The Assembly discussed clinical faculty promotion criteria, artificial intelligence and amendments to the Board of Regents’ bylaws.
Revisions to Clinical Faculty Promotion Criteria The University of Michigan Senate Assembly discussed significant revisions to the promotion criteria for clinical faculty at the Medical School. These changes, aimed for the next academic year, address an outdated system that was primarily focused on tenure tracks. The new criteria introduce three categories for clinical faculty and allow promotion based on a portfolio of accomplishments directly relevant to their clinical practice. While seen as a positive step towards streamlining the process, it's acknowledged that expectations for academic productivity will remain. Amendments to Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates were provided regarding the Faculty Senate Student Relations Advisory Committee’s efforts to implement 28 amendments to the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. These proposals stemmed from the regents' unilateral changes to student disciplinary procedures in 2024, which many faculty perceived as unfair to students involved in protests and potentially violating due process. University President Domenico Grasso agreed to proceed with 22 of these proposed amendments. Artificial Intelligence in Collegiate Instruction and Faculty Work Following the finalization of the University’s guidelines for responsible AI use, the Senate Assembly heard from Tazin Daniels of the Center for Research of Learning & Teaching (CRLT) on AI's implications for education. The CRLT supports faculty in understanding generative AI for teaching and learning, acknowledging the complexities of academic integrity in this new era. Concerns were raised by professors like Derek Peterson about AI diminishing the need for specialized human expertise and by Francine Dolins regarding the ethical issues of using AI to evaluate student work without consent, potentially exposing intellectual property. Proposed Amendments to Regents’ Bylaws and Faculty Rights Declaration Faculty Senate Director Luke McCarthy presented proposed amendments to the regents’ bylaws, encompassing both 'housekeeping' adjustments and 'substantive updates.' Key substantive changes include eliminating SACUA’s nominating committee and granting voting privileges to emeritus faculty who maintain at least 50% active employment. These amendments received unanimous consent to move forward to the University Faculty Senate for a final vote. Additionally, SACUA introduced a draft declaration of faculty rights and responsibilities, intended as a guiding document for faculty negotiations with the administration, with a final vote expected within the current academic year.
Revisions to Clinical Faculty Promotion Criteria
The University of Michigan Senate Assembly discussed significant revisions to the promotion criteria for clinical faculty at the Medical School. These changes, aimed for the next academic year, address an outdated system that was primarily focused on tenure tracks. The new criteria introduce three categories for clinical faculty and allow promotion based on a portfolio of accomplishments directly relevant to their clinical practice. While seen as a positive step towards streamlining the process, it's acknowledged that expectations for academic productivity will remain.
Amendments to Student Rights and Responsibilities
Updates were provided regarding the Faculty Senate Student Relations Advisory Committee’s efforts to implement 28 amendments to the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. These proposals stemmed from the regents' unilateral changes to student disciplinary procedures in 2024, which many faculty perceived as unfair to students involved in protests and potentially violating due process. University President Domenico Grasso agreed to proceed with 22 of these proposed amendments.
Artificial Intelligence in Collegiate Instruction and Faculty Work
Following the finalization of the University’s guidelines for responsible AI use, the Senate Assembly heard from Tazin Daniels of the Center for Research of Learning & Teaching (CRLT) on AI's implications for education. The CRLT supports faculty in understanding generative AI for teaching and learning, acknowledging the complexities of academic integrity in this new era. Concerns were raised by professors like Derek Peterson about AI diminishing the need for specialized human expertise and by Francine Dolins regarding the ethical issues of using AI to evaluate student work without consent, potentially exposing intellectual property.
Proposed Amendments to Regents’ Bylaws and Faculty Rights Declaration
Faculty Senate Director Luke McCarthy presented proposed amendments to the regents’ bylaws, encompassing both 'housekeeping' adjustments and 'substantive updates.' Key substantive changes include eliminating SACUA’s nominating committee and granting voting privileges to emeritus faculty who maintain at least 50% active employment. These amendments received unanimous consent to move forward to the University Faculty Senate for a final vote. Additionally, SACUA introduced a draft declaration of faculty rights and responsibilities, intended as a guiding document for faculty negotiations with the administration, with a final vote expected within the current academic year.
