Faculty Senate Exec Council Jan 24, 2022 President's Report 1. Thanks to all for your efforts on behalf of shared governance I hope that you each had a chance to get some rest during the break. 2. The Senate leadership has been very active on several issues since we last met. We participated in several discussions with campus administrators regarding covid issues, requested that the campus initially hold classes online this semester, requested that the campus institute a more robust testing program similar to those at other institutions and expressed the concerns we heard from many faculty about frustration with lack of mask and vaccine mandates. Our suggestions regarding testing were considered infeasible given the lack of capability on campus. Despite the large number of infections throughout the State, the Governor has not declared a state of emergency so we are not therefore allowed to have any mask mandate. The campus administration is well aware of faculty concerns and have instituted a variety of procedures to allow instructors temporary flexibility regarding course modality. 3. We have discussed the process of academic restructuring, have given the administration examples of 3 of the types of potential restructuring suggested by the Working Group, and provided a suggested time line for consideration of the process of restructuring. As you saw in the draft timeline I sent you in December, we have encouraged that there be a thoughtful deliberative process to elicit and consider suggestions from the campus community. 4. We discussed the academic budget planning process for this year, suggesting a template that I had distributed to you as a possible way for the B&P Committee to compare and contrast budgets over time. As a result of this discussion, the Senate leadership has been invited to attend College budget presentations to the Provost. Following this, we have asked the Provost to discuss academic budget plans with the B&P Committee prior to their deadline to provide input to the BAM process. 5. One concern is the expected reduction in TT faculty arising from the retirement incentive program and I expect that the Provost will inform you today of his plans to provide oversight of the College's plans for hiring. 6. We met with the NTT Issues Committee leadership and have discussed with the Provost and Chancellor the suggestions from the Task Force on NTT issues that the Provost established last year. AT this point the intention is too move forward with considering some additional titles (Asst/Assoc/Full Professors of Teaching), to encourage Unit leaders to more readily utilize the flexibility already available to allow NTT faculty to be compensated for their efforts in areas other than instruction, including mentoring students in scholarly activities and taking on div verse service roles. Along with this is the continuing need to enhance compensation for NTT faculty who take on responsibilities beyond formal instruction. 7. We have met with the General Counsel to discuss issues of research security and asked for the Research Council to have input in the decisions regarding changes to policies on Outside Interest Disclosures and on research security. These are matters being considered at the System level and the expectation is that there will be new requirements for all employees arising from federal rules. 8. I thank the Provost and VC for Research for clarifying the capability for faculty to charge effort during May, June and July to external funding. Guidance is at https://research.utk.edu/research-administration/contracts-awards/effort-certification/ 9. The University Faculty Council provided to the System HR folks who are developing the Faculty Sick leave policy the concerns expressed by us and other Senates particularly regarding g the lack of a ramp-on process for long-standing faculty. 10. President Boyd noted at the UFC and from our discussion with the Chancellor and Provost it is clear that the System and campus administration have been devoting significant effort to the potential for legislative actions related to diversity and teaching on matters of social and racial justice. 11. As you saw, there is a new policy from the System regarding lobbying and use of university resources. I have sent the VP for Government Affairs several questions on this matter and will post these and any response to my website. 12. The new ERP system has been chosen and the UFC was told that it is hoped there would be funding from the State (we will know after the Governor's State of the State presentation) to cover the majority of the startup costs to the System with likely no increase in the taxes paid by the campuses. However there will be expenses at the campuses associated with the changeover due to staffing needs. 13. I have responded to several requests from media reporters on issues arising from the case of former Professor Hu which has continued to be featured in the national press.