Senate Document SD 08-2

(Referred to Faculty Affairs Committee, 10/20/2008)

(Failed, 3/16/2009)

TO:                  Fort Wayne Senate

FROM:            Peter Iadicola

SUBJECT:       Proposal for Defending Departmental Faculty Rights of Discussion and Recommendation for Departmental Curriculum

DATE:             October 20, 2008

DISPOSITION: To the Presiding Officer for implementation

Whereas, under the Constitution of the Faculty of  Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, section VI, part B, defining the powers of the faculty of this institution, it states that “…the power to review and approve academic degrees, to develop curriculum, instructional and examination procedures and undergraduate degree requirements, and to nominate candidates for these degrees is delegated to the school and division faculties, and the power to develop course content and new courses is delegated to the academic departments.”

And Whereas, the Voting Faculty of academic departments are the most knowledgeable about the content and standards of the curriculum that falls within their department’s program offerings.

And Whereas, any interference with the right of department faculty by non-departmental faculty and administrators, including Deans, Vice Chancellors, or the Chancellor, to discuss and consider proposals to recommend creation, modification or elimination of programs that are offered by their department is a serious breach of departmental faculty powers and responsibilities.

Therefore Be It Resolved, that non-program faculty and administrative personnel who are to participate in departmental faculty deliberations regarding program curriculum are to participate only upon invitation by the faculty of the department and that their participation be limited to providing information but not proposing or interfering with faculty discussion and proposals for recommendation for program creation, modification, or elimination.