The following is the second of a two-part interview with Dr. Michael Wood, Assistant Professor in the Chapman Department of World Languages and Cultures.

(Note: In the early 2000s Chapman University faculty representation changed from a full-time faculty corporate body to a senate format, whereby each college elects representatives to conduct faculty governance through a variety of committees and regular meetings of the  Faculty Senate throughout the academic year)

Cumiford: “During the fall semester, what were the most positive agenda achievements by the Faculty Senate?”

Wood: The Senate Executive Board began the semester aware of certain big agenda items and objectives, such as facilitating faculty input on the University’s Five-Year Strategic Plan and jump-starting the Faculty Manual revision process. The Strategic Plan has undergone several key revisions over the course of this semester, in part because President Struppa so enthusiastically engaged with SEB-organized forums, such as the Faculty Retreat and later Town Hall. Likewise, throughout the semester, the Faculty Manual Committee has continued to work with the Provost and Legal Counsel to forge a thoughtful and clear set of policies governing faculty expectations. The Faculty Manual revisions were initiated six years ago, and it has proven to be a sometimes-excruciating process of debate, compromise, and consensus word-smithing. While COVID restrictions and other transitions at Chapman can be blamed for the long, drawn-out process, one of the most positive achievements this past semester has been getting the task force back together in a room with the Provost and hashing out points of concern and specific language. Faculty units are currently reviewing the committee’s most recent draft, and in the Spring, we will have a series of readings in the Senate that will culminate in a faculty vote before it is sent to the Board of Trustees for ratification. Lastly, the Senate approved three new graduate programs, two MS programs, and the long-awaited D.Sci. in Math, Philosophy, and Physics this semester.

Several unexpected items have come up over the course of the Fall Semester, including achieving clarity with HR on the faculty maternity/paternity leave policy and an ongoing tenure-denial grievance which the SEB was informed of in September. I am happy to report that we have addressed these challenges, effectively resolving them or, in the case of the grievance, established prima facie standards before elevating it to a grievance committee.