Faculty Governance

Faculty input is essential to the success they experience as they serve their students, grow professionally and participate in decisions that affect them. One way this is accomplished is through serving on a number of faculty-driven committees and approval bodies. The most influential faculty-representative group is the Faculty Senate because they serve to review policies and practices that affect all faculty across the university. The Faculty Senate has representatives from each academic program (SONHS, SAS, SOE, SBT) and consists of both full-time and part-time faculty at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. All the content in this faculty handbook has been reviewed by the Faculty Senate and, as such, all faculty are held to the expectations outlined herein.

Faculty governance refers to the participation by faculty members in the process of policy development, strategic and academic planning, and decision-making over curriculum, instruction and assessment that, in aggregate, helps the University better achieve its mission. One way this is accomplished is through the Faculty Senate. The senate has a faculty senate homepage where all senate business is reported for the full view of all faculty.

Faculty governance is the recognition that by virtue of education, experience, insights of the professional community and industries for which the programs are developed, and daily student contact, faculty bring skills and insights to the process of curriculum development, review, critique, assessment of student learning outcomes, and recommendations for change.

Faculty Senate Meetings

Faculty Senate meetings occur on a monthly basis to discuss current policies and practices related to support systems, performance standards, scholarship opportunities, curriculum development, assessment data and other topics brought forth by faculty. The meetings are called and facilitated by Chair of the Faculty Senate. See the Appendix for the Faculty Senate Bylaws.

All other faculty meetings by School occur on at least a bi-annual basis, typically around Data Dialogues related to specific school programs. These school-based faculty meetings are coordinated by the respective Dean. The School of Nursing and Health Sciences hold all-faculty meetings, once a quarter.

Academic Freedom

“Academic Freedom” is defined as the situation where teachers, scholars and administration are allowed latitude with respect to their discussions with students and the positions they take. Academic freedom is the right of faculty and students to dialogue, examine, question, and investigate ideas as they pursue their academic intellectual interests. This is done within the context of the design of the curriculum, the values of their respective disciplines, and the constraints of research and ethics. In turn, faculty members are obliged to demonstrate critical self-discipline, academic integrity, effective teaching, and exemplary scholarship.

At all levels, programs provide the opportunity for students to examine their world views. The goal is not to mandate an exact set of values and beliefs; rather, it is to challenge each learner to consider his or her present values, beliefs and actions. Structured learning opportunities allow students to clarify and affirm their personal assumptions.

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