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Senate Summary | March 2021

If you missed the Academic Senate meeting on March 1, 2021, or need a refresher, then keep reading for the highlights from the meeting.

If you missed the Academic Senate meeting on March 1, 2021, or need a refresher, then keep reading for the highlights from the meeting. For more information on the Academic Senate, click here.

Information & Recommendation Calendar

Graduate Council Program Reviews

Katharine Ullman, associate dean of the Graduate School presented the seven-year Graduate Council Program Reviews for the Departments of Entrepreneurship & Strategy, Finance, Management and Marketing.

With connections to three centers that support student activity and involvement and a newly-launched Master in Business Creation program, Entrepreneurship & Strategy offers unique educational opportunities and has earned national recognition. Recommendations focus on leveraging strengths in a strategic plan with priorities that include increasing tenure-line faculty while balancing the two disciplinary arms of the department and increasing diversity.

In addition to training undergraduates and doctoral students, Finance oversees the M.S. in Finance as well as the Master of Real Estate Development, the latter in conjunction with the College of Architecture + Planning. A rigorous process of program-level assessment has driven substantive improvements to their programs. The department was noted to be a collegial environment and has benefited from holding conferences that bolster its visibility. As the department further expands, an emphasis on inclusion, diversity, and communication are priorities.

Management was noted to have a diverse cohort of doctoral students in a program that is flourishing and has a record of excellent job placement for its graduates. Opportunities to collaborate across campus on curriculum, as well as to expand offerings in ethical leadership within the Eccles Business School were noted. The department has had recent success in recruiting new faculty and plans for further recruitment.

Faculty in Marketing were lauded for their commitment to student success and have responded constructively to new demands in training, including developing a professional selling emphasis and minor, as well as student clubs that provide experiential learning. An M.S. in Business Analytics was also started during the past review period, in conjunction with Operations and Information Systems. Initiatives at the college-level to improve coordination between departments, with increased faculty input, will benefit Marketing, as will their planned efforts to increase mentorship of junior faculty.

Report from the Academic Senate Ad Hoc Committee on University Policy for Postdocs

Amy Barrios, associate dean of postdoc affairs, reported the following:

The Academic Senate Ad Hoc Committee on University Policy for Postdoctoral Scholars (“the Committee”), responding to the Senate’s charge to (a) review existing University policies and practices regarding the hiring, dismissal, leaves of absence, rights, responsibilities, grievance procedures, and other matters regarding postdoctoral scholars, (b) investigate the policies and practices regarding postdocs at Pac-12 and other key AAU peer institutions, and (c) draft for adoption by the Academic Senate appropriate policies/rules/guidance in this area, presents this report. The recommended policy updates provide recommendations on hiring and termination, outline a grievance procedure, and provide for parental leave benefits for postdoctoral trainees.