Minutes of the Steering Committee Meeting
December 14, 2006
3:30 p.m.
208 Samford Hall

Attended by: Rich Penaskovic, David Cicci, John Heilman, Roger Garrison, Jim Bradley, Kathryn Flynn, Virgil Starks (non-voting, presenter)

Virgil Starks provided the Steering Committee with an update on athletics.  He said graduation rates for athletes were 2-12% lower than those of the regular student body.  He said athletes at Auburn are internationally, racially and economically diverse.  He said events over the last year have created a trust factor and his office is looking at what the problems are and what needs to be changed.  He said the NCAA, SACS, and faculty have increased their expectations and his office is promising integrity, openness and oversight in an effort to raise the performance of students.  He said athletics has spent $150,000 per year over the last three years on graduate assistants to help athletes.  These funds are given to the academic units.  He said supplemental services are open to all students in specific classes and that all supplemental services are provided in the athletic complex.

Items for the Senate Meeting—January 9, 2007

The Calendar and Schedules committee will not come before the Senate about the Summer ’07 calendar.  The Registrar’s office added exam sessions to each exam day during the summer thereby avoiding the need for a revised schedule.

Agenda:
Rich Penaskovic’s comments
Dr. Richardson’s comments (If he cannot attend, John Heilman will address the Senate)
Joe Molnar—Report from the Administrator Evaluation Committee
Richard Messina—maybe, still waiting to hear from him
Gisela Buschle-Diller—Report from the Teaching Effectiveness Committee
Virgil Starks—his presentation may have to be pushed to February due to time constraints

Dr. Moriarty (Research Park) and Dr. Boosinger (Campus Security) have both asked to have their presentations to the Senate pushed to February.  Dr. Boosinger will meet with either the Executive or Steering Committee prior to addressing the Senate.  A task force focused on campus security has been formed and held their first meeting this week.  The task force is not ready to report to the Senate yet.

A short discussion related to nomination of candidates for Senate officer positions took place.