April 6, 2026

Apr 06 2026
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Meeting Agenda

 

ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING

AGENDA

April 6, 2026

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: 3:00 pm. This meeting is open to the public and will be held on the Zoom meeting platform. It will be recorded only for the purposes of meeting minutes. Although Senate meetings are not required to be public under Utah law, the Senate has elected to conduct its business in a transparent way, and all attendees are welcome.
    1. Academic Senate End of Year Social on May 5th, 5-7pm
  2. MINUTES: March 3, 2026
  3. REQUEST FOR NEW BUSINESS
  4. CONSENT CALENDAR
  5. Faculty Reports
  6. Program Change: Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
  7. 5. REPORTS (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; ADMINISTRATION; ASUU; UUSC)
  8. Report from Administration                        (Mitzi Montoya 3:15)
  9. Executive Committee Report                                                                              (Brent Milne 4:00)
  10. Report from ASUU                                                                                           (Alex Rose 4:05)
  11. Report from UUSC                                                                             (Allie Menzdorf 4:10)
  12. INTENT CALENDAR

There are no items on the Intent Calendar for this meeting

  1. DEBATE CALENDAR
  2. Center for Olympics Research                              (Natalie Gochnour and John Lin 4:15)
  3. Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals                (Mike Free 4:25)

Break

  1. Center for Civic Discourse and Debate                             (Mike Middleton 4:40)
  2. Policy 6-100 & Associated Rules & Polices

(Chase Hagood, Lindsay Coco, Allyson Hicks, Erin Mason 4:50)

  1. INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS CALENDAR
  2. SPEC Update and Senate Committee Vacancy Elections   (Ken Monson 5:00)
  3. Revision to Rule 5-200B: Paid Time Off (PTO) for University of Utah Health, Hospitals and Clinical Staff Members                                                 (Rosemary Norton 5:10)
  4. Anthropology Survey Report                                 (Shane MacFarlan, Adrian Bell 5:15)
  5. Graduate School Policies Updates  (Darryl Butt, Helene Shugart 5:25)
    1. Graduate Admissions Guidelines for International 3-year bachelor’s Degrees
    2. Graduate Faculty Status and Committees Policy
  • Graduate Academic Standing Performance and Probation Policy
  1. Information and Reports
  2. Repeal of Policy 5-118: Procedure for Recording Affiliates of Personnel Not Paid by the University
  3. BOT Administration Report
  4. NEW BUSINESS
  5. OPEN DISCUSSION
    11. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting Minutes

ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING
MINUTES
April 6, 2026

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The regular meeting of the Academic Senate, held on April 6, 2026, was called to order at 3:01 pm by Senate President Richard Preiss. The meeting was held using the Zoom online meeting platform. The meeting is recorded only for the purposes of meeting minutes accuracy. Although Senate meetings are not required to be public under Utah law, the Senate has elected to conduct its business in a transparent way and all attendees are welcome.

Present: Elizabeth Archuleta, Krishnan Anand, Ademuyiwa Aromolaran, Donna Baluchi, Henry Becker, Ana Sanchez Benet, Cynthia Berg , Christian Brockmann, Timothy Brusseau, Sarah Bush, Thomas Cheatham, Doug Christensen, Richard Clark, Katharine Coles, Elisabet Curbelo González, Brigham Daniels , Marla De Jong, Therese De Raedt, Teresa DeAtley, Frank Drews, Jeffrey Druck, Katie Durante, Teppo Felin, Pamalatera Fenn, Jon Fisk , Matthew Flatt, Rick Forster, Leslie Francis, Maggie French, Alborz Ghandehari, Laura Grantier, Jia-Wen Guo, Brenda Heaton, Teresa Hebron, David Kieda, Sejin Kim, Hailey Lawrence, Mark Loewen, Lisbeth Louderback, Jay Mace, Douglas Mackay, Maureen Mathison, Christine McMillan, Huong Meeks, Lacey Murphy, Curtis Newbold, Thi Nguyen, Michael Nigra, Chris Pantelides, Xiaoxia Peng, Wayne Potts, Edward Quigley, Firas Rassoul-Agha, Lynn Reinke, Lorie Richards, Ariel Richer, Thomas Richmond, Marcy Rogers , Yvette Romero Coronado, Alex Rose, Suva Roy, Sherin Shaaban, Sarah Shreeves, Paula Smith, Ginger Smoak, Caroline Stephens, Kathleen Strickland-Cohen, Karley Swallow, Jason Tanner, Rhet Tucker, David Turok, Norman Waitzman, Roseanne Warren, Ingrid Weinbauer, Rachel Wittman, Kari Woodruff, Julie Wright-Costa, Dave Young

Excused with proxy: Ravi Chandran, Sydney Cheek-O’Donnell, Nina Feng, Ken Golden, Rebeccah Kurzhals, Crystal Lumpkins, Rodrigo Noriega, Jack O’Leary, Mike Scarpulla, Elizabeth Siantz, Chris Simon

Excused: Kennon Buss, Henry Fu, Andy Hong, Breann Schiffer

Absent: Rohit Aggarwal, Taslim Al-Hilal, Eli Asay, Bryan Bonner, Jace Boyd, Cameryn Coffey, Mark Crowley, Brooke Davies, Brooke Fernandez, Ramesh Goel, Rachel Hayes-Harb, Davidson Heath, Eric Herschthal, David Hill, Jill Jeffe, Sarang Joshi, Shaiban Khan, Peggy Kong, Joshua LaReaux, Kateryna Malaia, Juniper Nilsson, Mayette Pahulu, Sofia Perez, Bryce Perkins, Naomi Schlesinger, Oleg Starykh, Matthew Thiese, Berkley Wiseman, Robert Wuebker

Ex Officio: Bob Carter, Ashley Glenn, Angie Fagerlin, Mitzi Montoya, Sarah Projansky
Senate Officers: Harriet Hopf, Brent Milne, Paul Mogren, Allyson Mower, Richard Preiss, Jane Laird
Senate Office Staff: Maddie Hile, Bailey Lavallee

Announcements: Senate President Richard Preiss announced that the Academic Senate End of Year Social will be held on May 5, 5-7pm, at the Law School building.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Upon a motion from Maureen Mathison, seconded by Kate Coles, the March 2, 2026, Senate meeting minutes were approved.

3. REQUEST FOR NEW BUSINESS
There were no requests for New Business.

4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Senate President Preiss reviewed and summarized the Consent Calendar items for the meeting:
i. Faculty Reports
ii. Program Change: Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
All Consent Calendar items were approved following a motion from Pamalatera Fenn and a second from Kate Coles.

5. REPORTS (ADMINISTRATION; SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; ASUU; UUSC)

Report from Administration
Jason Perry, Vice President for Government Relations, reported that Utah’s recent legislative session was notably large, creating a challenging environment for the University of Utah, as many proposals had direct or indirect implications for higher education. He emphasized that employee compensation remained a top priority and that the legislature approved a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for state-funded employees. He also highlighted several significant state-appropriated investments in research and infrastructure. During discussion, he explained that House Bill 204 allows institutions to deny accommodation requests if granting them would fundamentally alter a course or prevent students from meeting essential academic or professional requirements. Senate President Richard Preiss noted that this language may provide sufficient flexibility to be made compatible with existing policy and added that further guidance is expected from the Utah System of Higher Education. Additional questions addressed other legislative matters, including a study exploring the potential establishment of a new law school at Utah Valley University, clarification regarding the distribution of the COLA, and concerns related to Senate Bill 295. Perry indicated that amendments had been made to clarify that this last law is not intended to restrict speech or academic content.
EVP Bob Carter announced that Dr. Kristina Duffin has been selected as the School of Medicine’s new dean. He also noted the School of Medicine’s extraordinary residency outcomes, with a 98% match rate exceeding the national average. Provost Mitzi Montoya invited Senators to review the recent report from the Gardner Institute that elucidates the economic and social value of higher education. She also highlighted the opening of a new downtown facility for the University’s game division, emphasizing that the highly ranked program is representative of the academic strength of the University. Troy D’Ambrosio, Chief of Staff to the President, added that the Utah System of Higher Education Board approved a 3.5% tuition increase along with a 2.15% reduction in fees.
Report from the Senate Executive Committee
The Senate Executive Committee (EC) met on March 16, 2026, to organize the Senate meeting agenda posted, reported Senate President-elect Brent Milne. He acknowledged the volume of proposals reviewed by the Senate this year and thanked senators for their preparation and engagement in shared governance, highlighting the importance of ongoing support between faculty and administration. A notable example is the finalization of the academically significant Policy 6-100 update.

Report from ASUU
Alex Rose, ASUU President, highlighted recent ASUU events such as the Jordan River cleanup, Pride Week programming, and the class gift for the year, which will support student food accessibility. He relayed that ASUU is also allocating funds to the campus food pantry to support student access to free healthy snacks during finals week. Upcoming events include the Grand Kerfuffle/Crimson Nights concert and the State of ASUU presentation.

Report from UUSC
There was no UUSC report for this meeting.

6. INTENT CALENDAR
There were no items on the Intent Calendar.

7. DEBATE CALENDAR

Center for Olympics Research
A proposal to establish an Olympic Research Center for Societal Impact, focusing on interdisciplinary scholarship related to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, was presented by Natalie Gochnour, Director
of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The center is intended to serve as a collaborative research hub for examining the social, economic, and environmental impacts of hosting those games and to position the University as a national leader in Winter Olympics research, noting that only one comparable U.S. center currently exists (at the University of Oregon). She explained that the Center would seek recognition from the International Olympic Committee. Discussion included questions about inclusion, cost overruns and societal impacts. After a second from Kate Coles, Mark Loewen’s motion to approve the proposal passed, with 2 abstentions.

Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals
Prospective Director Michael Free summarized a proposal for an Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals, noting the University’s strengths and the national priority of securing a domestic supply. The Institute will focus on advancing research on new techniques for the location, extraction, and refinement of rare earth elements, battery materials, and energy-related minerals. Senators noted issues that the Institute might consider such as mining environmental impacts, Native Tribes community engagement, and appropriate representation on advisory boards. A motion to approve the proposal was made by Pamalatera Fenn, and seconded by Harriet Hopf, passed with 10 opposed and 5 abstaining.

Center for Civic Discourse and Debate
Mike Middleton from the Department of Communication presented a proposal to establish a new Center for Civic Discourse and Debate. The politically neutral Center aims to promote constructive and respectful dialogue across academic settings through research, existing curriculum initiatives such as “Debate Across the Curriculum”, and student training in conflict resolution. Discussion included support for neutral academic dialog, issues about handling sensitive or highly charged perspectives in the classroom, the need for clarity in the Center’s governance structure, and skepticism about the national trend of launching similar centers as a means of suppressing campus protest. A motion to approve the proposal was put forward by Pamalatera Fenn and seconded by Maureen Mathison, with the understanding that additional information regarding governance and personnel would be provided. The motion passed with 7 opposed and 6 abstaining.

Policy 6-100 & Associated Rules & Polices
Vice Provost Chase Hagood presented the final revision of Policy 6-100. Discussion highlighted key improvements within the revised policy, including increased clarity in academic procedures, greater consistency across departments, and alignment with federal and state accreditation requirements. Attention was given to previously controversial elements, such as course enrollment minimums and content accommodations, which were revised through collaboration.

During discussion, members raised questions regarding the relationship between the updated policy and newly enacted state legislation on content accommodations, with leadership noting that the current revisions position the university to remain compliant while allowing for potential future adjustments as additional guidance emerges. A motion to approve the full policy package (including Policy 6-100, associated rules, and related policy updates) was made by Brent Milne and seconded by Pamalatera Fenn. The motion passed unanimously.

8. INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS CALENDAR

SPEC Update and Senate Committee Vacancy Elections
Ken Monson, Chair of the Senate Personnel and Elections Committee (SPEC), gave an update on the upcoming Senate election processes. The ballot by which Senators vote for next year’s vacant Senate committee positions is now open, with links distributed via email. The deadline after a two-week voting period is April 20, after which results will be announced on April 27. Additional upcoming election details for Senate President-Elect and Senate Executive Committee positions were discussed. The presentation also highlighted upcoming vacancies within SPEC. Members interested in serving or nominating themselves can contact designated coordinators for further guidance.

Revision to Rule 5-200B: Paid Time Off (PTO) for University of Utah Health, Hospitals and Clinical Staff Members
Rosemary Norton, Senior Director of Culture and Accountability for University of Utah Health, presented a non-academic policy revision to Rule R5-200B concerning paid leave for University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics (UUHC) staff. The update clarifies that while employees remain eligible for paid leave when participating in official legal proceedings on behalf of the university, they are not eligible for employer-supplemented pay when appearing in court for personal matters, including civil cases or disputes where they are a party. Norton emphasized that this revision does not change existing practice but aligns UUHC policy with current University of Utah and state policy language to ensure consistency across the institution.

Anthropology Survey Report
Department of Anthropology representatives Shane Macfarlan, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and Adrian Bell, Department Chair, introduced a recent student-led department survey assessing undergraduate career preparedness. Its goal was to gather direct input on student needs, priorities, and experiences. The findings revealed the importance of networking, alumni connections, and clearer alignment between academic training and career pathways, as well as tensions between state workforce goals and student aspirations—particularly in fields where careers may require leaving the state. The initiative also demonstrated added benefits, such as increased student engagement and a stronger sense of connection among participants. The survey was designed as a scalable model for other departments to adopt, which is why it was being presented at Senate. Faculty can contact Macfarlan and Bell to get more information on how to adapt the survey for their departments.

Graduate School Policies Updates
For the purpose of informing faculty and gathering input, Dean of the Graduate School Darryl Butt and its Associate Dean Helene Shugart reviewed three of the School’s recent internal policy updates:
i. Graduate Admissions Guidelines for International 3-year Bachelor’s Degrees
ii. Graduate Faculty Status and Committees Policy
iii. Graduate Academic Standing Performance and Probation Policy
The presenters walked through the details provided in the meeting materials. Discussion centered on understanding and clarification of some of the specifics of the revised Graduate School policy updates.

Information and Reports
Senate President Preiss summarized the reports and information items included in the meeting materials:
i. Repeal of Policy 5-118: Procedure for Recording Affiliates of Personnel Not Paid by the University
ii. BOT Administration Report

9. NEW BUSINESS
There were no requests for New Business for this meeting.

10. OPEN DISCUSSION
There was no Open Discussion for this meeting.

11. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 5:55 pm.