[The following resolution was approved by the Faculty Senate on May 1, 2000. See the introductory comments by Marla Peterson.]
A Resolution
Submitted to the University of Tennessee Faculty Senate
from the
Ad Hoc Committee on Technologically-Enhanced Instruction
L David Fox, School of Architecture; Peter Hoyng, Department of Modern
Languages and Literatures; John Mount, Department of Food Science and
Technology: Bruce Ralston, Department of Department of Geography; Fred Weber,
Department of Chemical Engineering; Chairperson: Marla Peterson, Department of
Counseling, Deafness, and Human Services
Rapid growth in the use of information technology has changed and will continue to change the way faculty members perform their work. Nowhere is this more evident than in the area of instruction. There is little doubt that new information technologies will enable this state's land grant university to disseminate knowledge beyond the confines of classrooms located in Knoxville as well as enhance instruction that takes place on campus. If technology creates a larger array of contexts in which the exchange of ideas continue to thrive, then The University of Tennessee will be well served. Instruction delivered by any means should adhere to academic integrity principles. Further, faculty of The University of Tennessee must help shape how technology is used for instructional purposes.
Therefore, be it resolved that:
- Decisions relative to course/module content will continue to reside with faculty regardless of the method of delivering content. New information technologies and policies and procedures that may be developed to accompany them should not interfere with faculty members' ability to freely present their ideas to students, colleagues, or the world at large.
- Decisions relative to the appropriate instructional approach for specific content for specific audiences will reside with the faculty.
- Decisions relative to the means of delivering specific degrees, certificate/license programs, continuing education, professional development, and other offerings which carry undergraduate, graduate, or CEU credit will continue to originate in academic departments with submission to appropriate academic affairs approval bodies, if appropriate.
- Individuals engaged in delivering any instruction which results in the awarding of academic credit or CEUs shall be approved by the normal approval process which begins in the Academic Department from which the instruction originates. This principle applies to any instruction offered through existing administrative units such as Evening School, Continuing Education, Extension, Summer School, Mini Term and any other University organizational units that might be created.
- Any plans to establish a for-profit or not-for-profit instructional entity that is separate and apart from the established College and Departmental structures shall be disclosed to the Faculty Senate at the outset and shall be brought to the Senate for deliberation.
- At least 50% of appointments to University-wide committees that are dealing with the use of technology for instruction--including, but not limited to, those dealing with policies and creation of new organizational entities--must include tenure-track faculty members whose duties are primarily instructional as opposed to administrative.
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