UCIEA Executive Committee Meeting – January 8, 2007 – Minutes

Present: Ken Dumars, Dave Easton, Dick Frank, Jeri Frederick, Barbara Hamkalo, Mark Hoffer, Pamela Lawrence, Sam McCulloch, Ron Miller, David Mosier, James Parker, Ted Quilligan, Ann Stephens, John Swett, Jerome Tobis

Introductions: Ron Miller introduced and welcomed David Mosier, new member of the Committee, and James Parker, a guest from Student Affairs

Minutes: Minutes of the December 4, 2006 were approved as corrected, changing the word ‘fora’ to ‘forums’ on page 2.

Important Business: Miller reminded the group that the Mentoring Award was established 2 years ago. Furthermore, Dean Salinger has suggested Emeritae/i mentor transfer students and Hamkalo suggested emeritae/i consider offering freshman seminars.

James Parker, Coordinator of the Graduate Student First Year Initiative in Student Affairs, noted that all PhD/MFA students are guaranteed housing for their first 2 years and that 80% are housed on campus to date. He then distributed a description of a portion of the bridge program for beginning graduate students in which he asked the UCIEA Board to consider participating in. The program, named Vox sapientis (voice of the wise) is designed for faculty to share in informal panel conversations with students the breadth of experiences, and the challenges that the emeritae/i themselves had faced. It is envisioned that the topics would be those that students might not feel comfortable discussing with their departments and/or advisers. Examples of the topics include balance between family life and the academic experience; navigating the political landscape in academia; graduate students of color; gender issues, etc. These examples were drawn from student input. Parker also stated that these informal interactions could evolve into a mentoring arrangement and noted that research has shown that graduate students who have both an advisor and a non-advisor mentor are more productive. The time commitment for emeritae/i was estimated at 1-1/2 hours. Parker suggested emeritae/i email him, via Frederick, topics and dates, but the group felt that it would be more efficient and effective if Parker and students suggest topics that could be published in the newsletter with him as contact person. A motion was made by Tobis and seconded to support Vox sapientis and to encourage volunteers to participate. Miller asked if the program was open to all graduate students and Parker asserted in the affirmative, although the emphasis is on first-year students. The motion passed unanimously.

During the ensuing discussion, Hamkalo noted she is working with Graduate Dean Boyd on developing a graduate student center proposal, provided the graduate students support a center, as part of her activities as a Dickson Professor this year. She also noted that Lyman Porter has been selected as the other Dickson Professor. She stated that the proposed initiative would be an excellent companion piece, and one of the many activities in a graduate student center. Parker noted that a graduate student center was recently established at UCLA, and can serve as a model.

Miller circulated a sympathy card to Mrs. Dennis Clark for those wishing to sign it.

Academic Senate Liaison: Miller commented that Martha Mecartney should be approached again hoping to convince her that the Senate should have a liaison to the UCIEA.

Treasurer’s Report: Frederick noted that Krassner is unable to attend meetings this quarter because he has been recalled and is teaching Mondays from 10 to 11AM. In his absence, she gave his report. The financial report is unchanged from the last report, other than additional checks sent by members. Checks have been sent to Krassner. Stephens stated that she has $212 in cash remaining from the holiday party and proposed that she use the funds for upcoming program events, with a decision to be made on the disposition of any remaining funds at the end of the academic and fiscal year. A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to support Stephens’ proposal.

Frederick reported that the EVC-Provost's office requested last week that a budget be prepared combining the needs of the UCIEA, UCIRA, and the RRC (Retirement Relations Center). Tobis asked if this would require a full-time Director as well as an assistant. Miller expressed concern that we do not yet have approval of the budget and thus cannot finalize our commitment to hold the April 26 CUCEA meeting or hire an assistant. Frederick and Hamkalo reassured us that these needs would be met.

At our November 13, 2006 meeting, Ken Dumars had requested a committee be established to consider future financial and other needs of the Association. He had agreed to chair the committee (to include Hamkalo, Krassner, Miller, Schnaubelt, and others willing to participate) with deliberations to begin in January. After considerable discussion on this occasion, Dumars felt such a committee was no longer needed, and Hoffer made a motion to table the matter.

Newsletter Report: Quilligan reported that Joseph DiMento has written an article regarding the new law school and that the Chancellor has been requested to write regarding the role of the emeritae/i and regarding the hope for a truly ethical campus environment.

The issue of dues was raised and Quilligan stated that dues might be collected more effectively if a solicitation for dues was sent separate from the newsletter and were sent by mail, not e-mail.

A question was raised as to whether or not our newsletter should be sent to all retirees, but this was viewed as inappropriate since all emeritae/i are retirees but not all retirees are emeritae/i. Furthermore, the expense might not be justified.

Program Committee: Stephens announced that she has been in touch with Dr. Donal Monahan, an ex-UCI postdoc, currently at USC to give a talk sometime in March. He is a marine biologist and has given presentations on Antarctica. Stephens has also contacted Margaret Norris as a possible speaker. Stephens and Frederick will contact the University Club concerning availability so that we may get dates on are calendars. Tobis suggested we invite Jim McGaugh to speak at the June 5 meeting (to be held at the University Club, Room C from 1-3 PM). Miller noted that the campus architect, Rebekah Gladson, had been previously suggested by Louis Gottschalk, and Miller recommended we invite David N. Bailey, incoming Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine. Stephens will contact individuals in the order that they were suggested.

Nominating/Membership Committee: Hamkalo noted that, in the last 18 months, there were 30 new emeritae/i but only 6 have paid dues. She and Miller will contact new members in a letter similar to that previously sent to new members by Kivie Moldave.

Awards Committee: Miller made another plea for a chair. He noted that, theoretically, UCIEA should be asked for recommendations for the Dickson Professorship. We were not consulted, at least this year. He also noted the annual nomination for the Panunzio award was due, but, since UCI had 2 awardees in the recent past, it had been suggested we pass this year unless an outstanding candidate is nominated. Finally, a letter soliciting nominations for the Mentorship Award should be sent now. Last year’s committee recommended holding over last year’s unsuccessful nominations to this year. McCulloch volunteered to serve on the committee, and following the meeting Mark Hoffer agreed to chair it..

By-Laws: Miller noted that both the brochure sent to new emeritae/i and the by-laws need to be updated. For example, our by-laws don’t indicate the authority or reporting relationship of UCIEA; the current by-laws require both a corresponding and a recording secretary; require that the Executive Committee be elected; and several existing committees are not included. Hofer suggested that, since CUCEA is meeting at UCI in April, we solicit by-laws from the other associations before we modify ours.

Council on Faculty Welfare and Emeritae/i affairs subcommittee: No report.

CUCEA: Miller stated that the budget request should include all recommendations made in the previous draft and that budget requests for the spring CUCEA meeting also need to be considered. CUCEA meeting budget responsibilities were described: CUCEA attendees’ associations are responsible for travel, lodging and meals the night before the meeting; UCIEA is responsible for transportation to/from the hotel, the meeting room, luncheon and a continental breakfast. Stephens commented that when UCI hosted the last CUCEA meeting, members volunteered to return attendees to the airport. Hamkalo noted that another expense we are responsible for is copying of materials to be distributed at the meeting. She also informed the group that EVC/Provost Gottfredson is scheduled to address the CUCEA meeting at 9 AM for 15-20 minutes.

History Committee: No Report

Ethics Committee: The subcommittee included Feldman, Lawrence, Mosier, Miller, Swett, and Tobis. Tobis distributed the UCIEA subcommittee resolution concerning our interest in ethics activities on the campus (appended). It was suggested that in paragraph 2, the word ‘regarding’ replace ‘in’ before the last word, ethics. A motion to approve the resolution was made and seconded. If passed the resolution will be sent to the Academic Senate and Chancellor. The question was raised as to what would occur if the resolution is ignored. Miller thought it highly unlikely the Chancellor would ignore the resolution, given his interest in this issue. The manner in which the resolution is transmitted to the Senate was then discussed. Tobis suggested that the UCIEA chair speak to the Senate chair. Hoffer noted that it would be more effective to present the resolution formally to the Senate. Miller noted the Senate chair would need to be contacted to get on the agenda and suggested that Quilligan and Tobis, at a minimum, attend the Senate meeting for discussion of the resolution. Easton raised the question of what other activities are currently underway in the area of ethics on the campus and suggested adding a sentence to the resolution regarding its necessity in the context of current activities. Miller reviewed the ancient history of failed attempts to develop ethics activities but that the Chancellor is now supportive and there are members in the Philosophy Department concerned with these issues. Tobis suggested that, if the resolution is passed, Miller should contact both Philosphy Chair Nicholas Jolley and Senate Chair Martha Mecartney. The motion was approved unanimously.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute: No announcements

University Club Forum: No announcements

Retiree Relations Center Director’s Report: Frederick reported that the EVC’s office has requested a combined budget for the Emeritae/i Association, the Retirees’ Association and the Retirement Relations Center, with the goal of moving toward the UCLA model, which provides more support to retirees activities. She is drafting such a request, which could add staff, although she does yet have the magnitude of the request. It is possible that her position could become full-time or, at a minimum 75% time, with a part-time position at the analyst level. Easton asked if an administrative assistant would be assigned only to emeritae/i, and Frederick indicated that is an element of the UCLA model but that individual would also maintain the emeritae/i and retiree database since these groups are indistinguishable. Miller reiterated that discussion with Schnaubelt at the last meeting led to the suggestion of a request of $3K for each organization, for a total of $6K.

Retirees Association Liaison Report: No report

Website: No report

Old Business: None discussed.

New Business: Congratulations to Judd Hubert who turns 90 years old on January 17.

Minutes drafted by Barbara A. Hamkalo and Ronald B Miller