FACULTY SENATE GOALS and DIRECTIONS for 2009

A.  Improve Faculty Governance Structure:

• Begin the process of Faculty Unification: create tighter links to Faculty Councils.
• Expand role of CoC to focus of faculty governance
• Develop a set of guidelines to insure UH committees are responsive and accountable.
• Consider bylaw changes to the Faculty Senate Constitution and Bylaws

° term limits senators; FS president.
° membership expansion.
° timing of elections.
° clarification of election responsibilities.
° inclusion of Council Chairs.
° others as deem necessary.

B.  Improve Undergraduate Educational Process.

       • Develop proposal for a Center for Teaching Excellence.
  • Develop recommendations to improve Financial aid process.
  • Assist the Strategic Action Group in developing a comprehensive plan to improve student success.
  • Assist the Voluntary System of Accountability assessment.
  • Assist Discovery-Research/QEP program.
  • Assist the Orientation Task Force.
  • Assist Enrollment Management Task Force.
  • Assist Achieving the Dream progress.
  • Liaison with Undergraduate Council

C.  Improve the General Faculty Environment.

• Review and make recommendations of faculty benefits.
• Make recommendations for improvements in OGC.
• Assist and monitor the joint GPS/FS committee on Graduate Faculty/Titles-Ranks.
• Monitor Faculty Development and Retention issues and make recommendations.
• Evaluate and make recommendations on minimal computer upgrades across campus.
• Survey Faculty as needed.

° Climate Survey
° Faculty club survey
° Service commitment survey
° Child Care survey 

D. Get General Faculty More Aware Of, and Involved In, Faculty Senate and UH.

• Improve attendance at Fall and Spring faculty assemblies.
• Explore the possibility of establishing a Faculty Club.
• Help plan Faculty Recognition dinners.
• Reach out to junior faculty.

° Set up Junior Faculty forums with Provost/President
° Speaker series for Junior Faculty with library

• Liaison for Homecoming; MLK day, special events
• Improve communications to Faculty and UH community

E. Get Faculty More Involved with the Community.

• Develop a proposal to submit to the Provost/presidents office for a set of Community service awards
• Have community speakers at Faculty assemblies
• Sponsor Community/UH conference
• Increase FS endowment to allow for more Community interactions.

F. Provide Advocacy on Faculty Issues Regarding Budget and Facilities:   

• Continue salary data report analysis.
• Monitor UH budgeting process (staff budget meetings).
• Monitor Parking rate increases.
• Monitor task force on Child Care Center expansion.
• Monitor and make recommendations on new and ongoing construction.
• Liaison to Purchasing and Plant Management; Campus facilities
• Monitor construction project signage.

G.  Ensure Effective Shared Governance:

• Increase activity of FS committees.  

     ° Name Vice Chair for each committee that will attend FEC etc. meetings in absence of Chair.
° Have VC head a subcommittee (have some specific responsibility).
° Establish meeting dates for entire semester at first meeting or before.
° Become more proactive: establish at least one new and proactive priority per semester.

• Improve Instructional and Informational Technology Resources.
• Provide members for Dean review members.
• Appoint Joint Task Force for Child Care Expansion. 
• Provide liaison to Development office.
• Provide liaison to Government relations office/Legislature.
• Provide liaison to Strategic Action Group
• Provide liaison to Student government; Staff Council.
• Provide liaison to Research council;
• Provide liaison to Undergraduate Council 
• Provide liaison to GPS Council. 
• Provide liaison to Women’s Commission.
• Provide liaison to Presidents cabinet.
• Provide liaison to UCC. 
• Provide liaison to Board of Regents.