Faculty Senate discussed new technologies, doctoral and master students, and job outsourcing at the Nov. 14 meeting.
The Senate said rooms for courses taught through two-way interactive televisions at Texas State will receive new technology and switch locations. The new technology is similar to current ITV technology but should be easier to use.
In addition, the university will soon introduce more “Zoom Rooms.” Zoom is a software-based video conference room that faculty at Texas State can use for educational purposes.
Faculty Senate also said all doctoral and master students who are teachers of record will now be required to input information into digital measures.
The Full Senate meets once each semester and has already had their fall 2018 meeting. Faculty Senate Chair Alexander White and Araceli Martinez Ortiz proposed to Faculty Senate there be two sessions held in February for liaisons and interested faculty to meet and discuss practices across each college as well as concerns and issues.
Texas State’s Staff Council wrote a letter expressing the concerns of several staff members and faculty about outsourcing jobs. Staff Council sent the letter to Faculty Senate in hopes of receiving Faculty Senate’s support, as well as White’s signature on the letter. The letter will be sent to Vice President of Finance and Support Services Eric Algoe.
Faculty Senate decided to send its own letter in support of Staff Council’s concerns. The letter will also encourage continued communication between Staff Council, Algoe and concerned faculty members.
At the end of the meeting, Faculty Senate reviewed the American Association of University Professor’s classroom faculty rights. Faculty Senate also revised the Conduct of Classes policy in the Faculty Handbook.