The status of the Capitol Campaign by the Office of Philanthropy will be up for discussion at today’s Faculty Senate meeting at 2 p.m. in Booth Library, Room 4440.

The senate will also provide input on the university’s proposed cell phone policy.

“This is the biggest push for philanthropy we have seen in the last few years,” said Senate Chair John Pommier. “It is important for the faculty to get involved and know what we might be able to do to help.”

Pommier said Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, will be presenting the status of the campaign indicating money raised and alums reached. The campaign aims to raise $40 million from some of the university’s more than 70,000 alumni.

“We want to know what is going on because the ailing economy has most definitely slowed the campaign,” Pommier said.

Nilsen will also advise the senate on what the “priorities for the funds are,” meaning where the money raised will be appropriated to, Pommier said.

“We want to know everything we can so we can help and aid the university in its mission,” he said.

President Bill Perry, Blair Lord, provost vice president for academic affairs, and William Weber, future vice president for business affairs, will also be in attendance to answer questions about Nilsen’s presentation.

In other items, the senate will also give input on the university’s new cell phone policy. The principle, proposed to the Faculty Senate in October, has been discussed as a way to limit cell phone disruptions in class, but still allow for emergency text message alerts to be received.

Lord had asked the senate’s opinion, stating that faculty would be the main enforcers of a campuswide policy, should one be enacted. Faculty would be the first to address this issue, adhering to one policy, instead of composing their own.

The senate is set to give its third session on the policy, with hopes of resolving the conversation, Pommier said.

Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7942 or at ksmoya@eiu.edu.