Highlight of UAS Meeting of March 15, and Preview of ECS Meeting of March 22, 2024

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 UAS meeting on March 15, and a preview of the ECS meeting on March 22, 2024. Meetings of the ECS are restricted to members of the ECS, their alternates, and others whom the ECS may invite, according to SG 1.01.7.2. Meetings of the UAS are open according to SG 1.01.6.2. Any faculty member wishing to speak at a UAS meeting can request to be added as a guest by contacting the chair of ECS/UAS at least 3 days before the meeting.

Highlights of UAS Meeting of March 15, 2024

Chair’s Report

The next upcoming event date for Democracy 101 is March 27.
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 should contact Chair Ngassa and plan to submit their articles by the deadline of April 1. Please also send a photo to go with your article.
Please respond to the COACHE faculty survey, which is open until April 5.
Reach Higher Showcase is Friday, April 12 at 4 pm.
Election of the new Senate leadership for 2024-2025 will be held on Friday, April 19.

Provost's Report

Last week we interviewed three candidates for the position of Dean of the Padnos College of Engineering. I want to thank the search committee co-led by Mark Schaub, Dean of BCOIS, and Christina Keller, CEO of Cascade Engineering.
This week we are interviewing three candidates for the Dean of the College of Computing. The information is at https://www.gvsu.edu/computingsearch/
We have been working with Philip Batty to create estimates of enrollments, courses, and majors for the next 5 years.

Student Senate President's Report

The Student Senate passed legislation aimed at extending library hours the weekend before final exams. The new hours will be piloted this semester.
Student Senate elections are open from 8 am Monday, March 18 to Monday, March 25 at 5 pm.

Old Business

On the Proposed University Definition of Digital Literacy & Proposed Inventory Process: The proposed definition is “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.” The motion to support passed unanimously.
On the Faculty Personnel Policy Committee (FPPC) Memo on Bias Statements for Students and Faculty Revised: Statements were drafted last year with FFPC and the I & E Office. The motion to support passed unanimously.

New Business

On the Discussion of Creation of Test-Optional and Holistic Admissions Task Force 2: The charge of the task force was shared and UAS discussed the composition of the task force. A list of potential divisions to include and potential members was generated. The list of potential members of the task force will be reviewed by ECS on March 22 and selection made according to SG 1.01.3.4.
On the Discussion of Statement of Concern Document on Admission: UAS engaged in a robust discussion of the statement of concern drafted by UAS members. Two main issues identified were whether administrators and faculty have the same definition of shared governance, and faculty needs for serving the current and future students. Unit heads have indicated a need for more tenure-track faculty lines. The following language will be added to the memo, “We request to immediately increase the number of tenure-track faculty lines, particularly in areas with lots of large sections serving first and second-year students.” The motion to modify the statement and send it to the President and Provost was supported with 31 yay, 6 nay, and 7 abstentions. Chair Felix Ngassa, Vice Chair Courtney Karasinski, Anne Sergeant, Mary Bower Russa, Chris Pearl, Andrew Spear, Figen Mekik, and Bob Hollister will meet with the President and Provost to discuss the statement.
On the Presentation on the New Complaints and Grievance Process: Senior AVP Ed Aboufadel presented the new complaints and grievance process. A Code of Conduct Policy will replace the Collegiality Policy, and a Non-Retaliation Policy is being added.
On the Proposed Policy on Establishment, Review, and Discontinuing Academic Centers, SG 2.06 & 1.03.B.14: A new language has been proposed to replace the current language in SG 2.06. In addition, it is recommended to insert a new section SG 1.03.B.14 to establish an additional University Governance Committee. The motion to support the Proposed Changes to the Policy on Establishing, Reviewing, and Discontinuing Academic Centers, SG 2.06 & 1.03.B.14 was approved unanimously.
On the Inclusion and Equity Framework Presentation: On behalf of the Activation and Accountability Leadership team, AVP Kowalski-Braun, AVP Alisha Davis, and AVP Sean Lancaster presented the updating of the framework, which was last updated in 2015.

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

Preview of ECS Meeting of March 22, 2024

Selection of Members of the Test-Optional and Holistic Admissions Task Force 2
Faculty Personnel Policy Committee (FPPC) Memo on Evaluation of Teaching
FPPC Memo on FPPC Bylaws Change
FPPC Memo on Merit Ratings in Workday
FPPC Report on How to Submit a Faculty Review Document in Workday
FPPC Report on Annual Evaluation Considerations
Affiliate Faculty Advisory Committee (AFAC) Memo on Optimal Membership and Faculty Representation

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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