President's Report - April 18, 2022 Faculty Senate Executive Council

1. As per the vote of the Senate, I sent a formal nomination of Professor Lyons to the Chancellor and Provost for the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees Education, Research, and Service Committee (ERC).

2. I received a request to vote on a COAI resolution that supports a report by the Knight Commission on revenues in intercollegiate athletics. Comments from Exec Council members are welcome as I am casting a vote on behalf of the Senate. I have asked for comments from the Athletics Committee and from the administration. My vote is due by April 26. 

3. I asked the Budget Committee to summarize the process (or lack thereof) of shared governance input on the budget process this year. You will hear more about this later in our meeting but I have concerns that the BAM process has been far from the transparent process we were promised, nor has it been conducted in a manner that allows for informed input from faculty. 

4. At the University Leadership Council meeting on Aril 6 I expressed concern that the bill that creates the Civics Institute is contradictory in that it indicates that all UTK processes will be followed, yet states explicitly that the Director of the Institute will make decisions to hire faculty, while that is the purview of the Provost in our processes here.  

5. The Senate continues to collect comments and suggestions as to how UTK might assist those in higher education in the Ukraine. Please continue to send ideas and comments to Loretta Link. 

6. I have passed on several questions to President Boyd for the upcoming UFC meeting regarding (i) UT policy on congressional earmarks, given that Tennessee is near the bottom of earmark funding this year; (ii) data on the history of tenure-track and non-tenure faculty hiring across the System, and (iii) data on the history of administrative hiring across the System. 

7. I was informed by the Chancellor of the decision to hold anther football game at a time that interferes with classes. I expressed concern about the decision and its impact on teaching, particularly for courses that only meet once a week. 

8. I remind you that the Senate will meet in-person on May 2 and encourage you to attend along with your Senate colleagues.