Members of Faculty Senate are tired of seeing their resolutions fall through the cracks, so much so that it has considered implementing a time limit on administrative response to proposals.
Faculty Senate also plans to work more closely with administrators, including Ohio University Provost Kathy Krendl, to see that resolutions are properly implemented, said Phyllis Bernt, chairwoman of Faculty Senate.
We're trying to put a process in place to plug the gaps
Bernt said. Right now there are issues that are not being addressed.
Some Faculty Senate resolutions are still pending, including one about shared governance between the administration and faculty, Bernt said. Another deals with creating an appeals process for faculty who are denied tenure. Bernt added that she thinks Krendl is dedicated to resolving these issues.
Past provosts have not been as responsive, said Martin Tuck, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. Former provost Stephen Kopp ignored one Faculty Senate proposal for a year.
This proposal involved changing the Tier II requirement Tuck said. It was proposed in March of 2003
was never signed
and eventually died when Kopp left office the next year.
Krendl said she would be more proactive in the resolution process.
My main role is to help the senators determine how the resolutions will affect various academic programs
Krendl said. We are trying to improve the resolution process so that it is more effective.
At the Sept. 18 Faculty Senate meeting, senators debated the idea of placing a time limit on administrative responses to resolutions.
I agree that there should always be some kind of response
said Daniel Gulino, chemical engineering senator. Changes in policy need to be acted upon by the administration. The provost should either sign or decline.
Krendl is interested in improving communication between the administration and the senate, Tuck said.
Krendl will be discussing the resolution with the senate before it's passed
so we don't have the problem of resolutions just sitting there
Tuck said. She's going to take a more proactive role.
Krendl emphasized that this is not a senate versus administration issue.
We're not two opposing sides
she said. We are working closely together to improve the resolution process.
