Time: Thursday at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Lubar N456 and Microsoft Teams
Present: J. Boyland, V. Brown, E. Parcell, J. Reisel, G. Rodger
I. Meeting called to order at 3:00 p.m.
II. Automatic Consent
Minutes of March 5, 2026 meeting approved as distributed.
III. Set Agenda
The committee reviewed the Faculty Senate meeting agenda for April 16, 2026. Business items and time limits were set.
IV. Discussion of Virtual Attendance and Voting Options at Faculty Senate meetings
The committee discussed concerns about anonymous voting and determined that secret votes are not appropriate for a governmental body like the Senate. Members noted legal and transparency issues with anonymous methods such as clickers or electronic forms. The preferred approach was to use voice votes or raised hands, with roll call votes if results are close. Members emphasized that senators should be willing to publicly stand by their votes and accept dissent.
The committee also discussed virtual attendance. Temporary remote participation may be granted for mobility limitations or one-time circumstances, while ongoing accommodations could be considered for senators with legitimate barriers to coming to campus. Some members argued that regular in-person attendance should remain the expectation, noting that off-campus senators attended before the pandemic.
The plan is for the UC Chair to cede a portion of the UC report time on the Senate agenda to Rules Chair Rodger so he can explain the Rules Committee’s position. If senators want further changes, they would need to introduce legislation in May.
V. Other business
None.