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Scenes from Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate - Welcome Letter

TO: University Faculty and Members of the University Community

FROM: James H. Miller, Chair, Faculty Senate

DATE: September 5, 2007

SUBJECT: The Faculty Senate

Welcome to the 2007-2008 academic year. Here is an update on Faculty Senate (FS) related activities that occurred over the summer, a preliminary list of goals of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee (FSEC), and information on how you can keep informed of FS activities and become more involved in FS decision-making.

Some of you may be unfamiliar with the Senate and its role in university governance. The following text from our web site (www.uri.edu/facsen/) summarizes its duties and responsibilities:

The Faculty Senate, subject to the provisions of state and federal law, subject to consistency with the general objectives established by its governing Board, and subject to the referendum power of the General Faculty, has ultimate legislative power on educational policies. With the concurrence of the President, the Faculty Senate has the authority to formulate policy concerning teaching and research, study, exercise, discipline and government: for example, and without excluding others not listed, academic standards (scholastic standing, admission and dismissal policy, class attendance, grading systems, etc.), the University calendar, University-wide curriculum matters both graduate and undergraduate, and research and patent policy as they may affect the faculty as a whole.

Over the summer, the FSEC, Senators and other faculty continued to work on various committees and issues:

  • The FSEC met twice to plan Fall FS meetings, to recruit people for service on various committees, and to finalize last year's legislation for inclusion in the University Manual. FSEC members attended a meeting of the Board of Governors for Higher Education (BGHE), as well as the monthly Academic Affairs Committee meetings of the BGHE.

  • The FSEC also attended an orientation for the Joint Strategic Planning Committee (JSPC).

  • The FSEC has continued to work with the President and his staff on budget issues for the FY 2009 Budget Request to the BGHE.

After several discussions and analysis of feedback from faculty, the FSEC has identified the following preliminary list of goals for the upcoming academic year. We enthusiastically welcome your input and suggestions.

  • Push for passage of a bill in the Rhode Island General Assembly to facilitate matching funds for programs such as Land Grant, Sea Grant and any other federal programs requiring match.

  • Continue to work with the Vice President for Administration, the Vice Provost for Information Technology Services, and others to implement a "paperless" URI.

  • Work with the new Vice President for Research and Economic Development to make URI more competitive in acquiring funding for research that challenges and stimulates our faculty, staff, graduate students and undergraduates.

  • Promote greater faculty engagement in development of policies and shared governance at all levels including reaching out to the faculty for service on Faculty Senate and joint committees.

  • Increase resources for improving classrooms and classroom support services.

  • Influence the priority of JSPC's budget recommendations for next fiscal cycle.

  • Participate as members of the JSPC in continually seeking the best means for implementation of the University's 2006-2009 Strategic Plan.

Finally, please consider volunteering your time and expertise by serving on FS committees. After all, most of the work needed to bring the above listed goals to fruition is through the work of the Senate Committees. For information on meeting times, committee reports, legislative action, names of Senators, etc., you can consult the Faculty Senate web site: http://www.uri.edu/facsen/ or join the Senate listserver: FACSEN-BUS@PETE.URI.EDU. Please contact a Senator or any of the following FSEC members to discuss questions, concerns, or suggestions you have regarding issues related to the Faculty Senate or the JSPC.

  • James Miller, Chairperson, Ocean Engineering, 4-6540, miller@uri.edu
  • Celest Martin, Vice Chairperson, Writing, 4-4570, celest@mail.uri.edu
  • Laura Beauvais, Business, 4-4341, beauvais@uri.edu
  • Barbara Costello, Sociology, 4-2877,costello@uri.edu
  • David Fastovsky, Geosciences, 4-2185, defastov@uri.edu
  • Dana Kovarsky, Communicative Disorders, 4-2735, dana@uri.edu
  • Sheila Black Grubman, FS Coordinator, 4-2616, sheilafs@uri.edu

Since shared governance on JSPC works better when the Faculty Senate's representatives can respond quickly and within URI and state administrative deadlines, it is vital that you remain informed and that you keep Senators updated regarding matters of interest to faculty and students.