Executive Committee Minutes

02/03/2016 03:30 PM - Peabody Boardroom, Administration Building
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The University Council Executive Committee met on February 3, 2016 in the Administration Building's Peabody Boardroom. A quorum being present, Chair David Shipley called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Standing committee chairs of the University Council in attendance to present action and information items were William Vencill of the University Curriculum Committee, Brenda Keen of the Human Resources Committee, and Silvia Giraudo of the Committee on Statutes, Bylaws, and Committees. Guests to the meeting included Ron Balthazor, Sarah Covert, John Drake, John Gittleman, Aaron Hale, Steve Holloway, Kathryn Huller, Kevin Kirsche, Fiona Liken, John Miller, Lauren Mullenbach, Kathy Pharr, Lakshmish Ramaswamy, Fausto Sarmiento, Audrey Shinner, Rahul Shrivastav, Thiab Taha, Matt Wells, and Amber Wilkerson.

  1. The minutes of the November 4, 2015 meeting were approved as distributed.
  2. Action Items:
    1. Proposals from the University Curriculum Committee:
      1. Proposal for a new dual degree in Crop and Soil Sciences (M.S.) with an Area of Emphasis in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Georgia and Sustainable Agriculture (M.S.) from the University of Padova, Italy. Following a brief discussion, a vote was called and the proposal was approved to be placed on the February 17, 2016 University Council agenda.
      2. Proposal for a new Undergraduate Certificate in Urban and Metropolitan Studies. After a brief discussion, a vote was called and the proposal was approved to be placed on the February 17, 2016 University Council agenda.
      3. Proposal for a new Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Certificate in Sustainability. A vote was called and the proposal was approved to be placed on the February 17, 2016 University Council agenda.
      4. Proposal for a new Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Certificate in Applied Data Science. A discussion on this item specifically involving the use of the term "interdisciplinary" in the name of the proposal occurred. It was clarified that the name of the certificate would only be listed as "Applied Data Science." A vote was called and the proposal was approved to be placed on the February 17, 2016 University Council agenda.
      5. Proposal to revise Academic Affairs Policy 2.02-6, Foreign Language Placement Tests, Exemption and Credit for Undergraduate Students. A vote was called and the proposal was approved to be placed on the February 17, 2016 University Council agenda.
      6. Proposal to change the name of the existing Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes to the Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases. A discussion occurred regarding the proposal, specifically as to whether or not the proposal goes beyond a name change and actually concerns a change in the focus and mission of the center. There was also a discussion regarding the lack of supporting documentation for the name change from two centers/institutes on campus affected by the proposal. A motion was made to send the proposal back to the Curriculum Committee for further consideration. The motion was seconded, a vote was called, and the Executive Committee approved sending the proposal back to the Curriculum Committee.
    2. Proposal from the Human Resources Committee:
      1. Proposal to request that the University System of Georgia study and offer tuition assistance benefits to spouses and dependents of system employees. Following a brief discussion over the intent of the proposal, a vote was called and the proposal was approved to be placed on the February 17, 2016 University Council agenda.
  3. Information Item:
    1. From the Committee on Statutes, Bylaws, and Committees:
      1. Second Reading: Proposal for amendments to the University Council Bylaws and the University Statutes. This second reading of proposed changes to the Bylaws and the Statutes will appear on the February 17, 2016 University Council agenda for a second required vote by the Council.
  4. There was no old business to come before the Committee.
  5. New Business:
    1. Professor Shipley reiterated that two volunteers are still needed for the Faculty/Staff Parking Appeals Committee and that one volunteer is needed for a vacancy on the Faculty Grievance Committee.
    2. Professor Shipley informed the Executive Committee of a change to the membership of the Strategic Planning Committee. In December, chair Malcolm Adams informed Professor Shipley that due to Jerry Legge’s retirement from the University as Associate Provost for Academic Planning, a spot was open in the Strategic Planning Committee’s membership because the role of Associate Provost for Academic Planning is an ex-officio member of the committee.  Dr. Adams reached out for guidance on how to handle filling this vacancy.  It was agreed by all parties involved, including Dr. Legge, that Vice Provost Russ Mumper will serve on the committee as Dr. Legge’s proxy until a time in the future in which the Bylaws can be modified to make the Vice Provost the ex-officio member of the committee.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:54 p.m.


Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Jan Hathcote, Registrar
Secretary to University Council

Executive Committee Members Present
Laura Bierema
Barbara Biesecker
Rose Chepyator-Thomson
Alan Covich
Stephan Durham
Melissa Freeman
Janet Frick
Silvia Giraudo
Jeong-Yeob Han
Jan Hathcote
Lettie Lockhart
Henry Munneke
Scott Pegan
David Shipley
Ashley Steffens
Beth Tobin
Pamela Whitten

Executive Committee Members Represented by Proxy
Michael Lewis (Marie Mize)
Luke Naeher (Travis Glenn)


If you require these minutes in an alternative format, please email Neal Lawson at neal@uga.edu.