Remarks from University Senate President Ann Tedards
 
University Assembly meeting, January 7, 1998

 
Good afternoon. I have been asked to present a brief update of the work
of the University Senate so far this year, and I am happy to do so.

During the fall quarter, the University Senate passed four items of
legislation proposed by the Committee on Committees. All of these changes
are designed to help streamline our committee structure and make more
efficient and effective use of faculty time in service on committees. One
important change concerns the length of service on appointed standing
committees. In order to build more expertize into the committee
structure, appointments will now be made for two years instead of one,
resulting in less frequent turnover of committee membership. Also,
letters of appointment to committees will be sent before the conclusion of
the academic year, instead of at the beginning of the next year, so that
committees can begin their work as soon as the year starts and committee
chairs can be better prepared to set agendas.

Recognizing a need for better faculty oversight of the undergraduate
academic experience, and responding to recommendations in last Spring's
accreditation report, the Senate also passed a motion which creates a new
Undergraduate Council. This Council, whose membership includes elected
instructional faculty, students, and ex officio administrators, is charged
with the oversight of undergraduate education, especially the experience
of students during their first two years. It is anticipated that the
Council will tackle issues such as the retention of our undergraduate
students and the coherence of the general education requirements, to name
just two. It is also charged to coordinate with other standing committees
whose purview includes undergraduate education.

Another motion passed by the Senate removes the barrier to a student's
receiving two separate undergraduate degrees, such as one from CAS and
another degree from a professional school.

In addition to their regular work in the University Senate, most of your
Senators volunteered to sit on one of the issues-definition groups which
convened during the first phase of the "Process for Change," and the
Senate will continue to be involved with the next phases of that process.

The Senate also elected three members of the faculty who will represent
the University of Oregon on the Interinstitutional Faculty Senate. The
IFS meets five times a year and is involved in furthuring the interests of
OSSHE faculties at the State level.

As you can see we have been busy and the winter quarter promises more of
the same, including debate on the issues of double-counting of courses to
fulfill the general education requirements, and a motion from the ASUO to
extend the drop/add dates. The University Senate is one of the safeguards
for the inclusion of faculty and student opinion in the decision-making
processes at the UofO. We note a trend on campuses across the nation,
especially at public institutions, to disregard the tradition of shared
governance in favor of a management model which finds it more expedient to
limit access, debate and participation. Gratefully, the UofO continues to
honor its long-standing tradition of faculty and student involvement in
the governance of the institution. However, it is also important to note
that we must take this responsibility seriously and continue to choose to
invest our time and energy in the process. As members of this community
we have daily opportunities to communicate with one another, to resist the
tendency to retreat into our various corners, and to work together to both
protect and advance the quality of education our students receive.
 
Thank you.