On paper, next week’s Ohio University Faculty Senate meeting will feature one simple change to the executive board. The change of leadership, though, might mean more to those present.
After serving on the senate for 12 of the past 13 years, Joseph McLaughlin chaired his final Faculty Senate meeting last month.
McLaughlin served six years as a representative for OU’s English department, took a mandatory one-year hiatus, and followed that with three as finance and facilities chair before rounding out the final three as chair.
He will join Jeff Giesey, an electrical engineering and computer science senator, and Leon Hoshower, a senator for the School of Accountancy — all of whom are required by the faculty handbook to step down and take a mandatory one-year leave after serving six years in the senate.
“Joe did a great job of representing the faculty during those times but within the context of looking out for the overall good of the university,” Giesey said. “He did an excellent job representing the faculty.”
During his first six years on senate, the focus was geared toward initiatives bringing light to the importance of the curriculum, McLaughlin said.
“The big focus has been trying to be a strong and important voice for the academic mission and to preserve and enhance academic quality,” he said.
Despite attempts to emphasize academics, budgetary discussions dominated the past six years.
“Because of the erosion of state funding, the economic crises, tuition caps, a lot more pressure has been put on budget than in past years,” McLaughlin said.
With the rise in budgetary topics, McLaughlin said he wanted to concentrate on three topics: the transition to Responsibility Centered Management, tenure for tenure and tenure-track faculty and discussing the importance of tenure.
McLaughlin said he has seen the fundamental importance of tenure for institutions of higher education and hopes the senate continues its work.
“There has been a trend of a lot more contingent faculty and not tenure at most public institutions, and it’s a real challenge for faculty senates to reverse, stop and slow that trend,” he said. “I don’t know what makes a school like that a lot different than a community college.”
Though McLaughlin has enjoyed his time working with the senate, he said he looks forward to returning to old opportunities.
“It’s been satisfying and enjoyable, but it’s not why I got into the business,” said McLaughlin who came to OU to be a scholar of Victorian literature and teach English. “I look forward to having more time to teach, spend time with students, write and be involved in my field and with colleagues.”
Because all resolutions passed during meetings must be signed by Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit, a large part of the chair’s responsibilities is meetings with Benoit to remain updated — a facet McLaughlin used to collaborate on faculty concerns.
“Joe did a tremendous job as Faculty Senate chair,” Benoit said. “I hope that I will be able to develop the same sort of collaborative relationship with Elizabeth as well for future discussions.”
Last month, the senate voted Elizabeth Sayrs as McLaughlin’s successor, as well as Beth Quitslund as secretary and David Thomas as vice-chair to round out the new executive board.
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