Minutes from the Vanderbilt Faculty Senate’s Feb. 5 meeting are now available online on the Faculty Senate website.
At the Feb. 5 meeting, Vice Chair Rolanda Johnson gave the report of the senate’s Executive Committee. Topics she discussed included the following:
- A progress report on the retirement plan transition;
- Further investigation of the Concur travel system;
- Forming a Faculty Senate task force on university athletics;
- The possibility of providing tuition assistance for dependents of faculty and staff for comprehensive transition programs approved by the Department of Education; and
- The reorganization of Vanderbilt University and Medical Center into separate legal and financial entities. Johnson noted that Jeff Balser, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, was present at the February meeting to discuss the subject further.
Following remarks from Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos, Balser gave his presentation on the reorganization of the university and Medical Center into separate entities and answered questions from the senators.
Under old business, Sen. Joel Harrington presented a motion that all voting among the Faculty Senate become electronic and anonymous, with the exception of voting on routine matters. The motion was first proposed and discussed at the December 2014 meeting. After an electronic vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Under new business, Sen. Brian Heuser presented a motion regarding the creation of a Faculty Senate standing committee to address issues pertaining to the Faculty Manual. (The committee examining Faculty Manual issues previously operated on an ad hoc basis.) Johnson opened the floor for discussion and hearing none, called for a vote. The motion passed unanimously.
Next, Sen. Myrna Wooders presented a motion from the Faculty Manual Ad Hoc Committee regarding the procedure for making amendments or proposed amendments to the Faculty Manual. Following a brief discussion, Johnson called for a vote. The motion passed unanimously.
Under Good of the Senate, a senator commended Chancellor Zeppos for his strong leadership in promoting sexual assault prevention on campus. The senator asked that a future senate meeting revisit what role senators can play in this effort. Provost Susan Wente offered to give a presentation to the Faculty Senate about Vanderbilt’s alcohol policies and any training around this issue.
Read the full February meeting minutes here.
For more information about the senate, upcoming meetings or to find the senators who serve your school, visit the Faculty Senate website.
Contact: Andrea Hewitt, (615) 343-3841
andrea.c.hewitt@vanderbilt.edu