Announcement regarding shared governance

Editorial note: This message was sent via email to faculty from Heather Shipley, Provost and Senior Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Dear Faculty Colleagues, 

I’m writing to provide an update on changes in faculty shared governance. First, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all our faculty who have served and will continue to serve in our shared governance processes — your contributions are invaluable to our institution.

My primary goal is that the faculty's critical role in university operations remains uninterrupted. With this in mind, and in alignment with state legislation, we've received approval from the UT System to establish three advisory committees to perform operational functions that were previously supported by the Faculty Senate and the Graduate Council.

I anticipate these advisory committees will serve until such time that the UT System Board of Regents takes action to reestablish faculty senates and councils. Concurrently, a Faculty Senate Integration Working Group, under the direction of the Academic, Student, and Faculty Affairs Task Force, will begin planning for how we might reconvene new integrated faculty governance bodies, to include representation for the Health Science Center, for our newly merged university.

In the meantime, these committees will ensure that faculty continue to have a voice in university governance.

Faculty Advisory Council 
The Faculty Advisory Council (FAC) will be convened by the Provost and Senior Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs or her designee and is charged with the following responsibilities:

• Review and make recommendations on policies and procedures related to tenure, academic freedom, retention and termination of employment, evaluation, merit, and workload, including Comprehensive Periodic Evaluation and Third Year Review.  
• Monitor and review proposed changes to the Handbook of Operating Procedures that affect the rights, responsibilities, and interests of the faculty. Formulate recommendations to the administration concerning any revisions to the Handbook of Operating Procedures proposed by the administration.
• Review recommendations of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and Graduate Faculty Committee.  

Undergraduate Curriculum Committee  
The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) will be convened by the Provost and Senior Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs or her designee and is charged with the following responsibilities:

• Review proposals for new and modified academic programs and submit recommendations on such programs to the administration, except in graduate education.
• Conduct reviews of general academic policy, monitor the implementation of academic policies and procedures, and make recommendations regarding such policies and procedures. Review requirements of admission, graduation, honors, and degrees, and make recommendations to the Faculty Advisory Committee, except in graduate education.  

Graduate Faculty Committee  
The Graduate Faculty Committee (GFC) will be convened by the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Dean of the Graduate School and is charged with the following responsibilities:  

• Recommend policies and procedures that cultivate and foster graduate education of the highest quality at the master’s and doctoral levels.
• Contribute to the development and review of ongoing and new graduate programs, policies and academic opportunities.
• Cultivate intellectual leadership and excellence in all aspects of the development and application of significant research, disciplined inquiry and the pursuit of new knowledge.  

Thank you for your partnership as we navigate these changes together. Your commitment to the university and our students are part of what makes our Roadrunner community so exceptional.