Netusil: Planning, Diversity Topped Senate Year


by Linda Charles

The development of a new strategic plan and approval of a 
diversity requirement for undergraduate students were among 
the highlights of a very good year for the Faculty Senate, 
said outgoing senate president Tony Netusil.


STRATEGIC PLAN

"Fall was the strategic plan. We lived and breathed it," 
Netusil said. 

With Netusil's encouragement, faculty became very involved in 
the development of the plan, which goes into effect July 1.

The result, Netusil said, is a good plan that is "faculty 
driven." "Maybe we learned from the last go around," he said, 
referring to the current strategic plan, which many faculty 
said was administratively driven.

The administration was responsive to faculty suggestions for 
the new plan, Netusil added. "Everybody listened."


DIVERSITY REQUIREMENT

The Faculty Senate's handling of a proposed diversity 
requirement also pleased Netusil. The requirement, approved 
by the senate in May, mandates that undergraduates complete 
three credits of coursework (or a comparable alternative) 
dealing with diversity in the United States and three credits 
dealing with international culture.

"I feel good that the senate, in its infinite wisdom, chose 
to deal with it in a rational manner. They could have raved 
and ranted. Instead, those both for and against the proposal 
spoke with sincerity," he said.

Netusil said he was grateful to the general faculty for 
trusting the senate to decide the diversity requirement 
issue.

"I felt it would weaken the senate's image if a full faculty 
vote were taken," Netusil said, "and the senate didn't duck 
the issue."

Netusil also praised the administration for not trying to 
influence the senate's vote. Both President Martin Jischke 
and Provost John Kozak made it clear that a diversity 
requirement was the prerogative of the faculty, he said.

The other state universities are studying ISU's diversity 
requirement, Netusil added.

Netusil predicted few problems next year when the senate 
considers the actual language of the requirement. "The last 
six years, curricula items have gone smoothly once the idea 
has been approved," he said.


RELATIONSHIPS

Netusil said he feels good about the relationship the senate 
has built with the administration.

"I can't speak highly enough about the provost. He was very 
accessible."

So, too, was Jischke. "Obviously, he's very busy, but I could 
always get to him when I had to. I'm happy we had an 
era of good relationships and trust with each other," Netusil 
added.

Faculty also forged new relationships with Professional and 
Scientific staff last year through Project Iowa, a joint 
endeavor in which faculty and staff traveled to Iowa 
communities and explained their roles at the university.

And faculty renewed ties with each other at the annual spring 
faculty conference in Grinnell. Netusil called the 
conference, which focused on internationalizing ISU, 
"stimulating."

There are a few items of unfinished business that Netusil 
hopes to see completed. One is development of a universal 
instructor evaluation form. During his presidency, he 
appointed a committee to study instructor evaluations campus-
wide. He said he hopes the new president (Ron Peters, 
professor of psychology) will continue the committee.

Netusil also believes the senate needs to find a better place 
to meet. Currently, the senate meets in 2532 Veterinary 
Medicine, a large, auditorium-style room. Netusil said he 
would prefer that the meeting place provide the opportunity 
for the 80 senators to sit around a table with each other.

Netusil said he also would like the senate to explore 
automatically moving the vice president into the presidency, 
allowing for more continuity.


PRESIDENTIAL PERKS

Netusil has completed his sixth and final year on the Faculty 
Senate. During that time, he chaired several committees, as 
well as served as secretary, vice president and president.

One of the nicest things about serving as president, Netusil 
said,  "was the chance to reaffirm that the faculty is a 
wonderful group of people," he said. "All I had to do was 
start them and then get out of the way." 

But now, Netusil said he is anxious to return to the 
classroom and his real love. "I'm looking forward to 
teaching."

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contact:  Linda Charles, (515) 294-3129
updated:  5-26-95