September 5, 2008

Senate chair DeCarlo establishes team approach for this year

It doesn't take long to figure out that the new chair of the University Senate enjoys sharing a good laugh. Ray DeCarlo, professor of electrical and computer engineering, is quick with one-liners and more than happy to pass them on to colleagues, including those in the Senate. "At the last Senate meeting in April, a senator from Technology said we needed more humor and laughter in the Senate," DeCarlo says. "We're going to do our best this year."

Though senators can expect good groaners once their meetings begin Sept. 8, DeCarlo stresses that the Senate's goal is no laughing matter: making its voice heard.

"The Senate serves in an advisory role on issues that affect the entire University," DeCarlo says. "It's only our voice, but voices are powerful and ours needs to be articulated."

Upon becoming chair in June, DeCarlo created a leadership group composed of Howard Zelaznik, Senate vice chair; Joe Camp, secretary of the faculties; and Joan Fulton, Steering Committee chair, and DeCarlo.

"I pledged to make all critical decisions by consensus among that group," he says. "By doing that I prepare the Senate leadership for next year. I also know that even if my heart is in the right place, my decision-making will be less faulty with a committee helping to make decisions with the Senate on issues that face the University."

DeCarlo also has been reading up on how to promote dialogue and generate consensus within the Senate. Senate officers also attended an in-service Aug. 25 to discuss these topics.

The Senate is or soon will be looking at the following topics:

-- OnePurdue: Vice chair Zelaznik is working with OnePurdue administrators to foster communication between developers and end-users as the University continues its transition to OnePurdue and the newly acquired Cognos reporting tool. DeCarlo says the Senate will hear a report on Banner student systems and the status of OnePurdue at its September meeting.

-- Budget transparency: An ad hoc committee chaired by Charlene Sullivan, associate professor of management, is working with Purdue administrators to make the budget process more transparent. The committee formed in May.

"How is the pie split up?" DeCarlo says. "We have academic units and nonacademic units, and they have large budgets. I would like the University to show the trends over the last five to 10 years in those budgets so the academic and nonacademic sides can communicate. If the process is transparent, then everyone will know who's getting what and why. There will be fewer hallway discussions and a lot less displeasure and anxiety over resource allocations."

DeCarlo hopes to have the first report before the Senate in October.

-- Strategic plan: In 2008-09, the Senate also will coordinate with President France A. C—rdova and her staff on the strategic plan.

"This year we will look carefully at what goals we have substantial overlap with and how we can work toward those tasks first," DeCarlo says. "Then we'll focus on working out whatever we don't see in the same way."

-- Research integrity policy: The Senate will revisit Executive Memorandum C-22; Policy on Integrity in Research. Senate members were asked for feedback on a draft of the policy in the spring. DeCarlo said the Senate did not endorse the revised policy due to a lack of a quorum during a vote conducted by e-mail.

"I want the senators to take a hard look at this document because it affects the intrinsic job description of faculty," he says. "I would like to clean it up and get discussion going to make sure all of the Senate's input is taken into account."

-- E-mail systems: Senators are being asked to serve on a committee that will discuss the future of Purdue's e-mail systems. Gerry McCartney, vice president for information technology and chief information officer, is seeking the group's input on where Purdue's e-mail services should be in five years.

"We're creating a vision for the next five years," he says. "Once we decide where want to go, we need to figure out how do we get there."

Senate schedule

The University Senate will meet at 2:30 p.m. in Room 302, Stewart Center, on the following dates:

-- Sept. 8, 2008.

-- Oct. 20, 2008.

-- Nov. 17, 2008.

-- Jan. 26, 2009.

-- Feb. 16, 2009.

-- March 23, 2009.

-- April 20, 2009.

Agendas and minutes are available at the Senate Web site: www.purdue.edu/usenate.

Senate leadership

-- Chair: Ray DeCarlo, professor of electrical and computer engineering.

-- Vice chair: Howard Zelaznik, professor of health and kinesiology.

-- Secretary of the faculties: Joe Camp, professor of veterinary parasitology.

-- Advisory Committee chair: Ray DeCarlo.

-- Educational Policy Committee chair: Andrew Luescher, associate professor of veterinary clinical sciences.

-- Faculty Affairs Committee chair: David Williams, professor of medical illustration.

-- Nominating Committee chair: William McInerney, professor of educational studies.

-- Steering Committee chair: Joan Fulton, professor of agricultural economics.

-- Student Affairs Committee chair: H. Lee Weith, professor of biochemistry.

-- University Resources Policy Committee chair: Morris Levy, professor of biological sciences.

-- From the Aug. 28 edition of Inside Purdue.