Faculty makes progress toward co-governance

By Shannon M. Davis

Arizona Daily Wildcat

Another step toward co-governance of the university between faculty and administration was outlined by Faculty Senate Chair John Schwarz at yesterday's meeting.

Schwarz and UA President Manuel Pacheco agreed to a membership restructuring of the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee, which is responsible for reviewing both academic and budgetary proposals before forwarding them to the president.

Schwarz said the proposal to restructure the committee calls for 21 members, 11 faculty members and nine members selected by the administration.

"This brings closer two very dear goals of faculty co-governance and the equality between faculty and staff," Schwarz said. "This committee will now be half and half."

Faculty representatives on the committee will either be chosen by the faculty or by representatives of the faculty, Schwarz said.

"I want an equal voice for faculty, not a dominant voice," Schwarz said.

Some members expressed concern that the UA president was to be consulted about the selection of the chair for SPBC.

"I'm leery of consultation with the president," Senator and political science Professor James Clarke said. "It sends totally the wrong signal to faculty."

"Sometime I want us (Faculty Senate) to just jump into democracy, and not just settle for a political transition," said Marlys Witte, professor of surgery.

In other items of business, the Faculty Senate:

˜ Rejected a proposal to change the academic calendar year.

˜ Heard a report from UA Athletic Director Jim Livengood concerning the financial status and the objectives of the UA athletic program.

˜ Cast ballots to elect one faculty representative to Intercollegiate Athletics Committee for a three-year term.

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