No Rest for the Weary

This is shaping up as an exceptional year in the life of NLU and the faculty. In addition to dealing with enrollment and the budget, we are working hard to make changes in all areas of the institution, from the calendar project, to the reorganization of the enrollment department, to new leadership in all areas of the university.

In addition, as we work through these immediate changes, we are beginning the process of developing a new longer-range strategic plan.

Faculty have already engaged with two major changes, the inauguration of University Leadership Council and the development of a new Promotion and Tenure policy. ULC has the potential of completely changing the way faculty and administration interact, both within ULC and within current structures. All stakeholders (faculty, staff, administration, and even students) need to hold one another, and themselves, accountable that they are following the principles of shared governance.

The new Promotion and Tenure Policy has the potential of transforming NLU in the long run and short term, especially as many of our senior colleagues retire in the next few years. The higher expectations for scholarship, research, and inquiry will deepen our institutional commitment to scholarship, while the provisions of community engagement will ensure that we continue to serve the communities we value.

All of this being said, more work is facing the faculty, in particular. A Senate Task Force is working to improve and simplify the academic planning process. Improvements contemplated in the changes include a complete revamp and simplification of the program review process and a completely new academic planning process that integrates all stakeholders in the university in a procedure that will encourage innovative new programs that drive substantial enrollment.

Moreover, we as a faculty need to engage effectively in the process that is creating next year's budget. Issues such as load, class size, and appropriate faculty assignments will be vital as we move forward.

Faculty Senate and its committees are readying themselves for these task in the next few months. This is going to be a very challenging period of time, and the Senate is looking to the faculty for its support as we work to represent you.