GOVERNANCE TASKFORCE

MINUTES, July 8, 2004

AGENDA

1. Task Force Webpage

2. Standing Committees

Attending: Braam, Caldwell, Grandy, Long, Scott, Crowell (FC liaison)

1. Task Force Webpage

Sarah Holloman presented an initial version of the webpage for the Task Force. That page is linked to the Faculty Council Webpage, and may be found at:

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~faccoun/Task_Forcehomepage.htm

Several suggestions were made, including:

• minor corrections of name and rank
• elimination of home telephone numbers
• addition of explicit statement of charge on the main page
• explicit request for feedback/comments on the main page

The Task Force suggested that a secure site be set up for all faculty comments, so that all Task Force members could see all communications. It furthermore suggested that faculty be able to designate their comments as directed only to the committee or as directed to the faculty at large. Comments designated for public discussion should be posted by the secretary on the web.

Holloman was thanked for her great work on the website. She left the meeting before the next item.

2. Standing Committees

The Task Force began its evaluation of reports on 19 standing committees. It noted the following issues:

• Again and again, it was noted, some portion of the faculty named to committees did not carry their full weight on these committees. This problem may relate to the lack of compensation for their work, to the lack of interest in the work, or, in some cases, to the limited usefulness of the work.
• Not all committees, it was noted, had a clear function.
• In some cases, it was noted, committees seemed to be disconnected from the organization of the university; in such cases, they would not be able to fulfill their function.
• Many committees suffered from a lack of continuity from one chair to the next. The suggestion was made that committee chairs hold staggered, 2- or 3-year terms to ensure continuity.
• In some cases, committees have a set of charges that no longer correspond to what they actually do; in other cases, they have no charge at all.

The Task Force will continue its discussion on standing committees next time, including the relationship between those committees and elected institutions of faculty governance.