Jackie Alexander, student vice president for academic affairs, made an enthusiastic announcement about students giving back to say thanks to their professors, at Tuesday’s Faculty Senate meeting.

Alexander introduced the Student’s Distinguished Professor Award, which allows students to nominate a faculty member who made a difference in students’ learning experiences.

Recipients of the award will be honored at a banquet April 20.

Faculty Senate Chair John Pommier thanked Alexander for her work in setting up the award.

The senate also discussed the upcoming Faculty Forum planned for Feb. 24. One of the main topics of the forum is to discuss academic technological freedom for students.

The discussion would include questions about the impact of standardized testing, technological changes on academic ability, disciplinary orthodoxy and how one defines academic freedom.

Other questions raised about technological freedom were who to invite, and how to receive participation.

Pommier said that the Eastern chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois would help with participation as much as possible. This would include calling faculty members to invite them to the forum.

In other business, the Faculty Senate approved tentative guidelines for a future emeritus wall. Senate member John Best said the emeritus wall will honor professors emeriti who have served Eastern.

Madeline Smith can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.

With the presidential inauguration complete, there are expectations of President Barack Obama from both professors and students.

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