°Õ³ó±ðÌýFaculty Senate met March 4Ìýin Chao Auditorium,Ìýand opened with a memorial to Dr. Paul Brink,Ìýwho passed away in January. Brink servedÌý42 years inÌýthe School of Music,Ìýteaching theory and composition. A moment of silence wasÌýperformed,ÌýandÌýtheÌýtowerÌýbell chimed in his memory.ÌýÌýÌý
Dr. Kevin Gardner,Ìýthe newÌýExecutive Vice President for Research & Innovation, wasÌýintroduced to the senate body and provided a summary of his backgroundÌýand vision forÌýUofL’s research enterprise.Ìý
“The vision is that our enterprise represents all the activity here and all that’s in the world: Meeting the needs ofÌýthe public. Solving and addressing problems. Presenting ideas and research to the world with the aim that it helps the world,” he said.Ìý
Before arriving to UofL, Gardner served in a similar role at the University of New Hampshire where heÌýledÌýthat institution’s rise fromÌýits designation asÌýan R2ÌýuniversityÌýto an R1Ìýuniversity.ÌýSince starting his position inÌýlate January,ÌýGardner hasÌýmetÌýwith multipleÌýdeans from various colleges, library staff and faculty members to understand the technologyÌýand research developmentÌýneeds of UofL.
HeÌýwillÌýsoonÌýannounceÌýseveral differentÌýworkÌýgroups to address the most pressing needs based on these conversationsÌýandÌýthree open forumsÌýwillÌýalsoÌýbeÌýscheduled.Ìý
GardnerÌýconcluded his introduction with comments on howÌýhe thinks about theÌýexternal roleÌýof the enterprise.ÌýÌý
“How are weÌýhelping the university navigate the relationship between the faculty whoÌýareÌýthe lead of an idea, andÌýthenÌýliaisonÌýwith the companies or public thatÌýmight be interested?” he asked.Ìý
RickÌýGraycarekÌý, AVP for Budget & Financial Planning, gave a budget update.ÌýHisÌýÌýshowcased an overview of the $1.2 billionÌýcurrentÌýtotalÌýbudget, along with an overview of the upcoming FY20-21 budget planning process.Ìý
For action items: the Redbook CommitteeÌýwill have a on its revised bylaws at the next meeting.Ìý°Õ³ó±ðÌýAcademic Program CommitteeÌýproposed sendingÌýback aÌýÌýto theÌýProvost; and theÌýPlanning and Budget committeeÌýproposed the establishment of a Board of Trustees for the LARRI (Louisville Automation and Robotics Research Institute) Center. Both were approved.ÌýÌý
Student Government reported that elections just concluded and a new president will be named after commencement. The Staff Senate representative reported that their body recently found that of the last seven staff RIFs,Ìýsix were above the age of 40. The .Ìý
Faculty Senate ChairÌýKrista Wallace-BoazÌýreported that theÌýprovost searchÌýisÌýstillÌýunderway,Ìýand candidates willÌýarriveÌýin April. Senate members will have opportunities to engage with the candidates. Also, a free speech work group that started back in April of 2019 is working to examine current policies on free speech and will build aÌýpage on the UofL website to centralize those policies along with resources.ÌýÌý
Wallace-Boaz also facilitated a discussion on theÌýnewÌýÌýforÌýFiscalÌýYear 20–21. On behalf of the parking office,Ìýshe presented aÌýsummaryÌýofÌýratesÌýthat spanned fromÌýFY16Ìýto FY21ÌýandÌýstated the goal was to keep the increase under 3%.ÌýOne faculty member expressedÌýaÌýgrievance for this being a decision without the senate’s involvement in the process. Another member brought up their hope that future rates could be altered for part-time faculty andÌýbe based onÌýsalary level.Ìý
TracyÌýEelsÌýpresented updates on behalf of the current Provost, including that the Free Speech policy committee is being co-chaired by Paul DeMarcoÌýand Meg HancockÌýto provide anÌýin-depthÌýreview of student rights and code of conduct in response to the KY Free Speech act of 2019.Ìý
The Committee on Committees & Credentials reported that elections will be coming up in May for new faculty senators. The Part-Time Faculty CommitteeÌýreported that they will soon be deploying a survey for part-time faculty.ÌýÌýThe Faculty Athletic Representative reported that one of theÌýuniversity’sÌýstudent athletes was named ACC player of the year.ÌýFull committee reports are .Ìý
The next Faculty Senate meeting isÌýscheduled for April 1 in Chao Auditorium.Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
