The University of Tennessee System’s University Faculty Council is dedicated to upholding and exercising the principles of academic freedom, shared governance, tenure, and the faculty’s primary responsibility for the university’s curriculum. The Council confers with, advises, and communicates with the President of the University of Tennessee system (and his/her staff, as appropriate) on system-wide matters of interest to the faculties (UTC, UTK, UTHSC, and UTM) and the President. Membership of the Council includes the current Faculty Senate President from each of the of the UT System campuses. Additionally, each campus elects one additional full-time tenured faculty member to a three year term. In addition, Faculty members of the Board of Trustees also serve on the council. Ex Officio members of the Council include the University President and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success. This web site is intended as a resource for members of the council, UT Faculty and administrators, and members of the UT Board of Trustees. The current Chair of the Council is Professor Beauvais Lyons from UT Knoxville.
Meeting 11 was held Thursday October 8, 2009 from 8am to noon in the University Center, room 237, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. To read the minutes (pending final approval at Meeting 12) CLICK HERE.
Future Meetings:
Meeting 12: Monday, January 25, 2010, 10:30am - 1pm (Central Time) in the Nashville Office, 226 Capitol Blvd. Rm 212, Nashville, TN 37219.
Meeting 13:
:in conjunction with the February 25-26, 2010 Board of Trustees Martin, Tennessee
Meeting 14: in conjunction with the June 23-24, 2010 Board of trustees Meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Dear UT Faculty,
Welcome to the University of Tennessee Faculty Council website. The Charter and By Laws of the UT Faculty Council were adopted in September 2007 and they call for the Council to be a powerful advocate for matters of concern to UT Faculty.The Council grew out of the efforts of the UT Faculty Senates to provide a means for faculty representatives to communicate with and advise the UT President on system-wide faculty matters.
The Council also serves as a liaison with the Board of Trustees, as well as makes recommendations regarding faculty members serving on University Task Forces. Thus, the Council provides an unprecedented opportunity for the UT President and his/her administration to have direct representation from the faculty.
Since its formation, and under ther leadership of it's first Chair Profdesor Lyn Miles from UT Chatanooga, the Council has already discussed and made over 25 recommendations to the President, including improving communications and email technology; ensuring each campus has a faculty list server, appeals process, and ombudsperson(s); cost of living raises and availability of salary data for further study; explaining the variability of allocations of state E & G appropriations; a cost/benefit analysis of entrepreneurial research; faculty participation in program closures and mergers, and the importance of shared governance to the future of the University. The involvement of the Council is especially important with recent chnages in campus and system leadership as well as discussions regarding the reorganization of higher educatrion in Tennessee. Please see our minutes for details regarding the work of the Council.
Several critical documents are posted on the Reports section of this web site, including the policy recently approved by the UT Board of Trustees for the Discontinuation of Academic Programs. The Council Minutes are also posted on this web site, and offer a useful record of our work since our formation.
Please contact me or one of your Council representaitves if you have a concern or question regarding our work on behalf of the faculty. Working with the system administration, we hope to advance the mission of higher education in Tennessee.
Sincerely,
Beauvais Lyons, Council Chair for 2009-2010
UPDATED: November 18, 2009
