The University of Rhode Island faculty senate met on Oct.16 for its monthly meeting to introduce legislation for four proposals, passed three bills and heard presentations from university President Marc Parlange and the new head of undergraduate admissions, Drew Graducci.
Legislation was introduced for a curricular streamlining initiative to eliminate partial outcomes from the general education program, a clarification of requirements for graduating with distinction and a change to the university manual’s second-grade option.
URI’s second-grade option will allow undergraduate students to retake a course at any time during their careers.
Faculty members expressed multiple concerns regarding the second-grade option. Fear that the second-grade option will extend to three or four retakes was noted by Sen. Brigid Buxton.
These concerns fall into a separate set of legislation which the faculty senate is planning to deal with later in the semester, according to faculty senate President Travis Williams.
All four proposals will be discussed and potentially voted on at the senate’s next meeting on Nov. 20.
Parlange spoke on a proposed compact between the federal government and higher education institutions across the country.
“The proposal raises obviously serious questions about academic freedom, shared governance [and] institutional autonomy,” Parlange said. “We are in regular conversations with our peers across the country, as well as with various national higher education associations.”
URI’s budget model brings greater transparency, despite the ongoing federal difficulties, according to Parlange.
“URI’s decisions will always be grounded in our values, academic freedom, integrity, inclusivity and the open exchange of ideas,” Parlange said. “Whatever shape the federal discussions take, we will stay true to our mission and values.”
Appointed to his position last August, Graducci spoke to the senate about implementing “national best practices” from his previous jobs at the University of Connecticut and Louisiana State University.
The Executive Committee appointed professor Diane Kern, associate professor Adam Moore and assistant professor Tashal Brown to the Administrator Evaluation Committee for the College of Education.
The faculty senate amended two bills to move approvals for the graduate council’s curricular reports. One bill to move approval for the general education committee’s curricular report was amended.
The faculty senate’s next meeting will take place on Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. in the URI Welcome Center’s Hope Room.
