DEBATE OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE: FACULTY SENATE REPLY TO ATCHLEY LETTER

To: President Atchley

From: Terry Sutton, Chair of the Faculty Senate

Date: November 8, 1995

At the November 1, 1995 meeting of the Faculty Senate, the question was raised why was not the Faculty Senate asked to comment on the Common Hour Proposal emanating from Student Government. According to the Faculty Handbook, the Faculty Senate is the body that makes "formal recommendations for new academic policy and change in existing policy." (page 67)

This statement implies that if a change in existing policy comes from either the Administration or the Student Government, the Faculty Senate should at least be consulted.

Consequently, many Senators were surprised to find your memo to all faculty dated October 24, 1995 outlining the Common Hour Proposal without any advance notification except from the Chair of the Senate on October 11, 1995 during a report from the Chair.

Many Senators were concerned that governance procedures were being circumvented. For any governance system to work, the procedures must be followed by all involved until the system is changed. If the system is not followed, morale and loyalty are damaged.

Please do not take this statement of concern as objection to the idea of a Common Hour; the Faculty Senate believes that changes in the academic arena of the University must be thoroughly examined and discussed by all members of the campus community. By doing basically a cost/benefit analysis of such proposals, the University will always move toward making the campus a continually improving environment.