EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

August 16, 2004

Present: Nellen, Goodman, Lessow-Hurley, Kassing, Greathouse, Thames, Van Selst, Ashton, Maldonado-Colon, Heisch, Van Selst, Bros, Greathouse

Absent: Donoho, Veregge

Guests: Bertain, Merdinger (for item #1 below)

1. The Executive Committee discussed background checks and fingerprinting for employees. The Executive Committee was asked to consider the possibility and consequences of pre-employment fingerprinting for all potential employees, with the possibility of expanding the program to include fingerprinting and background checks for all current employees. The Executive Committee was told that this is already done for certain occupations on campus, e.g. UPD, HR, Child Care, and certain Cash-Handling positions. The Executive Committee discussed the need to research the issues, and to have guidelines that apply across the CSU system. This topic will be discussed further at a future meeting.

2. The Consent Calendar was approved as is. Chair Maldonado-Colon will get statements of interest/background from those members wanting to serve on the University Library Board.

3. The Executive Committee discussed the status of search committees. The Executive Committee discussed whether searches for senior administration officials should be delayed due to the lack of a permanent university president at this time; significant shortages in faculty and staff, and the effects these searches might have on strategic planning.

4. The Executive Committee discussed the Senate Retreat on October 1, 2004 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Engineering 285/287. Several guest lecturers will give presentations on strategic planning at their campuses.

5. The Executive Committee discussed the various surveys that are being planned for this fall, including the RTP Online Survey, a Campus Climate Survey, an HR Survey, and a NSSE Survey. The Executive Committee decided that more time needed to be allocated to reviewing these surveys, their purpose, and what they hope to accomplish. The Executive Committee discussed the possibility of having the Assessment Committee review some of the survey instruments. Several members expressed concern that the Assessment Committee is overburdened at the moment.

6. The Executive Committee discussed the IT Consultant Report. Several members expressed concern that the conclusions drawn in the report were done so after only two days on campus, and were only a "snapshot" of the actual situation. An IT Review Committee was established with VPs Kassing and Goodman as co-chairs. Chair Nellen requested that the IT Board Chair also serve on the committee. The Executive Committee discussed the possibility of establishing an Information Technology Review Committee to review the recommendation.