Summary of Activity

The Faculty Council session begins September 1, 2023 and ends August 31, 2024. It meets monthly September through May, and as needed. The minutes of Faculty Council meetings are posted, upon approval by the Faculty Council.

Please bookmark this page to stay abreast of the Council’s activities throughout the year.  Contact your Faculty Council representatives to voice your questions and concerns.

Faculty Assembly convenes twice per year.  The Fall Assembly will convene on November 6, 2023.  The Spring Assembly will convene on March 27, 2024.

Faculty Council Officers 2023-2024

Kimberly A.S. Howard
Chair
Professor
Counseling Psychology
Wheelock College of Education & Human Development

Kevin Smith
Vice Chair
Professor
Dept. of Physics
College of Arts and Sciences

Luz Marilis López
Secretary-treasurer
Clinical Professor
School of Social Work

 

Discussions & Outcomes, 2023-2024

On March 5, the Council convened on the MED campus.  University President ad interim Kenneth Freeman and University Provost ad interim Kenneth Lutchen attended the meeting.  They discussed admissions; tuition, room and board for AY 2024-2025; the Moving Forward Together initiative; the presidential transition and inauguration plans and responded to Faculty Council Committee reports.  Provost Lutchen updated the Council about negotiations with the graduate student union.  Karin Schon, Chair of the Faculty Council Committee on Equity and Inclusion, presented a proposal (first reading) to remove the name “Myles Standish” from the first dormitory.

On February 6, the Council met with University Provost ad interim Kenneth Lutchen.  The Council sent questions in advance about the academic calendar, faculty recruitment and training, teaching evaluation, grading practices, etc.  Chief Information Officer/VP for IS&T Tracy Schroeder; Associate Provost/VP for Enrollment and Student Admissions Christine McGuire, et al gave an update about the SIS Renewal Project. The Ad hoc Committee on Professional Behavior in the Workplace, co-chaired by Prof. Jeff Furman and Prof. Leslie Will, presented its revised report to the Council.  The report will be sent to the President and University Provost for their consideration.  The minutes will be published, upon approval of the Council.

On January 16, the Faculty Council convened on zoom, due to inclement weather.  The Ad hoc Committee on Professional Behavior in the Workplace, co-chaired by Prof. Jeff Furman and Prof. Leslie Will, presented its initial findings and recommendations to the Council for discussion.  Chair Howard informed Council members that school/college elections for representatives and alternates should be held this spring and the outcome of elections returned to the Faculty Council director by May 31.  The Nominating Committee will put forth candidates for committee chair positions at the May Faculty Council meeting.  All Council members will receive information about their school/college elections and about open committee chair seats from Director Khosla before the next meeting.

On December 5, the Faculty Council convened on the MED campus and met with Chief of Police Robert Lowe to discuss campus safety.  Council members gave feedback from their school/college faculty about the petition to re-name Myles Standish Hall.  Chair Howard informed the Council that the Executive Committee met with Provost ad Interim Kenneth Lutchen and Assistant Vice President and Registrar Daniel Powers to discuss the academic calendar for 2024-2025.  The  calendar will be modified to retain the “BU Monday” substitute teaching day while the administration and faculty discuss alternatives for the future.

On November 7, the Faculty Council met with VP for IS&T Tracy Schroeder for an update about the SIS Renewal Project.  Assistant Provost David Cotter and Associate General Counsel Lisa Tenerowicz gave a presentation about graduate admissions guidelines for the upcoming academic year.  Under new business, a Council member raised concerns from their college about the 2024-2025 academic calendar because the Monday substitution teaching day has been eliminated.  The Council agreed to raise this question at the upcoming University Council meeting. Also, the faculty of Wheelock passed a resolution to support a student petition to re-name Myles Standish Hall.  Other Council members said this matter is under discussion in their colleges, too.  Chair Howard asked the Council to consult their faculty on this matter and be prepared to report out to the full Council at the December meeting.

On November 6, the Faculty Assembly convened in the Metcalf Trustee Ballroom.  The Assembly heard reports from President ad interim Kenneth Freeman, University Provost ad interim Kenneth Lutchen, MED Provost Karen Antman, and Faculty Council Chair Kimberly Howard.  The video will be posted shortly, available to Assembly members.

On October 10, President ad Interim Kenneth Freeman met with Faculty Council. He discussed the transition plan for the President-elect, capital projects, major fundraising accomplishments, and rankings.  He responded to the Council’s questions about improving faculty diversity, student admissions, campus safety, and career services for students, among other subjects.

On September 25, the Council elected Prof. Ellen DeVoe (SSW) and Prof. Luise Pernar (BUSM) to serve on the Wheelock Dean Search Advisory Committee. Prof. Shulamit Kahn (Questrom) and Prof. Archana Venkataraman (ENG) also stood for election.

On September 19, the Council held its first meeting for the 2023-2024 session.  Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Maureen O’Rourke discussed policies that will be brought forward from the University Council Committee on Faculty Policies this year.  Chief Safety, Security, and Preparedness Officer Kelly Nee gave a presentation about campus safety.  President ad interim Kenneth Freeman and University Provost ad interim Kenneth Lutchen joined the meeting at the end to thank the Council members for representing their schools and colleges during this important time of transition at the University.

On September 6, the Council sent a call for nominations to all faculty for the Wheelock Dean Search Advisory Committee.  Per the Faculty Handbook, the Council elects two faculty who hold appointments external to the college subject to the search.

On August 31, the Council hosted an orientation for new members.  The orientation guide and other resources are available online.

Ongoing Issues of Faculty Concern

The Council regularly invites members of the leadership and academic officers to discuss current issues, concerns and initiatives and provide bidirectional communication between faculty and administration.

Faculty Representation on University Committees

In addition to serving/co-chairing University Council Committees, members of Faculty Council serve on the following University-level committees:

  • Antiracism Working Group
  • BU Hub XCC Steering Committee
  • BU Laboratory Safety Committee
  • BU Laboratory Safety & Student Education Sub-committee
  • Community Safety Working Group
  • Diversity & Inclusion Recruitment Committee
  • Fulbright Campus Review Committee
  • Graduate Council
  • Grievance Committee
  • Howard Thurman Center (faculty liaisons)
  • Learning Management Systems Steering Committee, CRC
  • Mascot Committee
  • MyCV Faculty Advisory Committee
  • SIS Program Steering Committee
  • Strategic Planning Task Force
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Scholarly Resources & Services — Libraries subcommittee
  • Title IX Hearing Board
  • University Academic Conduct Board
  • University Advising Network
  • University Leadership Group and Recovery Organization Working Groups
    • Graduate/Professional Programs
    • Medical Advisory
    • Research and Clinical Operations
    • Undergraduate Programs
  • Women’s Leadership Council, MED