Ohio University President Roderick McDavis and other administrators will speak to Faculty Senate during the body’s first meeting of the academic year at 7:10 p.m. in Walter Hall 235.
McDavis will speak first at the meeting and give updates about the university.
McDavis and Craig Cornell, the senior vice provost for Strategic Enrollment Management, will announce numbers for OU’s enrollment this year. The class of 2020 was projected as the third largest class in OU’s history, according to a previous Post report.
Jason Pina, vice president for Student Affairs, will present a brief introduction about how he can assist faculty and potentially help support faculty’s relationships with students.
Pina will work to coordinate student and faculty efforts to improve the university’s focus on student-centered learning.
“One of the most important things for faculty is student experiences, potential support for students and faculty,” Executive Secretary Katherine Hartman said.
Hartman said Chair Joe McLaughlin will report on current grant opportunities, the OU presidential search, changes in the faculty handbook and other exchanges since Faculty Senate’s last meeting in May.
At that meeting, senate passed a resolution to oppose construction of the Sook Center, a study facility for student-athletes.
“Our objections to this project stem more from academic reasons, notably our opposition to the practice of segregating athletes from the student population,” McLaughlin said in a previous Post report.
McLaughlin was appointed Faculty Senate chair last spring, and some committees now have new chairs, as well, including Charles Buchanan of the Educational Policies and Student Affairs Committee, Susan Williams of the Finance and Facilities Committee, Sherrie Gradin of the Professional Relations Committee and Ben Bates of the Promotion and Tenure Committee.
“I think this year Finance and Facilities will look at the handbook language regarding house benefits for faculty, capital planning in terms of new Dublin campus expansion and maintenance,” Williams, chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee, said. “It has also come to our attention to discuss Responsibility-Centered Management (RCM) Liaisons and their clear roles. There are questions about if (OU is) still an RCM model and how that should be organized.”
Additionally, Howard Dewald, associate provost for Faculty and Academic Planning, will present updates on what his office has done since May and is planning for the year.
