AAUP Executive Council Minutes
December 6, 2006
Room 302 McDowell Hall, 8:30 a.m.
PRESENT: Linda Bucher (presiding), Leon Campbell, Gerald
Turkel, Danilo Yanich, Steve Dentel, Pat Barber, Sheldon Pollack, David
Smith, and Kevin Kerrane (secretary)
After approval of the minutes from the November 1 Executive
Council meeting, Council went into Executive Session for reports from
the Grievance Officer, D. Smith, and the Contract Maintenance Office,
L. Campbell.
Regular Meeting:
Office Update: L. Bucher announced that Robert Quinn of the
Scholars at Risk Program had sent a note of thanks for the
chapter’s contribution of $250. Another letter—from Eric
Kaler, Dean of Engineering—notified the Council about a foreign
scholar filing for permanent-residency status.
The AAUP Voice: G. Turkel discussed plans for the
December issue, which would include a statement of welcome for our new
university president, Patrick Harker; the summary of a study on gender
equity; and a news note about the Salary Equity process. Spring issues
may feature news about a chapter event to thank President Roselle, and
perhaps a separate reception in honor of President Harker.
Regarding Salary Equity, L. Campbell announced that the
university’s conversion to the PeopleSoft system has created
delays, and that the process will be skipped this year, except for
money made available to counter outside offers to faculty. Next year,
however, there will be a university-wide process of salary analysis.
G. Turkel reported receiving letter from one faculty member
in response to the Voice story changes in retirement
benefits. Although the letter was based on a misunderstanding (which L.
Bucher will clear up in a letter to the faculty member), there does
seem to be a problem with the situation of some former part-time
instructors.
Discussion turned to a proposed joint meeting between our
Executive Council and the Executive Council of the University Senate.
S. Pollack observed that their representatives have no interest in
discussing the composition of the Senate. One likely agenda item would
be the issue of crediting work toward promotion that a faculty member
had done at another school before coming to the University of Delaware,
and L. Campbell noted the need to formalize a new statement on this
question in the Faculty Handbook. L. Bucher said that she would write a
letter about such changes to the Senate Committee on Welfare and
Privileges, offering to hold a follow-up meeting.
At L. Bucher’s request, David Bellamy has agreed to
serve as the AAUP representative on the Parking Advisory Commission for
the this coming year.
In his Treasurer’s Report, S. Pollack announced that
the chapter’s tax return had been filed in mid-November, but he
proposed that in future, the tax return should be filed by an outside
firm which would also provide a general audit, a “light
review.” (The Cover and Rossiter firm can do both for $4,000.)
This motion was seconded by D. Smith and passed unanimously.
The Council meeting concluded with a report from G. Turkel
about the recent National AAUP meeting in Washington. The finances of
the national organization will now be overseen by an independent
accounting firm, and there seems general agreement that the
organization is “on the right track.”
L. Bucher announced that spring meetings of the Executive
Council would be scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month,
beginning with February 7.
Respectfully submitted,
Kevin Kerrane
|