The Faculty Senate voted Tuesday not to support a proposed amendment to its constitution that would give more representation to large departments. However, the vote was only a recommendation, and the proposal will go on to a vote by the whole faculty during the spring semester.
Constitutional amendments can be proposed with 10 signatures from faculty, but the amendments cannot be implemented without full faculty approval. Three other proposed amendments will be brought to the faculty in the spring also.
Currently, the Faculty Senate is made up of one representative from each department on campus. Under the proposed amendment, larger departments, such as the English and math departments, would get 2-3 representatives each. The proposal was called "fair" by some senators, while others said a larger Senate would be "unwieldy" and "chaotic." Others charged that the proposal would allow a few departments to control decisions of the Senate.
"This will give more opportunity for faculty to participate - more of a shared governance and also get ideas from different segments of the department," said Mary Battle, associate professor of English, who sponsored the amendment.
According to Faculty Senate records, there are 42 departments with 42 senators representing them, but the proposed amendment would increase the number of senators to 67.
"With such a large body, we won't get very much done," said Jeffrey Berman, professor of psychology.
Other amendments to be voted on by the full faculty next semester include one intended to keep faculty members with administrative duties off the Senate and an amendment increasing the terms of senators from two years to three.
Lawrence Pivnick, the senator from the law school, announced to the Senate that the University Monday took possession of the Memphis Post Office Front Street Station that will house The University of Memphis law school, which is expected to hold classes there in August of 2009 after renovations, which will begin next week.
