Agenda for Shimer College Assembly of 11/14

The Shimer College Assembly, the self-governing body of Shimer College, will assemble on Sunday, November 14, 2010, at 4 PM in the Cinderella Lounge at Shimer. Alumni are non-voting members of the Assembly, and are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

The Assembly will be webcast, in part for the benefit of students in the Oxford program. It will also be livetweeted, commencing at @shimerians and continuing to @samuelhenderson if necessary.

Agenda for the Meeting of the Shimer College Assembly
November 14, 2010 – 4 PM

1) Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of September 12, 2010 (prepared by Colleen McCarroll)

2) Committee Report Updates and Questions

3) State of Academic Affairs Address (David Shiner)

4) Elections to Assembly Committees
a. Financial Aid Policy ‐ 3 staff members (at least 2 from the faculty), 2 Weekday students, 1 Weekend student (tenure 11‐15‐10 until late Fall 2011)
b. Quality of Life Committee ‐ 1 Assembly member (tenure 11‐15‐10 until early Fall 2011)
c. Academic Planning Committee ‐ 1 Weekday student (tenure 1‐1‐11 until August 2011)

5) Proposal for an addition to the section on “Powers of the Assembly” in the Constitution of the Assembly
(proposed and motivated by Jonathan Timm):

Election of members to any Assembly committee, as well as of representatives to the Board of Trustees, may occur online. Voting on all other matters will only occur in person at Assembly or committee meetings. Members of the Assembly who are not physically present at an Assembly meeting may only vote remotely if they are participating in a remotely located, official Shimer College program.

6) Proposal for an amendment to the “Preamble” to the Constitution of the Assembly (proposed and motivated by Eileen Buchanan and Albert Fernandez):

Current Language:

The Assembly recognizes the Board of Trustees as the ultimate legal authority of the College. Should there arise a conflict between any section of the Assembly Constitution and the By-laws of the Board of Trustees, the By-laws will take precedence.
The Assembly recognizes the President as the chief executive administrator of the College.
The Assembly recognizes that the College Faculty is authorized to maintain, develop and revise the instructional program of the College. This authorization includes responsibility for curriculum content, degree requirements, recommendation of graduates, college examinations, and academic lectures and convocations.

Proposed Language:

The Assembly recognizes the Board of Trustees as the legal authority of the College.
The Assembly recognizes the President as the chief executive administrator of the College.
The Assembly recognizes the College Faculty as the academic authority of the College.
The Faculty maintains, develops, and revises the instructional program of the College. Its authority includes responsibility for curriculum content, degree requirements, recommendation of graduates, College examinations, and academic lectures and convocations.

7) Announcements

8) Adjournment

[Original PDF of Assembly Agenda]