November 4, 2005

Present: Judith Anderson (acting Chair), Bob Becker, Sandra Dolby, Al Ruesink (recorder), and Rick Van Kooten.

The meeting convened at 2:00, with Judith Anderson presiding.

Minutes of the Oct. 28 meeting were approved unanimously.

This meeting occurred a day after an ad hoc meeting of Bloomington faculty held November 3rd in response to the announcement from President Adam Herbert that he was not choosing any of the Chancellor candidates and was extending the search. Considerable discussion of that meeting concluded that: 1) faculty from most schools were represented and members of most schools spoke, 2) a vote was taken on whether Swamy should have been appointed Chancellor and it was overwhelmingly "yes", 3) a straw vote of "no confidence" in university leadership also passed, but it occurred after many had left the meeting and about 1/5 of those remaining abstained. In discussing the various issues related to the Chancellor search, we considered whether the combined Chancellorship and Vice-Presidency for Academic Affairs are simply too much or too complicated for any one person and we worried about an inadequate search process, with too much secrecy, no involvement by the CPC in any vetting step (though we asked explicitly), and a possible bias toward outside candidates. Eventually we discussed the contents of a letter that might be sent from the CPC to President Herbert regarding the Chancellor search, a letter that might focus on the criteria he used for evaluating, the kind of "due diligence" that he exercised before deciding to make no appointment, and the importance of the Chancellor search to the well-being of the College. [Such a letter was sent on November 8th.]

Swamy joined our meeting at 3:00.

Clearly we needed to talk with Swamy about the Chancellor search, and we discussed with him candidly and confidentially the issues involved.

Swamy briefed us on more of the history of the recent request for an FTE transfer. Faculty FTE transfers that generate an increase in net expenditure for the College are problematic (e.g. one that requires a new appointment where the FTE leaves). Without cost neutrality, it is hard to see the institutional value in any transfers.

Regarding the formation of a new Department of Statistics, the outside review of the IUB situation is now complete. Swamy is working to bring together some of the FTE transfers needed to get the department started.

Swamy left at 3:50.

We discussed the possible letter to write to President Herbert, and we agreed on the following conclusions:

1) We need to do everything within our powers to move the search along expeditiously to a successful conclusion. The campus languishes while it awaits the appointment of a "real" Chancellor.
2) The Vice-President for Academic Affairs role seems not to be well defined, or at least different administrators and committees view it quite differently.
3) Perhaps the position should be divided into one Chancellor and one Vice-President for Academic Affairs. Maybe it is impossible to find one person who can simultaneously handle both jobs well.

On the FTE issues, several CPC members noted that they would like to tie departmental FTE allocations to strategic plans, and the meeting adjourned at 3:55.

Albert Ruesink, recorder

Questions or comments regarding the minutes and actions of the Policy Committee may be addressed to Rob Shakespeare, Dept. of Theater and Drama, Lee Norvelle Theater and Drama Ctr. A300H, 5-4367, shakespe@indiana.edu. Past minutes and College Policy Statements can be found at the CPC web page: www.indiana.edu/~college/faculty/policy/policies.shtml.