Faculty Senates – On-Demand Training

Strategies on Governing in Uncertain Times

Few would argue that faculty members are an institution’s academic experts and that it is critical they play an integral role in institutional planning, academic decision-making, and curriculum design. Unfortunately, shared governance is facing significant challenges both from university administrators and state legislatures. Faculty have faced increasing assaults on their academic freedom, including costly emotional and financial investigations and attempts to terminate. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened anxieties about contracts and financial stability.

Gather your colleagues and hear our expert presenter provide concrete strategies for and approaches to governing in these uncertain times, trying to maximize faculty leverage in an always-changing environment. Develop a shared vision, and a mutual understanding of goals and trust, so you can develop productive faculty-administration partnerships.

Help ensure that your faculty have a strong institutional voice in all aspects of university operations.

Topics Covered

As a result of this webinar, you will be able to:

• Maximize faculty leverage in shared governance – overcome the challenges with lack of funding, the consolidation of administrative services, increased tuition, and new instructional modalities that have strained shared governance to ensure you are effective.
• Explore ways to shift from a reactive faculty senate to a more proactive one – find strategies to shift your senate to a more proactive organization by developing productive faculty-administration partnerships built on trust, mutual goals, and shared vision.
• Protect your faculty – explore and develop strategies that will protect your faculty, and in turn, strengthen your institution.
• Create concrete plans to engage with appropriate partners to further the goals of your faculty senates – develop processes and protocols so you can use your time effectively and efficiently, serving as a positive agent of change and collaboration, instead of spinning your wheels.

Presenter

Dr. Chris W. Bonneau is a professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh, co-founder of the Pitt Prison Education Project, and served as President of the University Senate from 2018-2021.
Click here for full bio.