Summary of the Faculty Senate Meeting

May 6, 2026

Summary of the Faculty Senate Meeting

1. Motion to Amend Agenda – Karen Knee

• Faculty Senator Karen Knee moved to amend agenda to add resolution that raises concerns about AU’s February 2026 suspension of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), revisions to AU Title VI policy documents, and the subsequent framing of the University’s suspension of SJP as a Title VI compliance “achievement.”
  • The motion failed 16-9-0 (required 2/3 for approval).

2. Chair’s Report – Steve Silvia

The chair of the Faculty Senate, Steve Silvia, opened the meeting and raised the following items:

• Working group to re-envision Senate committees
  • Invitation to committee remains open. Committee work will begin in the Fall.
• Hearing Committee member invites
  • Faculty Senate is still soliciting committee members for Hearing Committee. Other committees are complete.
• Recap of Faculty Senate’s 2025-2026 academic year
  • The most significant item we worked on this year was the Senate membership reform. More than half of next year’s Senate members will be new.
  • Helped secure an Ombudsman: Ali Chrisler.
  • Helped ensure faculty voice was included in the new Center for Faculty Excellence.
  • Worked with the Inclusive Excellence office in naming faculty to new working groups addressing various inclusive-excellence issues.
  • Created a forum for helping to resolve the speakers’ policy.
  • Thanks to Katie Hut (Chair of Undergraduate Curriculum Committee) and David Gerard (Chair of Graduate Curriculum Committee) for hard work on curriculum reform
  • Thanks to Olivia Ivey and the Committee on Academic Budget and Benefits (CABB) for organizing faculty input on budgetary matters. Other committees have been working hard. Thanks to all committee chairs.
• Preview of Faculty Senate’s 2026-2027 academic year
  • Issues for the next academic year include curriculum and core review; the undergraduate portfolio review; the university budget; Senate committee reform; non-tenure-line title revisions; and bylaw changes regarding the Committee on Faculty Actions.

Consent agenda action items:

• April 1, 2026, Minutes
  • The minutes from the April 1, 2026, meeting were voted on and approved.

3. Provost’s Report – Vicky Wilkins

• Enrollment
  • 1692 first-year deposits, which is 171 over last year at this time. 17 transfers. July 1 is the transfer deadline. The goal was 1780 to have a buffer against melt.
  • There are reasons to believe that 6% melt might be less this year because university did offer increased financial aid and because many other schools have already moved on their waitlists.
  • Other considerations: The discount rate total hasn’t been calculated yet; it will be a significant factor on the budget. Another factor is the retention rate. Graduate enrollment is also challenging, in part, because of the international situation and federal-loan limitations.
• Term-faculty nonrenewals
  • Term faculty were notified last week collectively of nonrenewals. Last year there were 10 nonrenewals. This year there are fifteen nonrenewals. The additional five nonrenewals came mostly from contracts.
• Program reviews
  • The undergraduate portfolio review will happen over the summer and into the fall.
  • Announcement of graduate programs that have been paused or sunset will go out soon.
  • Review of nonacademic programs (nondegree programs that provide resources to students) is ongoing.
• Core Sprint
  • Will send report out to the community and thanks to everyone who contributed to discussion.
• Eagle Access
  • Currently evaluating Eagle Access and are working with Faculty Senate to include two faculty members on working group evaluating the program.
• Dean evaluations
  • Dean Wendy Boland: Received very high marks in ethical leadership, inclusiveness, collaboration, and vision. Provides deep care for students, faculty, and staff. Very strong evaluation
  • Dean David Marchick: Reflects broad and substantial confidence in his leadership. Highlighted strategic direction, ethics, vision, communication, and deep commitment to Kogod. Moved the school forward in dramatic ways. Strong review.
• Questions for the provost
  • Senator asked question about process for term-faculty nonrenewals. Provost said that policies in Faculty Manual were followed and that have disentangled promotions and renewals. These decisions are not about performance but about enrollment and budget. Provost said that should consider how notice is being done.
  • Senator asked question about contract terminations. Provost said that nonrenewals include mid-contract negotiations. Senator read portion of letter from term faculty in School of Education (SOE) regarding term-faculty nonrenewals and asking for increased transparency around budget decision in SOE.

4. Presentation and Q&A: President Alger’s Spring Visit – Jon Alger

• Recognition
  • Recognized faculty for awards at Faculty Recognition dinner, including Nate Harshman for receiving 2026 Scholar-Teacher of the Year.
• Strategic Plan
  • Convinced about being “R1 the AU Way.” It is the benefits of small liberal arts colleges and research with faculty, especially public-impact research.
  • The School of Public Affairs and the School of International Service have increased enrollment, which shows there is interest out there for making a public impact.
• Budget
  • Next year’s budget proposal to the Board of Trustees will include a salary increase and a return to 2:1 match for retirement.
• Enrollment
  • Prospective students see college admissions as a buyer market and are constantly appealing for larger discounts.
  • Enrollment is a top priority. The university has an anti-melt strategy. Also providing a up to 50% discount rate for transfer students and doing more outreach to community colleges.
  • Enrollment is not just about recruitment; it’s about retention. Eagle Wings program is being introduced this fall that gives points for going to certain events.
• Resource optimization and strategic investment
  • Example of opportunity for resource optimization is maximizing of physical space.
  • University is making targeted strategic investments, including fundraising for scholarships and financial aid and supporting strategic-plan pledges.
  • Need to keep asking what distinguishes AU from other colleges and universities. Some initiatives include:
    • Considering how sports and neuroarts fits into the curriculum from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives;
    • Unveiling new mentor program for sophomores and transfer students next year;
    • Pledging funded internships for all students; and
    • Creating civic transcript that identifies different skillsets that students have obtained while at AU.
• Federal landscape
  • Facing challenges with international students and scholars. President Alger has been involved with President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.
  • President Alger is working to build alliances with those outside higher education who can make the case for higher education.
• Provost’s pledges
  • Endorsed Provost’s pledges.
• Questions
  • Senator asked question about support for graduate students. President stated that every student, graduate or undergraduate, should be workplace ready.
  • Senator asked question about bandwidth and incentives for certain types of service, including media engagement. President stated that should try raise up and reward pubic-impact research.
  • Senator asked question about communication and reality, including for items like internship pledge. President mentioned that need to have focus on quality for any initiative and asked faculty to bring good work to attention of the president.

5. Action Item: Undergraduate Regulation Change 8.1.5 AU Abroad Habits of Mind – Bridget Trogden

• Dean Trogden introduced proposed undergraduate regulation that states there will be no restrictions on the number of AU courses students can take at AU Centers Abroad.
• Senator expressed concern about adopting this measure during an undergraduate portfolio review.
• Senators expressed concerns about quality control over courses at AU Centers Abroad.
• The regulation change was approved.

6. Action Item: Campus Representatives to the BOT Senate Bylaw Language Changes – Steve Silvia

• Chair Silvia introduced changes to Faculty Senate bylaws that bring bylaws relating to Board of Trustee representation into conformance with current practice.
• The bylaw amendments were approved.

7. Action Item: Election of Executive Committee additional Senators – Steve Silvia

• Tony Ahrens and Sheila Bedford volunteered to serve on the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. Chair Silvia moved for a vote by acclamation for the next representatives on the Executive Committee.

8. Presentation: Welcome to the New Senators and New At-Large Committee Members – Steve Silvia

• Chair thanked old senators and introduced new senators.

9. Presentation: For the Good of the Order and the Changing of the Gavel Ceremony – Steve Silvia, Jason Snyder, and Jenny Axe