Optimizing Committee Meetings Using RONR James J. Connors, PRP
As a university professor, I have had the pleasure of chairing my university’s curriculum committee for the past two years. This committee meets weekly to discuss proposed new courses, course changes, degree program requirements, new degrees and other academic issues. The committee consists of representatives from all seven colleges at the University of Idaho, a small land-grant university in Moscow, Idaho. As the chair of the University Curriculum Committee (UCC), I’m in the unique position of knowing parliamentary procedure and serving as a parliamentarian. As a UCC committee member, prior to serving as chair, I noticed that a lot of time was spent voting on approval of the minutes, waiting on members to move and second motions and asking for a motion to adjourn the meeting. When I began my tenure as committee chair, I proposed several committee procedures prescribed in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 8
National Parliamentarian • Winter 2022
(RONR) to improve the efficiency of the weekly meetings and facilitate handling of the numerous proposals that come before the committee members. The committee accepted the following proposed procedures. Assumed Motion Most of the proposals that come before UCC have already been discussed and approved at the department and college levels. Resolutions are entered into an on-line Curriculum Information System so all members can view the proposals on their computers during the virtual meetings held on Zoom. This follows the recommendation in RONR (12th ed.) 4:5 that, “A resolution, or a long or complicated motion, should be prepared in advance of the meeting, if possible, and should be put into writing before it is offered.” These proposals are also put on the weekly agenda that is disseminated to the committee members at least five
