Minutes of the faculty forum sponsored by the Tulane University Chapter, American Association of University Professors, January 19, 2006

The meeting was called to order by President Parviz Rastgoufard at 4:30 p.m.

The assembled faculty members formulated the following three resolutions, which they will urge their faculty senators to present at the first meeting of the University Senate:

Recognizing that President Cowen has publicly expressed his intention to follow the Faculty Handbook, be it resolved that:

1) he confirm his administration's full commitment to the Handbook and to faculty governance before the University Senate

2) he instruct the administration to contact all faculty to advise them that terminated faculty members have a) the right to the normal appeals process  and b) can consult the American Association of University Professors, providing them with the means of contact

3) he clarify to the Senate whether or not the University considers itself still in a state of financial exigency and if so by what criteria it would be understood to have ended.

Several other concerns were expressed that were not the subjects of resolutions:
*the criteria used to designate individuals to be terminated
**a report from the President's Faculty Advisory Committee to the Senate
***the reasons for the lack of consultation with the faculty concerning the suspending/terminating of Ph.D. programs, the reorganization of the faculty, the addition of curricular requirements and the restructuring of the undergraduate colleges
****the effect on the renewal plan of the current 90% student return rate when the provisions were decided when a 60% return rate was expected
*****the ameliorative effect on the University's financial situation of business interruption insurance

The meeting was adjourned by President Rastgoufard at 6:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda L. Carroll
Secretary-Treasurer