Blizzard-like conditions prevented the Faculty Senate from holding an official meeting Tuesday, as only 35 members attended.

Forty-four members are needed for an official meeting.

Discussion on the reorganization of academic units was held, but further discussion was postponed to allow more Faculty Senate members to be involved.

President Jack Girton spoke about the proposed policy for faculty and administrators that includes discussing reorganization, planning whether reorganization should be done and having the plan reviewed.

He said the discussion section would include steps for the faculty and administration to initiate the process of reorganization and would take place freely and openly.

The planning section is designed to involve faculty and administrators who would decide if reorganization should occur and what implementation steps would be taken, he said.

The review stage of the policy would begin by a vote from the faculty and administrators. It would then be reviewed by the Provost, and if approved, would be sent on to the Faculty Senate, ISU President Gregory Geoffroy and the Board of Regents, he said.

Girton said, “Everything [the Faculty Senate] does is recommended; the Board of Regents has the final word.”

Girton said it is important for faculty to vote on the issues. “The point of the vote is to have the faculty express their view in a formal sense,” he said.

The Faculty Senate was not able to formally discuss the reorganization policy, and it will be brought to the table at its next meeting.

Girton said if the Faculty Senate and President Geoffroy approve the policy, it will take effect immediately.

The Faculty Senate also informally discussed promotion and tenure policy.

Girton said the Faculty Senate needs to discuss with departments to see how the promotion and tenure policy has been implemented.

There are guidelines each department must consider when dealing with promotion and tenure, which include the definition of scholarship, he said. “[The Faculty Senate] can’t expect the same output from all faculty,” he said. “It’s not one size fits all.”

Bill Robinson, senate member and philosophy and religious studies professor, said he opposed the motion for departments to create a document that illustrated how they handle promotion and tenure issues.

Robinson said there is a lack of clarity in the document and that it would be a great deal of work for departments to handle.

The Faculty Senate adjourned the meeting after informally discussing the policies and will reconvene Jan. 13 to formally discuss issues with more members.