Date: Wed, 14 May 2014 22:38:02 -0400 (EDT) From: Manil Suri To: mathstat_faculty@lists.umbc.edu Subject: Today's meeting Dear Colleagues, Thanks for your participation in the meeting today. Although we obviously have differences of opinion, it was very heartening to see us be able to discuss these multiple points of view in such a constructive fashion. Thanks in particular to all the younger faculty who expressed themselves. For the record, the following were the main motions passed (32 out of 33 eligible members voted): Motion: "The department moves to request an external search for its next chair, to be carried out during the 2014-2015 academic year." For: 18, Against: 10, Abstain: 4 (In the discussion, it was emphasized that internal candidates could also ask to be included in such a search. Dr. Neerchal announced he would not seek reelection.) Motion: "The department moves to require a financial report of departmental funds expended in non-proprietary categories for the past three years. This includes any program, initiative, activity, course offering or center that has income or expenditure impact on the departmental budget." For: 21, Against: 5, Abstain: 6 (In the discussion, Dr. Neerchal said that he was willing to make this information available, as long as the dean approved.) The tenured faculty also voted (17 for, 1 against) to recommend Dr. Jonathan Bell for emeritus status. In addition, the department elected a bylaws "pre-committee" (consisting of Osman Guler, Jacob Kogan, Brad Peercy and Kal Nanes) to condense multiple bylaw sets (suggested/written by various department members) into a single version. This single version will then be vetted in detail by the department and by a formal bylaws committee. Dr. Neerchal said the self-study required for the Academic Program Review would need to be sent to the external reviewers at least a month before their campus visit. In case the visit is scheduled for October (and not deferred), the completed self-study would be required by September, which means a draft would be needed at the departmental retreat. (As per custom this retreat is on the Mon or Tue before Fall classes start. So keep Aug 25 and Aug 26 free - Dr. Neerchal said he will announce the exact date later.) I'm glad we were able to come together and make progress on these important issues. I look forward to more progress during the summer as well as during the departmental retreat. Manil