Resolution regarding Amending the Faculty Handbook

  • At the May 8, 2014 meeting of the Faculty Senators Council, the Council approved the following resolution:
  • IT IS RESOLVED: That the Faculty Senators Council approved the following amendment to the Faculty Handbook:
    • WHEREAS, the Faculty Senators Council recognizes the legal right of the Board of Trustees to make changes to the Faculty Handbook with respect to any matter, and in the manner it finds appropriate in carrying out its duties, and
    • WHEREAS, the Five Principles of Shared Governance are the recognized procedures by which the opinions of the elected representatives of the Faculty on matters that affect the Faculty are heard by the University Administration and. through them, by the Board of Trustees whenever relevant.
    • RESOLVED, the Faculty Senators Council fully expects that the Board of Trustees will, except in exceptional circumstances, act in the spirit of shared governance and consult with faculty prior to amending the Handbook and/or related (linked) policies affecting faculty.
  • View PDF of resolution (May 8, 2014)
Resolution regarding Best Practices for School Elections
  • At the March FSC meeting, the Council approved the following resolution:
  • Resolution 1:
    • IT IS RESOLVED: That the Faculty Senators Council approves the following language for Article I.3 of FSC Rules and Procedures:
    • Current language:
      • 3. Nomination and Election of Faculty Senators. (Section B, 3rd sentence)
      • The School’s faculty shall appoint a nominating committee to present at least three names for each Senatorial position to the voting professorial members of their faculty by mail at least one week before an election.
      • 3. Nomination and Election of Faculty Senators. (Section C, 2nd sentence)
      • These should include who solicits nominations, when and how; how nominees are validated as eligible; whether biographies of nominees are provided; who conducts the election and counts the votes, including when and how; and who reports results to the Coordinator of the Faculty Senators Council.
      • 3. Nomination and Election of Faculty Senators. (Section D, 3rd sentence)
      • (b), a detailed written complaint, signed by no fewer than three voting professorial members of the respective School, may be filed with the Coordinator of the Faculty Senators Council. Such complaint will be investigated by the Governance Committee in consultation with the Executive Committee.
      • 3. Nomination and Election of Faculty Senators. (Section D, last sentence)
      • d) In no event, however, will any Senator elected under procedures challenged herein be unseated during the pendency of the complaint and the seating of a replacement Senator, should that prove necessary.
    • Revised language:
      • 3. Nomination and Election of Faculty Senators. (Section B, 3rd sentence)
      • The School’s faculty shall appoint a nominating committee to present at least three names for each Senatorial position, whenever applicable, to the voting professorial members of their faculty by mail at least one week before an election.
      • 3. Nomination and Election of Faculty Senators. (Section C, 2nd sentence)
      • Whenever applicable, these should include who solicits nominations, when and how; how nominees are validated as eligible; whether biographies of nominees are provided; who conducts the election and counts the votes, including when and how; and who reports results to the Coordinator of the Faculty Senators Council.
      • 3. Nomination and Election of Faculty Senators. (Section D, 3rd sentence)
      • (b), a detailed written complaint, signed by no fewer than three voting professorial members or 50% (whichever is smaller) of the respective School, may be filed with the Coordinator of the Faculty Senators Council. Such complaint will be investigated by the Governance Committee in consultation with the Executive Committee.
      • 3. Nomination and Election of Faculty Senators. (Section D, last sentence)
      • In no event, however, will any Senator elected under procedures challenged herein be unseated during the pendency of the complaint and the seating of a replacement Senator, should that prove necessary. Until the challenge is settled, the replacement Senator shall not be seated.
  • Resolution 2:
    • IT IS RESOLVED: That the Faculty Senators Council approves the following language for Addendum to FSC-GC Resolution on Senator Elections in the Schools (2/11/14):
    • Current language:
      • (1st sentence)
      • School election officers and University and School administrators – including but are not limited to those represented on the Deans Council and Administrative Management Council, and officers of the University as described in the NYU Bylaws
    • Revised language:
      • School election officers and University and School administrators – including but not limited to those represented on the Deans Council and Administrative Management Council, and officers of the University as described in the NYU Bylaws
  • View PDF of resolution (March 13, 2014)
University Guidelines for Full-Time Contract Faculty Appointments
  • The Personnel Policies & Tenure Modifications Committee reviewed and made recommendations to the document:  University Guidelines for Full-Time Contract Faculty Appointments
  • At the February FSC meeting the review and recommendations were approved.
  • View PDF of review (February 20, 2014)
Amendments to Faculty Handbook Introduction
  • The Governance Committee viewed the changes to the Faculty Handbook Introduction, dated 2/10/14
  • At the February FSC meeting, the Council approved the changes and recommended the following corrections to the language in paragraph three, which begins with the phrase “To clarify the history…”: remove “state,” “specify," and "set forth.”
  • View PDF of review (February 20, 2014)
Review of Policy On Assigning Course Credit Hours
  • At the January FSC meeting, the Council approved the following review by the FSC Educational Policies Committee: After a thorough review, the FSC Educational Policies Committee endorsed the contents and guidelines of the Policy On Assigning Course Credit Hours dated December 11, 2013.
  • View PDF of review (January 30, 2014)
  • Provost's memo and Policy on Assigning Course Credit Hours (December 11, 2013)
Approval of Board of Trustees' Resolution regarding Poly Representation
  • At the December FSC meeting, the Council approved the Interim Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws with Respect to Senate Representation for the University’s Polytechnic School of Engineering.
  • The faculty member of NYU-Poly who currently serves as an Observer on the Faculty Senators Council will become a FSC representative in the University Senate.
  • View PDF of resolution (December 12, 2013)
Amendment to the NYU Bylaws and FSC Rules of Procedure regarding Elections

  • At the December FSC meeting, the Council approved the amendment of Bylaw 63(c), which will become Bylaw 64(c).
  • Current language:
    • 63. The Faculty Senators Council c. Elections and Appointments
      All elections for members of the Faculty Senators Council will be held prior to May 1, and the name of each representative to the Senate will be transmitted to the Secretary of the Senate within five days.
  • Revised language:
    • 64. The Faculty Senators Council c. Elections and Appointments
      In order to best assure the effective operation of the Faculty Senators Council, all elections for members of the Faculty Senators Council should be held prior to the University Commencement in May. The name of each representative to the Senate should be transmitted to the Secretary of the Senate within five days of the University Commencement in May.
  • It was also approved to amend FSC Rules of Procedure: 1. Representation (d) Time of Elections accordingly.
  • View PDF of resolution to amend Bylaws (December 12, 2013)
  • View PDF of resolution to amend FSC Rules (December 12, 2013)

Resolution regarding Representation of the Full-time Contract Faculty (FTCF) in the University Senate
  • In October, the Senate Committee on Organization and Governance (SCOG) sent a memo to the Councils asking for recommendations on how to achieve representation for the FTCF in the Senate.
  • At the November FSC meeting, the Council approved the following resolution:
    • IT IS RESOLVED: The Faculty Senators Council recommends that the Full-time Contract Faculty receive 15 seats in the University Senate and that the size of the University Senate be increased by 15 seats for this purpose.
    • View PDF of resolution (November 14, 2013)
Review of Statement of Policy and Guidelines on Educational and Research Uses of Copyrighted Materials
 
  • At the begining of the academic year, the Provost sent a memo asking the FSC to review the Statement of Policy and Guidelines on Educational and Research Uses of Copyrighted Materials.
  • The Administration & Technology Committee and Educational Policies Committee reviewed the document and the following statement and recommendation was approved by the Council at the November FSC meeting:
    • After a thorough review, the FSC Educational Policies Committee and Administration & Technology Committee endorsed its contents and guidelines.
    • Some of the specific legal strictures and categories governing fair use might be unclear and unknown to faculty. To address this possibility, our recommendation is that a document be prepared by the Provost's Office with bullet points for faculty to more easily reference the applicable rules governing the use of copyrighted materials.
  • View PDF of FSC Review (November 14, 2013)
  • Response from Provost (November 25, 2013)
  • University Policy: Educational and Research Uses of Copyrighted Materials Policy Statement (January 6, 2014)

Review of Tisch School of the Arts’ Guidelines for Arts Professors: Appointments, Renewals, Promotions
  • In September, Provost David McLaughlin asked the Faculty Senators Council to review and comment on Tisch School of the Arts’ newly revised appointment policy for Arts Professors. The policy was developed by Tisch Deans Campbell and Scheeder, tenure/tenure track faculty and contract faculty, and has been revised in close consultation with the Provost.
  • The Provost has permitted Tisch to implement these new guidelines at this time as an interim document, pending FSC review and comment, and final approval by the Provost.
    According to the Provost, Tisch’s policy will also be subject to revision once the University has adopted university-wide appointment guidelines for contract faculty.
  • The FSC submitted their review, which included requested changes and clarifications to the guidelines.
  • View PDF of review (October 10, 2013)
  • Response from Provost (November 11, 2013)
Proposals and Plans on Governance, Voice, and Communications
  • At the September FSC meeting, the Council passed a resolution with respect to the Letter to the University Community from the Special Committee of the Board of Trustees, dated August 14, 2013:
    • The Faculty Senators Council welcomes and appreciates the opportunity to establish a joint committee to facilitate direct and regular communication on university matters with the Board of Trustees. We note the Board's commitment to provide faculty with a clear role in the presidential search process. The FSC looks forward to working with the Board on these initiatives to realize the goal of shared governance at NYU.
    • View PDF of resolution (September 19, 2013)
  • The first meeting of the Joint Committee of NYU Stakeholders was held on November 1
  • Read meeting report (11/1/13)