If you missed the April 7 Academic Senate meeting or need a refresher, keep reading for the highlights from the meeting. For more information on the Academic Senate, click here.
Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, the “university faculty shall have authority ... to legislate on matters of educational policy. ... The faculty has a right to a meaningful role in the governance of the University; ... it has a right to participate in decisions relating to the general academic operations of the university including budget decisions and administrative appointments.”
“The legislative power of the University faculty collectively will normally be exercised by the faculty through their representatives in the Academic Senate and the college and Graduate and Undergraduate councils ...”
See Academic Policies 6-001-III-B-3, 6-002 and 6-300 to read the policies in full.
Executive Committee Report
Click here to learn more about the Executive Committee's role and membership.
Reports
Reports from the administration
President Taylor Randall and Senior Vice President for Health Sciences Bob Carter had essential meetings and were unable to attend.
Chief of Staff Troy D’Ambrosio represented Randall.
Associate Vice President for Health Sciences Education Wendy Hobson-Rohrer gave the SVPHS report as Carter's representative.
Provost Mitzi Montoya reported on USHE's release of guidance for strategic reinvestment, among other updates.
An update was given on SB192, and the flags and land acknowledgement.
The senate also received the Associated Students of the University of Utah report from ASUU President Joe Boyden and the University of Utah Staff Council report from UUSC's New Staff Connections Chair David Thomas.
Consent Calendar
The senate made no objection to the Faculty Appointments Reports, which included the following:
- For Academic Affairs: Eight new emeriti, seven new tenure-line faculty, four new career-line faculty, one new visiting faculty and four new adjunct faculty, with no new resignations distinct from the emeriti count.
- For U of U Health: Three new emeriti, three new tenure-line faculty, six new career-line faculty, 10 new adjunct faculty and no new visiting faculty, alongside no new tenure-line resignations distinct from the emeriti count.
The senate recommended approval of the two new graduate certificates in engineering for Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Management.
See details on the certificates below:
The Department of Mechanical Engineering has recently initiated two master's degree programs, one in Systems Engineering and one in Engineering Management.
The certificates require roughly half of the MEM and MSAE programs. They can be completed independently, as milestones on the way to the full degree, or be done as companions to other degree programs, such as the MSSE, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or potentially with an M.S. in another engineering field.
The department is also in the late stage of the approval process for a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering.
Debate Calendar
Division of Public Affairs redesignation proposal
The faculty of the Division of Public Affairs, with the support of the College of Social and Behavioral Science (CSBS), proposed to redesignate the Division of Public Affairs as the School of Public Affairs. This proposal is supported by a four-fold rationale:
- To clarify the structure of Public Affairs at the University of Utah.
- To better reflect the nature of Public Affairs at the University of Utah.
- To conform with disciplinary traditions and better align with comparator institutions.
- To better position the University of Utah Public Affairs to attract and leverage support.
Center for Quality of Life After Stroke
The proposed Center for Quality of Life after Stroke brings together clinical, research, and lived experience experts across campus and the community, dedicated to promoting quality of life for stroke survivors and their care partners. The proposed center will focus on strategic multidisciplinary research initiatives, provide innovative evidence-based programming, train researchers and clinicians in this area, and provide accessible resources for the stroke community.
Information and Recommendations Calendar
- Ken Monson, chair of the Senate Personnel and Elections Committee, reviewed where the senate stands with nominations and elections for next year’s senate.
- Jessica Tidswell presented an annual report from the Senate Advisory Committee on Student Course Feedback.
- Sejin Kim, the current senator from the Utah Asia Campus (UAC), updated the senate on the status of the UAC as well as discussed opportunities for North American faculty to get involved there.
Information and Reports
Graduate Council 7-year Review
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies
The department now known as Family and Consumer Studies was established in 1901; across name changes, its focus has been on human development and family well-being. The department offers two undergraduate degrees—Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) and Financial Planning and Counseling (FPC)—in addition to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Human Development and Social Policy. Reviewers commended the department’s collegiality; the quality and productivity of faculty scholarship; and significant and sustained departmental commitments to community-engaged scholarship, pedagogy, and service. To build upon these strengths, the department is encouraged to continue strategic planning efforts; develop and refine its new doctoral program; and expand its marketing and recruitment endeavors.
- Entertainment Arts & Engineering/Division of Games
Following various structural arrangements across its inception and rapid development, the Division of Games—formerly the Entertainment Arts and Engineering (EAE) Program—is now situated in the College of Architecture and Planning. The division offers two undergraduate degrees—a B.S. in Games and (with the School of Computing) and a BS in Computer Science with EAE emphasis—as well as a master’s degree in EAE. The division also a dual MBA/MEAE degree with the David Eccles School of Business. Reviewers commented on the division’s excellent national and international reputation; the high quality of its faculty and students; and faculty dedication to the program and its students. To continue the division’s strong growth trajectory, it is encouraged to substantively grow its faculty ranks; develop clear learning outcomes and evaluation metrics for its programs; and continue to refine its curricula and student professional development opportunities.
Discontinue: Ballet Teaching Emphasis
The School of Dance proposed discontinuing the Ballet Teaching Emphasis.
When does the Academic Senate meet?
Academic Senate meetings for the 2024-25 academic year are at 3 p.m. on the first Monday of the month, with some exceptions. The meetings are open to the public, and agenda packets are available online approximately one week prior.
Academic Senate meetings are held on Zoom. To attend a meeting, email Jane Laird, the Academic Senate secretary, no later than five business days prior to each meeting, to receive a secure meeting link. Location changes will be posted in advance.
Click here for the schedule.
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