The Faculty Senate decided not to take future action Tuesday to have more faculty representation on the presidential search committee.

Last semester, the senate requested a third faculty member be added to the search committee, which will begin looking for a new president in August.

Nathaniel Anderson, chair of the Board of Trustees, told the senate earlier this month that the committee was already at optimum size.

Reed Benedict, sociology professor and senate member, said he believed pushing the issue might offend or disenfranchise some BOT members, who may believe the faculty are trying to impose by taking away an administrative voting member.

“If the horse is dead, bury it.” said Jean Dilworth, senate member and consumer science professor.

Interim President Lou Hencken signed a contract extension in the fall to remain as president through the 2003-04 school year.

Previously, faculty had three representatives in the presidential search committee, but the number was reduced when a seat was given to Bill Addison, a member on the Council of Chairs. Now, senate wants that disbanded seat back.

Steve Scher, associate psychology professor and senate member, said the faculty had not been misrepresented in the past, so action should not be taken.

“What are we gaining? What are we risking?” Scher said. “I don’t think it’s worth risking conflict. We don’t know how this could have an effect on future issues.”

Also during the meeting, the Faculty Senate gave Student Senate the decision on moving fall commencement up a week, from Dec. 20 to Dec. 13, before finals.

Hencken requested senate change the fall 2003 commencement date in an e-mail. Conflicts with the current date’s proximity to Christmas break and the concerns of the date falling during Hanukkah were his suggested reasons.

Amanda Sartore, recently elected student vice president for academic affairs, said the Student Senate’s final meeting of the year is Wednesday, which does not fall after the mandated 48 hours required to vote on a proposal.

She said an informal vote could be a possibility, and from that feedback, senate will probably make a decision at next week’s meeting.

One member involved in the commencement process voiced support for moving commencement up.

Julia Abell, director of planning and institutional studies, said volunteer workers and faculty, not just family, would appreciate the change.

“I think we would have a bigger, better participation if we had it earlier, as opposed to later,” said Abell, who heads the department commencement reports to.

Either way, said David Carwell, assistant political science professor and Faculty Senate member, senate should be consistent in choosing what time frame the commencement is and “quit talking about it.”

Regardless of when commencement is, Abell said the event is only ceremonial and that official diplomas are not delivered until all the university requirements are met.

The senate unanimously passed a motion to thank the Faculty Development Steering Committee for surveying faculty to prioritize activities and goals they would like to see. Some 121 faculty members, or about 22 percent, responded to the survey. The committee also held a teaching fair and designed a Web site that added links and resources in getting grant money.

The senate also approved appointments to university boards and councils. Various faculty members were appointed to the Apportionment Board, Judicial Board and Campus Recreation Board.

The Faculty Senate also approved the rest of the write-in candidates in faculty committee elections last month.