Institutional Planning Committee
November 16, 2007
Minutes
Michael G. Noll called the meeting to order at 8:40am. Attending were Linda Bennett Elder, Kristina Cragg, Bobby Flowers, Arlene Haddon, Louis Levy, Fred Ware, and Vesta Whisler.
Dr. Noll provided the committee with an update on recent discussions at the University Council (October 30), the Executive Committee (November 1), the Faculty Senate (November 15), and on continuing discussions with VSU’s Web Board regarding the new VSU web sites and web templates (see attachment). In regard to the University Council meeting, particularly the update by Dr. Zaccari on the construction of the new Student Union was mentioned, plus the enrollment management discussion by Walter Peacock. In regard to the Executive Committee meeting, the focus was on a presentation by Jim Black regarding the introduction of a USG hotline by which issues of fraud, waste, and other concerns relevant to any USG institution can be reported by phone.
In regard to a discussion at the Faculty Senate meeting of November 15 (referring to the minutes of the October 18 meeting) the issue was brought up as to the existing relationship between the University Council and the Faculty Senate (including its committees). Among other things, on October 18 the Faculty Senate was informed that the IPC is in the process of revising its by-laws. In this context it was stated by the Executive Secretary (and later reported in the minutes) that “anything the IPC suggests must be approved by the Faculty Senate and [the] University Council”. After some discussion the IPC concluded that this statement is incorrect. According to the VSU Statutes, the IPC is clearly obligated to present any recommendations and formulate any policies in accordance with its by-laws and for approval by the Faculty Senate, but the same relationship does not apply to the University Council.
As the University Council states on its own website: “The University Council will serve as an information conduit …. The University Council will not usurp the authority or decision-making power of existing groups such as [the] Faculty Senate, the Council on Staff Affairs and the Student Government Association. The purpose of the Council is to empower those groups by creating collaborative discussions that refine ideas and by generating partnerships that can move those ideas to implementation.” Moreover, Dr. Zaccari has repeatedly and unequivocally stressed the purpose of the University Council as an information conduit, and not a decision or policy making body. Thus, while any recommendations and formulations made by the IPC (or other committees of the Faculty Senate) will certainly benefit from an open discussion at the University Council, its decisions or recommendations must only be approved by the Faculty Senate.
Under “Other Issues” of the IPC’s agenda, Dr. Ware suggested
that the IPC immediately volunteer its resources to assist in the vital
transition from Dr. Zaccari’s presidency to that of a
new university president. Dr. Levy explained that the search process has
changed considerably in the last few years and that VSU representatives
(faculty, staff, and students) will now be members of a larger search committee
that will include several University System of Georgia Regents
(BOR) and others, e.g., alumni, VSU Foundation personnel, and local business
and community leaders. Applications,
nominations, and interaction with a search firm will be handled by that
expanded committee rather than only by a local committee in communication with
a BOR committee as was done in 2001. The IPC members unanimously agreed that
the committee stands ready to help in any way as needed by those in charge of
the search. Dr. Ware, having chaired the
2001 Presidential Search & Advisory Committee, stated that the new
procedure should significantly improve the logistics of the search process
while maintaining strong faculty and staff representation. (For information on
a Presidential Search and Screen Committee see also the USG policy manual: http://www.usg.edu/regents/policymanual/200.phtml)
Finally, the IPC expressed its deep appreciation for Dr. Zaccari’s leadership during these past years at VSU in the light of his announced retirement by June 2008. VSU has come a long way as an institution under Dr. Zaccari’s guidance, and for years to come students, faculty and staff will benefit from the bridges he built with the local community, his vision for the continued growth of our campus, and his sincere commitment to communication among all members of VSU’s community as exemplified by the creation of the University Council.
For Spring 2008 the IPC has the following tentative meeting schedule: February 27, March 26, and April 23. The meetings will be held at the Dean’s Conference room in the Biology-Chemistry building from approximately 9am until 10am.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45am.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael G. Noll
Associate Professor of Geography
Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Attachment:
***********************************************************************
-------- Original Message --------
Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:04:43 -0400
From: Michael Noll <mgnoll@valdosta.edu>
To: Sherrida Crawford <crawford@valdosta.edu>
CC: cbarnbau@valdosta.edu,
staylor@valdosta.edu, bcaster@valdosta.edu, Yvonne LeRoy-Landers <ybleroylanders@valdosta.edu>,
David B Kuhlmeier <dbkuhlmeier@valdosta.edu>,
Gina Jacobs <vmjacobs@valdosta.edu>,
Sherri Gravett <sgravett@valdosta.edu>,
Andy Fore <arfore@valdosta.edu>,
Jennifer Tanner <jltanner@valdosta.edu>,
Joe Newton <jnewton@valdosta.edu>,
Karen A Johnson <kjohnson@valdosta.edu>,
Richard Lee <richlee@valdosta.edu>,
Jeff Grant <jgrant@valdosta.edu>,
Becky Murphy <rbowes@valdosta.edu>,
rzaccari@valdosta.edu, llevy@valdosta.edu, thboyd@valdosta.edu
Subject: Re: VSU's Web Design and Website Templates
Dear Sherrida et al.
Again my sincere thanks for giving us the opportunity to voice some of our
concerns at the October 11 meeting. I especially appreciate the thoroughness
with which you and the web board have addressed the issues we presented.
Moreover, it was certainly helpful for me and my colleague to learn more about
the web board itself and the work it has already done these past couple months.
I carefully read through your document last night, checked out the beta web
site for the Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences, and reflected
on your historical overview. In all, I was very much impressed by what has
already been done, even if (to borrow from your narrative) "VSU's work on
its website is far from done." (My sincere thanks, by
the way, to Andy for keeping the "Department of Heaven and Earth"
alive! There is room for creativity and humor!)
I can understand the hesitancy to not create an additional administrative
burden by creating a subcommittee, but I also am keenly aware of the fact that
there is a need for (former and present) web masters / web authors to directly
communicate their concerns. Some of these issues could certainly be addressed
via existing BlazeNet groups. However,
as with "suggestion boxes", such communication bears certain limits
and is no substitute for live(ly) discussions during
regularly scheduled meetings.
So here is an idea I would like to bounce off with you and the web board, which
could essentially accomplish the same thing as a subcommittee. What if the web
board indeed expanded its membership as proposed and would have one designated
person on it representing a larger group of (former and current) web authors,
those who have thus far not been successful in sharing their concerns?
I suspect that once the VSU web board goes public in the coming weeks
(particularly with its document outlining its policies and procedures) many
issues may already be addressed, but as we are still in the midst of a
transition, a more direct input via an expanded membership would seem
beneficial.
With warm regards, Michael G. Noll.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael G. Noll, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Geography
Chair, Institutional Planning Committee
2160 Nevins Hall
Dept. of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
1500 N Patterson Street
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698-0055
Phone: (229) 333-7143
Fax: (229) 219-1201
http://www.valdosta.edu/~mgnoll/
************************************************************************
Sherrida Crawford wrote:
At an October 11th meeting, the
Web Editorial Board welcomed two guests, Dr. Michael Noll and Dr. Cecilia Barnbaum and received a proposal as later endorsed by the
Institutional Planning Committee on October 19th (attached).
We thank you for your website feedback and suggestions to the Board as to how
communication could be improved. For now the Board has determined to
strengthen existing communication channels, rather than form the proposed
subcommittee. The Board's response is explained in greater detail in the
second e-mail attachment that outlines multiple action steps addressing the
concerns as expressed in the presentation and other received e-mails.