University Council Minutes
03/21/2018 03:30 PM - Tate Theatre, Tate Student Center
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The University Council met on March 21, 2018 in the Tate Theatre. A quorum being present, President Jere Morehead called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
As the first item of business, the
minutes of the November 29, 2017 meeting were approved as distributed.
President Morehead then delivered the following report to the Council:
- The President opened the meeting by stating he hoped Council members enjoyed Spring Break and are now ready for the final weeks of the semester.
- On March 20, the President presented the fiscal year 2019 budget in Atlanta to the University System of Georgia. The President stated that he continuous to advocate for a merit-based salary raise pool again this year. The President stated he firmly believes that steady salary increases are critical to the future health of the University and that he will continue to make that case in the coming weeks. Elsewhere on the budget, the University continues to discuss with legislative leaders the importance of the construction of a new STEM research facility on the UGA campus. The President stated he is grateful to Governor Deal for his support of this facility.
- The President stated that he shares the concerns that faculty, staff, and retirees have over the uncertainty of the negotiations that have been on-going between Blue Cross Blue Shield and Piedmont Healthcare. As recently as March 20, the President informed the Council that he was in communication with the leadership at Piedmont in Athens and expressed the University's concern for the well-being of the University's faculty and staff. Governor Deal has weighed in on the issue with a letter that he has sent to the CEOs of both companies. The President quoted the letter, stating that "An out of network situation will create an enormous network disruption especially in the Atlanta and Athens areas, and we will take whatever steps necessary to ensure that our employees can maintain their healthcare providers of choice." Governor Deal went on to write that he expected the negotiations to be conducted in good faith and around the clock to ensure there is no disruption in service. The President stated that the letter was an important development in the negotiations and that he hoped for a positive resolution before the deadline of April 1. The UGA Office of Human Resources has made faculty, staff, and retirees aware of this situation through two emails that have so far been sent and will continue to provide updates as they occur. The President again stressed that UGA expects both of the companies to put the needs of their clients first and reach a resolution that serves everyone's best interest.
- Offers of admission have been extended to the remaining members of the fall 2018 entering class. Based on their credentials, as of August 2018 UGA will have admitted its most academically qualified class ever for the sixth consecutive year. A record high number of applications, nearly 26,500, were received, and for the first time ever more students were denied than admitted. The University is also striving to recruit a diverse class. Last week, 70 UGA students devoted time over Spring Break participating in Road Dawgs, an organization that focuses on recruiting students from underrepresented groups across the state of Georgia. The President expressed gratitude to the students who participated in the program this year. The trip was coordinated by Vice Provost Michelle Cook, Arthur Tripp from the Office of the President, and Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions Patrick Winter. The President stated that he looks forward to continuing recruitment efforts as the May 1 deadline approaches when high school students will make their decision on where they will attend college.
- The President commended the members of the Executive Committee for Environmental Health Safety that was chaired by Vice Provost Russ Mumper for their adoption of UGA's first environmental health safety management system manual, which is now available online. The President stated that the University is committed to protecting the environment and ensuring the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
- In December 2017, the President accepted the report of the President's Task Force on Student Learning and Success. This group was chaired by Vice Presidents Rahul Shrivastav and Victor Wilson. The group presented 12 recommendations to enhance the learning experience for students both inside and outside the classroom. Action has already been taken on virtually all of the recommendations. For example, faculty committees are underway that are actively reviewing ways to place greater emphasis on writing and data literacy in the curriculum as well as to infuse more active learning in the classroom. A call has been issued to deans seeking proposals for classrooms that are the best first candidates for transformation into active learning spaces. A new summer institute has been established to support faculty who are interested in incorporating active learning strategies into their classes. A first year council has been launched to coordinate and enhance the many programs and services that are offered for students as they transition from high school to college. Another group has been formed to find ways to better support transfer students. The President has established a completion grants program to provide small grants, up to $2,000, for students at risk that are facing severe financial hardship as they approach graduation. The President has also charged a new presidential task force to develop a long term strategic vision for an innovation district to expand the University's reach in the area of further bringing research to the marketplace. This taskforce is co-chaired by Vice President for Research David Lee and Vice President for Government Relations Griff Doyle. Another working group chaired by Vice President for Public Service and Outreach Jennifer Frum is developing a proposal for a University-wide initiative that will explore the grand challenges of our time. The President commended all of the groups and individuals working on behalf of the University.
- Before closing his remarks, the President commended the UGA women's track and field team for earning the first national championship in this sport for the University. The President congratulated Coach Petros Kyprianou, Athletic Director Greg McGarity, and the outstanding student athletes on the team.
- This concluded the President's report to the Council.
The floor was then opened for the following standing committee reports:
The following Action Items were presented to the Council for consideration:
- Chair Alison Alexander presented the following proposals from the University Curriculum Committee:
- Chair David Shipley presented the following proposals from the Committee on Statutes, Bylaws, and Committees:
- First Reading: Proposal for revisions to the University Council bylaws, part 1. An extensive discussion on the proposal occurred among members of the Council, specifically regarding the proposed changes in membership to the Faculty Affairs Committee to include non-tenure track faculty during which several Council members spoke both in support and in opposition to the proposed revisions. A motion was made to divide the question and discuss the Faculty Affairs Committee's proposed membership as a separate item from the changes to the other committee's memberships found in the proposal. The motion was seconded. Debate on the motion occurred. With discussion concluding, a vote was called and the motion passed, dividing the proposal into two separate items. After a brief discussion on the first proposal, which included all of the changes in the proposal except for those involving the Faculty Affairs Committee, a vote was called and the proposal was approved. The proposal will appear on the April 25, 2018 University Council agenda for a second required reading. A discussion then occurred on the proposal involving the Faculty Affairs Committee. A motion was made to send the proposal back to the Statutes and Bylaws Committee for further consideration. The motion was seconded and discussed. Following discussion, a vote was called and the motion was defeated. A motion was subsequently made to remove the text regarding adding three non-tenure track faculty from the VP units to the committee's membership and retain the other changes in the proposal. The motion was seconded. Debate on the motion occurred, and a vote was called in which the motion was defeated. With discussion concluding, a motion was made to send the proposal back to the Statutes and Bylaws Committee for further consideration which was seconded. A vote was called and the motion was approved, sending the proposal back to the Statutes and Bylaws Committee.
- First Reading: Proposal for revisions to the University Council bylaws, part 2. Two proposals comprised the action item, and both proposals were voted on separately by the Council. Regarding the first proposal involving a revision to the Educational Affairs Committee's duties concerning the academic calendar, a vote was called and the proposal was approved. This proposal will appear on the April 25, 2018 University Council agenda for a second required reading. The second proposal, involving the proposed inclusion of language to the bylaws specifying that faculty members must be full-time in order to serve as members of the University Council and its standing committees, generated discussion among Council members. Discussion included what constitutes a "full-time" faculty member and what the different categories of faculty are at the University. Following discussion, a vote was called and the proposal was defeated.
- There was no old business to come before the Council.
- New Business:
- A motion was made to add to the agenda a resolution endorsing a statement from the UGA Human Resources Committee regarding the situation between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and Piedmont Healthcare. The motion was seconded. A vote was called and the motion was approved, adding the item to the agenda. A vote was then called and the resolution was approved by the Council.
There being no further new business, the meeting adjourned at 5:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Fiona Liken, Registrar
Secretary to University Council
| University Council Roster |
| Adams, Malcolm |
Jarrett, Carla |
Parks, Andrew |
| Ahern, Christine |
Joye, Samantha |
Peake, Jason |
| Auer, Matthew |
Katz, Laura |
Pegan, Scott |
| Biesecker, Barbara |
Kavoori, Andy |
Prentiss, Amber |
| Birch, Suzanne |
Keen, Cameron |
Rhicard, Laura |
| Black, Joel |
Kelley, Laura |
Richards, Patricia |
| Bousquette, Joshua |
Kerner, Kelly |
Rizer, Jasmine |
| Bray, John |
Kong, Fanbin |
Robinson, Eric |
| Briggs, Harold |
Kostovetsky, Kathryn |
Rosemond, Amy |
| Brock Caroline |
Krause, George |
Roulston, Kathy |
| Brooks, Kay |
Lastinger, Matt |
Saleh, Eman |
| Burke, Kevin |
Leigh, David |
Santesso, Esra |
| Camus, Al |
Lewis, Denise |
Sawhill, Ronald |
| Cheypyator-Thomson, Rose |
Lewis, Michael |
Scheyett, Anna |
| Cona, Kelly |
Lewis, Steven |
Schuttler, Heinz-Bernd |
| Coverdill, Jim |
Li, Ke |
Schwanenflugel, Paula |
| Dahlen, Joseph |
Liggett, Sharon |
Shaffer, Anne |
| Dellaria, Nancy |
Liken, Fiona |
Shepherd, Shelley |
| DeMaria, Don |
Little, Elizabeth |
Shetterley, Karen |
| Doran-Peterson, Joy |
Magnan, Nicholas |
Shipley, David |
| Dorsey, Alan |
Malone, Barrett |
Shrivastav, Rahul |
| Dougherty, Anjali |
Mao, Leidong |
Siry, Jacek |
| Dove, Robert |
Marotta, Anthony |
Slater, Elizabeth |
| Durham, Stephan |
Masciadri, Milton |
Smith, Amanda |
| Edwards, Claire |
Mattern, Susan |
Snyder, Margaret |
| Epstein, Kira |
Matthews, Paul |
Spangler, Denise |
| Ernst, Erin |
McDonald, Bill |
Steele, Jada |
| Evans, Jonathan |
Medeiros, Patricia |
Sumner, Maxwell |
| Farmerk, Mark |
Michaelis, Vicki |
Sweigart, Andrea |
| Felt, Anderson |
Miller, Deborah |
Taha, Thiab |
| Fresk, Kara |
Miller, Shari |
Turry, Reed |
| Frum, Jennifer |
Moore, Mary |
Villari, Caterina |
| Funk, Shelby |
Moore, Myra |
Vining, Richard |
| Gabara, Rachel |
Morehead, Jere |
Viveiros, Maria |
| Gaver, Jenny |
Munneke, Henry |
von Waldner, Trina |
| Greene, Erik |
Muszynski, Artur |
Weeks Leonard, Elizabeth |
| Hamstead, Griffin |
Myrna, Kate |
Whitman, William |
| Han, Jeong-Yeob |
Nesbit, Scott |
Whitten, Pamela |
| Harman, Ruth |
Nibbelink, Nate |
Wilhelm, Teena |
| Herist, Keith |
Nimkar, Santosh |
Williams, Jennifer |
| Holmes, Callie |
Nolan, Lisa |
Williams, Phillip |
| Hoyt, Rob |
Okech, David |
Williams, Susan |
| Jackson, David |
Oliver, Kerry |
Wilson, Mark |
| Jackson, Stan |
Owsiak, Andy |
Zheng, George |
| Jarrett, Carla |
Parker, Kevin |
Øie, Svein |
| |
Represented by Proxy
Barbour, Suzanne |
| Bierema, Laura |
| Cabrera, Miguel |
| Chatterjee, Santanu |
| Davis, Charles |
| Diaz-Perez, Juan Carlos |
| Graham, Toby |
| Greene, Dale |
| Grey, Timothy |
| Hill, Janette |
| Ivy, Stuart |
| James, Kevin |
| Mandal, Abhyuday |
| Medlin, Sayge |
| Naghepour, Roya |
| Nesbit, Ryan |
| Nuss, Michelle |
| Pardue, Samuel |
| Patel, Reema |
| Tompkins, Mark |
| Wilson, Victor |
| |
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