By: Vasily Stokes
Writer
Dr. Terri Day, the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPA), took the initiative to introduce the concept of transitioning to a Senate-style governance model to the Volstate Faculty Council. The Council, represented by its speaker, Professor Deborah Moore, responded to this idea with optimism and anticipation. The Faculty Council, along with Dr. Day, is committed to fostering a culture of shared governance by emphasizing collaboration and collective decision-making.
The Council authorized a committee dedicated to thoroughly investigating the feasibility and implications of adopting a Senate-style structure. This committee commenced its research over the summer of 2024. Over the fall, the Council entered a critical testing phase. The Council is experimenting with the Senate-style model and gathering feedback from faculty members while routing out as many issues with the democratic process as possible. The ultimate goal is to prepare a well-researched proposal for the Senate-style governance to be presented to the Council. A formal vote on this proposal is anticipated in the Spring of 2025, marking a significant step towards enhancing shared governance within the institution.
“Shared Governance works best at shared tables” said Professor Deborah Moore, Speaker of the Faculty Council.
The Faculty Council, in its current structure, advises the President of Volstate and the Administrative Officers on academic policies and faculty-related matters. It serves to represent the faculty across Volstate, encompassing representatives from all academic divisions, the library/LRC, the Upper Cumberland and Springfield campuses, and adjunct faculty as “Units.” Each unit is allocated a specific number of representatives based on its full-time staff count. All representatives are full-time faculty members with at least one year of service. The Council reviews and votes on rules and policies, primarily when the faculty cannot convene to address individual concerns or issues the Vice President of Academic Affairs raised. However, all faculty members may gather as a “Faculty Assembly” whenever necessary.
The Council is led by elected officers, including a Speaker, Vice-Speaker, Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Sub-Council Representative, Parliamentarian, and Recorder. These positions are filled by “The Nominating Committee,” which is selected by the Faculty Council and composed of members who are neither current council officers nor under consideration for officer positions. The Nominating Committee evaluates eligible Faculty Council members for officer roles and solicits nominations from this group. Subsequently, they present potential candidates for an upcoming election open to the entire Faculty Council.
Under the current model of the Council, the Faculty Council primarily conducts “Closed Meetings” with restricted attendance. However, it is required to hold at least two “Open Meetings” and one Faculty Assembly meeting during both the Fall and Spring Semesters. It is important to note that visitors do not have voting rights and, importantly, must receive approval from the majority of the Council to speak during these meetings. Faculty members who wish to raise issues for discussion and potential action have to submit their concerns in writing, with matters about privacy or sensitive information being directed to the Council officers, who promise to ensure anonymity or arrange closed meetings as needed.
Proposals for amendments to the Faculty Council Constitution may be submitted by a Council representative, through a majority vote from a single unit via the Division dean or director, by a petition signed by 10% of the faculty, or at the request of the Cabinet as presented by the President of the College.
Although the Constitution for the Senate Model has yet to be fully drafted, the majority of Faculty Senate meetings are intended to be open to all faculty. Standing invitations are extended to the President and VPA, along with Members of the Academic Affairs division of Volstate, to view Senate meetings, with the Senate being able to hold a closed meeting if necessary. While the test run of the Senate model searches for issues, it will also display faculty members’ attitudes on this type of change. Professor Moore, Speaker of the Faculty Council, writes, “Any change brings some challenges as people adjust to new approaches. Hopefully, the trial runs of the Senate model will offer a level of familiarity that helps people feel more comfortable. ”
“My time at Vol State has been guided by two things: Respect and meaningfulness. Regardless of the issues we face, we need to be respectful in our dealings. We have a much stronger voice if we work collectively to meet our mission. This is why I believe a faculty senate model is right for Vol State. Institutions of higher education, by their nature, are mired with inescapable bureaucracy. This is why I have worked to revise processes and create offerings that allow faculty to devote time to things they enjoy and bring more meaning to their work life” said Day.
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