Ann Brownson, associate professor of the reference department in Booth Library, said after five years on faculty senate, she felt it was her responsibility to take the role of vice chair.

“I feel like it is my responsibility this year because I have been a member of senate for quite a while and it is important to me,” Brownson said.

Faculty senate chair and vice chair are responsible for making sure elections run smoothly for various university committees including the council on academic affairs, university personnel committee and council on teacher education, among others.

“After the election (which is done electronically) we make sure the committee bylaws are followed correctly and contact various colleges to make sure they have someone running for the positions,” Brownson said.

Faculty senate provides an opportunity for faculty to give ideas and suggestions to improve campus and it accepts recommendations from faculty, staff and students.

Lynne Curry, of the history department and faculty senate chair, said being involved in faculty senate gave her a different perspective of campus than the one she had before she was a member.

“It is so interesting to me to see how the university works from a different perspective,” Curry said. “It gave me a bird’s eye view of campus.”

She used the Electronic Writing Portfolio requirement as an example of an issue the senate works closely with.

The senate helps monitor the standard of the Electronic Writing Portfolio requirement.

“We are not ultimately responsible for it, but it involves faculty-teaching and students so we have been keeping track of it,” Curry said.

The senate is a representative body for campus faculty and is not a policy making board but an advisory body. All elected members serve a three-year term.

The senate has three non-voting student representatives, who act as liaisons between student government and faculty senate.

Curry said often times students do not realize the power they hold.

“Students shouldn’t feel like they don’t have a voice because they absolutely do,” Curry said. “By being involved with student government they have the opportunity to give advice and become involved with the decision-making process on campus.”

Brownson said it is important for faculty and students to know how elections are prepared and suggestions are made on campus.

Curry, a first-year chair herself, is looking forward to working with President William Perry this year.

“It’s an exciting time and I’m happy to be a part of it. Faculty senate is a place where all faculty, students and staff are a part of what’s happening.”

There is a faculty senate meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Booth Library Conference Room 4440 and is open to all.

For more information on faculty senate, click here.