In an effort to improve communication between ECS/UAS and faculty colleagues, the Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) at its August 12, 2021 retreat recommended that each week, a general message will 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 28, 2022 and a preview of the UAS meeting of February 4, 2022. 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 January 28, 2022
Chair’s Report:
- The theme for the UAS 2021-22 Newsletter is “Adapting to Change and Reaching Higher Together”. The deadline to submit an article and photo is March 28, 2022. All faculty are invited to submit an article on what adapting to change and reaching higher together means to them.
- Faculty forums will be held Tuesday February 22, 10:30-12 and Wednesday February 23, 2:30-4.
- The Provost Search campus interviews are now concluded. The search committee will review feedback surveys, discuss the strengths and areas of growth of each finalist and make a recommendation to the President.
- UAS meets next on Friday, February 4.
Provost’s Report
- The data-management that the current LMS (Blackboard) provides is needed for accreditation for some programs. Canvas may provide this at some point in the future, but currently does not. GVSU will maintain the current Blackboard contract until 2024. In 2024, the transition to either Blackboard Ultra or Canvas will begin. An email will be sent about this within the next week or so.
Student Senate President’s Report
- Thank you to those who attended the State of the Student Body. The recording will be uploaded to the Student Senate website.
New Business
- Title IX Report and Discussion with External Investigators: ECS met with and asked questions of the external reviewers of Title IX. The reviewers will meet with UAS on February 11, 2022. The meeting will be from 3:00-5:00.
- Laker Impression of Faculty Teaching-Management Committee (LIFT-MC) Response to the Equity in Personnel Processes (EPP) Task Force Recommendations: These recommendations will be sent to the Faculty Personnel Policy Committee (FPPC).
- University Assessment Committee (UAC) Memo on the Recommendations from the Pre-major and Service Course Task Force: Information was shared about encouraging units to use assessment data from courses other than capstones. The report was accepted unanimously. No further action was needed, as this is already happening.
- FPPC Memo on 12-Month Faculty Charge: Unanimously supported with recommendation to UAS.
- Academic Policies and Standards Committee (APSC) Memo on 58-Credit Rule: No change to the 58-Credit Rule was recommended, so no further action is needed.
- APSC Memo on Graduation Honors Policy: Recommendation to change the requirements for graduation honors from above the previous year’s 90th percentile for cum laude, above the previous year’s 95th percentile for magna cum laude and 4.0 for summa cum laude to 3.5-3.749 for cum laude, 3.750-3.899 for magna cum laude, and 3.9-4.0 for summa cum laude. Unanimously supported with recommendation to UAS.
Preview of UAS Meeting of February 4, 2022
- Update on the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Review Discussion.
- Faculty Salary and Budget Committee (FSBC) Memo on Review of Phased Retirement
- Graduate Council (GC) Memo on Policy Change to Admissions Requirement
- General Education Committee (GEC) Memo on Leadership and Succession Planning
- Faculty Personnel Policy Committee (FPPC) Memo on 12-Month Faculty
- Academic Policies and Standards Committee (APSC) Memo on Graduation Honors Policy
For more details on the above items, please go here.
Please, feel free to reach out to your ECS or UAS representative from your College/University Libraries in order to provide input on any UAS 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 2021-2022
