About University Academic Senate
The University Academic Senate (UAS) is the highest faculty governance body. It has the authority to deal with any academic issue or faculty concern. It makes recommendations to the Provost and/or President regarding such matters as curriculum, the academic organization of the university, faculty personnel policy, the budget, and other issues considered relevant to academic affairs.
The Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) serves as the clearing house for matters to be presented to the UAS. Such matters are discussed by ECS before its recommendations are made to the Senate. Its powers and duties include preparing the agenda for UAS, acting for UAS, receiving reports from the standing committees of UAS, nominating members for all committees, task forces, and boards elected by UAS, determining the number and distribution of UAS members, providing advice and counsel to the administration, arranging faculty forums, and deciding the matters that should be reviewed by the various branches of faculty governance.
Guiding Documents: The University Academic Senate's Vision, Mission, and Values statements and the Goals and Objectives provide direction for our shared work together. These statements are available below for review.
Vision
University Academic Senate provides leadership to ensure excellence in Grand Valley State University’s undergraduate and graduate programs. A proactive governance body, it seeks to sustain its position as an exemplary model to facilitate academic initiatives and to advocate for human, financial, and physical resources necessary for their success. To establish and to support educational excellence, faculty governance fosters communication among constituents and stakeholders at Grand Valley State University, as well as with external communities.
Mission
University Academic Senate is the primary advocate for the faculty, proactively establishing and applying standards of excellence for educational programs and policies.
Values
In working to further Grand Valley State University’s mission, University Academic Governance draws upon the following shared beliefs:
- Faculty members are central to all academic and curricular matters
- Faculty members are integral to decision-making at the university
- Academic Governance must be representative, accountable, and transparent
- Open and lively communication is essential to university life
- The continual pursuit of excellence by the faculty is the best means for advancing the university’s mission, vision, and values
- Academic Governance works to ensure effective use and equitable distribution of university resources.
Ensure Fair and Equitable workloads
- UAS will request an annual report from the Provost’s Office regarding the impact of the Faculty Workload and Rewards Policy.
- UAS will report annually to faculty regarding the progress toward equitable workloads.
- Because excellent teaching and active scholarship are the foundations of faculty and student life at Grand Valley, UAS will survey and report regarding the frequency, method, and use of re-assigned time.
Enhance Governance Effectiveness within the University
- UAS will survey faculty periodically to identify and generate long-term governance ideas and initiatives.
- At the last UAS meeting before changing membership Senators will help identify goals/activities for faculty governance during the upcoming academic year.
- Improve communication between governance and faculty by inviting new faculty members to meet with ECS each Winter.
- Improve and expand use of technology to support communication between and among faculty members and UAS.
Examine and Develop Governance Structures and Leadership
- Annually select ECS members to meet with chairs of standing committees to identify needed modifications to existing governance structures and report to ECS.
- Mentor UAS members for leadership succession. Executive Committee of the Senate University Academic Senate