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A student expressed frustration with the tone of the meeting and indicated the student meeting had not proceeded in that way. Students need answers; they have been seeking information about how the search was conducted.

President Sipes responded that faculty are as interested as students to find answers. Senate has submitted an open records request. She reiterated that the purpose of the meeting today was not to discuss the search process but to discuss a vote of confidence.

An alum argued that this really is all about the search. He said that Dr. Thompson has had six months on the job and the Board has decided he was not the right fit. He dismissed the allegation of mishandling of funds by one presidential candidate by noting something similar had had happened when George Reid was President.

A guest said he was a new faculty member and had left a long career in industry in order to teach. Since he was new, he had not heard specifics about past grievances against the Board. He asked what we hope to accomplish by going forward and felt he had not heard that yet.

A student responded to the alum's point about misuse of funds saying we can't afford to lose any more money.

A member of the alumni group from the Indianapolis reported that his group was against a confidence vote. He said that if there is a vote of confidence, it should be against the faculty.

VPAA Jackson argued that there are going to be parts of the search process we may not like. Teaching students is the most important thing we do. Everything is meaningless if students don't graduate. There is a problem when students complain that faculty won't email them back. She argued that she has tried to stay away from Faculty Senate processes for the sake of shared governance but until she can go to the Board with a decent graduation rate faculty are living in a glass house.

President Sipes noted her 17 years’ service to the university and questioned the notion that the graduation rate is all the faculty’s fault. That is like saying it’s all the Board’s fault. Faculty want to work with the Board to solve these problems.

Student Regent Williams added that the students had a more collegial meeting than this one and that faculty need to set an example for students.

A student expressed his feeling that there is a lack of responsibility being taken. He also noted the Student Regent should come to the students, not the other way around. Inclusiveness should be the top priority.

President Sipes suggested Regents McFayden and Williams seek to further the dialogue with their constituents.