway with Unext.com, an on-line education vendor that started among business schools, but which is now expanding into general education. The university administration recently decided not to participate further in Universitas 21 because of concern about control of content.

6. Arguments were concluded in the Law School trial the previous Friday, and findings from the judge are expected within a month. Appeals are anticipated both for the findings in this case and for the findings in the undergraduate admissions case. The cases may be joined before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals next fall.

7. State appropriations have been good in recent years, and relations with the State Legislature have been positive. As a result it has been possible to limit tuition increases to 3.3% per year as a 4-year average. However, there is now concern about State appropriations this year because tax revenues have declined. Increased tuition rates are probable.

The president concluded his commentary at 4:05 P.M. and invited questions from the Assembly. Professor Gobetti asked President Bollinger to clarify the ruling regarding past admissions policy of the U-M. Bollinger replied that the federal judge ruled that the previous policy was unconstitutional on two points. He added that a possible appeal is under consideration.

Professor Marcelo asked the president to report on the outcome of his meeting with other presidents and provosts at MIT recently regarding the topic of gender inequity among senior faculty ranks. The president reviewed the background to the meeting and said that the U-M administration is in the process of planning a strategy on the subject.

Professor Navvab asked for the source of funding that would be used to upgrade information technology on campus. The president responded that he did not know the answer offhand, but rather he would wait for the report and then make plans.

President Bollinger concluded his remarks by expressing sorrow at the recent passing of faculty chair Jacqueline Lawson. The president left the meeting at 4:17 P.M.

Chair Navvab informed the members of the Assembly that he has recently conducted a review of the main issues considered by the Senate Assembly during the previous five years. He said that his review encountered a paucity of explicit faculty positions on a number of important issues. He expressed an interest in seeing the Assembly develop position statements during his term as chair.

Chair Navvab also pointed out that it will be necessary for the Assembly to consider revision of the current model for Faculty Grievance Procedures, based on information that is coming before SACUA.

REPORT ON PRIVACY

Chair Navvab introduced Professor Margolis, chair of the Civil Liberties Board, at 4:22 P.M. to begin action on the Report from his committee that had been distributed to the Senate Assembly at its January meeting. Professor Margolis in turn introduced professor Larimore, who was chair of the subcommittee that drafted the report. Professor Larimore reviewed the recommendations contained in the report and then invited comments from the Assembly.

Professor Riebesell asked if the recommendations were meant to apply university-wide, or only to the Ann Arbor campus. Professor Larimore replied that the issue had not been discussed within her committee. She said she would relay the issue back to the committee.

Professor Reisch pointed out that the committee recommends the creation of a committee that could conduct investigations. He asked what actions the investigating committee would be authorized to take. Professor Larimore replied that the details still need to be worked out by the policy committee. Professor Marcelo asked if the CLB had information about the extent to which faculty privacy rights were currently being abridged. Professor Larimore responded that she did not know.

Professor Reisch asked why there was need for a new committee and whether Senate Assembly should recommend the creation of a complaint resolution process that duplicates or replaces existing faculty appeals procedures. Larimore replied that the proposed committee could have a view of the entire community, including faculty, staff, and students. Professor Dunkle remarked that there was need for a body outside of local units to which individuals could appeal when their rights were abridged.

ACTION OF SENATE ASSEMBLY 2001-0219-1

Professor Gobetti moved for acceptance of the report of the Civil Liberties Board and agreement to send it forward to the university president. Marcelo seconded. The motion was approved by show of hands.

OLD BUSINESS

Chair Navvab pointed out that the Senate Assembly may be asked to review its past debates about proportions of tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty, and about commercial sponsorship of university programs with an aim of developing position statements.

NEW BUSINESS

Chair Navvab reported that the Vice President and General Counsel will visit with the Assembly in March, and the Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs will visit in April. Navvab invited Assembly members to help develop a slate of questions for each guest by sending suggestions to the faculty governance website.

Navvab also asked that Assembly members consult with associates knowledgeable about Information Technology and report back what safeguards to electronic privacy are currently in practice. The meeting adjourned at 5:02 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

John T. Lehman

Senate Secretary