Faculty Senate Mission “The Faculty Senate is a representative body of the university faculty formed to investigate, discuss, and decide on matters concerning the academic affairs of the university.”

Completed/Approved Actions of the Senate (Fall 2018) >Approved a motion to extend the deadline to designate a course for which one is currently registered as “Audit” to be the same day as the drop deadline (that applies to that course for all graduate and undergraduate non-first semester students). >Approved the Online Masters in Computer Science >Amended and approved the 2020-2021 Academic Calendar which now includes the Wednesday before Thanksgiving as a holiday.

Completed Working Groups Working group on 2020-2021 academic calendar Charge: The working group will examine the difference in the number of days of instruction between the Fall and Spring semesters in the proposed 2020-2021 calendar and consider whether this difference poses a problem, and if so to try to find a way to equalize the number of days of instruction in a way which will minimize the impact to the current proposed calendar. Chair: Chris Johns-Krull Recommendation: [1] Use current calendar formula (Instructional days: F/S=70/67), or [2] make Weds. before Thanksgiving a holiday (F/S=69/67), or [3] 1 week fall break (F/S=67/67). Additional Action: Form a WG to investigate possible changes to the calendar “formula” to be applied from 2021 onward.

Completed Working Groups Working Group on Athletics (report will be presented at January meeting) Charge:  Investigate the scheduling of athletic competitions during the period after the last day of classes ('dead days' and final exam period).  Chair: Doug Schuler Recommendation: Allow 1 (Rice controlled) event during last week of classes, 1 during reading days, 1 during final exam period. Current rules is 1, 1 (Saturday), 0.

Ongoing Work Policy and Procedure Revisions -Policy 201 revisions: inclusion of Research Professor ranks and creation of a companion document on Procedures for Research Professor Ranks. -Revision to the “Procedures for Faculty Appointments, Promotion, Tenure and Renewal of Contracts.” We expect document to be taken up by the Faculty Senate in January.

Ongoing Work Ongoing Working Groups Working Group on Advising Charge: Assess the current state of undergraduate advising and offer recommendations for suggested changes or improvements. Report due to Senate Executive Committee in February Chair: Leslie Schwindt-Bayer   Working group on Shared Governance Charge:  Draft a University Policy on Shared Governance, describing the joint efforts of the Administration (President, Provost, Deans), Faculty, and Board of Trustees.  Chair: Don Morrison

Senate Presentations and Discussions (Fall 2018) Dean Robert Bruce: an overview of and faculty engagement with the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies Professor Patricia Reiff: a presentation on the activities of the Committee on Examinations and Standings Alison Weaver, Director: an overview of and faculty engagement with the Moody Center for the Arts Nathan Cook, Director, Government Relations: a presentation on Partisan Political Activities Professor Thomas Killian: an overview of the Midtown Innovation District Professor Fred Oswald: a report on the activities of the University Library Committee Ken Liddle, Compliance Officer: a presentation on the assignment of Intellectual Property

Anticipated Senate Presentations/Discussions (Spring 2019) Ken Liddle, Compliance Officer Julie Fette, Assoc. Prof. of Classical and European Studies Fred Higgs, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Kevin Kirby, Vice President for Administration John Cornwell, Associate VP for Institutional Effectiveness