The first University Senate meeting of the year was held Wednesday afternoon at which many new developments for the academic year were discussed, including everything from senate position changes to amendments to the University’s constitution.
The meeting began with opening remarks from senate president Robert Kyr@@http://senate.uoregon.edu/@@; he outlined the agenda for the meeting, commented on the success of the previous year and expressed his gratitude toward his fellow senate members for their continued work and support. He was followed by ASUO President Ben Eckstein’s@@directory@@ report on the ASUO.
Eckstein outlined ASUO’s dealings, including the decision on a campus police force and a new $100 fee per term for students that would help fund the renovations to the EMU. The ASUO is deeply involved in both these issues and is working to affect the outcome. Students will vote in November on the new fee for funding.
“We really feel (at ASUO) that students need to be informed about these critical decisions being made around campus,” Eckstein said.
After Eckstein’s report the podium was turned over to Interim Provost Lorraine Davis,@@directory@@ who delivered a presentation on the state of the University. She spoke in place of President Lariviere, who was headed to Washington D.C. for a higher education summit hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton@@http://www.hillaryclinton.com/@@.
Davis announced new position changes within the University, which include Jamie Moffitt’s@@directory@@ reassignment from Senior Associate Athletic Director to Vice President of Finance and Administration. Charles Martinez@@directory@@, Vice President of Equity and Diversity, has repositioned within the College of Education and Vice President of Student Affairs Robin Holmes@@directory@@ will assume his old responsibilities.
Davis also addressed the effect of growing enrollment numbers on campus and boasted about this year’s freshman and sophomore retention rate, which sits at an impressive 85 percent@@http://admissions.uoregon.edu/profile.html@@.
“We are currently right above 24,000 students, which is great because it allows us to be the robust research University that we are,” Davis said.
Lastly, Davis stated that $500 million worth of construction and renovations are currently in progress. Among these projects is the new Global Scholars residence hall.
Following the presentation senate member and former senate president Nathan Tublitz@@directory@@ held an open discussion to explain new changes to the University’s constitution, which was ratified in August of 2010. @@http://senate.uoregon.edu/content/uo-constitution-passed@@
“We’ve made things a lot clearer,” Tublitz said.
Definitions were added to clarify aspects of policy procedure and to define different types of staff involved in the University’s legislative process. Other changes include giving more policy making power to University Senate as well as a new process where legislation or policies vetoed by the president may be taken to the statutory committee comprised of all faculty, as defined in the new changes within the constitution.
“We are aware that these changes are important and that this document needs to be reviewed by general counsel,” said Dave Hubin@@http://distinguishedscholars.uoregon.edu/node/4@@, senior assistant to the president. “And there will be changes made to this document coming directly from Johnson Hall.”
The revisions have been drafted by the senate’s Internal Governance Committee@@http://int-gov.uoregon.edu/@@. They will be reviewed by members of senate and general counsel to assure accuracy and clarity. Changes and input from senate, counsel and other community members will all be collected by Friday, Oct. 19.
“The way they’re putting it together is great. I’m in full support of these revisions,” senate member Carla McNelly@@directory@@ said.