Dr. Yates- Provost Insights & Academic Update
The provost began by noting that online work has been isolating and lonely, but he said that there is light at the end of the tunnel. He committed to meet with the Faculty Senate President every week or two to hear our concerns, and he said that many of the problems we had been discussing were the result of communication between units not being streamlined. He noted that in the registrar’s office we are still doing things manually that could be automated. Every time there’s a catalog change it has to be manually scripted. The same is true of student registration. We need a system that will tell us how many students are going to need a class. The DegreeWorks software being implemented will help with this. In addition, Dr. Yates said, we are hiring three new people for the registrar’s office.
Continuing his report (after extra time was voted), the provost reported that both the provost search and the tenure and promotion process were progressing on track. There was confusion around tenure and promotion at first, but it is now up and running. There will be recommendations for the March board meeting, and there will be a meeting this spring semester for people who are going up for tenure or promotion in the 2021-2022 academic year.
7. Senate Committee Report [5 minutes each]
a Academic Policy Committee report [5 minute time limit]
When it starts meeting this semester, Senator Gyawali reported, the APC will be looking at the processes around updates of the catalog, handbook and calendar and problems in scheduling and advising. He said that he will be inviting Dr. Malone to join an APC meeting about advising. APC will also be looking at policies around faculty exchanges with other institutions and study abroad.
b. Curriculum Committee report [5 minute time limit]
Senator Wang was not present, and there was no Curriculum Committee report.
c. Professional Concerns Committee report [5 minute time limit]
Senator Valentine said that this semester PCC will return to the issue of revising the Faculty Handbook policies on the hiring of eans and evaluation of chairs. It will also be looking at the definitions of “acting” and “interim” status as they are being used for administrative positions, degree reporting for ABD faculty and new degrees and the contract process for faculty overloads.
d. Budget and Academic Support Committee report [5 minute time limit] Senator Novelo reported that BASC will meet next Friday and set an agenda for the spring semester.
8. Faculty Regent Updates [5 minute time limit]
a. Dr. Moffett-BOR
Not present. No report.
9. Faculty ombudsman report [5 minute time limit]