[Faculty] College Policy for Voting by Email

Sun Aug 21 20:36:37 PDT 2016

Dear Colleagues:

I am in agreement with the sentiments, questions, and concerns raised by
Morsi & Kumar.  Important changes to how the College conducts its shared
governance (i.e., its Constitution and Bylaws) need to be properly vetted
in duly convened meetings that are conducive to interactive discussion.

After 33 years at SDSU, I do not understand the rush to implement
electronic voting.  I presume that the faculty votes only on issues that
are important to the College and its faculty, and that this issue could
have a strong impact (intended or otherwise).  Changing or adding something
to our Constitution and Bylaws falls under this category so I recommend
that we consider this issue -- the need and procedure for electronic voting
-- in an orderly (unrushed) manner, following both the letter and spirit of
our current Constitution and Bylaws.

Sincerely, Andrew Szeto

On Sun, Aug 21, 2016 at 7:59 PM, Sunil Kumar <skumar at mail.sdsu.edu> wrote:

> Monte,
> Besides the issue raised by Khaled, I wonder what is the rush to put this
> policy to vote when the faculty has been given almost no time to deliberate
> on it with their colleagues. I suggest that it be tabled tomorrow and let
> the appropriate committee discuss it and then present to faculty.
> Sunil
>
> On Aug 21, 2016 7:43 PM, "Prof. K. Morsi ." <kmorsi at mail.sdsu.edu> wrote:
>
>> I am very concerned that our Constitution and By-Laws Committee has been
>> left out of this process. Kindly note that it has been a long-standing
>> policy that our committee reviews and discusses any motion to amend our
>> policy file, and report our recommendations to the COE faculty at large.
>> This is critical in making sure we do not make anything Law without proper
>> vetting. Law/Policy making cannot be rushed, it will stick with us for
>> years to come and we will be "bound" by it.
>>
>> If we do not follow due process, then today it is voting by email (for
>> which the current proposed wording needs to be discussed and explained, to
>> fully understand its implications) tomorrow it can be an even more serious
>> issue.
>>
>> In summary, by-passing the College Constitutional and By-Laws Committee
>> is not in our best interest as a College.
>>
>> Respectfully,
>>
>> Khaled
>>
>> K. Morsi, D.Phil (Oxon.)
>> Professor & Director
>> Advanced Materials Processing Laboratory (AMPL)
>> Department of Mechanical Engineering
>> San Diego State University
>> Campanile Drive
>> San Diego, CA 92182
>> Tel: 619 594 2903
>> Fax: 619 594 3599
>> Website: http://eon.sdsu.edu/~morsi
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Aug 21, 2016 at 6:39 PM, Subrata (Sooby) Bhattacharjee <
>> prof.bhattacharjee at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Monte,
>>>
>>> The electronic consent should be sent to an address such as
>>> secretary at engineering.sdsu.edu, not anyone's personal inbox in my
>>> opinion. There may be even better ways. You may talk to Chris to find out
>>> if there are better options for e-voting.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Sooby
>>>
>>> Subrata (Sooby) Bhattacharjee, Ph.D., ASME Fellow
>>> Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department
>>> Affiliated Professor, Computer Science Department
>>> San Diego State University
>>>
>>> prof.bhattacharjee at gmail.com
>>> Tel: (619)-594-6080; Fax: (619)-594-3599; Office: E323-K; Lab: E-331
>>>
>>> Thermodynamics Courseware: http://www.thermofluids.net
>>> Research Website: http://flame.sdsu.edu <http://mechanical.sdsu.edu>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Aug 20, 2016 at 9:33 PM, Subrata (Sooby) Bhattacharjee <
>>> prof.bhattacharjee at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> As the College secretary, I am forwarding this message that I received
>>>> from the dean at his request.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>>
>>>> Sooby
>>>>
>>>> Dear Colleagues:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> We need to amend the CoE Policy to include a voting policy by email.
>>>> Any such motion should be distributed to faculty at least five working days
>>>> prior to the meeting unless the rule is waived by two-thirds of those
>>>> present and voting.
>>>>
>>>> Here is the first draft of an amendment to the CoE Bylaws, Section B-3
>>>> Voting (the text in red font is new):
>>>>
>>>> *"B-3 Voting*
>>>>
>>>> *Normally, Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the voting procedure.
>>>> However, in the event a motion for a secret ballot vote is made and
>>>> seconded, the chair shall conduct a secret ballot vote.*
>>>>
>>>> *1.** Voting b**y Email*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *1.1  Faculty Assembly actions may be taken by written consent when
>>>> two-thirds of the electorate of the Assembly have indicated they are in
>>>> favor of the action and will be available to sign and return a written
>>>> consent.1.2  The following factors will be considered by t**he Dean*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> * before determining whether to ask for an action by written consent:
>>>> (a) Whether the action is a routine action, e.g., approval of the minutes.
>>>> (b) Whether the decision would be better made after further discussion.
>>>> (c) How soon a decision is required.1.3  If after considering the above
>>>> factors, the Dean determines it would be best to take the action by
>>>> two-thirds majority written consent, the Dean may have the Secretary draft
>>>> the proposed action and email it to Faculty Assembly.1.4  Each faculty
>>>> shall electronically sign and submit the written consent to the Secretary
>>>> by email within 24 hours unless another deadline is provided in the
>>>> email.1.5  Upon the Secretary's receipt and verification of all written
>>>> consents approving the action, the action is duly approved. The Secretary
>>>> will confirm whether the action has passed or failed by email to all
>>>> faculty and will record the ratification in the minutes of the next faculty
>>>> meeting."*
>>>>
>>>> At our Retreat on Monday, before bringing this motion to the floor, I
>>>> will be seeking your approval for waiving the 5-day rule.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Monte
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
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>>
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>

-- 
Andrew Y. J. Szeto, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor and IEEE Fellow
Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive  MC 1309
San Diego, CA. 92182-1309
619-594-5723 - voice   619-594-2654 - FAX
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