Inside Iowa State

September 23, 2005

Faculty Senate clarifies awards criteria

by Dan Kuester

The Faculty Senate clarified criteria for awarding the titles of Distinguished Professor and University Professor during its Sept. 14 meeting in the Memorial Union Sun Room.

After a lengthy discussion about differences between the two titles, the senate approved new language for the Faculty Handbook on the selection process. The new language emphasizes that the Distinguished Professor title is given for achievement in the research and creative areas, while University Professor is considered for those with outstanding contributions to the institution.

Changes to both criteria were passed as proposed with a few changes. Notably, the Distinguished Professor proposed language would have dropped the requirement that recipients be members of the faculty for five years. The five-year requirement was retained.

In other business, the senate approved, with little discussion, changes to the U.S. Diversity and International Perspectives requirement. The changes, intended to strengthen current requirements, emphasize the clear articulation of goals and the assessment of student learning outcomes in courses that fulfill requirements.

Finally, the senate heard a proposal to change the name of the department of foreign languages and literatures to the department of world languages and cultures.

A senate member from the anthropology department objected to the name change as an encroachment on that department. The name change will be considered at the next meeting scheduled for Oct. 18.

President of the senate, Claudia Baldwin, presided over the meeting.

3:30 p.m., October 18
Memorial Union Sun Room