The Baker University Faculty Senate met for the first time during the 2010-2011 school year Tuesday.
Two new senators, Professor of Music Trilla Lyerla and Dave Bostwick, assistant professor of mass media, were welcomed and given a few minutes of orientation.
The second item of business at the meeting was the election of the senate chair, which was previously held by Tracy Floreani, former associate professor of English.
“Martha (Harris, professor of business and economics), had an awesome idea that we just lock ourselves in here until we elect a senate chair,” Professor of Psychology Marc Carter said. “Sort of like they do with the Pope.”
Joe Watson, assistant professor of mass media, nominated Assistant Professor of Mathematics Kelly Flaherty as the new chair, and Associate Professor of Psychology Wendi Born nominated Ryan Beasley, associate professor of international studies, who respectfully declined.
After an election of acclimation, Flaherty was named the new senate chair.
Beasley was elected the at-large representative to the Senate Executive Committee through an election of acclimation.
The next item of business at the meeting was to endorse Ray Walling, electronic services and government document librarian, as the Baker University Student Senate adviser.
“The student senate asked that (Ray) Walling be the liaison, and at this time we would like to endorse that,” Carter said.
Professor of Religion George Wiley made a motion on behalf of the Educational Technology Committee.
The motion stated the composition of the committee will no longer include Simon Maxwell, vice president for informational technology, but that Andy Jett, executive director of informational management, will serve on the committee.
“We have a change in titles and responsibilities for Simon Maxwell,” Wiley said. “I conferred with him this summer … and we thought it would be more appropriate for another person to be represented on the committee.”
Because it is a change to the Faculty Handbook, the motion will be carried over to the next faculty senate meeting, at 11 a.m. Oct. 5.
