Student affordability a top concern for Senate chair
September 9, 2013
 |
|
David Williams, professor of medical illustration in the College of Veterinary Medicine and 2013-14 chair of the University Senate. (Purdue University photo/Steven Yang) |
As 2013-14 chair of the University Senate, David Williams plans to champion policies that will help establish Purdue as a national leader in affordable, excellent higher education.
Williams, professor of medical illustration in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has been at Purdue for more than 40 years. He is a longtime Senate member, and he has served as chair of the Senate's Student Affairs Committee and the Faculty Affairs Committee. He has also served on the Advisory Committee for four Purdue presidents.
In the past, Williams has focused on serving in the Senate's standing committees because he believes that is where the Senate's real work takes place. However, when it became clear in 2011 that Purdue would experience a change in upper administration, Williams decided to honor requests to run for Senate chair.
"The Senate chair works closely with the University's president and interacts with the Board of Trustees, and I wanted the opportunity to use my experience and institutional knowledge to hopefully help the new administration and in turn help Purdue succeed," Williams says.
As chair, Williams intends to champion the concept of shared governance, he says.
For example, as Senate chair Williams is a member of the Executive Policy Review Group (EPRG), which is reviewing all 127 of Purdue's system-wide policies to help determine which ones can be eliminated and which should be kept. Part of this review process will involve Senate endorsement of the streamlined policies, which may happen as early as October, Williams says.
Williams also plans to act as a voice for all faculty members in matters that affect the whole University. He and the senators will continue working with President Mitch Daniels on issues such as student affordability and University-wide savings. He and other faculty members continue to serve on the President's Council on Budget and Affordability, which is is looking for ways to offset Purdue's two-year tuition freeze, for example.
As for the Senate's agenda, Williams says he foresees another busy year.
For instance, the agenda will include more discussion about Purdue's trimester initiative.
Additionally, a new document prepared by the Provost's Office and the Faculty Affairs Committee that redefines clinical faculty will be presented today (Sept. 9) for discussion at the Senate's first meeting.
"Clinical faculty are a vitally important part of the Purdue family," Williams says. "However, some of them feel like second-class citizens. It is important that we accept this group as key partners in helping move Purdue forward. I feel very strongly about this."
Changes to Purdue's health care plan are also going to be presented at the Senate's first meeting.
"The trustees have mandated a change to an 80-20 split on healthcare," Williams says. "It is important for everyone to be aware of what this means for them, understand their choices and be aware of the initiatives being undertaken to develop a 'culture of wellness' at Purdue that will, hopefully, reduce costs in the long term."
Williams says he also will continue efforts to add a faculty representative to Purdue's Board of Trustees. The move, which must be approved at the state level, would allow Purdue faculty members an additional opportunity to participate in the University's shared governance.
Another issue that will come before the Senate involves developing a governance system for an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program. University administrators are working with faculty members for ways to create this program, Williams says.
Beyond the Senate's planned agenda, Williams has other goals he'd like to see the group address.
One involves the development of a centralized English-language program for Purdue's international students. Such a program would help international students hone the skills required to land jobs in English-speaking countries, and it would help them get further mileage out of their Purdue degrees, Williams says.
No matter the actions the Senate takes, as chair Williams will keep one thing in mind.
"With all the Senate's tasks, the goal this year will remain the same: to promote and play a role in the University's success," Williams says. "This is very important because if Purdue is successful, we are all successful."
Writer: Amanda Hamon, 49-61325, ahamon@purdue.edu