REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE OCTOBER 7, 1996 MINUTES Senators excused were: Gina Bryant, Pamela Cummings, Jack Gallagher, Larry Kalkstein, Edward Kerner, Francis Kwansa, Tommy Richardson, Carolyn Thoroughgood Senators absent were: Joseph Glutting, Shawn Phillips I. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA The agenda was adopted as submitted. II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES The minutes of the September 9, 1996 meeting were approved as distributed. III. REMARKS BY PROVOST SCHIAVELLI The Provost had no remarks. IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS President Palley announced two open hearings to discuss the reorganization and merger of the Colleges of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation, and Nursing; and the reorganization and merger of the Colleges of Education, Human Resources, and Urban Affairs and Public Policy. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Recommendation from the Committee on Student Life (R. Bennett, Chairperson '95-96) to rescind the implementation of the no pledging policy. This item was originally introduced at the September 9, 1996 Faculty Senate meeting but deferred for the purpose of giving Senators additional time to review the "University of Delaware Greek System FIVE STAR Chapter Evaluation." Senator W. Marshall claimed a lack of adequate consultation with the Black student groups. After considerable discussion, a request was made that the original resolution pertaining to pledging, adopted by the Faculty Senate in May 1992 be read. Since the Committee on Student Life had not endorsed the proposed evaluation system, and after Senator J. Olson had reminded the Faculty Senate of its powers on matters governing student life, Secretary F. Dilley proposed to amend the recommendation by deleting the two AWhereas@ clauses which made specific reference to that evaluation system, and to shorten the text of the "Resolved" section so that it would end after the words "1998-1999." The amendment was seconded by Senator J. Hildebrandt, and failed by a vote of 27 to 25. The original resolution, listed below, was adopted by a vote of 49 to 6. WHEREAS, the University of Delaware Faculty Senate in May 1992 passed a resolution eliminating the Greek Pledging Process by 1997-1998, and WHEREAS, the University of Delaware Faculty Senate in May 1992 called for a new Greek Task Force for the academic year of 1997-1998 to re-evaluate the status of Greek life, and WHEREAS, the Office of Student Life has developed a Greek Organization Accreditation Process, effective in the academic year 1996-1997, and WHEREAS, this Greek Organization Accreditation Process will be a thorough review and evaluation of each Greek organization in the areas of academic progress, financial management, university/community/relations and service, campus involvement, and membership intake, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the imposition of the Ano pledging@ resolution be postponed until 1998-1999 to allow the University to evaluate the progress made through the Accreditation Process. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Senator A. McNeil introduced the following resolution: WHEREAS, a student's first-semester is the most critical period in the transition to college life, therefore be it RESOLVED, that, beginning 1997-1998, only a fraternity or sorority with a current Five-Star rating in the Greek Organization Accreditation Process, as approved by the Faculty Senate, be permitted to rush first-semester students. President Palley indicated that the resolution would be forwarded to the appropriate Faculty Senate committee. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Frank Dilley Secretary University Faculty Senate FD/rg