The faculty senate at New Mexico State University, the body of individuals who represent the overall faculty of the school, conducted a meeting on April 5, 2018 among the senators to discuss pending issues that needed resolving, and possible ideas to be pursued. The Round Up had the opportunity to sit in on the meeting and get a first-hand look at how the senators of NMSU handle important university business.

Themeeting unfolded with the guidance of the meeting’s agenda, which is offered to all senators and guests prior to the meeting. This meeting was headed by Dr. Rolfe Sassenfeld, the Vice Chairman of the faculty senate. Becky Corran, the acting Senate Vice-Chair, assisted Dr. Sassenfeld throughout the meeting by reminding senators who are part of certain committees, about meeting dates for the discussion of propositions corresponding to their committees. Subsequent meetings, however, are to be conducted by Dr. Christopher Brown, chairman of the faculty senate.

Once the agenda for the meeting was approved and the prior meeting’s minutes were approved, the reports from the officers and the committees are presented. The standing committees, faculty affairs, long range planning, university affairs, and scholastic affairs, present their reports, including the renaming of the SPED/CD Department to Department of Communication Disorders, and the proposal to approve the start of an online master of hospitality degree.

There was a great amount of discussion regarding the proposal for the new hospitality degree; a number of senators from the scholastic affairs committee believed that they were not properly informed about the proposal and how individuals from the college of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences came to a conclusion about the degree in question.

The meeting continued with the presentation of a few propositions about topics ranging from the formation of a faculty senate library advisory council, to the investigation about how many times an undergraduate student at NMSU should be allowed to change their major.

As the new business section of the agenda was finished, the meeting began to finalize by continuing to the unfinished business section. The unfinished business proceeded with further discussion about the approval of the master of hospitality degree. After an intense debate of the pros and cons, the proposal was officially approved.

The meeting concluded with Professor Steven Stochaj, member of the chancellor search committee, giving a presentation at the meeting, and updating the senators on how the search for a new chancellor has progressed. 

The next Faculty Senate meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 3 at 4 P.M. Be sure to follow The Round Up for updates and reporting.