The University of Delaware’s Faculty Senate expanded educational access and opportunity through the approval of new academic degrees, certificates and pathways at its meeting on April 7.

In total, the Senate approved 149 updates to undergraduate programs and 64 updates to graduate programs through the Consent Agenda and Regular Agenda. Updates included the creation of academic programs, revisions of existing programs and disestablishment of programs that are being repositioned to better meet students’ needs, based on the recommendations of Senate committees

Among the new academic programs that were approved were two new associate degree pathways, one proposed by the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration and one by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. Both pathways are designed for students to obtain a two-year degree on their way to completing a four-year degree through the Associate Pathways Program. 

The meeting also included updates on several topics.

Provost Laura Carlson invited faculty to meet with her — along with Miguel Garcia-Diaz, vice president for research, scholarship and innovation, and José-Luis Riera, vice president for the Division of Student Life — to address questions about federal executive orders.

Carlson also shared information about the draft academic calendar for 2027-28, stating it returns to the regular cadence of instructional days during winter session.

The One Idea, One Slide Summit, Carlson said, will be on May 16 in Pearson Hall Auditorium. “The Summit is a platform for us to foster faculty-pitched ideas and put some resources behind them,” Carlson said. All are welcome to submit or attend the Summit, where presenters have two minutes to explain one slide that summarizes their idea. There will be networking opportunities during the event as well, said Carlson.

Carlson encouraged faculty to participate in UD’s 175th Commencement ceremony on May 24, with speaker Matt O’Donnell, co-anchor of “Action News Mornings in Philadelphia.”

Faculty Senate President Vickie Fedele announced that the new capital-planning resolution, which was voted to return to the proposing committees in the March 3 Faculty Senate meeting, will likely be updated and proposed again in May.

Fedele, associate professor of English and women and gender studies in the Associate in Arts Program, continued to encourage faculty to engage with Board of Trustees meetings. She reminded senators that two senate representatives would be attending each upcoming Board of Trustees committee meeting and that committee agendas would be made available for their review. Fedele also encouraged senators to forward any questions that they or their colleagues had about agenda items to senate leadership for discussion with board committee members or university administrators.

In new business, Deni Galileo, professor of biological sciences, reminded faculty that healthcare open enrollment is May 1-16. Elections will not rollover from the previous year, therefore everyone must actively elect their coverage.

Further information about the Faculty Senate, including meeting minutes and agendas, can be found on its website.