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 Lyn Miles from UT Chattanooga. The current moderator for the website is Beauvais Lyons, Council member from UT Knoxville.
The next meeting of the UT Faculty Council will be held in conjunction with UT Board of Trustees meeting, October 23-24, 2008 in Knoxville.
Dear UT Faculty,
Welcome to the 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 to communicate with and advise the UT President on system-wide faculty matters, including both new and existing policies, especially during planning stages.
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 input from the faculty.
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); 3% minimum 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; and the need to discuss the future of the University. Please see our minutes for details.This is a time of both challenge and opportunity for the UT system, and faculty participation is critical. The UT system which began as a federation has now become a consolidated system, and in the coming year the Council will be considering changes in general education requirements and uniform course numberings to allow the system to work more efficiently, as well as other issues.Your concerns are our concerns, and I urge all faculty to contact their campus representative or Senate President so that the Council can continue to be the voice of UT faculty to the system. I want to offer my thanks to the Council members for their extraordinary efforts so far. Thanks also to you for this opportunity to serve both the faculty and the UT system.
Sincerely,
H. Lyn Miles, Council Chair
