University Senate records,
- Author:
- State University of New York at Albany. University Senate.
- Call Number:
- MSS UA-200 local
- Abstract:
- The records of the University Senate include agendas and minutes, correspondence, memoranda, reports, bills, resolutions, and legislation relating to the University Senate (November 1969 to present), and its predecessor organizations, the Faculty Senate (May 1966-October 1969) the Faculty Council (1915-37, 1944-66), the Faculty-Administration Council (1945-54/55), the Academic Council (1952-63), the Undergraduate Academic Council (1963-66), and the Graduate Academic Council (1964-66). No records exist for the years 1938 through 1943. The records of the University Senate and its predecessor bodies contain discussions of faculty academic and social life, changes in academic programs, regulations of student academic and social life, major university reorganization plans, and the composition of the University Senate and its councils. Specific topics discussed include the addition of administrators and students to the University Senate in the late 1960s, the Senate's official statement on the Vietnam War (1970), the University's policy on protests and demonstrations (1967), the implementation of S/U grading in 1969, the elimination of the general degree requirements for a liberal arts education in 1970 and the reimplementation of degree requirements in the 1980s, the development of multidisciplinary majors and Chinese Studies and Asian Studies in 1979, and the University's smoking policy.
- Historical Note:
- The earliest predecessor of the University at Albany Senate was the Faculty Council. The Faculty Council, whose members consisted of the President, Deans, and faculty representatives, functioned as an advisory body on campus policy and academic affairs. In June 1944, at the urging of the New York State College for Teachers' chapter of the American Association of University Professors, a Faculty-Administration Council was formed to facilitate cooperation between faculty and administration. While the Faculty-Administration Council seems to have dissolved in 1955, the Faculty Council continued to function until it was replaced by the Faculty Senate in 1966. As the Faculty Council was transformed into a strictly faculty body, other councils were created to deal with increasingly complex problems of college governance. In 1953, the Academic Council was created. A Graduate Academic Council was created in 1963 consisting of the Director of Graduate Studies and eight members of the graduate faculty. Shortly after the Graduate Academic Council was formed, President Collins dissolved the Academic Council and created an Undergraduate Academic Council whose membership and functions paralleled those of the Graduate Academic Council. In the spring of 1966, the University Faculty created the Faculty Senate out of the formerly independent councils of the University including the Faculty Council, the Undergraduate Academic Council, the Graduate Academic Council, and the Student Personnel Council. The Faculty Senate changed its name to the University Senate in October 1969 when student representation was added to the body. Beginning in the fall of 1970, student representation consisted of 33 Senators, one third elected from the graduate body and two thirds from the undergraduate body. In the 1980s and 1990s, student representation decreased. The University Senate remains the principal policy-making body of the University.
- Physical Description:
- 27 cu. ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to some records in the collection is restricted. Consult a staff member for details.
- Notes:
- Part of the University Archives. local
- Subjects:
- Education, Higher New York (State), Universities and colleges New York (State) Graduation requirements, Universities and colleges Curricula New York (State), Education, Higher, Universities and colleges Curricula, and Universities and colleges Graduation requirements
- Genres/Forms:
- Minutes. aat, Correspondence. aat, Memorandums. aat, Legislation. aat, Annual reports. aat, Resolutions. aat, and Agendas. aat
- Corporate Names:
- State University of New York at Albany. University Council, State University of New York at Albany. Undergraduate Academic Council, State University of New York at Albany. Graduate Academic Council, State University of New York at Albany. Student Personnel Council, and State University of New York at Albany. Administration
- Geographic Terms:
- New York (State)
Access
Rare books do not circulate
These materials must be viewed onsite in the Special Collections Reading Room.
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