Message From the
2009-10
Faculty Senate/University Assembly Chairperson, Dr. Matthew W. Keefer
The UMSL Faculty Senate and University Assembly are designated by the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri to exercise the functions delegated to it by the faculty as a whole. The Faculty Senate meets four times each semester while the University Assembly will meet at least twice. The members of both the Senate and Assembly consider important issues and make decisions on behalf of the campus community, as well as provide an important advisory role for the Chancellor and other UMSL senior administrators. These two bodies collectively represent the interests of the Faculty, Students, and Staff of the University of Missouri – St Louis.
This past 2008-2009 AY was an eventful and, at times, a very challenging year for the Faculty Senate and University Assembly. The severe economic downturn presented the University of Missouri and UMSL with a series of significant fiscal and budgetary challenges. Perhaps chief among these, and most controversial, was a mandatory employee contribution to the retirement fund. The UMSL Faculty Senate and University Assembly played a key role in expressing the concerns of both faculty and staff in regard to this change and I pledge that in the coming 2009-2010 AY we will continue to monitor closely any further proposed changes to our retirement and benefits package.
The University Assembly and, particularly, the Assembly’s Budget and Planning Committee, also had an important role to play this past AY in addressing budgetary shortfalls and reallocating resources for the campus. I would especially like to express my respect and gratitude to B&P Chair Terry Jones who, once again, should be commended for his astute and very effective service to our campus community.
In my first term as Senate and Assembly Chair I pledged to have us collectively identify issues or challenges for our meetings; to address them in discussion with appropriate administrators and other officials; and to follow up on any actions or decisions made in regard to them. Some of the more significant issues we addressed included the UMSL/KWMU move to the Grand Center; our Strategic G4G Plan; and Student Enrollment and Marketing strategies. While I expect these and other issues will once again be the subject of our deliberations, I pledge to continue with this strategy in the upcoming AY.
Finally, I am pleased to announce a couple of recent developments pertaining to the Faculty Senate Office. First, I am very pleased that Loy Harvey will begin her first AY as staff for the Faculty Senate Office. Loy is a very effective and resourceful colleague who is, frankly, a delight to work with. Second, the Faculty Senate office has moved! We are very excited to have a newly renovated and suitably equipped office space that is centrally located at 507 Tower. Visitors are encouraged and welcome.
I am looking forward to serving another term in my role as chair of the Faculty Senate and University Assembly. Together I believe we will continue to excel in our efforts to make UMSL a premier public urban research university.
Sincerely,
Matthew W. Keefer
Chair, Faculty Senate and University Assembly
If you have questions about the University Assembly or Faculty Senate, please contact us at senate@umsl.edu .