- Approve minutes from the previous meeting
- Divisions. Dean Gore wants the faculty council to offer divisions some broad guidelines about what to include in their initial bylaws. The bylaws should establish basic procedures for governing the unit. Presumably this should include: (1) how a head (if they have one) would be chosen, and for what term, (2) how funds should be dispersed, (3) how annual reviews will be conducted, and (4) how tenure and mid-tenure reviews will be conducted. We might also want bylaws to address other matters as well. Ideas?
Eventually divisions will also need to set criteria for teaching loads (unless we want this done from on high). However, apparently that is not pressing.
There may also be other criteria we should set. Come prepared to propose any you think appropriate.
Finally, we should also think about how and when we should revisit membership. We might also think about a mechanism for dealing with any disputes within disciplines. Perhaps the simplest mechanism is referring them to the USFSP Ombudsman. We may also want something more formal.
- Obstacles to professional productivity. Last summer we conducted a survey asking faculty to identify obstacles to their productivity. Mark Pezzo, who did the survey, will give a brief written report.
- Faculty retention. Is this an issue we want to continue to press? How?
- Report from the University Senate.
- Upcoming issues. There are other issues about divisions we will need to address. I do not think we need to resolve them now. Still it might be prudent to begin to list issues we must eventually discuss.