Ohio University President Roderick McDavis responded to a Faculty Senate resolution regarding shared governance through a letter at yesterday's meeting.
McDavis, who was attending a conference out of town, wrote that he wants more information and will discuss the resolution with senators, Provost Kathy Krendl and the Board of Trustees.
Krendl, who was in attendance, said the discussion modeled what the resolution is all about.
Resolution-making is an important process and we need to work together on this
she said.
Bylaws call for first and second readings of resolutions and when this does not happen, Krendl said her office must play catch-up to understand all the implications.
I don't have a problem with time periods as long as there is conversation and we have some notion of it coming down the pipe Krendl said. I am aware of my responsibility here and I hope you accept mutual responsibility.
The first reading of the Resolution Regarding Approval of Senate Resolutions states that if the provost does not respond to a resolution or explain why it will not be signed or will be delayed by a certain date, the resolution will be presumed to go into effect.
This will ensure continued conversations, said Phyllis Bernt, chair of Faculty Senate, adding that it will act to complete the Faculty Handbook, which does not state that Faculty Senate must be told why a resolution was signed or not.
In the past, provosts exercised pocket vetoes, said Allyn Reilly, interim director of the music department.
If passed, the resolution will foster accountability and will give the senate bargaining power said journalism professor Bernhard Debatin.
Senate also passed a resolution of faculty guidelines for the Family Medical Leave Act.
The resolution will amend the Faculty Handbook to include provisions for domestic partners and eligibility for the act to faculty who have worked a full academic year, including sick, holiday and vacation leaves.
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Bethany Furkin
