Mānoa Faculty Senate Executive Committee
Minutes of October 13, 2008

Mānoa Faculty Senate Executive Committee
Monday – October 13, 2008; Hawaiʻi Hall 208
Present: Wakayama, Crookes, Hilgers, Ross, Keil, Tiles, Crosby
(secty Mitsutani)

3:00 SEC meeting

1) Minutes of previous meeting were approved.

2) Reallocation of a fac sen member to a different committee; agenda item for meeting with VC Ostrander.

3) MET report (report by Karl Bonham: this economist predicts an absolute decline in the U.S. economy, and for Hawaii, -1%, with concomitant effects on the HI economy). Details will be reviewed again at upcoming Faculty Congress/Senate meeting. CAB is planning to send out an online survey to faculty concerning options, as to whether across the board cuts are desirable, as opposed to other options that include energy, different class sizes, retirement incentives, consolidating programs, outsourcing, distribution of tuition revenue, RTRF, increased tuition.

4) Policy on Executive Searches (response from VCFAO Cutshaw and Chancellor Hinshaw)

The SEC is quite clear that it believes that Executive Searches should not be chaired by the executive making the final decision. It is reasonable for the appointing officer to work in close cooperation with the search committee, but it is foolish for the appointing officer to chair the committee. It can lead to ethical problems, the appearance of bias, and, more pragmatically, prevents the appointing officer having distance from the decision.

5) PBRC Reorganization

The SEC has received from VC Ostrander a response to SEC’s request for information concerning the changes he proposes to make to PBRC. It will be forwarded to CAB and COR for review and recommendation.

4:00p  Standing Appointment with Chancellor Hinshaw

1.         Status of VCAA Search

The chancellor said that her goal is still to have Gary Ostrander serve in the VCAA capacity. His skills are still needed in the area of the Medical School and research-related matters, she says. SEC stated their understanding of the frustrations that various faculty have expressed to them concerning the difficulties arising from the interim nature of the way the position is currently filled.

2.         Update on Budget Committee

The Chancellor stated that this is being populated. Her current orientation is to across the board cuts, scheduled by Deans. However the Chancellor says that she will move beyond that, and hopes to establish a website which will inform a process for discussion about budget cuts. The Chancellor hopes to preserve some aspects of the autonomy of UHM from the Governor’s cuts and possible legislative actions. Plans for a 10% budget cut will be discussed at the next Board of Regents meeting. If the State of Hawai’i goes to a 20% cut, the Chancellor believes this is likely to be or constitute a “financial exigency”, which has contractual implications. The Chancellor has suggested the council of chancellors consider early retirement plans. She has asked for advice concerning who defines “financial exigency”, and who has the authority to decide that one exists.

3.         Phiten Sponsorship of UHM Athletics

SEC has been asked to consider a letter of complaint concerning publicity concerning a product many athletes believe enhances performance. There is apparently no scientific evidence that supports its use, yet signs concerning it are prominently displayed in and around UH sport events and facilities in a way that may lead some people to believe that UHM or UHM Athletics endorses the product. Yet at the same time apparently no money is being received by UHM Athletics in connection with these ad-like displays. The Chancellor agrees that her office will respond to the letter.

4.         Further details of the A&S reorg

The Chancellor says that now a proposal is out in the form of a summary of the relevant committee deliberations, and as all the Deans in question are Interim (except one, who has stated intention to retire), so she believes there should be steady forward movement in this area. Alan Teramura is having further deliberations with the groups represented on the committees. After the Chancellor decides on the model, a search committee for the A&S Dean will be established (she said).

5          Executive Search Policy

There was an extensive discussion of draft language concerning best practices that might eventually become part of executive policy.

6.         Homecoming and associated positions

The Chancellor asked for SEC input concerning the use of Homecoming week for recruitment, publicity, and fundraising. She hopes to make this week more extensive and diverse basis for raising awareness and alumni fund raising.

The Chancellor left the meeting at 5:00. (She returned at 5:10 to inform SEC that BoR has delegated naming of rooms to campuses, so she expects to establish a naming committee.)

7.         VCAA response to SEC communication concerning TIM program in Singapore.

This will be taken up next week.

Adjourned 5:20 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Graham Crookes

Contact dave at math.hawaii.edu with comments regarding this site.