Editor’s note: For more detailed information, including meeting minutes, visit the Faculty Senate website.

Members of the Faculty Senate heard updates from the Office of the Provost and the General Education Committee and viewed a presentation on advancing sustainability at UD during their March meeting.

Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Matt Kinservik delivered the provost’s report and encouraged faculty members to participate in the “Bringing in the Bystander” training program through Student Wellness which focuses on ending sexual misconduct.

Kinservik also updated the Faculty Senate on the progress of the Graduate College Working Group, which has developed a draft white paper and is looking for feedback. An open session for the campus community to provide comment will be held on April 7 (the location is still being determined).

“I want to thank Ann Ardis for leading this charge, as well as all members of the working group for their commitment to this effort,” Kinservik said.

Faculty members also were encouraged to make students aware of the Blue Hen Success Grants, which are small awards available to eligible upperclassmen who are closing in on graduation but facing minor shortfalls in paying their tuition or fees. Eligible students are encouraged to contact Student Financial Services.

Christopher Knight, chair of the General Education Committee, and Rusty Lee, chair of the Undergraduate Studies Committee, thanked their faculty colleagues for working with them on the General Education mapping project.  

As a result of input from departments in all colleges, 92 percent of courses were mapped to determine the degree to which they address the University’s General Education Objectives, which outline the skills students are expected to master before graduation. All departments have received the curriculum maps for their majors, which will enable faculty to determine if any changes are warranted to help coursework better address the objectives.

The Faculty Senate also heard a presentation from Michael Chajes, co-chair of the UD Sustainability Task Force, titled “A Vision for Advancing Sustainability at UD.” He noted the progress of the task force in organizing several events and working on sustainability grants and projects, and said there is a proposal to create an Office of Sustainability for UD that was part of the University’s strategic plan. Chajes also said the task force is working on some degree programs or undergraduate certificate programs and is working on a partnership with the city of Newark and state Solid Waste Authority.

The Faculty Senate also approved nine resolutions, most of which were degree name changes, and, after thoughtful discussion, rejected a resolution to support a sustainable energy goal that UD power its campuses and installations with 100 percent renewable energy by January 2020.