Nominations for President, Vice President, and Secretary of the Faculty Senate (for 2020-22) should be sent to Elections Committee via Senate Secretary Frederic Latour.
Nominees must be current members of the Faculty Senate. The current list of Senators can be found on the Faculty Senate website, by clicking on "Members".
Nominations closed at 5:00pm on Friday, April 3.
However nominations will be accepted from the floor during the Senate meeting on Election Day, Monday, April 6.
Each candidate will be given the floor to have the opportunity to speak to the assembled Senate.
Current Nominees and Statements for President (there is currently one nominee)
Frederic Latour, Department of Mathematical Sciences
Dear Colleagues,
First, I would like to thank all of you who have nominated me to be a candidate for the position of President of the Faculty Senate. I am honored that so many of you trust me to lead this important institution for the next two years.
In the last few years, I have been in leadership roles for many committees; I have been Chair of the Academic Standards Committee, the Senate Elections Committee, the Committee on Committees, my department’s Evaluation Committee, and a few Search Committees. I am also Assistant Chair in my department, and I am the Faculty Advisor of the Math Club. As such, I have become very knowledgeable about the various policies that affect the life of the faculty and students at our university, and about the history behind these policies. I believe that these positions have prepared me well for the challenges of the Presidency of the Senate.
In addition, I have had the chance to meet a vast number of members of the university community, including students, full-time and part-time instructional faculty, administrative faculty, and management. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed working with all of you and that I believe all of us have something important to offer to this institution.
When I think about what CCSU should be about, and what the role of the Senate should be, one word comes to my mind: excellence. Depending on our role, we are called to excel in teaching, research, and service, or in providing important professional services to the university community, in order to help create a better world for the next generation of students in Connecticut and beyond. The role of the Senate should be to promote policies and programs that help us and our students excel in everything we do.
Therefore, as Senate President, my priorities would be to:
1) Defend the prerogatives of the Faculty Senate and of the university (as described in Article 2 of the Faculty Senate Constitution) in the face of outside forces that would make decisions that are not within their purview;
2) Support efforts made by faculty and by the Curriculum Committee to improve and update existing programs, and develop attractive and rigorous new programs that will serve the needs of our students;
3) Help promote efforts to provide an outstanding education to our students that prepares them for success in the classroom, in their future careers, and in their lives;
4) Protect the academic freedom of the members of our university community;
5) Work with the administration and the University Planning and Budget Committee towards the implementation of our new Strategic Plan;
6) Work with the Student Government Association to make sure that the voices of students are heard directly by the Faculty Senate.
I consider myself to be a good listener and value a collaborative leadership style in which the opinions of many different people are sought before a decision is made.
Sincerely,
Frederic Latour
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Current Nominees and Statements for Vice President (there is currently one nominee)
Jan Bishop, Department of Physical Education and Human Performance
Greetings to All,
I am seeking the position of Vice President of the Senate as a faculty member who is deeply committed to service, especially when that service leads toward a strong academic program, shared governance, and quality working and learning conditions for faculty, staff and students. Â I have served as VP for 3 years, one full term and a half a term when the position opened midterm. Â This would be an opportunity to continue to serve on important issues such as maintaining our autonomy, supporting the community colleges, ensuring faculty control of curriculum, and seeking ways to support the advisement role of the senate to administrative initiatives.
In addition to serving on the Faculty Senate Steering Committee for 4 years and as Vice President for 3 years, my faculty leadership and service include:
- First Year Program, Task Force, Steering Committee Chair, 2019-present
- Diversity Committee, Chair, 2017 - present
- Committee on Academic Advising, Chair 2015-2016, member 6 years
- Committee on Committees, Chair, 2015-2018
- Curriculum Committee, Member 2 years, Alternate 4 years
- General Education Subcommittee Chair (2006-2011), Secretary (2003-2006)
- Mediation Committee, 2014-2017
- Faculty Development Grant Committee (2010-2012)
I have also represented faculty leadership meeting with Dean Candidates, participating in open NEASC forums and serving on the committee for the 5-year Academic Master Plan. My past service on the Curriculum Committee and particularly General Education has helped provide me with perspective on issues such as general education revision, assessment and the First Year Experience. The First Year Program work has involved collaboration with nonteaching as well as teaching faculty. My work on the Diversity Committee speaks to my strong commitment to valuing every member of our community, making sure all voices are heard and valued, building diversity education into our curriculum, providing professional development for faculty and staff, and promoting a campus experience that is culturally rich.
My strongest qualification, I believe, is an ability to listen to multiple views and facilitate understanding and common ground between them. I have been complimented on my ability to ask questions that help clarify issues and provide a path toward action. I am collaborative by nature and a willing leader. I respectfully ask for your vote.
Thank you,
Jan Bishop