Faculty Senate may alter auditing

Julie Rule

It may be more difficult for students to audit classes starting next year.

A proposal in the Faculty Senate would require students to get permission from the instructor to audit a class, and the audit would have to take place during the first week of the semester.

“[It was so] faculty members had the right to decide whether students audit the class,” said Ken Windom, associate professor of geological and atmospheric sciences.

Windom said many students who have audited a class stop going to class.

“Too many people are abusing the audit,” he said.

The proposal may be controversial, said Dean Ulrichson, president of the Faculty Senate.

“[With] policies like that, senators like to discuss awhile,” he said.

ISU Provost Rollin Richmond will also be giving a report on the results of the Promotion and Tenure evaluation, Ulrichson said.

He said this may relate to the resolution passed by the Government of the Student Body, which supported faculty tenure based on teaching.

The senate will also be discussing a new senate Strategic Plan.

“In principle, we have strived for stronger communication between members of the senate and members of the university community, and the first order of that is strengthening the communication between the Faculty Senate and the general faculty,” said Gregory Palermo, member of the Senate Strategic Plan Committee.

“The second order is primarily toward improved communication and enhanced shared governance principally with university administration,” he said.

Palermo said one of the goals of the strategic plan is for the faculty to continue to be a voice in curriculum, review for promotion and tenure, establishing academic standards and “being an active part in the overall affairs of the university.”

“I’ve been a part of the committee and feel that the principles that we’re striving for are firm and positive, on behalf of not only the general faculty, but in the spirit of addressing the concerns of the broader ISU community,” Palermo said.

The following will be presented at the meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Room 260 of the Scheman Building:

New Business

* A proposal to establish a minor in military studies.

* A proposal to change the audit policy to allow students to audit a class only in the first week of the semester. By Pope.

* A proposal to approve the Faculty Senate Strategic Plan. By Vrchota.