June 26, 1998, Draft Minutes

UA System Governance Council

Friday, June 26, 1998

9:00 am - 11:00 am by audioconference

Special Meeting to Consider Constitutional Amendment

Draft Minutes

1. Call to order, roll call and introductions

The meeting was called to order by Connie Kramer.

Present:

John Craven, Chair, Faculty Alliance; President, UAF Faculty Senate, 1997-1998

Rosie Gilbert, President, USUAS-J, 1997-1998

Rita Bowen, President, UAS Staff Council, 1997-1998

Barbara Tullis, UAA Staff, 1997-98, President, UAA Assembly, 1997-1998

Josh Hunter, President, USUAA 1998-1999 for Kevin Tritt, President, USUAA 1997-1998

Hilary Davies, President-elect 1997-1998 and President, 1998-99,

UAA Assembly **

Mary Stasenko, NW College Student Body, 1997-1998 **

Connie Kramer, President, Statewide Administration Assembly, 1997-1998

1998-99 New, Incoming Members:

Matt Shields for Jean Richardson, President, ASUAF, 1998-1999

Ruth Danner, Vice President, UAS Alumni Association, ex-officio

Betty Dupee, President, Statewide Administration Assembly, 1998-1999

Absent

Marie Scholle, Chair, 1997-1998, Past President, UAF Staff Council

Steve Nuss, President, ASUAF, 1997-1998

Lawerence Lee Oldaker, Chair, UAS Faculty Council, 1997-1998

Jake Poole, Director, UAF Alumni Association, ex-officio

Paula Long, Past President, UAF Staff Council 1998-1999

Josh Horst, President, USUAS-J, 1998-1999

Ron Gatterdam, President-elect, UAF Faculty Senate, 1998-1999

Janet Dye, Chair, UAS Faculty Council, 1998-1999

Patti Thorne, Vice President, UAA Assembly, 1998-1999

* Only current year members may vote at this meeting.

** Will be serving in 1998-99 also.

2. Adopt agenda

MOTION: Moved by Bowen, amended by Tullis, seconded by Dupee, passed as amended without objection

"The System Governance Council adopts the agenda as amended to include a Health Benefits Task Force report as item 6.a. This action is effective June 26, 1998."

3. Approve May 27, 1998, minutes

MOTION: Moved by Dupee, seconded by Bowen, amended by Kramer, passed as amended without objection

"The System Governance Council approves the minutes of the May 27, 1998, meeting as amended. Under item 8 in the third sentence, "SW Staff," it should read: 'She spoke with ((President Komisar)) THE PRESIDENT'S STAFF...' This action is effective June 26, 1998."

4. Alumni: Voting Membership

Article V, Section B, of the Council constitution states that:

...Amendments to the Council constitution affecting membership rights shall require a consensus with no negative votes.

Kramer read the motion. In Section F. the amendment was changed to retain the phrase "from each MAU."

Discussion:

Craven observed that Article III, Role and Authority, does not mention alumni and that needs to be changed. He felt that if alumni were to be included as voting members, that needed to be reflected in the role of the Council to make it complete. He was also concerned that the emphasis of the Council on legislative issues leaves itself somewhat open to political criticism. He wanted to make certain that everyone had thought this issue through and to make certain that the role of the alumni representatives in this organization is correctly defined.

Davies shared Craven's concern about defining alumni role in Article III. Also, the Council meets during the day and since alumni have jobs, they may not be able to attend and this might affect the quorum. Additionally, who represents the alumni: an officer of the alumni association or staff from their office, or either one?

Ivey suggested that this could be clarified by the alumni associations themselves. Tullis suggested that alumni representatives could call into the Council meetings from work.

Kramer suggested changing Article IV, Section B.: Selection, to add language on how alumni are selected.

Ruth Danner thought that adding voting alumni members to this council would not change the focus of the group. Danner noted the close relationship of the alumni and student governments in Juneau, and hoped to extend that relationship to the whole UA system. Danner felt that having a voting membership is the only way to draw alumni to meetings on a regular basis.

Hillary wondered if it was appropriate to have alumni voting on issues applying only to faculty, or applying only to students.

The group further discussed the role of the System Governance Council. Josh Hunter stressed that he believed alumni should be allowed to discuss and vote on all issues. Hunter asked if the ex-officio alumni members have been attending meetings. Apparently, alumni have attended some council meetings this past year.

MOTION: Moved by Rita Bowen, seconded by Betty Dupee, failed with five in favor and three against.

"The University of Alaska System Governance Council hereby moves to amend the System Governance Council Constitution as follows:

ADDITIONS IN ALL CAPS; ~~[deletions in italics]~~

Amend Article IV, Section A to read:

'The voting membership of the Council shall consist of one

faculty, one staff, ONE ALUMNUS, and one student representative each from the University of Alaska Anchorage, the University

of Alaska Fairbanks, and the University of Alaska Southeast,

one staff representative from Statewide Administration

Assembly and one additional at-large student representative.'

Also, amend Article IV, Section F, to read:

'Ex-officio, non-voting membership in the Council shall

include the President of the University, the chancellor

or other administrative officer, [~~and one alumnus]~~ from each MAU and any other such person or persons as the President may designate, and such others as determined by the Council.'

This action is effective June 26, 1998."

Yes No Abstain

Rosie Gilbert John Craven

Rita Bowen Barbara Tullis

Josh Hunter Hillary Davies

Mary Stasenko

Connie Kramer

There was some discussion as to who should vote, and the council decided that all of the current members will be eligible to vote, and the new members will not. Betty Dupee indicated that her preference would be to vote in favor.

Craven suggested that the new group form a subcommittee to produce another draft amendment to the constitution. Kramer wondered if the motion would need to be passed by the September 14 meeting due to the elections. She suggested holding some sort of meeting in August Pat volunteered to prepare a new draft, with the understanding that anyone who wanted to make suggestions for this should send them to her. The Council decided on a tentative System Council meeting on Thursday, September 10th, from 2:30PM-4:30PM.

5. 1998-1999 schedule of Council meetings

MOTION: Moved by Davies, seconded by Dupee, passed as amended without objection

"The System Governance Council moves to approve the calendar of meetings for 1998-1999 as shown below:

Thursday, September 10, 1998