WHEREAS, The Marquette University Faculty Handbook acknowledges the University Academic Senate as the body responsible for “academic policy formulation of an all-University character and for the review and evaluation of academic programs and planning” whose “conclusions on academic policy, academic planning, and program evaluation represent the official collective stance of the Academic Division, and they will be reported as such by the Provost, to the appropriate higher authorities”; and,
WHEREAS, The Preamble of the Statutes of the Marquette University Academic Senate declares that “The University Academic Senate (UAS) is the primary vehicle for university-wide shared governance” whose responsibilities include “academic planning, review and evaluation of programs, Centers and Institutes, overseeing and evaluating the work of UAS boards and committees, acting on recommendations proposed by UAS boards and committees, and appraising initiatives and policies relevant to the faculty and the academic mission of the university,” and,
WHEREAS, Article 1, Section 1 of the UAS Statutes states that, in collaboration with the Provost, the UAS
WHEREAS, Article 3, Section 1 of the UAS Statutes states that, “In extreme circumstances, the Chair of the UAS is empowered to act on behalf of the UAS until such time as the Chair can convene the Executive Committee,” and
WHEREAS, the Marquette University “Securing Our Future” Steering Committee was created without the involvement or knowledge of the UAS, its chair, or its Executive Committee; and,
WHEREAS, the UAS Chair was informed of the “Securing Our Future” initiative and Steering Committee in late February, 2024; and,
WHEREAS, the UAS Chair was advised not to inform anyone about the Initiative or Steering Committee until given permission; and,
WHEREAS, the UAS Chair was asked to and agreed to attach his name and title to a letter from President Lovell announcing the “Securing Our Future” Initiative and Steering Committee; and,
WHEREAS, the members of UAS and its Executive Committee were informed of the existence of the Securing Our Future Initiative and Steering Committee at the regular meeting of March 18, 2024; and,
WHEREAS, the letter announcing the Initiative and Steering Committee was sent immediately following the regular UAS meeting of March 18, 2024; and,
WHEREAS, the appearance of the UAS Chair’s name and title at the bottom of the letter announcing the Securing Our Future Initiative and Steering Committee implied that the UAS and its Executive Committee had been aware of the Initiative and Steering Committee, and involved in the design of the Steering Committee; and,
WHEREAS, the UAS and its Executive Committee were in fact, not aware of the Securing Our Future Initiative and its steering committee, and not involved in or consulted on their design; and,
WHEREAS, Article 1, Section 1 of the UAS Statutes states that, In a situation in which the UAS believes it has been insufficiently consulted, the UAS:
Now therefore:
BE IT RESOLVED, that it is the sense of the University Academic Senate that asking the Chair of UAS to attach his name and title to the letter announcing the Securing Our Future Initiative and Steering Committee while also asking him not to inform the members of the UAS or its Executive Committee was inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the statutes of the UAS and shared governance.
