In an effort to improve communication between ECS/UAS and faculty colleagues, the Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) at its August 17, 2022, retreat reaffirmed a recommendation from August 12, 2021 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 13, and a preview of the ECS meeting of January 20. 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 13, 2023
Chair’s Report:
- The names of faculty members appointed to the University Technology Council (UTC) were shared.
- The theme of the 2022-23 UAS Newsletter is Lakers Ready for Equity and Sustainability. The deadline to submit an article to Chair Ngassa is March 15.
- The New Program/New Academic Unit Council (NPC) voted unanimously to approve creation of a new school in BCOIS on 12/7/22. The official memo was sent to the Provost and Chair Ngassa reported on decision at the 12/9 UAS meeting. Senate leadership met with BCOIS faculty from BCOIS Faculty Council, and the heads of the units and programs affected by the new proposal to provide input, which was shared with the NPC members, who reported that this input would not have impacted their vote. Chair Ngassa will close the loop with the Provost.
Provost’s Report:
- The Rapid Response Team and the Narrative Team have been given their charges, which revolve around the first-year experience.
- The email from President Mantella contains information on the many events planned during Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Week. It also contains comments on what is happening in Ottawa County and information on the I & E Implementation Team.
Student Senate President’s Report:
- The elections committee is preparing for the next election cycle.
- Credit/no credit legislation will be discussed at ECS at the February 10 ECS meeting.
- The Student Senate schedule is on the Student Senate website, which has been fully updated, modeled after the Reach Higher 2025 website.
- The State of the Student Body is being planned for February.
New Business:
- Pam Wells, Bonnie Bowen, and Suzeanne Benet reported on the current tuition structure at GVSU, due to concern raised about graduate students paying graduate tuition for undergraduate classes. Our tuition model is in line with what peer institutions and Michigan public universities are doing. In reviewing 2021-22, those paying a different tuition rate than the class level impacted about ½ of 1% of all student credit hours. The plan is to maintain the current tuition and fee structure.
- ECS discussed the role of New Programs Council in reorganizations, particularly as the policy states that NPC will seek input from affected units. It was stated that NPC should clarify what is needed in proposals, such as letters of support from impacted units.
- ECS discussed a proposal to amend SG 1.01 Sections 2.2.2.1 & 2.2.2.2: Section 2.2.2.1, which discusses reviewing proposals for new academic units, and Section 2.2.2.2 which states that when no established policies and procedures exist, the Provost will review proposals and consult with the Chair of ECS. A suggestion was made to put this on the agenda for the ECS spring/summer retreat and have a new conversation about NPC and it’s purpose. A motion to accept this as a report and discuss this at the spring/summer retreat passed.
- The Faculty Personnel Policy Committee (FPPC) has found that the CSCE website has a good guideline for authorship, and they proposed putting what is on the CSCE website on the Provost Office website. The motion to thank FPPC for fulfilling its charge, act on behalf of UAS, and forward to the Provost’s Office for implementation passed.
- For graduate programs, students have 8 years from their first semester to complete the program. Graduate Council (GC) proposed extending this policy to microcredentials. A motion to support with recommendation to UAS passed.
- The Faculty Salary and Budget Committee (FSBC) recommends that faculty earn half of the tuition generated by an independent study, with the maximum amount being the current adjunct instructor minimum per credit hour. A motion to support with recommendation to UAS passed.
- FSBC provided as information a memo in support of the Student Senate Memo on Student Pay.
- Student Senate recommended recomposing the student wage classification charge and conducing a labor market analysis to all of the student positions in order to give a fair pay, and to add a taskforce to take care of the logistics. It was mentioned that student employment should be included in #4 of the recommendation. A motion to support the Student Senate resolution and forward to UAS was supported.
For more details on the above items, please go here.
Preview of ECS Meeting of January 20, 2023
- Presentation on GVSU Employee Retention Data by AP Executive Committee
- Academic Policies and Standards Committee (APSC) Memo on Academic Freedom
- APSC Memo on Cancellation, Closure, and Remote Status During Final Exams
- FSBC Memo on Adjunct Pay
- FSBC Memo on Update to Faculty Salary Adjustment Program
- FSBC Memo on Affiliate Promotional Increment
- FSBC Memo on Administrative Salaries
- APSC Memo on Late Withdrawals Policy
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.
Sincerely,
Felix N. Ngassa
Chair of ECS/UAS 2022-2023
