To bring faculty members up to speed on important university issues from last spring, MSU is convening a session of Academic Senate today.
Last April, about 700 faculty convened for the first time in eight years to address faculty members' concerns that their input was not being received by MSU administrators on major issues.
Today, faculty will be updated on issues pertaining to MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon's "Realizing the Vision" proposal, the expansion of MSU's College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids and the creation of a residential college program based in arts and humanities.
Academic Senate meetings might become more frequent - potentially at least once a year, said Jon Sticklen, chairman of the Executive Committee of Academic Council.
"If faculty don't perceive themselves affected by what's going on, there's kind of a loss of momentum for ongoing activities," Sticklen said. "Last spring, there was pressure from all quarters to have a senate meeting. Having a senate meeting this spring is not surprising because it is a continuation of the issues from last spring."
Today's meeting will differ from last spring's meeting in that it is largely informational, where governance members can report and faculty members can ask questions, Sticklen said.
"I want to give a big-picture view of where we are in the process," Sticklen said. "I hope many faculty turn out to ask the questions they want to ask and to get this information out."
Psychology Professor Norman Abeles, also the chairman of the College of Human Medicine Oversight Committee, will report on the agreement signed earlier this month by those involved with the medical school expansion.
The agreement, signed by a member of each organization involved in the move, cited a commitment to improving health care in Grand Rapids and advancing clinical research.
"We think faculty should be informed to the extent possible, and that should be a good place for faculty to gain a greater understanding of Academic Governance in the university," Abeles said.
The committee meetings should be held at least once a year - maybe even once a semester, said John Bratzel, a professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures.
"It'd be useful for the faculty to get together on a regular basis to discuss certain issues," Bratzel said.
Staff writer Margaret Harding contributed to this report.
