Lang Faculty Gain More Power
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
On March 11, at a regularly scheduled faculty meeting, the Lang Faculty Senate released a long-awaited document on faculty governance.
Lang faculty are generally pleased with the document—a product of nearly a year’s worth of preparation and often intense negotiation and debate —which defines their role in the governance of the college. Some faculty, however, remain critical, contending that the document may not give faculty enough independence from the Dean’s office.
“[The document’s] purpose is to establish the institutional framework needed to begin allowing the faculty at Lang College to more fully participate in the governance of the college,” said Paul Kottman, Lang Faculty Council member and Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature.
The document stipulates an increased role for faculty in academic decision-making, and allows for a greater emphasis on self-governance. For example, the Lang Faculty Council is currently appointed by the Dean, but under the governance document, the faculty would be elect council members themselves.
“For my part, I don't see any major flaws in the document and no real stumbling blocks to ratification by the end of the term,” said Michael Pettinger, Literary Studies professor.
“That does not mean that there aren't still some bugs that have to be worked out,” Pettinger added. The "bugs” are primarily regarding the role of the Executive Council, a council made up of department Chairs that consults directly with the Dean, and the Dean’s ability to veto nominations for departmental chair positions.
Rob Buchanan, an assistant professor in the Literary Studies department, said that many faculty members wondered why an Executive Council was needed at all. “People thought that was maybe too complicated and unnecessary,” he said.
“[The document’s] purpose is to establish the institutional framework needed to begin allowing the faculty at Lang College to more fully participate in the governance of the college,” said Paul Kottman, Lang Faculty Council member and Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature.
The document stipulates an increased role for faculty in academic decision-making, and allows for a greater emphasis on self-governance. For example, the Lang Faculty Council is currently appointed by the Dean, but under the governance document, the faculty would be elect council members themselves.
“For my part, I don't see any major flaws in the document and no real stumbling blocks to ratification by the end of the term,” said Michael Pettinger, Literary Studies professor.
“That does not mean that there aren't still some bugs that have to be worked out,” Pettinger added. The "bugs” are primarily regarding the role of the Executive Council, a council made up of department Chairs that consults directly with the Dean, and the Dean’s ability to veto nominations for departmental chair positions.
Buchanan said that the document leaves some basic questions unanswered. “Why can’t a department choose its own chair, and why do we need an executive council?” he asked.
While some faculty expressed dismay at the long wait for the document, Lang Faculty Senator Stefania de Kenessey said it was due to the need to assemble it in a way that includes all the concerns of its constituents.
Neil Gordon was scheduled to answer faculty questions at the meeting, but was unable to attend due to illness.
The faculty plans to vote on the ratification of the document by the end of the semester.
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