Summary of the Faculty Senate Meeting

March 4, 2026

Summary of the Faculty Senate Meeting

1. Chair’s Report – Steve Silvia

The chair of the Faculty Senate, Steve Silvia, opened the meeting and raised the following items:

• Call for unit reps for at-large committees and Senate Vice Chair nominees
  • Reminder that there are several positions open, including at-large committees and Faculty Senate vice-chair. Election of vice-chair will be at April meeting.
• Shift in President Alger’s spring visit
  • President Alger will be speaking at the May meeting, so we’re going to need review academic regulation at April meeting if possible.
• Climate Survey Steering Committee selected members
  • The Executive Committee reviewed nominations for the Climate Survey Steering Committee and selected four faculty members: Daniel Esser, Judy Kim, Tracy Spesia, and Chris Tudge.
• Distinguished Professor Review Committee selected members
  • The members are selected by Dean of Faculty and Executive Committee. Two existing members will continue for second term.
• Graduate and Undergraduate accreditation mandatory language changes
  • The language is required by the federal government: change from “regionally accredited” to “institutionally credited.”
• Shared governance
  • Chair thanked colleagues for taking seriously conversations about curriculum reform. The community is very engaged.

Consent agenda items:

• February 4, 2026, Minutes
  • The minutes from the February 4, 2026, meeting were voted on.

2. Provost’s Report – Vicky Wilkins

• Shared Governance:
  • Provost stated that the community seems to be getting better at conversations and trusting one another. 
• Enrollment
  • Two new admitted events had high “show” rates and good vibes.
  • Incoming class is currently being shaped and looks like it might include more students with high needs.
  • Various enrollment initiatives include early action, connection with local high schools, and asynchronous classes for early-decision admits.
• Eagle Access Textbook Program
  • Receiving feedback on Eagle Access textbook program and remain open to terminating program.
• Budget
  • Know there is a significant gap and will have a better understanding of timing after Board meeting this week.
  • Problems in enrollment are serious. Need to make sure University is in a net tuition positive position. Will be reductions because will need to be a different size university.
  • Noted that it will be painful. But will be sure that it is systematic and data driven and that it involves shared governance.
  • In the process of working with Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) and Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC) to create framework for portfolio review that will happen at the school level.
• Board of Trustees
  • Academic Affairs committee wants to talk about program review, R1 and liberal-arts balance, and strategic-plan initiatives.
  • Will ask trustees to provide feedback on skills in general session.
• Questions:
  • Senator asked how University is making other decisions (aside from portfolio review), such as how many term faculty will not be rehired for the fall. Provost said Deans are looking at enrollments and making calculations on term nonrenewals and reorganization that will happen this spring (which is the case every year).
  • Senator asked a question about status of speaker agreements. Provost mentioned that if you pay $2500 or less, you must complete the guest speaker form but do not need to get insurance. Senator and two community members complained about using speaker form for colloquia.
• Provost and Chair noted that University’s bond rating was not downgraded because of the strong plan presented by the University’s budget office.
• Ombudsman candidates have being considered by review committee.

3. Action Item: Updates to the Senate Membership language in the FM & Senate Bylaws – Steve Silvia

• The proposed revisions to the Faculty Manual were voted on. 

4. Presentation: Inclusive Excellence Update on Campus Climate Surveys – Nkenge Friday & Zaibis Munoz-Isme

• Vice President of Inclusive Excellence Nkenge Friday provided a recent history of faculty, staff, and student surveys.
• Vice President’s office conducted examination of recent climate surveys used in other institutions and compiled information on issues like working group size, working group composition, trending questions, access to resources, alignment with inclusive excellence goals, and survey design.
• The next steps are to start conversations within the Climate Survey Steering Committee.
• Senator asked if there is any concern about gathering data that will be held accountable for and potentially put the university at risk.

5. Discussion: Term Titles - Garret Martin, Sonja Walti, and Samantha Cohen

• Chair asked chair of the Continuing Appointment and Term Faculty Affairs Committee (CATFAC) to look into title issue and noted that it is only a discussion today.
• CATFAC chair Garrett Martin noted that there is no love for current titles and that the two big questions are what the new approach should be and how to develop the approach.
  • Noted that cannot be same title as on tenure side.
• Sonja Walti explained what she learned from looking at other colleges and universities: the most common approach was to include the term “teaching” in the title.
• Senator reported that there was concern about timing and underlying substantive motivation.
• Chair reported that this came up within the Working Group on Faculty Engagement and the Faculty Senate strategic-planning process.
• Senator mentioned that a lot of term faculty are unhappy with the title, especially how it affects job mobility.
• Senator said title distinction is silly and insulting.
• Community member mentioned that survey conducted by Continuing Appointment committee suggested that term faculty want a change.
• Chair explained the history of the development of term-faculty titles.
• Various senators expressed hope for parity in term and tenure titles.

8. For the Good of the Order – Steve Silvia

• Olivia Ivey, Chair of the Committee on Academic Budget and Benefits (CABB), heard complaints about CareFirst claims and explained that there there are claim delays because of the system.
• Larry sells pickles.
• Senator stated that it is always good to work with staff at AU.