Office of the Faculty Senate

 

General Information

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As delegated by the Board of Trustees of the University, the Faculty Senate is the legislative body of the University and is empowered to formulate suitable rules, requirements and procedures for the admission, government, management and control of the students, courses of study, granting of degrees and certificates, and other internal affairs of the institution necessary to meet the objectives of the University in accordance with the established policies of the Board. 

 

Recent Senate Actions

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October 2012

• Approved (w/ one dissent) a resolution (#1) brought forward by the Executive Committee affirming that the Faculty Senate will not approve any proposal to rename an academic unit or to substantially redefine its mission if the faculty of that unit has not had an opportunity to deliberate about and vote on the proposal.
• Approved (w/o dissent) a resolution (#2) brought forward by the Executive Committee affirming that Faculty Senate has exclusive legislative jurisdiction at the university level over matters of academic policy, including academic advising and intervention with students to promote academic success.
• Approved (w/o dissent) an amended resolution (#3) brought forward by the Executive Committee to create the Ad hoc Clicker Technology Review Committee
• Held election for Faculty Senate Vice Chair:
• Vice Chair –Jon Miller
• Approved (w/o dissent) a resolution brought forward by the Curriculum Review Committee to endorse the following course proposals.

September 2012

• Approved (w/o dissent) the final approval of the summer graduation list that the EC approved over the summer, on behalf of the senate.
• Approved (w/o dissent) a resolution brought forward by the Curriculum Review Committee to endorse the following course proposals.
• Held elections for positions within the Faculty Senate, results below:
• EC At-large Member –Ali Hajjafar
• EC At-large Member – David Steer
• Senate Representative to University Council - Elizabeth Erickson
• Senate Representative to Graduate Council - Francis Loth
• Senate Representative to Graduate Council- Harvey Sterns
• Approved (w/o dissent) the following resolution in honor of Dr. Harvey Sterns:
  Faculty Senate at the University of Akron expresses its gratitude and good wishes to Dr. Harvey Sterns on this sixth day of September, 2012. The Senate acknowledges the many years of service of Dr. Sterns to this body. His role as Senate Committee Chair, Senator, member of the Senate Executive Committee and especially his role as Chair of the Senate. We thank you for continued dedication to this body and your exemplary service.

May 2012

• Approved (w/o dissent) a resolution brought forward by the Executive Committee for the Senate to authorize the Executive Committee to function on its behalf through the summer sessions provided that the actions taken by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Senate are duly reported for final approval.
• Approved (w/o dissent) a resolution brought forward by the Executive Committee to approve the list of prospective degree candidates for spring 2012.
• Approved (w/o dissent) Faculty Senate Bylaw amendments brought forward by the Reference Committee at the April 2012 meeting. [summary]
• Approved (w/o dissent) a resolution brought forward by the Curriculum Review Committee to endorse the following course proposals.
• Approved (w/o dissent) a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee granting final approval of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services and the College of Nursing combining to form the College of Health Professions.
• Approved (w/o dissent) a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee endorsing the bylaws of the newly formed College of Health Professions.

April 2012

• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee changing departmental responsibilities for degree administration in Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences for all Geography programs.
• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee authorizing the final steps of the BCAS/CPA convergence.
• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee to establish the Institute for Leadership Advancement within the College of Business Administration.
• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Curriculum Review Committee to endorse the following course proposals.
• The Reference Committee recommends the following amendments to the Faculty Senate bylaws. [summary]

March 2012

• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Curriculum Review Committee to approve the following course proposals.
• General Education Learning Outcomes: Report to Faculty Senate and OAA by Linda Subich [pptx] [pdf]

February 2012

• Approved a recommendation from the ad hoc Student Judicial Affairs Committee to accept revisions to the Code of Student Conduct which were presented to the Senate at the December 2011 meeting.

December 2011

• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee establishing the National Center for Education and Research on Corrosion and Materials Performance (NCERCAMP) within the College of Engineering at The University of Akron.
• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee recommending that the Divisions of Child & Family Development (including its Center for Family Studies) and Clothing, Textiles & Interiors be moved to the College of Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences as a School (or Department) of Family & Consumer Sciences at The University of Akron.
• Postponed Indefinitely a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee recommending that the Faculty Senate not approve renaming and changing the mission of the College of Polymer Science & Polymer Engineering.
• Senator Rich moved to commit this question (whether to approve the criminal justice baccalaureate programs proposed by the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences and Summit College, respectively) to an ad hoc committee to be appointed by the Executive Committee, along with the underlying question about the role of Summit College in offering baccalaureate degree programs, with the ad hoc committee being directed to attempt to resolve the differences between the two colleges and to make recommendations to the Senate.
• Approved a motion to approve the list of graduates for Fall 2011 Commencement.

November 2011

• There were no legislative actions at the November 2012 meeting
• VISION 2020 The New Gold Standard of University Performance by Mike Sherman [pptx] [pdf]
• E-Learning Strategy and Implementation Committee Update for Faculty Senate by Jim Sage, John Savery, & Wendy Lampner [pptx] [pdf]

October 2011

• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee establishing the Center for Surface Engineering and Lubrication Research (CSELR) within the College of Engineering at The University of Akron.
• Approved a resolution brought forward by the ad hoc Committee on Part-time Faculty Issues requesting the administration of the University of Akron to analyze and to address the following concerns: part-time faculty orientation, technology, and office space.
• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Executive Committee creating a University committee reporting jointly to the Faculty Senate and the Provost, charged with reviewing the general education program of the University of Akron and reporting its findings to the Senate and Provost no later than April 1, 2012.
• Held elections for University Council and announced appointments to UC Standing Committee, results here.
• Financial Overview and Budget Recommendations by David Cummins [pptx] [pdf]

September 2011

• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Academic Policies Committee naming the new health college as the College of Health Professions.
• Approved a resolution brought forward by the Executive Committee regarding the election of representatives to the University Council.
• Held elections for positions within the Faculty Senate, results below:
  • Chair – Harvey Sterns
  • Vice-Chair – Bill Rich
  • Secretary – Frank Bove
  • At-large Member – Elizabeth Erickson
  • At-large Member – Timothy Lillie
  • Ohio Faculty Council Representative – Rudy Fenwick
  • Ohio Faculty Council Representative (Alternate) – Peg DiMarco

May 2011

• Approved a resolution empowering the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate to act on behalf of the Senate over the summer.
• Approved an amendment to the Faculty Senate bylaws giving the Executive Committee authority to appoint subcommittee members. 
• Approved a resolution from the APC to approve the changes to the University Rules 3359-20-05.2 regarding Curricular changes.  
• Approved a motion from APC renaming the Institute for Health and Social Policy to The Institute of Bioscience and Social Research.  
• Approved a resolution from the APC to merge the College of Nursing with the College of Health Sciences and Human Services.  
• Approved the updated University of Akron Athletic Department Drug Education and Testing policy.   
  
  

April 2011

• Approved a resolution presented by Senator Mancke to support the convergence of the College of Creative and Professional Arts and the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences.
• Approved a motion to refer the proposed resolution regarding the merger of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services with the College of Nursing to the APC.
• Approved a motion to approve the list of graduates for Spring Commencement.