Scope and Content Note
The bulk of the collection spans 1960-1996 and documents the operations of the Northeastern University Faculty Senate and its committees. The collection includes agendas, minutes, correspondence, newsletters, membership lists, reports, and resolutions. Of particular interest are the meeting minutes of the Senate and the Agenda Committee, which trace the changing nature and focus of the Senate. Also included are petitions signed by faculty members in 1979 supporting freedom of speech for invited guests of Northeastern University.
Series 1. Administration includes agendas, minutes, correspondence, newsletters, membership lists, reports, and resolutions. Series 2. Committees includes records from each of the standing committees and many of the ad hoc committees. These records include agendas and minutes, correspondence, resolutions, and reports. Series 3. Subject Files includes materials that were not created by the Senate but were received by the Senate and relate to important issues impacting Northeastern's faculty.
Researchers should note there is no Box 20 in the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1940-2004
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1961 - 1997
Creator
- Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Faculty Senate (Organization)
Language of Materials
Materials entirely in English.
Conditions Governing Access:
Records are closed for 25 years from their date of creation, unless researchers have written permission from the creating office. Personnel files (grievances in box 16) are closed for 75 years.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Historical Note
President Asa S. Knowles formed the Faculty Senate in 1961 as an advisory and review body to provide the faculty with a forum for involvement in the administration of the University. The Senate originally consisted of 24 faculty members, including faculty members who proportionately represented the academic colleges, the Provost, and seven members of the administrative faculty appointed by the President; today there are 30 members. The Provost serves as chair. The Faculty Senate initially included three standing committees: Agenda, Academic and Research Policy, and Faculty Policy. The Senate Agenda Committee serves as an executive council and its chair is Vice-Chairman of the Senate. The current standing committees are Academic Policy, Admissions Policy, Agenda, Faculty Development, and Financial Affairs.
In its early years, the Faculty Senate focused on determining its own structure and reviewing tenure, sabbaticals, and benefits. In 1965, President Knowles sent a proposal to the Senate to establish the College of Criminal Justice. This was the first time the Senate was involved in approving a degree-granting program, a task that became a central responsibility of the Faculty Senate in later years. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Faculty Senate played a role in mediating conflicts between students and the administration, seeking ways of keeping the atmosphere of the campus peaceful. In January 1970, S.I. Hayakawa, then President of San Francisco State College, came to Northeastern to speak. Several student groups protested Hayakawa's appearance, accusing him of racism. The event led to a confrontation between students and Boston Police. In the wake of this, the Faculty Senate distributed a petition asking faculty members to affirm the rights of any speaker, regardless of his or her views, to speak on campus if invited by a legitimate student, faculty or administrative organization. The petition was signed and returned by many faculty members and led to the passage of a senate resolution assuring freedom of speech for guests to the university.
By the mid-1970s, the focus of the Senate had returned to the working conditions of the faculty. In 1978, a report by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges found that the Senate was "focused too narrowly on faculty benefits and prerogatives and not enough on academic standards, curriculum coordination and development, and critical reviews of old and new programs." The Senate took the criticism seriously; while it continued to support issues regarding faculty working conditions (such as the professional travel allowance policy approved in 1979), it also focused on academic issues. In 1978, it formed the Library Operations Committee in order to put pressure on administration for a new library.
The Senate became involved in the debate regarding the merger of Boston Bouvé College and the College of Education. It participated in searches for new deans of the College of Nursing and the College of Arts and Sciences. The Senate also participated in the search for a new University President in 1988. Between 1984 and 1989, the Faculty Senate approved five new graduate level programs, including two doctoral programs. In 1989, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges once again issued a report on the Faculty Senate which noted "a marked increase in faculty participation in virtually all aspects of university life" and concluded that "the Senate seeks to address all academic issues today." The 1982-1983 academic year, however, saw a breakdown in the operations of the Faculty Senate. A conflict developed between the Senate Agenda Committee Chairman Samuel Bernstein, the Provost and Senate Faculty Chairman Melvin Mark, and the members of the Senate Agenda Committee. Because of the conflict, several meetings of the Senate focused on parliamentary procedure with little else accomplished.
The Senate was able to recover a collegial atmosphere over the next few years and once again concentrate on the business of the university. In 1993, the Senate concentrated its efforts on the university's Strategic Plan. The plan was approved by the Senate in December and approved by the faculty on February 7, 1994. The plan included new guidelines for tenure, promotion, and salaries for faculty.
In 2001, the Faculty Senate approved the University's plan to shift from a quarter-based to a semester-based academic year schedule, and from 2001 to 2005, the Senate worked on a revision of the Faculty Handbook. In 2002, the Senate created three more standing committees: Information Systems Policy, Library Policies and Operations, and Research Policy Oversight. In 2009, in a major restructuring of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Senate approved the formation of three new colleges: the College of Science, the College of Social Sciences and the Humanities, and the College of Art, Media, and Design.
Chronology
- 1960
- Knowles appoints subcommittee to examine feasibility of Faculty Senate.
- 1961
- Faculty Senate first meeting with 32 members.
- 1962
- Senate accepts first University sabbatical policy.
- 1965
- Knowles sends proposal for College of Criminal Justice for Senate approval.
- 1965
- Elected membership increased to 30. Administrative appointments increased to 10.
- 1967
- Committee on Faculty Policy divided into Committee on Faculty Development and Committee on Faculty Grievances and Appeals.
- 1969
- Senate establishes an ad-hoc committee to be consulted by the administration to respond to student demonstrations. Senate resolves to support Vietnam Moratorium Day by declaring the University closed October 15, 1969. President Knowles rejects the resolution.
- 1970
- Faculty Agenda Committee recommends full faculty meeting to discuss the student strike. The faculty vote (377 to 229) to suspend normal academic activities indefinitely.
- 1972
- Members of the Senate Agenda Committee negotiate with protestors who have taken control of the Bursar's office. The situation ends peacefully and is the last demonstration on campus of the era.
- 1972
- Dr. Irene A. Nichols elected the first woman chair of the Senate Agenda Committee.
- 1973
- Senate approves a final definition of "faculty" to be used in the Faculty Handbook.
- 1975
- By-laws altered to require the University president to meet with the Senate Agenda Committee at least quarterly and the full Senate at least annually.
- 1978
- Library Operations Committee formed.
- 1979
- After functioning as an ad-hoc committee for four years, the Financial Affairs Committee becomes a standing committee to provide a faculty voice in the University budget process. Admissions Policy Committee becomes fourth standing committee.
- 1980
- Senate establishes new grievance and tenure policies.
- 1993
- Senate approves the Strategic Plan.
- 2001
- Senate approves the University's conversion from quarter- to semester-based academic year.
- 2002
- Senate establishes three new standing committees: Information Systems Policy, Library Policies and Operations, and Research Policy Oversight.
- 2009
- Senate approves the restructuring of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Criminal Justice into three new colleges: the College of Science, the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the College of Art, Media, and Design.
Chronology of Chairmen of Senate Agenda Committee by Year of Election
- 1961
- Donald Pitkin
- 1962
- Gregg Wilfong
- 1963
- David W. Barkley
- 1964
- Sidney Herman
- 1965-1966
- Ralph A. Troupe
- 1967
- Frank F. Lee
- 1968
- Wesley W. Marple, Jr.
- 1969
- Joseph H. Wellbank
- 1970
- Arvin Grabel
- 1971
- Spencer Rochefort
- 1972
- Irene Nichols
- 1973
- Robert L. Cord
- 1974
- Robert G. Finkenaur
- 1975
- Suzanne B. Greenberg
- 1976
- Norbert L. Fullington
- 1977
- Robert D. Klein (term completed by Robert P. Lowndes)
- 1978-1979
- Robert P. Lowndes
- 1980
- Frank F. Lee
- 1981
- Charles H. Ellis, Jr.
- 1982
- Samuel J. Bernstein
- 1983-1984
- Charles H. Ellis, Jr.
- 1985
- Maurice E. Gilmore
- 1986
- Joseph Meier
- 1987-1988
- William L. Faissler
- 1989-1990
- Wesley W. Marple, Jr.
- 1991
- Richard A. Daynard
- 1992
- Stuart S. Peterfreund
- 1993
- Sharon M. McKinnon
- 1994-1995
- Arvin Grabel
- 1996-1997
- Holbrook C. Robinson
- 1998-2000
- Charles H. Ellis, Jr.
- 2001-2004
- Robert P. Lowndes
- 2005-2007
- Carol A. Glod
- 2008-2009
- Steve Morrison
- 2010-2011
- Louis J. Kruger
Extent
20.85 cubic feet (35 containers)
Overview
Northeastern University's Faculty Senate was formed in 1961 by President Asa S. Knowles as an advisory and review body that would involve the faculty in administering the university. The Faculty Senate originally consisted of 24 faculty members representing the academic colleges, the provost, and seven members of the administrative faculty appointed by the president. The provost serves as chair. The Faculty Senate initially included three standing committees: Agenda, Academic and Research Policy, and Faculty Policy. The current standing committees are: Academic Policy, Admissions Policy, Agenda, Faculty Development, and Financial Affairs. The Senate Agenda Committee serves as an executive council, and its chair is Vice-Chairman of the Senate. In its early years, the Faculty Senate focused on determining its own structure and reviewing tenure, sabbaticals, and faculty benefits. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, it played a role in mediating conflicts on campus between students and the administration. By the mid-1970s, its focus had returned to faculty working conditions. In the early 1990s, it concentrated its efforts on strategic planning for Northeastern University.
Overview
The bulk of the collection spans 1960-1996 and documents the operations of the Northeastern University Faculty Senate and its committees. The collection includes agendas, minutes, correspondence, newsletters, membership lists, reports, and resolutions. Of particular interest are the meeting minutes of the Senate and the Agenda Committee, which trace the changing nature and focus of the Senate.
System of Arrangement:
Organized into 3 series: 1. Administration; 2. Committees; and 3. Subject Files.
Physical Location
29/2, 33/4, 35/2-3
Subject
- Barkley, David W. (Person)
- Bernstein, Samuel J. (Person)
- Cord, Robert L. (Person)
- Daynard, Richard A. (Person)
- Ellis, Charles H., Jr. (Person)
- Faissler, William L. (Person)
- Finkenaur, Robert G. (Person)
- Fullington, Norbert L. (Person)
- Gilmore, Maurice E. (Person)
- Glod, Carol A. (Person)
- Grabel, Arvin (Person)
- Greenberg, Suzanne B. (Person)
- Herman, Sidney (Person)
- Klein, Robert D. (Person)
- Kruger, Louis J. (Person)
- Lee, Frank F. (Person)
- Lowndes, Robert P. (Person)
- Mark, Melvin (Person)
- Marple, Wesley W., Jr. (Person)
- McKinnon, Sharon M. (Person)
- Meier, Joseph (Person)
- Morrison, Steve (Person)
- Nichols, Irene (Person)
- Peterfreund, Stuart S. (Person)
- Pitkin, Donald (Person)
- Robinson, Holbrook C. (Person)
- Rochefort, Spencer (Person)
- Troupe, Ralph A. (Person)
- Wellbank, Joseph H. (Person)
- Wilfong, Gregg (Person)
- Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Faculty Senate (Organization)
- Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.) -- Faculty (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Faculty Senate Records
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Alison Brown; updated by Dominique Medal; updated by Abigail Cramer
- Date
- September 1999, September 2009, June 2012, October 2012, November 2012
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections Repository