1. Faculty Senate Mission
“The Faculty Senate is a representative body of the university faculty formed to investigate, discuss, and decide on matters concerning the academic affairs of the university.”

2. Completed/Approved Actions of the Senate (Fall 2018)
>Approved a motion to extend the deadline to designate a course for which one is currently registered as “Audit” to be the same day as the drop deadline (that applies to that course for all graduate and
undergraduate non-first semester students).
>Approved the Online Masters in Computer Science
>Amended and approved the Academic Calendar which now includes the Wednesday before Thanksgiving as a holiday.

3. Completed Working Groups
Working group on academic calendar
Charge: The working group will examine the difference in the number
of days of instruction between the Fall and Spring semesters in the
proposed calendar and consider whether this difference
poses a problem, and if so to try to find a way to equalize the number
of days of instruction in a way which will minimize the impact to the
current proposed calendar.
Chair: Chris Johns-Krull
Recommendation: [1] Use current calendar formula (Instructional days: F/S=70/67),
or [2] make Weds. before Thanksgiving a holiday (F/S=69/67),
or [3] 1 week fall break (F/S=67/67).
Additional Action: Form a WG to investigate possible changes to the calendar
“formula” to be applied from 2021 onward.

4. Completed Working Groups
Working Group on Athletics (report will be presented at January meeting)
Charge:  Investigate the scheduling of athletic competitions during the
period after the last day of classes ('dead days' and final exam period). 
Chair: Doug Schuler
Recommendation: Allow 1 (Rice controlled) event during last week of
classes, 1 during reading days, 1 during final exam period. Current rules
is 1, 1 (Saturday), 0.

5. Ongoing Work Policy and Procedure Revisions
-Policy 201 revisions: inclusion of Research Professor ranks and creation
of a companion document on Procedures for Research Professor Ranks.
-Revision to the “Procedures for Faculty Appointments, Promotion, Tenure
and Renewal of Contracts.” We expect document to be taken up by the
Faculty Senate in January.

6. Ongoing Work Ongoing Working Groups Working Group on Advising
Charge: Assess the current state of undergraduate advising
and offer recommendations for suggested changes or
improvements.
Report due to Senate Executive Committee in February
Chair: Leslie Schwindt-Bayer
Working group on Shared Governance
Charge:  Draft a University Policy on Shared Governance, describing
the joint efforts of the Administration (President, Provost, Deans),
Faculty, and Board of Trustees. 
Chair: Don Morrison

7. Senate Presentations and Discussions (Fall 2018)
Dean Robert Bruce: an overview of and faculty engagement with the Susanne M.
Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
Professor Patricia Reiff: a presentation on the activities of the Committee on
Examinations and Standings
Alison Weaver, Director: an overview of and faculty engagement with the
Moody Center for the Arts
Nathan Cook, Director, Government Relations: a presentation on Partisan
Political Activities
Professor Thomas Killian: an overview of the Midtown Innovation District
Professor Fred Oswald: a report on the activities of the University Library Committee
Ken Liddle, Compliance Officer: a presentation on the assignment of
Intellectual Property

8. Anticipated Senate Presentations/Discussions (Spring 2019)
Ken Liddle, Compliance Officer
Julie Fette, Assoc. Prof. of Classical and European Studies
Fred Higgs, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Kevin Kirby, Vice President for Administration
John Cornwell, Associate VP for Institutional Effectiveness