Good morning University Senators,

At the Monday, February 26, 2024 Senate Council meeting, the Senate Council, acting for the University Senate approved the attached resolution which was provided to President Capilouto yesterday.  Due to the sense of urgency at which Board of Trustees has asked for the President “to move quickly to formulate recommendations to streamline institutional rules and regulations,” the Senate Council, acting for the University Senate felt it imperative to voice our concerns and expectations for involvement in this process, as we are and have always approached shared governance and collaboration with open arms.

We invited the President to the March 4th Senate Council meeting, but he has informed me that he is unable to attend. However, the President has a scheduled March 1st legislative briefing for Senate Council and President Capilouto will also be present at the March 18th University Senate meeting. These meetings will be opportunities for Senate Council and Senators to ask questions.

We will still have the March 4th Senate Council meeting at 3:00 pm in room 311 of the Gatton Business and Economic building. This will be an opportunity for senators and university members to have further discussion. It is important for us to think about what educational decision-making policies and procedures are essential for academic integrity at the senate, college, and department levels, including admissions policies.

For the March 18th Senate meeting, please be prepared to ask direct questions concerning the impact of changes, the level of faculty engagement with each of the Workgroups, and the President plans for how he intends to collaboratively engage with faculty concerning the drafting of recommended changes to the GRs. Below is some additional information to help clarify the areas of concern with the CR1 Resolution.

#2. Reaffirm that faculty members assume responsibility for determining good educational practice and, therefore, should have a substantive role in the development and review of academic policies.

  • Note that the current responsibility for “educational policy” has now become “educational practice”. For faculty either at the local department/college level or the University Senate level. “Substantive role” does not mean a determining (deciding) role in academic policy. 

#4. Recommend changes to the University's Governing Regulations that define and clearly articulate a shared governance structure that is in greater alignment with institutional benchmarks and that clearly recognizes the Board's primacy as the institution's policymaking body.

  • Note this means the Board of Trustees would have sole authority over all educational policies. Removing the previous delegation of having a decision-making role over educational policies by the University Senate, college and department faculty bodies.

#5. Outline additional changes as may be necessary and appropriate to Governing Regulations that are consistent with, and supportive of, the substantive changes outlined above.

  • Note this means changes to 
  • GR I: Changes to shared governance definition, stated in the Feb 23, 2024 BoT meeting.
  • GRII: Change the governance hierarchy structure. Making the Senate, college, and department faculty bodies advisory on educational policies, including admissions.
  • GRIII: Changes to Senate, along with the Board of Trustees, as being a primary educational policy making body.
  • GR IV.C: Changes to the outlined responsibilities to the Senate including removing admissions from the responsibilities (specifically highlighted in the Workgroup 5: Responsiveness presentation)
  • GR VII: Changes to responsibilities to college and department faculty, such as eliminating the department/college faculty decision making responsibility over educational policies. This would mean the college dean could unilaterally close or create a program for any reasons without faculty having oversight of educational content.
  • GRXI: Will academic offenses remain subject to University Senate Rules (this should be concerning to students as well)

Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.

Sincerely,

DeShana