Group may lead diversity effort

The proposed structure of a committee to oversee the university’s diversity efforts will continue to be a topic of discussion when the Faculty Senate meets next month.

The senate on March 5 gave its initial review to a recommendation from the University Committee to create the Campus Diversity Plan Oversight Committee.

The proposal would formalize campus diversity planning efforts by incorporating the oversight committee into Chapter 6 of Faculty Policies and Procedures, which provides guidelines for faculty and shared governance committee on campus.

The new structure would specifically incorporate the current Plan 2008 Oversight Committee as a formal shared governance committee. The functions of the existing Committee on Academic Affairs of Minority/Disadvantaged Students would be folded into those of the new committee, and an academic affairs subcommittee would be created.

Several senators questioned the committee membership, which has six faculty, six academic staff, six students, two classified staff, two alumni and three community members. They expressed concern that the proposal, as a shared governance committee, would not have a faculty majority.

Supporters say the new structure would eliminate redundancy between the two committees while continuing to provide oversight and advice to the chancellor on an important campus issue. They add that faculty would still have authority over academic affairs, as expressed in current faculty policy. The committee would also be required to report to the Faculty Senate.

The senate will review the proposal again at its meeting Monday, April 2, when it could vote on the measure. The meeting begins at 3:30 p.m. in 272 Bascom.

At that meeting, senators could also review and vote on a proposal to allow the appointment of academic staff to serve with faculty members as co-chairs of a select number of committees.

According to the proposal, a number of committees that are responsible for areas with “broad interest across the university community” and that include academic staff as members would be affected.

These committees are the Advisory Committee for the Equity and Diversity Resource Center; Archives Committee; Campus Transportation Committee; Information Technology Committee; Recreational Sports Board; Committee on Retirement Issues; and the Committee on Women in the University.

The University Committee, on a trial basis, has already given its approval for the Committees on Retirement Issues and Women in the University to have both faculty and academic staff co-chairs.

“The co-chair arrangements have been quite successful,” says the University Committee’s proposal.

Some senators at the March 5 meeting questioned whether allowing academic staff as co-chairs was appropriate for these committees. But others defended the practice, saying it is working well and if approved would be only an option and not a mandate.

They also stressed that the appointing authority — either the Committee on Committees or the University Committee — would continue to have the final say on whether to make co-chair appointments.