Decisions about the Faculty Code
We are disappointed in the Board's decision in July to not take action on the Faculty Code amendments we brought forward. We had many discussions over the last year with the Board AAC about the Code change processes, and those conversations have resulted in changes to our practices related to the Code. For example, based on conversations with the Board AAC, we began sharing Code changes with the Provost for feedback before changes were voted on in Senate. We also brought forward Code changes to the Board AAC before they came to the full Board meeting for a vote. We feel we have been responsive to questions, concerns, and suggestions about the Code amendment process. Thus, we were taken aback by the comments at the July Board meeting about lack of understanding and clarity around the Code amendment process. We ask for more clarity from the Board in decision-making in the future. We ask for opportunities to talk through each Code change with the Board before voting takes place, as the Board has opportunities to do for other motions. We ask that the work of the faculty be valued to the same extent as that of the administration, and we ask that the Board honor the important role of the Faculty Code as a governing document that is an agreement between the Board and the faculty, not the administration. We believe that genuine shared governance entails more explicit communication from the Board to Senate leadership articulating Board procedures for making decisions and more opportunities for faculty leaders to speak to the Board when decisions about the Code or other areas related to Faculty Senate are on the agenda.
Remote and International Work Policy
At the end of Spring term, the Provost’s office sent an email to faculty asserting that international work was forbidden. This new, strict policy immediately had a negative impact on faculty and students. Courses were taken away from faculty who were teaching part- time and fully online in summer who had plans to travel. In other cases, faculty contracts were reduced and co-instructors were assigned to their courses. This last-minute change to "policy" (without any official policy change) meant that students experienced instructor changes, and in some cases, a shift to an instructor with less expertise in the course topic. We have been asking questions to try to clarify where this new rule came from and to encourage the administration to adopt an official policy, matching the flexibility of our peer institutions' international work rules. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of clarity – both
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