The executive committee is made up of administration, faculty and student members. It distributes policies and proposals throughout the governance system.

There are three task force proposals currently moving through Academic Governance system to create a greater voice within the university.

The proposals’ topics include the structure of the governance system, administration review, and communication and transparency. The third task force, program review, is in MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon’s hands, said Jacqueline Wright, secretary for Academic Governance.

“The goal of the task forces is to give the university a sense of connectiveness that we are not all islands, we are a community of scholars,” said Jon Sticklen, a voting member of the council.

Many faculty do not realize Academic Governance affects what they do on a day-to-day basis, he said.

Not only do students feel disconnected, but so do faculty, Sticklen said. Getting faculty engaged and giving opinions is what this reform movement is looking to accomplish, he said.

Wright wants to see the remaining faculty voice task forces approved by the board this semester.

“It is very important to take interest in the community you live in,” she said. “I hope we have good dialogue and discussion, and come to some conclusion.”

At the beginning of the semester, a survey will be sent out to all faculty members asking them how the university could better engage them in Academic Governance.

Tims, who is new to the council, said not only is he looking forward to what emerges from the tasks forces, but also he is excited to work with the student representatives who sit on the council.

“It’s a great way to be in touch with student needs regarding what they want to see happen with legislation,” he said.

Other issues moving through Academic Governance this semester is the proposal of a fall break and revisions of the religious observance policy.

A proposal coming to the executive committee early this fall is Faculty Leadership in Civility, which was spawned by the Virginia Tech tragedy and the I Stop Hate campaign.

“There haven’t been issues yet, and we want to keep it that way,” Wright said.