Senate elects vice chair, hears reports on rebalancing total compensation
The University Senate has elected a vice chair for 2010-11 and approved a resolution to survey employees about the Sustaining New Synergies proposal to rebalance total compensation.
The Senate, which met March 22, elected Morris Levy, professor biological sciences, as vice chair. Levy has been a senator since 2004 and serves as chair of the University Resources Policy Committee and on the Advisory Committee.
Levy will become chair of the Senate in 2011-2012. Current vice chair Joan Fulton will be chair for 2010-11.
In other business, the Senate heard presentations from President France A. Córdova and Levy on the Sustaining New Synergies proposal to rebalance total compensation.
Córdova discussed the history of the proposal, faculty feedback, and the University trustees’ goal of a more sustainable benefits structure. She also described the benefits that the administration believes will result from the rebalancing proposal, including the role it could have in repositioning Purdue for future competitiveness, improved recruiting and reputation, and flexibility for employees.
Córdova fielded questions about the proposal's cost savings, the option for a grandfather clause, and the possibility of adding time to discuss alternative proposals.
Córdova encouraged senators to contact her with questions and comments about the proposal.
In his report, Levy discussed the proposal's financial implications and presented a resolution to survey employees who receive TIAA-CREF contributions about the rebalancing proposal.
Senators approved the resolution. Details of how the survey will be conducted are being finalized.
In other business:
* Martin Sickafoose, director of online experience and emerging technologies in the Office of Marketing and Media, reported on improvements being made to the search engine on Purdue's Web site. The improvements will yield faster search times and more refined results.
* Peter Kim, chair of Purdue Student Government's Student Affairs Committee, presented a revised version of the University's code of honor. Kim said the committee modified the code to make it more concise and easier to understand. A resolution to endorse the revised code is expected to go before the Senate in April.