Newsletter

Fall 2016

Dear NYU Tenured or Tenure Track Faculty Member:

This is the Fall 2016 report of the Tenured/Tenure Track Faculty Senators Council.

What is the University Senate and T-FSC and why should you be interested in it?

The University Senate is the deliberative body for the discussion of University-wide policies and proposed changes in University practices and structure. The Senate sets its agenda with particular concern for academic programs and structure, personnel and budgetary policies, development of facilities and community, professional, and educational relations of the University. The Senate makes any recommendations regarding policies and practices of the University to the President and Chancellor and, through the President and Chancellor, to the Board of Trustees. More information about the University Senate is available HERE.

The Tenured/Tenure Track Faculty Senators Council (T-FSC) currently consists of thirty-eight members of the Tenured/Tenure Track Faculty and is part of the University Senate's membership, which also includes the Full-Time Continuing Contract Faculty Senators Council, the Deans Council, the Student Senators Council, and the Administrative Management Council as well as the President and a number of additional senior members of the administration.

What have we, your representatives, been doing?

Minutes from T-FSC meetings are available HERE, and committee agendas and reports are available HERE. T-FSC Senators also represent the tenured/tenure track faculty on a variety of Senate and University Committees. Some of the highlights of activities in the Fall 2016 semester include:

• The T-FSC reviewed and made recommendations on proposed University policies on Personal Digital Content and Protection of Minors.
• The T-FSC received reports on and discussed University procedures and initiatives including the Bias Response Line, treatment of applications from prospective students with a criminal history, management of retirement funds, NYU Abu Dhabi Supplier Code of Conduct, Superblock stewardship, and the search for a Chief Diversity Officer.
• The T-FSC discussed and made recommendations on University actions in support of the civil liberties, personal safety and academic freedom of our community members, including those who are undocumented.
  

How can you get involved?

Get informed and vote during elections:
Schools elect their representatives to the T-FSC for 3-year terms, and schools with more than one representative have staggered terms. Calendars vary by school, but elections are typically held late in the spring semester.

Consider running for the senate yourself:
There is always a need for faculty members willing to put in the time and effort required for meaningful input into the governance process. In addition to obtaining the satisfaction that comes from this work, senators have a unique opportunity to meet and learn from colleagues outside their own department and school.

Meet your senators and faculty colleagues
Each spring, the T-FSC and C-FSC jointly host a reception for all NYU faculty. This year’s reception will be held on January 31 from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Torch Club, 18 Waverly Place.

Sincerely,
Allen Mincer (T-FSC Chair), on behalf of the T-FSC Executive Committee