The Role and Integrity of Senate: An Expression of Concern

October 15, 2008

Note:
  I have given BUFA permission to post this letter on our website. I have received advice that expressing opinions like this might be detrimental to my pending tenure application. I believe tenure is only as valuable as the integrity of the organization you are being invited into. If getting tenure at BU means repressing my professional opinions, essentially being a different person than I intend to be after receiving tenure, then I'm disappointed in the process. Universities are suppose to be institutions that foster independent thought and encourage sharing ideas, even controversial ones. I welcome any discussion my letter may generate. I am confident that my colleagues will recognize that my role as a senator is service to the university community, an important component of the tenure criteria, and entails an obligation to serve fully and with a clear conscience.

I am very concerned about how the Administration is circumventing Senate in regards to academic matters. The most serious breach is Dean Storie's decision regarding Education students' practicums. I believe that making this decision that all education students need to only complete a portion of their program prior to moving on to their practicums exceeds the normal 'day-to-day' exemptions to academic policy that department chairs and Deans are empowered to make. I expect a change in curriculum of this magnitude to proceed in the normal fashion through the Education Faculty Council, on to the Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee for consideration and then to Senate for approval.

The BU web page strike FAQ's also state "At this time, the final date for Voluntary Withdrawal has been moved to November 14, 2008." Again the normal procedure is for Senate to approve the academic calendar. I recall in the last year we even voted formally to correct a typo. Certainly changing a date with the academic implications of the VW date should also be approved by Senate.

I am not alone in believing Senate should be considering these issues. The Administration's own strike FAQs point out "Senate will play a key role in establishing the overall principles that will guide the completion of the academic year after any strike, and there are many student members of Senate."

As a Senator I do not expect to be called in after the strike to simply rubberstamp these or similar unilateral decisions of the Administration. I feel this is undermining the role of Senate as the academic core of the institution.

Sincerely,

John Lindsay
Senator
Assistant Professors and Lecturers