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Grand Valley State University

Highlight of ECS Meeting of January 26, and Preview of UAS Meeting of February 2, 2024

 

In an effort to improve communication between ECS/UAS and faculty colleagues, the Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) at its August 16, 2023, retreat reaffirmed a recommendation from August 12, 2021, that each week, a general message be sent out to all faculty. This message will highlight the immediate past ECS/UAS meeting and give a preview of the upcoming ECS/UAS meeting. In particular, the highlight will summarize the key agenda items and provide context on the key votes; the pros and cons will be summarized and the key arguments for each highlighted. Herein are the highlights of the ECS meeting of January 26, and a preview of the UAS meeting of February 2, 2024. Meetings of the ECS are restricted to members of the ECS, their alternates, and others whom the ECS may invite, pursuant to SG 1.01.7.2. Meetings of the UAS are open pursuant to SG 1.01.6.2.

Highlights of ECS Meeting of January 26, 2024

Chair’s Report

  • All faculty are reminded to participate in the upcoming COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey which the Provost discussed in a communication in late November.  GVSU has joined The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) for the next several years.  This is a long-term project at the Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, focusing on faculty. The survey will launch during the first full week of February and will remain open for several weeks. All tenure-line and affiliate faculty will receive emails, inviting them to complete the survey.  We will receive the findings from COACHE this summer, and in Fall 2024, GVSU faculty will be engaged to review the findings and to start to make changes.  Details can be found on our GVSU COACHE website.
  • Winter census reports were shared, which are accessible on the Institutional Analysis website. The retention rate for Winter 2023 is 92.1%. By class, the retention rate is 91.7% for first-year students, 97.8% for sophomores, and 95.6% for juniors.
  • Upcoming events for Democracy 101 are January 31, February 28, and March 27.

Provost's Report

  • The Provost’s theme of the week was student success. Dr. Mary Murphy, the Herman B Wells Endowed Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Indiana University and Founder of the Equity Accelerator, spoke on campus last week.
  • Two Town Halls were held with Provost Mili, VP Truss, and VP Hall-Jones. Another session will be held today, 1/30 at 3:00 pm on the Pew Campus.
  • The fourth of President Mantella’s five priorities is adult education. Dr. Kara Van Dam will present an initiative around Educating Adult Learners at Scale to UAS this Friday, February 2.

Student Senate President's Report

  • The State of the Student Senate address went well. The promotional video on restructuring was debuted.
  • The Student Senate is preparing for the President’s Ball, to be held on Friday, February 2 at 6 pm at DeVos Place.

New Business

  • The Digital Literacy Taskforce was introduced and shared their proposed definition of digital literacy: “ Digital literacy is the ability to use, create, evaluate, and engage critically with digital technologies to complete tasks safely and ethically in professional and civic contexts.” Would also like to develop a digital literacy inventory. The motion to support with recommendation to UAS passed unanimously.
  • Bias statements for students and faculty when completing/reviewing LIFT evaluations were drafted last year with FFPC and the I & E Office, which was approved by UAS, but someone at UAS shared about potential backlash if a statement was included. FFPC delved into the research around this. FFPC went forward with the statements as these can educate, and it is a public acknowledgement for those who have suffered from bias that we strive to uphold standards of equity and inclusion. The motion to support with recommendation to UAS was unanimously supported.
  • Faculty were selected for the taskforce on Shared Governance Review (SHGR).
  • An update on consent agenda for UAS was shared.
  • The proposed topic for a potential faculty forum is “Laker Readiness: What faculty, staff, and administrators can do to meet the demands, challenges, and needs of our growing student population.” The body discussed whether faculty would connect with this title and see it as something they would choose to attend. On the other hand, perhaps the Townhalls organized by Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Enrollment Management have already provided an avenue to share concerns and challenges and how we might work together to address them? Therefore, perhaps in respect of faculty time and to avoid duplication, we can skip this semester’s faculty forum and plan for one in Fall 2024, except if faculty and/or ECS feels otherwise.
  • The theme for the 2024 UAS Newsletter will be The Role of Shared Governance in Co-Creating Laker Readiness. All faculty who would like to contribute an article (a maximum of one page) should contact Chair Ngassa and plan to submit their articles by the deadline of April 1.

For more details on the above items, please go here.

Preview of UAS Meeting of February 2, 2024

  • Academic Affairs Budget Presentation
  • New Complaints and Grievance Process
  • Presentation of the Bellamy Creek Program
  • Presentation and Discussion on Educating Adult Learners at Scale
  • Test-Optional and Holistic Admission Task Force Report
  • Proposed Changes to the Campus Life Committee
  • Academic Policies and Standards Committee (APSC) Memo on Policy Language Surrounding Academic Minors
  • Online Education and Microcredential Council (OEMC) Memo on Faculty Course Approval
  • Proposed University Definition of Digital Literacy & Proposed Inventory Process
  • Faculty Personnel Policy Committee (FPPC) Memo on Bias Statements for Students and Faculty Revised

Please, feel free to reach out to your ECS or UAS representative from your College/University Libraries to provide input on any ECS agenda item that you may like to weigh in on.

Thank you for your continuous interest in faculty governance.

Sincerely,

Felix N. Ngassa
Chair of ECS/UAS 2023-2024

ECS Membership

1 Campus Drive

3090 James H. Zumberge Hall
Allendale, MI 49401

 

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