Reports & Recommendations


Reports

FSC Memorandum on Faculty Compensation to the Senate Financial Affairs Committee (March 4, 2009)

FSC Report on Non-Tenure Track Full Time Faculty at New York University (October 2008)

Recommendations to the Administration on Matters Pertaining to Faculty Compensation and to Faculty Benefits for the Academic Year 2007-2008 (Presented to the Senate Financial Affairs Committee)

Recommendations to the Administration On Matters Pertaining to Faculty Compensation and to Faculty Benefits for the Academic Year 2006-2007 (Presented to the Senate Financial Affairs Committee, February 2006)

Resolutions

FSC Resolution: In support of our School of Medicine Colleagues (September 17, 2009)

Resolution of the Faculty Senators Council
Approved May 21, 2009

While salary and rent may fall under different Administrative rubrics, they are inextricably and intimately linked in the faculty tenants’ family budgets. In the context of two faculty salary freezes in half-a-dozen years, the University’s announced policy of double-digit rent increases for faculty in University housing has provoked widespread comment and concern among the Faculty Senators Council’s (FSC) faculty constituents. The burden of the new rent increases falls most heavily upon new faculty with relatively lower salaries. This is of particular concern in the current economic crisis. The FSC appreciates the introduction of the “hardship policy,” but we remain worried that those of modest incomes will experience difficulties. The Council believes that, if the University is interested in recruiting and retaining high quality faculty, it needs to demonstrate a commitment to its faculty through real and effective action. The Council recommends that the University rethink the hardship policy and propose a more generous plan. Finally, the Council recommends that while the salary freeze remains in effect, that the rent increase program be suspended. With expenses increasing and salaries frozen, many faculty find their economic situation deteriorating. This reality fuels frustration and resentment of which the Administration needs to be aware, even as we understand that we live in a difficult economic moment.

Resolution of the Faculty Senators Council
Approved May 1, 2008

In concert with our faculty colleagues at the NYU School of Medicine [SoM] and those who serve on the SoM Faculty Council, the members of the NYU Faculty Senators Council reaffirm the central importance of academic excellence in all responsibilities associated with the faculty of every unit and School at New York University and the critical importance of the institution of tenure to its achievement. As our University Faculty Handbook asserts under Title I, Item III.: The Case for Academic Tenure: “Academic tenure is a means to certain ends, specifically: (1) freedom of teaching and research; and (2) a sufficient degree of economic security to make the profession of teaching attractive to men and women of ability (p. 21).” Accordingly, the FSC believes it is clear that tenure without economic security is meaningless.

In addition, the Faculty Senators Council reasserts that, as Schools and faculties address the issues and problems with which they may be confronted, established due process and negotiation are the means for resolving whatever disagreements may arise. The Council believes strongly that unilateral imposition of modifications of existing practices and obligations involving tenure or retroactively altering agreements regarding tenure and institutional salary undermine the mutual trust that has been the bedrock of this University’s remarkable growth and success, and that will be essential as the faculty and the administration together face the challenges of achieving greater excellence.

Resolution of the Faculty Senators Council
Approved February 16, 2006

While recognizing that the final authority for development, termination and reorganization of academic programs lies with the President, the Faculty Senators Council thinks that faculty input is crucial to all curriculum and academic aspects of the University, consistent with its roles outlined in the University Bylaws.

The resolution, “Procedures for Termination or Reorganization of Academic Programs,” passed by the Senate in 1979 and approved by the Board of Trustees on December 1, 1979 supports consideration of academic program termination and reorganization by appropriate elected standing committees. The 1997 Resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees on December 1, 1997 reaffirms the 1979 Resolution, but eliminates some conditions that are very important.

The Faculty Senators Council believes that faculty input should not be restricted to cases for which there is “immediate reduction in the number of existing tenured faculty holding positions in such program (or programs)…”

In order to reestablish the essential consultative role of faculty in academic matters, we recommend that the 1997 Board of Trustees Resolution be rescinded and that we return to the spirit and intent of the 1979 Resolution, as originally outlined.

We further recommend that when program development, termination or reorganization involves more than one School, the consultative process outlined be broadened to include the Faculty Senators Council and the appropriate Standing Committees of the University Senate, consistent with University Bylaws 34, 41 and 56.

See Bylaws 34, 41 and 56. Excerpts from Bylaws are provided for informational purposes. See excerpts from the NYU Faculty Handbook regarding resolutions of the NYU Board of Trustees concerning procedures for the termination or reorganization of academic programs dated December 10, 1979 and December 1, 1997. Excerpts from NYU Faculty Handbook are provided for informational purposes.

Resolution of the Faculty Senators Council
Approved February 16, 2006

The Faculty Senators Council affirms that any proposed changes to a School’s procedures for promotion and tenure must be submitted to the Provost, who in consultation with the Faculty Senators Council, will review and approve them.

Resolution of the Faculty Senators Council
Approved February 16, 2006

The Faculty Senators Council approves the following changes to the tenure process at NYU’s School of Medicine: 1) removal of the ten-year probationary status from the full-time non-tenure track; 2) use of the temporary title, Member of the Faculty, for a limited one-year duration, for newly-appointed faculty, pending final approval of title and tenure status; and, 3) mandated notifications, from the Office of the Dean to faculty members and their Department Chairs, on deadlines for submission of tenure dockets for consideration.

Resolution of the Faculty Senators Council
Approved February 16, 2006

The Faculty Senators Council approves the proposed promotion and tenure procedures, submitted by the Division of the Libraries, the Stern School of Business, the Wagner School of Public Service, the Steinhardt School of Education, the Tisch School of the Arts, and the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, and affirms that such procedures are in compliance with the June 2004 Guidelines for Promotion and Tenure and the NYU Faculty Handbook.

Resolution of the Faculty Senators Council
Approved November 22, 2005

It is the sense of the NYU Faculty Senators Council that:

While we, the faculty, may be divided on the issue of union representation for GAs/TAs, we are all seriously concerned with the education of our undergraduates and our graduate students.

Since the current graduate/teaching assistants’ job action may not end before the start of the Spring term 2006, the various Schools of our University will soon have to arrange their undergraduate classes in a way that avoids disruption of these classes.

The Faculty Senators Council affirms the faculty’s appreciation of GAs/TAs as valuable, contributing members of the NYU enterprise and the faculty’s commitment to supporting an appropriate and effective mechanism that assures that the needs, rights, and responsibilities of graduate and teaching assistants are addressed.

We encourage the University to continue to pursue current efforts to improve the environment for graduate and teaching assistants. However, for those GAs/TAs who opt not to fulfill their commitments to return to teach in the Spring, there may be consequences. The Faculty Senators Council recommends that the University specify well before the end of Fall semester 2005 what those consequences will be.

The Faculty Senators Council strongly urges the University to maintain tuition and health benefits for all GAs and TAs and to support their education without interruption.

Resolution of the Faculty Senators Council
Approved November 17, 2005

While the University may have the legal right to give administrators access to Blackboard, the NYU Faculty Senators Council believes that it is not proper, in a collegial environment, to do so.

The Faculty Senators Council also believes that occurrences, such as the recent handling of access to Blackboard sites, might have been averted if the Administration had consulted with the Faculty Senators Council.

Other recommendations of the FSC can be found as part of the summaries of FSC meetings. Visit the "Meeting Summaries" page.