The university is working to evaluate a model for "cultural competency" courses, Ohio University interim Executive Vice President and Provost David Descutner told Faculty Senate on Monday night.
Descutner and President Duane Nellis opened the meeting by saying the university is working to prevent sexual misconduct, highlighting diversity and inclusion efforts such as the implementation of “cultural competency” courses for faculty and students and addressing $20 million in unallocated funds in the budget. Senators also discussed two resolutions related to students.
“We have 213 years of university history and 21 presidents, (OU has) had a lot of stability, which I think is a good thing for the university, but we have some challenges as well, as far as our financial situation, the need for creating a more sustainable model for our future,” Nellis said.
Nellis will present “strategic pathways” in moving forward as a university at his investiture on Wednesday. That will include an outline that aims to establish OU as a “national leader” in diversity and inclusion.
Descutner began his presentation by updating Faculty Senate on the discussion around implementing a “cultural competency” course by putting a group together to evaluate a model from Carnegie Mellon University and explore ideas. That course could be an additional general education requirement.
“I think (cultural intelligence is) a much better way of describing the course as I imagined it," Descutner said. "Of course, however it unfolds is in the hands of the faculty, but it really is about cultural intelligence. ... It’s about adaptability and it’s about being able to meet others with cultural sensitivity.”
Descutner and Associate Provost for Academic Budget and Planning John Day gave an overview about budget challenges colleges will face next year.
“I haven’t seen anything like this since 2008,” Descutner said.
OU colleges are assessing a 7 percent budget cut, although the actual funding cut could be less than that. The 7 percent budget cut is partly the result of the statewide tuition freeze and limited funding from the state.
“There are circumstances where some colleges have already cut (their budgets) in recent years,” Day said.
Faculty members asked how their colleges would be affected by next year's budget.
"There does seem to be some confusion in this room about what has been proposed and what has been decided, and I think it would be helpful if everybody involved in the conversation is getting a consistent story about what’s being proposed,” Faculty Senate Chair Joe McLaughlin said. “We have to get everybody on the same page.”
Later in the meeting, senate passed a resolution asking the university to rescind the interim "Freedom of Expression" policy.
The resolution was brought forward for the Executive Committee after senators discussed the interim policy at the September meeting. The resolution will establish a task force to evaluate the need for a policy, determine what that policy could entail and create a set of procedures for the university to follow during "situations of conflict."
The comment period for the interim policy ends Oct. 20. The president's council has discussed "next steps" for the policy, Nellis said.
