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March 7, 2002

Lack of faculty participation in University governance concerns Assembly members

Citing dwindling willingness among Pitt faculty to participate in University governance, the chair of the University Senate's committee for elections called for Pitt's administration to help stimulate interest.

Herbert Chesler told Faculty Assembly Feb. 26 that the elections committee was scrounging for faculty to serve on Senate standing committees, five of which were shy of the minimum number of candidates designated by the Senate election bylaws.

Chesler called for the chancellor to "make a statement to the University management — deans, department chairs and so forth — on the importance of participation, and to say that the administration appreciates the contribution that faculty make and, perhaps further, to provide incentives for participating in University governance."

He added that a message to faculty from Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and/or Provost James Maher saying that "this is serious business and that the work done is highly valued" would go a long way toward encouraging more participation.

Former president of the Senate Nathan Hershey said, "A lot of [faculty] don't care what's going on except when they have a problem. While the idea of having the chancellor make a statement endorsing participation is a good one, the real endorsement is if the Senate does something that has not emanated from the administration itself. But I agree we need better public relations in terms of impressing on the faculty that [the Senate and Faculty Assembly] are important."

Senate President James Cassing agreed.

"This is something we should push harder on," he said. "I think we have some credibility. Think back about our benefits 25 years ago. We had crummy benefits, and now we have more and better options." He attributed the improvement to the influence of the Senate's benefits and welfare committee.

"The tenure and academic freedom committee is certainly important. They look at a number of cases each year," Cassing said. He added that the budget policies committee has had some influence on salary raise decisions.

Cassing said he would recommend to the chancellor at their next meeting that he help promote faculty participation in University governance bodies.

Ballots for Senate officers and for Faculty Assembly and Senate committees are expected to be mailed to faculty in April. Nominations may be sent to the Senate office at 1234 Cathedral of Learning (e-mail: usenate@pitt.edu).

In other Faculty Assembly developments:

* Nicholas Bircher recommended that a future plenary session address the actions of the state legislature in limiting the University's ability to spend state-appropriated money. "Their use of targeted economic coercion … goes beyond the fact that they find law clinics pesky," Bircher said, referring to a clause written into legislation last year prohibiting state funds going to Pitt's Environmental Law Clinic. "There are spin-off issues that need to be examined."

Chesler supported Bircher's proposal. "[Pitt's administration] should be prepared for actions of this type in the future. They were not prepared. Let's face it, they blundered," Chesler said.

Cassing echoed Chesler, saying, "This law clinic situation is not unique. And where there's interference in academic affairs or academic programs, the administration ought to be prepared for showdowns."

Philip Wion suggested that interested Faculty Assembly members get together in private "to strategize on a carefully worded resolution directed at the legislature" that could be voted on at a future assembly meeting.

* Andrew Blair, vice provost for faculty affairs, reported to the assembly that the Council of Deans was reviewing recommendations regarding a new system for evaluating department chairs.

A Senate ad hoc committee sent recommendations to Provost Maher last year that included a survey instrument for departmental faculty to rate the performance of their chairpersons, Blair said.

"We're about ready to roll [the new system] out, either at the end of this academic term or at the beginning of the fall term," Blair said.

He added that for faculty convenience the provost's office is exploring ways to put the rating system on the web while maintaining confidentiality.

* Chesler, co-chair of the benefits and welfare committee, reported that his committee is working on establishing a consumer medical information center on campus; increasing access for faculty and staff to campus recreational facilities; ensuring that faculty and staff have access to high-quality seats and discounted season tickets for basketball games at the new Petersen Events Center, and disseminating information through Human Resources on the recently approved long-term care benefit option. (See story on page 1.) — Peter Hart

7/97 Current % Change

Scholarship Funds 428 583 +36%

Fellowship Funds 54 67 +24%

Professorships 35 44 +26%

Chairs 42 70 +67%

All other 344 522 +52%

TOTAL 903 1,286 +43%


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