The Faculty Senate hopes to hear positive plans for Eastern’s future today from the president’s council after hearing good comments on fundraising from the Office of External Relations last week.

President Lou Hencken will join Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs; Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs and Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, at today’s meeting.

Each member will give a brief overview on topics such as budgets, enrollment and infrastructure, said John Stimac, chair of the geology and geography departments and Faculty Senate recorder.

This annual appearance at Faculty Senate occurs in the beginning of the year to talk about what has happened over the summer and how the new semester started, Nilsen said.

“It is a nice way to begin the year,” she said.

It may also be emotional for senate members, since it could be one of Hencken’s last visits to Faculty Senate, Stimac said.

Hencken announced at last Friday’s Board of Trustee’s meeting this will be his last term as president.

His decision has left other Faculty Senate members wishing he would reconsider.

“He (Hencken) has been a very positive mentor and role model,” said Brenda Wilson, assistant professor of communication disorders and sciences and Faculty Senate member. “I wish he were staying on as president.”

The president’s council should take more than an hour with discussions and questions, so time for other topics will be limited, Stimac said.

The Faculty Senate will meet at 2 p.m. in Booth Library Room 4440.