The University of Texas System Board of Regents disbanded long-standing faculty senates and created faculty advisory groups that will carry out governance tasks while administrations retain decision-making authority. The University of Houston System Board of Regents adopted similar faculty councils described as advisory and meant to shape academic priorities without final authority. SB 37 limits faculty governing bodies to 60 members unless a board decides otherwise and requires at least two representatives from every college or school. University presidents will appoint at least one representative per college or school, select officers for each group, and appointees may serve six years before a mandatory two-year break. Faculty-elected representatives may only serve for two years.
The University of Texas System Board of Regents voted Thursday to disband the system's long-standing faculty senates in compliance with Senate Bill 37, the sweeping Texas higher education law that gives university boards and presidents control over faculty governing bodies. The UT board also voted Thursday to create faculty advisory groups, which will "perform the work of faculty governance bodies"-such as reviewing degree requirements, suggesting curricular changes, coordinating campus events and revising the faculty handbook-while keeping all decision-making power in the hands of the administration.
But the groups won't give the faculty independent representation or any real power. In accordance with SB 37, the board bylaws now state, "a faculty council is advisory only and may not be delegated the final decision-making authority on any matter." As of June 20, any faculty governing body in Texas-whether it's a senate, council or advisory group-may not exceed 60 members unless otherwise decided by the board, and every college or school within the university must be represented by at least two members,
Collection
[
|
...
]