Faculty Senate meeting will address 5-year plan

By Shannon M. Davis

Arizona Daily Wildcat

The Faculty Senate is scheduled to take action on the Draft Strategic Plan for the University of Arizona at its regularly scheduled meeting this afternoon.

This plan defines the vision, role, goals, objectives and measures for the UA for the next five years.

"This is a living document," said Jennifer Aviles, program coordinator for academic support. "This plan has been widely disseminated because we have wanted to engage the campus in a dialog. We want feedback."

The Faculty Senate is on draft 20 of a report that began circulating in February, according to Aviles.

The plan covers a broad range of issues, including improved student achievement, maintenance of leading edge research, working closely with public and private institutions, and changing the way that members of the university community are supported.

Each of Arizona's three universities is required to submit a Strategic Plan every five years. The Arizona Board of Regents then publishes a comprehensive document outlining the goals and objectives of public higher education in Arizona.

The plan is scheduled to go to Gov. Fife Symington (R) this fall.

The Faculty Senate also will consider a tenure buy-out policy for faculty members at the meeting this afternoon.

The buyout proposal from the Academic Personnel Policy Committee recommends, "The President of the University of Arizona may offer a tenured faculty member severance pay in exchange for the release of any right to continued employment." The proposed policy states that the offer must be beneficial to both the faculty member and the UA. Also, "At the time such an offer is made, there is no just cause for dismissing the faculty member."

Another agenda item includes a request by the Department of Physics to initiate a major for the B.A. degree.

The Faculty Senate will meet at 3:15 at the College of Law Building Room 146.

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