Aug. 25, 2011

Faculty Senate president Steve Freeman

Photo by Bob Elbert.

Steve Freeman

Faculty Senate president, 2011-12

Freeman's senate service:

Senator (2001-04, 2006-10); president-elect (2010-11); executive board (2006-12); judiciary and appeals council (2002-04, 2006-10), Chair (2006-10); committee on appeals (2002-11), chair (2006-10); promotion and tenure document task force (2004-12), chair (2005-12); teaching academy task force (2008-11); resource policies and allocation council (2010-12); governance council (2001-02, 2010-12); committee on committees, chair (2010-11); committee on honorary degrees (2002-08)

The basics

Position at ISU:
Professor, agricultural and biosystems engineering; associate director, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

Arrived at ISU:
August 1997, assistant professor, industrial education and technology

Freeman's top priorities:

  • Continue to strengthen shared governance with central administration
  • Improve the policies and processes that recognize the importance of the university's teaching mission

Senate priorities this year:

  • Help identify the next ISU president and assist with a smooth transition
  • Increase the number of faculty to meet increasing student demands
  • Work through several academic restructuring processes
  • Continue policy development and curriculum changes
  • Continue task force work on important issues (for example, reviews of the budget model; executive vice president and provost; and vice president for student affairs)

Senate's biggest challenge:

"The university has faced budget challenges over the last few years that resulted in significant changes to the university. Faculty have adjusted and faced these challenges with flexibility and hard work. But the process is not complete. We will continue to work to identify a sustainable academic environment that will keep ISU as a premiere land-grant university for generations to come."

Freeman's thoughts on the year ahead:

"It will be a busy year for the Faculty Senate, but I am looking forward to working with faculty and central administration to enhance shared governance as we strive to complete the university's mission and improve the campus environment for faculty, staff and students."