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UVI Senate Meeting Minutes TED 213 (STT) and EVC 807 (STX) Friday, May 17, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT Haldane Davies Frank Mills Nancy Morgan Paul Jobsis Dayle Barry Bernard Castillo E. Aracelis Francis (Replaced Paul Jobsis) MEMBERS ABSENT/EXCUSED David Hall Tina Koopmans Camille McKayle Shirley Lake-King Dionne Jackson Judith Edwin Leslyn Tonge Daniella Henry Kevin Dixon Maria Fleming Joshua Edwards Raquel Santiago-Silver Kimberlee Smith Patricia Harkins-Pierre Cherise Burton Pamela Richards Samuel Cherie Wheatley (Replaced Ardrina Scott-Elliot) OTHERS PRESENT Dannica Thomas Hossana Solomon Call to Order Senator Morgan called the meeting of the Senate to order at 1:19 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013. Roll Call A quorum was not established. Approval of Minutes None Old Business Academic Pursuits Senator McKayle was not present to discuss Academic Pursuits. Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment Advisory Board (IEAAB) Senator Davies thanked Senator Francis for being part of the shared governance process. The IEAAB has representation from Cabinet, faculty, staff and the student body. The new strategic plan, Pathways to Greatness was launched in October 2012. The University undertook twenty objectives when the new strategic plan, Pathways to Greatness, was initially launched. Twenty- nine objectives began in Spring 2013; hence, forty-nine objectives are currently in progress. The Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for June 15, 2013 on the St. Thomas campus. Other Initiatives The Violence and Peace Initiative now has an advisory board, to include internal and external stakeholders. This is a joint initiative with the “From Hurt to Healing Initiative” under the leadership of Project Coordinator, William Curtis, who will serve on a temporary, part-time basis. Mr. Curtis, a professor, will provide training sessions to counselors to provide support services to improve the quality of life in the US Virgin Islands. Mr. Curtis provides courses to 15-20 Cyril E. King Airport TSA officers on the behalf of Homeland Security and the University of the Virgin Islands. During the week of May 20, UVI has scheduled a teleconference meeting with Homeland Security to offer similar courses to Henry Rohlsen Airport TSA workers on St. Croix. Homeland security incurs the cost for tuition, books and fees. Homeland Security has committed to continue to cover the expenses for TSA officers that express the interest in obtaining an associate or bachelor’s degree. Financial assistance was requested by other Caribbean islands for students that are interested in attending UVI. President Hall and other group members visited other countries, to include St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, and the British Virgin Islands. The group will visit Anguilla, St. Martin, Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines before Fall 2013. The group members are President David Hall, Linda Smith, Judith Edwin, Simon Jones Hendrickson and Sharlene Harris. UVI has already signed a contract with the Nevis government, while a contract is in progress with the St. Kitts government. UVI is speaking with the British Virgin Islands government. Antigua and Barbuda are consulting with other sources prior to responding to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) draft. UVI’s goal is to have 2-3 signed agreements from any of the countries stated above. The Virgin Islands and Caribbean Center for Culture on the St. Croix campus is now open for business. Senator Davies indicated that the UVI, Department of Personnel and the Office of the Governor will offer certification in Public Management from May 1-31, 2013 to all supervisors and managers in governmental and semi-autonomous agencies. Graduation May 2013 graduations on both campuses were better organized than previous years. The St. Thomas’s graduation is a formal event, while St. Croix’s graduation is an event on the lawn, in which attendees come with the outdoor chairs. The St. Croix campus will soon have a sports and fitness center for such events, upon the finalization of funding. St. Croix’s graduation was unique as all mothers received roses since it was Mother’s Day, in addition to, the performance of a band and choir, which were requested in the past years. Parking Policies Chair Morgan has inquired about the Senate hosting a forum to discuss the parking policies that will be implemented at UVI in the near future. The fee will be waived to UVI personnel at this current time; however, the option is not completely eliminated. UVI personnel will acquire car permits for their vehicles for security purposes and to regulate parking. Other universities use decals on all personnel vehicles to confirm their identification on campus. Vehicles without visible decals/permits will be removed accordingly. Gates were already installed on both campuses, and other gates are expected to be installed at other areas on both campuses to increase security measures. Senator Mills indicated that former Professor Roy Watlington did a parking study in the late 90s, early 2000s and it didn’t work as intended. The Census proclaimed two parking spaces in the CA building parking lot; however, the spaces were always occupied by non-Census staff, and as such, Senator Mills doesn’t foresee any constructive changes. The senators agreed to invite the chair of the Parking Policies committee to discuss further with the Senate. Peer Institutions The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Systems (IPEDS) were used for the new peer to peer institutional comparison analysis, in which UVI used 13 criteria and 66 variables; hence the IEAAB identified 108 variables to be used for the KPIs that will be submitted to Cabinet for approval and subsequently to the Board of Trustees. UVI has identified new variables that will allow UVI to provide functional information to UVI’s administration and Board of Trustees for decision-making purposes. A list was shared with the planning committee with twenty universities, ten institutional peers and ten aspirational peers with the understanding that if faculty propose changes, it will be shared with the planning committee. The initial peer list was also shared with the UVI community for feedback. Peers also include international institutions. Faculty input is expected to be submitted to the IEAAB during the week of May 20. The list however will not be used for salary comparison, which may be done at a later time. The finalized Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be presented at the Full Board meeting in June 2013. UVI retention rate is currently at 70 percent. The four and six year rates have steadily declined over the years, in which institutional peers with slightly higher rates were selected to evaluate their successful strategies. Thereafter, UVI has agreed to integrate applicable successful strategies into the UVI model. Information was also solicited from the Deans. Forums and Seminars of Service The Global International Conference for leadership, management and strategic development, part of the Global Institute for Leadership and Management Development was held the week of May 13. Professors from the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, South Florida, Haiti, respectively presented to a diverse group of students from the Virgin Islands, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Maryland, Delaware and others. New Business Open to Senators and Guests Chair Morgan thanked Senator Jobsis for his service to the UVI Senate. Senator Jobsis thanked the Senate and provided his positive sentiments. Senator Barry will continue to serve until replaced. Senate Barry also requested that the monthly Senate meetings be moved from the third Friday. Senator Jobsis revealed the poll results, which indicated that the second Friday will be ideal to have future Senate meetings. Chair Morgan also indicated that Ms. Dannica Thomas will continue to serve as the recording secretary for the Senate. Professor Hossana Solomon, former senator, expressed his sentiments about an email sent to the University community about the delivery of personal mail on campus. Senator Davies indicated that the concern will be raised at the next Cabinet meeting. Senator Davies has agreed to follow up with the Senate on the outcome thereafter. Next Meeting Pending the outcome of the survey, teaching schedules in the Fall semester and availability of videoconference rooms, future Senate meeting dates will be announced within the first two weeks of the Fall semester. Adjournment Senator Jobsis made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Senator Mills seconded the motion. Chair Morgan adjourned the meeting at approximately 2:51pm.