Minutes from the Vanderbilt Faculty Senate’s March 12 meeting are now available online on the Faculty Senate website.
At the March 12 meeting, Chair Paul Lim gave the report of the senate’s Executive Committee. Topics he discussed included the following:
- Campus safety;
- An update on faculty participation in the Green Dot bystander intervention training program;
- An update on Title IX compliance training for faculty, which includes an online training module and the “Golden Opportunity, Golden Obligation” initiative;
- Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Audrey Anderson gave an update on Vanderbilt’s ongoing Title IX compliance review by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights;
- An update on the ongoing examination of the Concur travel system;
- A report on the progress of several Faculty Senate task force and ad hoc groups. The Greek Life and Online Education task forces are wrapping up their work and will present reports soon; the Faculty Manual ad hoc committee will soon transition to a standing committee;
- An in-depth conversation about the newly formed Task Force on University Athletics, including the group’s charge, composition of membership and an approximate timeline for accomplishing goals; and
- A mention of the university CARE Committee’s “Building Trust in the Workplace” event on March 25, of which the Faculty Senate was a co-sponsor.
Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos gave remarks on the Task Force on University Athletics, campus safety, the VU-VUMC reorganization and issues of diversity.
Sen. Buddy Creech gave the report of the Senate Affairs Committee. He presented the results of a Faculty Senate awareness survey conducted among faculty last year. Several questions and comments followed.
Under new business, Sen. David Wright presented a motion on behalf of the Academic Policies and Services Committee proposing the senate approve a new Ph.D. program in Earth and Environmental Sciences. After a brief discussion, the motion was put to a vote and passed unanimously.
Next, Sen. Mel Ziegler presented a motion on behalf of the Faculty Life Committee proposing that retired faculty members in good standing who are not granted emeritus/emerita status be designated “Retired Faculty” and continue receiving some basic benefits from the university. After several questions and comments, a motion was made to table the issue for further discussion and exploration by the Faculty Life Committee. The motion to table the discussion was approved unanimously.
Read the full March meeting minutes here.
For more information about the senate, upcoming meetings or to find the senators who serve your school, visit the Faculty Senate website.
Contact: Andrea Hewitt, (615) 343-3841
andrea.c.hewitt@vanderbilt.edu