Preview of the March 15 UAS Meeting |
Dear Faculty Colleagues:
The University Academic Senate (UAS) will be meeting on Friday, March 15, 2024. As the UAS prepares for its second regular meeting of winter 2024 (we have had 2 special meetings on February 9 and 16), I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of the agenda items under consideration. In the spirit of open and effective communication, within the framework of our GVSU Shared Governance Tradition, my goal is to make sure that our faculty colleagues are informed of UAS agenda items before each UAS meeting. The work of the Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) for January and February, in three meetings, has resulted in non-action items solicited by ECS for discussion at UAS, and motions supported by ECS with recommendations to UAS. 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.
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Non-action Items for Discussion on Friday, March 15:
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Discussion of Creation of Test-Optional and Holistic Admissions Task Force 2: How did the idea of a task force come about? On February 16, during a special UAS meeting, we had robust discussions with the administration regarding admission and retention. During the meeting and subsequently reinforced during the ECS meeting on February 23, it was agreed that a UAS task force should be formed with the responsibility of implementing the Test-Optional and Holistic Admissions Task Force Report. The new task force will continue to review and report on the current GVSU admissions standards, criteria, and decision practices, in collaboration with the leadership team. Additionally, the task force will review the SEMP recommendations to ensure that the admissions process is fair and transparent.
- New Complaints and Grievance Process: Senior AVP Ed Aboufadel and members of the Complaints and Grievance Process Taskforce will give us an update on the New Complaints and Grievance Process.
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Inclusion and Equity Strategic Framework Presentation: On behalf of the Activation and Accountability Leadership team, AVP Marlene Kowalski-Braun, AVP Alisha Davis, and AVP Sean Lancaster will give a presentation on the updated I&E framework, which was last updated in 2015.
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Presentation of the Bellamy Creek Program: There will be a presentation of the Bellamy Creek Program from our colleague Jackie Doyon-Martin, Professor School of Criminology, Criminal Justice & Legal Studies, and Co-Director, of the Bellamy Creek Program.
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Motions Supported by ECS with Recommendations to UAS:
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Proposed University Definition of Digital Literacy & Proposed Inventory Process: The Digital Literacy Taskforce has been invited to present a summary and answer questions. This group was convened last fall. They drafted a definition and sought feedback from several groups. 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 the definition of Digital Literacy with a recommendation to UAS passed unanimously during the ECS meeting on January 26.
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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, which was approved by UAS, but someone at UAS shared about potential backlash if a statement was included. It was noted that a statement could increase defense mechanisms or decrease student participation. FFPC delved into the research around this, and the review of the literature was inclusive. FFPC tapped psychology faculty to review the submitted draft statements. None of the psychology colleagues objected to the statements based on unintentional harm, but they did suggest revisions to make statements clearer and less accusatory in tone. Many faculty did not feel as though the statements would mitigate bias. FFPC went forward with the statements as these can educate, and it is a public acknowledgment for those who have suffered from bias that we strive to uphold standards of equity and inclusion. The motion to support the memo with a recommendation to UAS passed unanimously during the ECS meeting on January 26.
- Review of Statement of Concern Document on Admission: On February 23, ECS reviewed and discussed the “Statement of Concern Document on Admission.” ECS did not take any action on the document but rather made a motion to forward the document to UAS as a position statement expressing faculty concerns, for discussion of whether to modify, approve, and/or disseminate. The motion was not unanimous but received overwhelming support.
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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. The current title of SG 2.06, “Procedure for Establishment of Non-Academic Institutes, Centers, and Offices” will be replaced with the new title, “Policy on Establishing, Reviewing, and Discontinuing Academic Centers.” 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, and forward to UAS with a recommendation to support was approved unanimously during the ECS meeting of February 23.
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More information and details on the highlights of the March 15 UAS meeting can be found here.
Please, feel free to reach out to your ECS or UAS representative from your College/University Libraries 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.
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3090 James H. Zumberge Hall
Allendale, MI 49401
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