Board of Trustees Chair Nelson Carbonell, B.S. ’85, discussed next steps in the process of reviewing governance at the George Washington University at Friday’s Faculty Senate meeting. The meeting also included remarks from President Steven Knapp and Provost Steven Lerman, who thanked the GW community for rallying together after the recent loss of two students.
Mr. Carbonell sent out a survey to full-time faculty last week to gather input on five guiding principles that have been identified as areas for improvements to shared governance. He said more than 500 faculty members have completed the survey to date, which will be open until April 18. Faculty members can also review documents related to the process and submit comments via email or directly on the Board of Trustees website and can choose to keep those comments anonymous.
The five guiding principles surrounding shared governance at GW include promoting academic freedom; establishing consistent and transparent processes for tenure appointment and promotion; defining roles for the faculty and administration in the selection, performance appraisal and retention of deans and other senior academic administrators; and creating a framework of faculty titles, policies and procedures across the university that also addresses the unique needs of each school, department, center and institute.
Mr. Carbonell added that in response to feedback on academic freedom, a resolution to amend a section of the Faculty Code has been drafted and sent to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee for review.
To address the four other principles, Mr. Carbonell explained that working groups will be assigned through collaboration with the board, the administration and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. One goal of the working groups will be to include members who have had past experiences with the principle they are assigned to review. The groups will aim to make recommendations to their respective areas in the next academic year.
Mr. Carbonell said that the governance review process will continue to promote collaboration between faculty, the board and the administration.
“We have really engaged in this process of collaboration with the faculty. Going forward, it’s really going to allow us to make the appropriate changes we need to make to get the institution where we’d like it to go,” Mr. Carbonell said.
Dr. Lerman also addressed the Faculty Senate briefly, asking faculty members to continue to be a “positive force” on campus by reaching out to students who may be dealing with the recent deaths in the community and making them aware of the resources the university is providing.
He added that he is very proud of how members of the GW community have worked together to support each other through this difficult time.
“Ultimately, it’s a tribute to the strength of our community that much of this arises organically from within: Students are helping each other and reaching out to faculty and staff. It is times like this when our community is tested, and we have a fair amount to be proud of in the way the community has rallied together,” Dr. Lerman said.
Dr. Knapp specifically thanked faculty members, particularly health experts, who provided advice on what the university can do to ensure the student body has the support it needs.