Faculty Senate meets
May 17, 2018
Senate approves graduate college proposal, revision to nondiscrimination policy
The University of Delaware Faculty Senate approved several resolutions, including endorsement of the creation of a graduate college and suggestions for revisions to the nondiscrimination policy at its final meeting of the academic year, held May 7 in Gore Hall.
The goal of the graduate college is to expand on current graduate programming and to foster infrastructure and support for graduate students. The plan going forward is to draft by-laws and an organizational structure that establishes how the graduate college will interface with existing graduate programming within the seven other colleges. Once these are approved by the Senate, a resolution to approve the creation of a graduate college by Jan. 1, 2019, can move forward.
The Senate also approved proposed revisions to the nondiscrimination policy enacted by the administration in the summer of 2017. The initial issues raised by the Committee on Faculty Welfare and Privileges in December,including lack of due process and unclear standards of evidence, were withdrawn. The Senate held open hearings on the policy in February and March. The approved policy can be found here.
In other action, the Senate approved 33 items on the consent agenda and 26 additional resolutions. These included updating the names of programs in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences to be consistent with the department’s name change, changing the name of the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences to the Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences, and changing the name of the bachelor of science in athletic training to bachelor of science in sports health.
Several resolutions disestablished degrees, including landscape horticulture and design, the B.S. in psychology and the M.S. in neonatal nurse practitioner.
Senators voted to add the following programs and degrees: an M.S./D.I. in nutrition and dietetics/dietetics internship; a M.S. in nursing health systems leadership; an M.A. in educational leadership; a master in public policy; a bachelor of materials science and engineering; a community engagement scholars course of study; and a 4+1 combined B.S./M.S. in medical diagnostics and medical sciences.
The Senate also approved resolutions to add an ombudsperson at the University, approving the 2018-19 residence life plans and setting next year’s Faculty Senate meeting dates. Also approved was a resolution recommending that a scholarship be created at UD for children of first responders working in Delaware (including emergency personnel, law enforcement officers, teachers, coaches and administrators) who are killed while performing their duties.
Senators also elected new officers and selected committee members for the 2018-19 academic year:
- President-Elect: Matthew Robinson, hospitality business management
- Vice President: Lynnette Overby, theatre
- Committee on Committees Members at Large: Jacqueline L. Fajardo, chemistry and biochemistry; and Dannagal Young, communication.
Outgoing Faculty Senate President Martha Buell congratulated the new officials and presented the 2018 Faculty Senate excellence awards recognizing teaching, mentoring and scholarship. The full list of winners can be found here.
Buell also presented the 2018 Jon Olson Exemplary Senate Service Award to Donald Lehman, an associate professor of medical laboratory sciences.
“I’ve been on the Senate for a while, and he has been a wonderful member and colleague,” Buell said.
In her announcements, Buell shared previews of next year’s work, which include bringing forward additional policies based on the Provost’s Tenure Track Commission Report, including revising the section on pre-tenure reviews, faculty mentoring and the expedited tenure review process. She also indicated that there is a need for Senate review and approval of the Academic Program Review process.
In response to a senator’s request for an update on the provost search, UD President Dennis Assanis explained the process and said the search is down to two candidates.
“We have two phenomenal people,” Assanis said. “Either one of them deserves to be provost at any of the greatest institutions that exist in North America.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, senators thanked Buell for her service as president.
“I have loved every single minute of this,” Buell said. “Thank you all for making this a great year for me.”
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