For a Unified Faculty Voice In University Governance

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FOR A UNIFIED FACULTY VOICE IN UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE

Final Draft - April 15, 1997

This Document Approved by the Faculty Senate on February 17, 1997
This Document Approved by the Faculty Affairs Committee of the University Senate on April 11, 1997
This Document Approved by University Faculty Referendum, May 12, 1997

There are serious problems with faculty governance at Villanova and, perhaps contrary to popular belief, the problems originate, in part, with the faculty itself. The problems were outlined in two reports: Report on the Evaluation of Governance at Villanova by Esin Kaya-Carton (1987) and Report to the Faculty Council from the ad hoc Study Committee on the Villanova University Senate and the Appropriate Role of Faculty Service and Leadership in Governance by Miriam G. Vosburgh, Robert W. Langran and Harry R. Strack (1989). Interested parties are advised to consult these documents for further information. (Note: These continue to be available in the Reserve Room of Falvey Library as was announced when you received the 10/31/96 mailing of this document.)

The first problem involves the multiplicity of faculty governance bodies; faculty members serve on the University Senate, the Faculty Senate [formerly the Faculty Council] , and the Faculty Affairs Committee. In addition, the University Rank and Tenure Committee and the Academic Policy Committee have de facto and de lure authority in specific matters involving faculty governance. The Kaya-Carton Report (1987) drew attention to the "highly overlapping functions" of various bodies and the problem of which group is the true representative of the faculty. it further noted the possibility of a political conflict existing between the Faculty Council [Senate] and the faculty representatives of the [University] Senate. The Report concludes: "Such conflicts among officially recognized faculty groups with overlapping functions can only weaken the effectiveness of the constituency to be represented. Some consideration may need to be given to merging some groups to eliminate the overlaps in functioning."(page 6)

The Faculty Council Report (1989) noted that "Faculty Senators rarely attempt to coordinate their views with representatives of Faculty Council or Faculty Af fairs Committee." It further noted that, within the University Senate, faculty representatives are often badly divided on controversial issues and they do not effectively inquire as to the views of their constituents. Attempts at organizing a faculty caucus within the University Senate which could take votes on key issues and then bind the faculty members to the majority decision of the caucus failed.

The product of intensive study of the situation at Villanova, both Reports describe not so much a system of faculty governance as a system approaching the condition of anarchy. Any University Administration facing such acondition and desiring to consult faculty opinion on matters vital to the institution must experience frustration. Any faculty members facing such a condition and desiring to find out which representatives to hold accountable for their advice (and/or votes) on such issues as restoring Villanova's football program or extending the semester from 13 to 14 weeks or numerous other issues important to them must experience frustration.

The second problem involves the lack of meaningful communication and coordination between faculty representatives and their constituents, between faculty representatives and the University Administration, and between faculty representatives themselves. This is partly due to the ad hoc nature of the formation of Faculty governance bodies over the years. To solve the problem, it is necessary to substantially change existing governance structures in such a way as to unify, centralize and strengthen faculty governance in one organization. The most obvious and natural place to serve as the focus for this centralization is the Faculty Senate.

If anything has changed since the preparation of the two reports cited above (1987, 1989), it has been the revitalization of the Faculty Senate. Publication of a faculty newsletter (Facultas) on a regular basis, consultation with the faculty through ad hoc polls and open meetings, regular, on-going consultations with a new Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the sheer hard work of its membership have been some of the hallmarks of the revitalization.

But there is a third problem. Faculty at Villanova are generally disinclined to involve themselves in governance matters (outside the department level). The Faculty Council Report (1989) concluded:

In order to be taken seriously by others, the faculty must first take itself seriously; namely it must become aware of the issues affecting the University in general and the faculty in particular, it must act upon those issues as a group and not always rely upon a handful of individuals to do it for them, and it must follow-up on those actions to see that not only are they approved but implemented in a timely manner. (page 27)

Faculty must not allow themselves to become isolated within their disciplines, within their research, within their careers. The centrality of teaching and research within the array of tasks carried out by the university requires faculty to recognize that their participation in governance is equivalent to educational leadership and is an important part of their commitment to the institution. Faculty should also recognize the strong link between governance and academic freedom. The American Association of University Professors (A.A.U.P.) Statement on the Relationship of Faculty Governance to Academic Freedom (1994) notes that ". . . a sound system of institutional governance is a necessary condition for the protection of faculty rights and thereby for themost productive exercise of essential faculty freedoms."

At the same time, the University Administration and Board of Trustees must acknowledge that, since teaching and research are the very purpose of an academic institution and the reason why society values and supports it, the faculty, who are responsible for carrying out these central tasks, have a special status within the institution.. Further,

the University Administration and the Board of Trustees must accept the faculty's role (derived from that special status

in University governance as outlined in the Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities (1967) jointly formulated by the A.A.U.P. , the American Council on Education, and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. With the faculty recognizing their rights and responsibilities in University governance (and acting accordingly) and the University Administration and Board of Trustees acknowledging those rights and responsibilities (and acting accordingly), all parties can work together in a "true partnership" and "spirit of collegiality and mutual respect" to achieve common goals and objectives.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The Faculty Senate shall endorse the A.A.U.P. policy document, Statement on Government of Colleges and

Universities (1967).

2. The Faculty Senate shall petition the University President and, through him, The Board of Trustees of Villanova University to endorse the A.A.U.P. policy document, Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities (1967).

Rationale: All parties ought to work from a common statement of principles to avoid misunderstandings. This would be an ideal document as associations representing faculty and governing boards helped to formulate it.

3. Accepting the principle of subsidiarity, the Faculty Senate petitions the University President and, through him, the Board of Trustees for authorization to legislate in all matters directly and primarily affecting the faculty of the University subject to the rights and obligations of the President and Board of Trustees. These matters include, but are not restricted to:

University policy and guidelines on rank and tenure, faculty participation in departmental and collegiate governance, University policy on faculty sabbaticals and leaves of absence, recommendations for faculty compensation, benefits, faculty social and working conditions, and faculty duties and obligations to the University. Additionally, the primacy of the faculty shall be acknowledged in determining the academic policy, including but not restricted to: curriculum, subject matter and methods of instruction, research, faculty status, and those aspects of student life which relate to the educational process.

Legislation passed by the Faculty Senate may be sent directly to the President or, if appropriate, to the Board of Trustees. The Faculty Senate has the right to expect a formal response. The Faculty Handbook (1993), states: "The Faculty Council [Senate] provides a direct link between the faculty and the administration on issues." (page 5) The above proposal formalizes this "direct link."

4. Relationship of the Faculty Senate to the University Senate

a. The Faculty Affairs Committee shall be deleted as a committee of the University Senate and all references to it in the Constitution and By-Laws of the Villanova University Senate [hereafter referred to as the Constitution]

shall be expunged.

b. The University Senate no longer shall have authority to legislate in areas of faculty concern as specified in Article III, section 2 and that section shall be deleted from the Constitution.

c. Article VI, section 1 of the Constitution concerning the election procedures for faculty serving on the University Senate shall be changed to read: "The faculty members shall be chosen for two year terms by the Faculty Senate in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Faculty Senate." That section of Article VIII of the By-Laws concerning faculty senate seat vacancies shall be deleted.

d. Article VI, section 2 concerning qualifications shall be deleted from the Constitution. The qualifications needed to serve on the Faculty Senate shall be the qualifications needed to serve on the University Senate.

e. Article V, section 2 concerning the apportionment of faculty members in the University Senate shall be deleted.

f. All references to 'Faculty Council" in the Constitution, especially in Article IV, section 3 shall be changed

to "Faculty Senate."

5. The Faculty Senate recognizes the prerogative of the University President and Board of Trustees to seek advice from whomever they choose. However, the Faculty Senate requests the President and Board to consult with it in all faculty appointments to Board committees, ad hoc advisory committees, and all other circumstances where faculty representation and/or advice is sought.

6. The Faculty Senate petitions the Board of Trustees to expand its membership to include two faculty members without a vote. Those members will be selected by procedures established by the Faculty Senate.

7. The Faculty Senate shall be reconstituted by enlarging the membership to 39 voting members as follows: Arts-15; Sciences-7; Commerce and Finance-6; Engineering-4; Nursing-3; Law-2; plus one representative each from the part-time faculty and the retired faculty. (Note: The Gilmour 1990 survey of participative governance bodies at 402 institutions revealed that the number of seats held by full-time faculty averaged 45 with a median of 38.)

8. The Executive Committee shall consist of officers of the body (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer) and two elected Senators.

9. The Economic Committee will deal with faculty salaries and benefits and all matters related to the University budget. It shall consist of 5 members; the chair will be the Vice-Chair of the Faculty Senate and the four other members will be selected by the Chair of the Faculty Senate. Twc of the four must be Senators; there shall be no restrictions on membership by academic unit.

10. The University Senators Committee will consist of 13 members who will serve on the University Senate. The chair of this committee will be the Chair of the Faculty Senate. The twelve other members will be elected by the Faculty Senate. All must be Faculty Senators.

11. The Faculty Affairs Committee will consist of 9 members as follows: Arts-3; Sciences-2; Commerce and Finance-1; Engineering-1; Nursing1; Law-1. These members will be chosen by the Executive Committee. Five must be Faculty Senators including the Vice-Chair of the Faculty Senate. As is the current policy, the Faculty Handbook may be changed only with the advice and consent of this Committee.

12. The Vice President for Academic Affairs shall be an ex-officio member of the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Affairs Committee and, being ex-officio, will enjoy only the right to participate freely in the debate.

13. The Executive Committee may establish ad hoc committees, as needed.

14. All four standing committees (listed in items #8-11 above) are responsible to the Faculty Senate excluding the Faculty Affairs Committee when it is acting on confidential matters such as faculty grievances, disputes between faculty members, etc. All substantive resolutions passed by those committees will be submitted for consideration by the Faculty Senate. If adopted, the resulting legislation shall be forwarded for action by the President and, if necessary, the Board of Trustees.

15. When matters arise, deemed to be of critical importance to the faculty, the Faculty Senate may vote to hold a referendum among the full-time tenure and tenure-track faculty. The referendum ought to be conducted independently of the Faculty Senate.

16. Of great importance to the success of the Faculty Senate is continuity of leadership. When there are changes in the Executive Committee and chairs of the standing committees, there shall occur meetings between the outgoing and incoming leaders involving a thorough briefing and orientation regarding such matters as recent developments, informal agreements, pending concerns, the dynamics of the leader's relationships with the administration, etc.

This Report is submitted to the Faculty of Villanova University by:

Robert W. Langran, Co-author of Report

Harry R. Strack, Co-author of Report

Rodger Van Allen, Chairman, Faculty Senate

Thomas R. Greene, Chairman, Faculty Affairs Committee