10 Dec 2014

Saint Augustine’s University Establishes a Faculty Senate

Saint Augustine’s University Establishes a Faculty Senate

Saint Augustine’s University has established a faculty senate, a first in the history of the institution. The Faculty Senate represents all faculty at the University through the process of shared governance.
The purpose of the Senate is to seek ways to improve communication and collaborative decisions made across the University. The Senate may advise the interim president on any matters pertaining to the institution that are of interest and concern to the faculty.

According to Dr. Harold Jeffreys, chair of the Faculty Senate Task Force, Saint Augustine’s University Board of Trustees Chairman Rodney Gaddy met with faculty in April 2014 and shared with faculty during a meeting the importance of establishing a faculty senate.

“The Faculty Senate document was ratified on May 7 and May 8, 2014 by 87 percent of the total University full-time teaching faculty,” Jeffreys said. “For various reasons, several faculty members were not in attendance at this meeting. However, if you consider only those in attendance, the approval rate would be approximately 96 percent.”

The Faculty Senate officers are Dr. Warren Dukes, chair; Professor Richard Moore, vice chair; Professor Marjorie Newman, secretary; and Professor George Jack, parliamentarian.

The Senate is comprised of faculty senators who are elected from each school. The senators for the various schools are listed below.

School of Liberal Arts and Education
Professor Alissa McElreath
Professor Marjorie Newman
Professor George Jack

School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Warren Dukes
Professor Richard Moore
Professor Christopher Solomon

School of Allied Health and Medical Sciences
Professor Renee Swain
Professor Katrina Williams

School of Business and Technology
Professor Harmon Barnard
Dr. Anthony Grady

School of Science, Mathematics and Engineering
Professor William Nowell