Editor’s note: Beginning with the Faculty Senate meeting of Oct. 6, 2025, UDaily coverage will consist of a short Inside UD item that informs the University community when the minutes and video recording of the meeting are available on the Faculty Senate website.

The University of Delaware’s Faculty Senate kicked off the fall semester at its Sept. 8 meeting, with leaders from the faculty and administration laying the groundwork for the academic year ahead.

In his introductory remarks, Faculty Senate President John Jebb reminded senators of their powers, privileges and responsibilities, as well as the overall importance of the monthly meetings.

“As representatives, we should take everything — the votes, remarks and committee reports — back to our units,” he said. “Here is where the information comes so that it can be shared with the broader faculty — we should strive to keep our unit colleagues informed on what we learn here.”

Karen Stein, Faculty Senate parliamentarian, reviewed the purpose of Robert's Rule of Order and why they have been adopted by the Faculty Senate: to give everyone a fair chance to speak, to outline a clear process for decision-making and to provide a way to end discussions and the meeting.

Interim President Laura Carlson reflected on a common theme in conversations she’s had with campus partners since her term began July 1, reminding people that she is the same person as when she served as provost, just now working down the hall.

“This is a team effort, and I feel very fortunate to be in this role,” she said, signaling a focus on “how we, as a community, can align our goals together in a way that moves us all forward, individually and institutionally.”

Carlson said that her goal is to bring more closely together the work of the offices of the President, the Provost, and the Executive Vice President. “We have one mission, and I think we all need to be running towards it,” she said. “I am searching for ways to bring us together, in much better alignment.”

One way to foster communication and collaboration is through open dialogue, such as the monthly Zoom-ins hosted by Carlson and Interim Provost Bill Farquhar that serve as online discussions open to all for questions and answers and conversation.

“I really want to lean into the theme of communication — you’ll hear from me a lot,” said Farquhar. “I will be doing several college visits, but please send me feedback via email, and know that I'm happy to meet with anyone.”

Additional community conversations are happening in a series of town hall meetings in the context of the Becoming OneUD initiative.

“They are discussions of UD’s mission and core beliefs about who we are, how we work together and what we have committed to doing together as a community,” Carlson said.

According to Carlson, these conversations form the foundation for conversations around the allocation of resources. She said that the goal is to not only be transparent with fund allocations, but to also share an easily understandable “narrative that communicates how funds are coming in and where funds are going so that we can easily assess whether they are remaining aligned with our priorities.”

Carlson provided an update on several resolutions from the May meeting, noting that the Facilities Advisory Group has been working on identifying and making recommendations about classroom renovations. In addition, the Faculty Athletics Advisory Committee met over the summer on several new initiatives in athletics, including principles around an approach to seek naming for the stadium, and athletics travel and the principles established to support these arrangements related to student wellbeing, financial issues, business and logistics.

Finally, Carlson also asked for feedback from faculty on what they would find most useful at this year’s General Faculty meeting.

Farquhar provided an update on enrollment and the search for the Graduate College dean, as well as information about the Faculty Handbook toolkit and the Research Continuity and Graduate Bridge funds.

In regular business at the meeting:

• The Regular Agenda included one graduate proposal, which was approved.

• Jebb said that there are approximately 20 new faculty senators, six new student representatives and a student intern.

• Chris Williams, chair of the Committee on Committees and Nominations, introduced the vote for the new athletic committee members, which was approved.

• Meghan McInnis-Dominguez, vice president of the Faculty Senate, said that last semester’s artificial-intelligence ad hoc committee is taking inventory of AI-related policies that exist throughout UD so that they can bring them to the attention of the Faculty Senate. She also said that the meeting’s official minutes will include links for AI-related workshops that are offered by Academic Technology Services (ATS).  

In new business, Joe Feser, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, proposed that a definition be established for dual-counted courses for accelerated programs because the current application established by the Graduate College unintentionally treats these course credits the same as transfer credits.

Also, Deni Galileo, professor of biological sciences, asked questions about the University’s obligations and commitment to academic freedom in accepting the recent philanthropic gift of $71.5 million from alumni Robert L. Siegfried, Jr. and Kathleen Marie (Horgan) Siegfried to benefit the Lerner College of Business and Economics. Former Faculty Senate President Vickie Fedele, associate professor of English and women and gender studies in the Associate in Arts Program, said she served on the University’s gift committee as an individual during its review of the Siegfried gift, not in her capacity as the senate president. She suggested that the Faculty Senate’s role should be reconsidered in future gift committee reviews.

Lerner College Dean Oliver Yao said he will gather information and address the faculty members’ concerns at the next Faculty Senate meeting.

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