RPInsider

We don't have proof that this is the actual stamp used, but it was probably close.

Dr. Palazzo sent this email out to the faculty yesterday, telling them that the newly drafted faculty constitution (which was voted upon this past February) is not being accepted. Faculty had worked hard on this new draft, and to have it denied again is disheartening to say the very least.

Palazzo doesn’t mention any specifics in his email, but he remains positive, saying that he would like to continue working out the issues in as timely a manner as possible.  We can only hope that it goes better than the last time.  Shouldn’t the administration be involved in drafting the document if they’re going to have the ultimate say?  And if they were, why didn’t they voice these concerns before the vote?

This has been going on for almost two years… let’s see it finished soon!

Email below.

To: The Rensselaer Faculty

From: Robert E. Palazzo, Provost

Date: March 30, 2009

Subject: Progress on Faculty Governance Review

While I was heartened to see a strong turnout for the February vote on a revised Faculty Senate constitution, I am disappointed to report that, after consultation with various members of the faculty, the Deans and Vice Provosts, individually and in groups, I have determined that the modified constitution does not comply with the resolutions set forth by the Board of Trustees.

However, much progress was made by the faculty group working on the recently proposed constitution, and I am grateful for the time and energy those individuals have devoted to this task. Many of the modifications do mark strong steps in the right direction, and I am committed to working through the remaining issues with you as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

It is my hope that with continued dialogue and exchange we can achieve a modified form that will meet the expectations of the Board of Trustees. To discuss the details, and to set a path forward, I will be calling for a meeting of the tenured and tenure-track faculty in the next two weeks. My goal is to achieve resolution by the end of the spring term.

I am encouraged by the fact that we have made considerable progress, and that we have had active faculty participation and discussion throughout, but we still need your continued involvement and patience. I realize that the road to this point has been challenging for all of us, but I feel strongly that we have made much positive progress. To date, we have completed an extensive review of our governance practices and researched the best practices at other top institutions around the country. Further, we have seen strong faculty involvement in governance during the period of the interim governance, which I appreciate. I am confident that we can soon deliver a modified constitution that will result in formal reestablishment of a permanent faculty governance structure that meets the approval of the faculty, the President, and the Board of Trustees.

I urge continued collaboration as we move ahead to the next stage in this process. We are making good progress toward a final structure, and I look forward to continuing that progress through the weeks ahead.

Thank you for the time and commitment that you have given to this important issue.

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