2017-2018 Summary of Activity

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

Faculty Assembly convenes twice a year.  The Fall Assembly was held on October 25, 2017.  The Spring Assembly was held on February, 2018.   The meetings are recorded and archived on the website.

Faculty Council Officers 2017-2018

J. Robb Dixon
Chair
Associate Professor of Operations and Technology Management
Questrom School of Business

Cataldo Leone
Vice Chair
Professor, Department of Periodontology
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Professor, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Goldman School of Dental Medicine

Eileen B. O’Keefe
Secretary-treasurer
Clinical Professor
Department of Health Sciences
College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College

 

Discussions and Outcomes, 2017-2018

On May 1, 2018, Chair Dixon reported agenda items for the upcoming 2018-2019 session. President Brown and Provost Morrison have charged the Council to recommend a process to select the University Marshal.  The University’s strategic plan will be revised.  There will be a task force to address free speech on campus.  Dr. Cataldo Leone, incoming Chair of Faculty Council, has been invited to serve. Chair Dixon encouraged Council members who are interested in serving to contact him, or Dr. Leone.  The Faculty Council voted to amend the By-laws to articulate the process of voting for members of dean search advisory committees.  It also voted for Committee Chairs for the 2018-2020 term. Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Julie Sandell joined the meeting to discuss mandatory training for sexual harassment prevention.  She also gave the annual report of gender equity salary data for the Charles River Campus faculty.

On April 3, 2018, the Council heard committee reports.  Dr. Kathryn Pfisterer Darr, Chair of the Awards Committee, presented the recommendations for the 2018 John S. Perkins Award for Distinguished Service.  The Council voted unanimously to accept the Committee’s recommendation.  Dr. Andy Andres, a member of the Credentials and By-laws Committee, presented the proposal to amend the By-laws to establish a process to elect faculty to serve on dean search advisory committees. Dr. Rebecca Kinraide, Chair of the Teaching Resources Committee, met with Associate General Council Sheila O’Leary to discuss concerns about Course Hero and similar websites that can facilitate student cheating.  She also reported that the Undergraduate Council is revising the Academic Conduct Code.  Dr. Janelle Heineke, co-chair of the University Council Committee on Faculty Policies reported that proposed revisions to the Tenure and Promotion Policy have been submitted to eDAAP for comment. The policy will be brought before University Council for discussion and vote.  Dr. Donald Smith, Chair of the Compensation and Benefits Committee, reported that the Committee reviewed the Administration’s proposal to change the investment options with TIAA.  Dr. Smith presented the Committee’s recommendations, which the Council endorsed unanimously. Chair Dixon said he will follow up with Senior Vice President Marty Howard.

On March 15, 2018, Dr. Rebecca Kinraide, Chair of the Faculty Council Teaching Resources Committee, gave a status report about the plan to replace the Student Information System.  The Council discussed the merger with Wheelock College with Assistant Provost Suzanne Kennedy and Associate Dean of the School of Education Dr. Donna Lehr.  The Council discussed the charge of the Task Force for Evaluating Teaching with Assistant Provost of Learning Assessment Gillian Pierce.

On February 6, 2018,  the Council met on the MED campus. Senior Vice President of Operations Gary Nicksa, Chief of Human Resources Diane Tucker, Executive Director of Benefits Nimet Gundogan, and representatives from Blue Cross Blue Shield gave the annual report about employee health care usage.

On January 30, 2018, the Council met with University Provost Jean Morrison.  They discussed financial support for graduate students, the process for assessing deans, issues around laboratory research oversight and budgeting, support services for Pell-eligible students, and review and notification for tenure-track faculty.  Chair Dixon noted the passing of Dr. Herbert Voigt (ENG), former Faculty Council Chair, 2003-2004.

On January 16, 2018, Dr. Bruce Schulman, Co-Chair of the Task Force on General Education, gave an update about the Cross-college Challenge (XCC) component of the BU Hub. Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Crystal Williams met with the Council to discuss faculty hiring and support.

On December 5, 2017, Chair Dixon informed the Council that Dr. Sapiro declined to serve on the Dean Search Advisory Committee for the School of Law.  Chair Dixon contacted Dr. Ran Canetti (CAS Computer Science) to serve on the Committee. At this meeting, Faculty Council elected Dr. Kathryn Zeiler (School of Law) and Dr. Flora Sam (School of Medicine) to serve on the Advisory Committee for the Questrom School of Business.  Chair Dixon reported that the Executive Committee met with Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Marty Howard and Executive Director of Benefits Nimet Gundogan to discuss issues and concerns with TIAA-CREF retirement investment benefits. Dr. Janelle Heineke, co-chair of the University Council Committee on Faculty Policies, reported that they are working on developing policies for review and promotion of non tenure-track faculty.  Chair Dixon reported that Wheelock College has voted to approve the merger with the University.  The Board of Trustees will vote on the merger in this month.  The Faculty Council voted to endorse the Climate Action Plan and send a memo to the Board of Trustees to encourage the University to adopt the “BU Bold” option.  Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Julie Sandell and Program Manager for Research Administration Jennifer King joined the meeting to present MyCV, which will replace the current faculty annual report system.

On November 7, 2o17, the Council elected Dr. Virginia Sapiro (CAS Political Sciences) and Dr. Ana Albuquerque (Questrom, Accounting) to serve on the Dean Search Advisory Committee for the School of Law. There was a tied vote between Dr. Albuquerque and Dr. Ran Canetti (CAS Computer Science.) A second ballot was issued to break the tie.  Dr. Jennifer Luebke, Chair of the Faculty Council Sustainability Committee, gave an update about the Climate Action Plan.  It will be presented to the Board of Trustees in December. Associate Provost Kenneth Elmore, General Counsel Erika Geetter, and Senior Vice President of External Affairs Stephen Burgay joined the meeting to discuss issues of free speech on campus.

On October 3, 2017, President Robert A. Brown updated the Council about the merger with Wheelock College.  He gave a report about undergraduate admissions, tuition and financial aid. Council members also discussed the capitol campaign, student financial aid, and the cost of housing for junior faculty.

On September 12, 2017, Chair Dixon welcomed the new members of Faculty Council and outlined their role and the University’s governance structure.  He asked for volunteers/nominations for faculty to serve on the University Grievance Committee.  The qualifications for membership are described in the Faculty Handbook.  Dennis Carlberg, Associate Vice President for Sustainability and Dr. Tony Janetos, Professor of Earth and Environment and Director of the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future gave an update about their work on the Task Force to develop the Climate Action Plan for the University.  Dr. Jennifer Luebke, Chair of the Faculty Council Sustainability Committee, also serves on the Task Force.