May 2016 Newsletter

Dear NYU Tenured or Tenure Track Faculty Member:

This is the Spring 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-seven 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 Spring 2016 semester include:

• NYU’s new president, Andrew Hamilton, visited the T-FSC during our February 25th meeting. He discussed his experiences at NYU so far and the initiatives his office has undertaken. This also provided us an occasion to discuss faculty views of, concerns about, and aspirations for NYU. The T-FSC Executive Committee (EC) has regularly scheduled meetings several times a semester with the President and with the Provost, giving us much opportunity for discussion of faculty concerns.
• The T-FSC reviewed and made recommendations on proposed policies of several NYU schools regarding 
review, reappointment and promotion of full-time non-tenure track faculty. Following the 
recommendations of last year's T-FSC/C-FSC Coordination Committee, these reviews included (very fruitful) discussions with the Full-Time Continuing Contract Faculty Senators
Council.Schools whose policies were reviewed include the Stern School of Business, the Wagner Graduate School of Public Business, the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Liberal Studies, the Center for Urban Science and Progress, the Institute for Study of the Ancient World, and the School of Law.
• T-FSC senators are active on a number of Senate and University-wide committees. Of special note this semester were T-FSC representation on the Provost Search Committee; the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force; the Affordability Steering Committee; and the Superblock Stewardship Advisory Committee.
  

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 was held on February 4th.

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