I would like to take this opportunity to apprise you of our progress on our review of faculty governance at Rensselaer. Let me begin by thanking publicly my colleagues on the faculty and in the administration for their involvement, attention, and input throughout the process. This generation of Rensselaer educators truly is building a foundation for the future. They are leading our efforts to build a Rensselaer that fosters collaboration across disciplines, across our own campuses, and across international borders.
The faculty governance review process has reminded us that our faculty are the academic heart of this institution, and a key link for the entire community to one another. They uphold the vision we share, and the standards we set for our students. They advance global research and develop successful global leaders in our graduates. To support their important work, it is clear that the faculty requires a governance structure that best fosters the education of our students, supports faculty research and scholarly activities, enhances collaboration across the Institute, and upholds their vital role in the academic stewardship of the Institute. I am proud of our faculty leaders for their work in reviewing and discussing faculty governance at Rensselaer.
Two collaborative committees of faculty and administrators have reviewed faculty governance at Rensselaer and at peer and aspirant institutions. In addition, a third faculty-administration committee has been working on issues related to the status of clinical faculty at the Institute.
The Faculty Governance Review Committee, chaired by Professor Jacob Fish, has reviewed best faculty governance practices at select peer and aspirant universities. Its findings were presented to the Board of Trustees at its recent meeting.
Over the same period, a committee, co-chaired by Provost Robert Palazzo and Professor of Art Larry Kagan, has proposed revisions to the Faculty Senate constitution.
The summary report of the Faculty Governance Review Committee will be available soon at the faculty governance review website (http://www.rpi.edu/about/governance/index.html), and the Palazzo-Kagan Committee recommendations will be posted on the provost’s website.
I have invited the active tenured and tenure-track faculty to a meeting on March 19 to discuss the work of these two committees, and the next steps we will need to bring the process to a fruitful conclusion with strengthened faculty governance at Rensselaer.
There has been much dialogue among members of our faculty about current and future faculty governance at Rensselaer. As with all great change, the process has not always been easy. I commend all who have been involved for their commitment throughout the process.
The interim faculty governance structure we established last summer has kept all key areas of faculty governance, including the promotion and tenure process, and curriculum review, operating successfully and smoothly. This interim structure will remain in place as we continue to move forward, until all faculty governance issues have been resolved. I would like to thank the faculty who have been working during the interim faculty governance period for their dedication.
I would like to thank all members of the Faculty Governance Review Committee and the Palazzo-Kagan Committee for their hard work. I also would like to thank members of the Clinical Faculty Committee who have worked with the provost and the vice president for human resources to address the interests of our clinical faculty. That work continues.
Enhancing faculty governance at Rensselaer is an important responsibility for our faculty that will impact the future of the entire Institute. I look forward to working with the faculty to bring this review process to a successful conclusion as soon as possible.
