Minutes 2025-2026

Faculty Senate Minutes – Sep 2025

I. Call to Order:  Chair, Kevin Brady

II. Roll Call – Secretary, Adnan Alrubaye

III. Approval of Agenda

Agenda approved.

IV. Approval of Minutes

May  2025

Minutes approved.

V. Reports

1. Kevin Brady, Faculty Senate Chair
   • All faculty are welcome here, you belong here, and your voice is heard. No distinction among faculty based on rank, years of service, TT or NTT. We need cohesion and community. One campus and one faculty.
   • On Aug 25^th: The University of Texas dissolved the Faculty Senate. It ignited a fire as well as gratitude here on campus. The importance of shared faculty governance.
   • My job is to serve the “Best interests” of faculty on the UA-Fayetteville campus.
   • We, the faculty, are indispensable to the success of this university, and we all cherish it. The idea that higher ed faculty are valued.
   • We need to enhance communication and outreach. A vital action plan is to send one email updates per month. The email will go to all deans, faculty, and senators. We are all in this together. We must involve our administrators in this process so that we can work within a true shared governance structure.
   • Plan to schedule meetings with college deans. Chair Brady will email deans to schedule meetings and involve the senators in that college in the meeting.
   • Plan smaller meetings across campus to strategically meet across different areas of campus. We need to increase faculty accessibility to FS meetings. For instance, we will try to record meetings and post them, so faculty who are unable to attend can watch the meetings.
   • Develop online surveys to learn about faculty concerns.
   • Encourage faculty involvement in the faculty senate across colleges. COHEP is overrepresented. We need greater representation across colleges. One way to incentivize is to have a three-year term for leadership.
   • We have a shared governance model here, and we need to practice it. We need to strengthen the relationship between faculty representation and the campus leadership. We are going to disagree, and that’s ok.
   • Chair Brady shared photos and background information about himself.
   • Higher education is something I deeply care about because of its impact on other people’s lives.
   • This is my 11^th year at the UA, and it has been a great ride.
   • Chair Brady introduced the Senate leadership.
   • Chair Brady introduced former Chair Robinson, Parliamentarian Brady, and Secretary Alrubaye, Chair-Elect Goering, Vice-Chair Hutchins, Vice-Chair Elect Glade.
   • It is an honor and a privilege to serve all of you.
   • Chair Brady introduced Provost Chaubey

2.     Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost 

• • The Provost expressed his honor and delight to be here.
  • The Provost expressed that he is committed to shared governance.
  • I have been a Razorback and I am glad to be here again.
  • We have strong enrollment numbers. 34125 is the highest number of students
  • The incoming freeman class is close to 7000. First time, we’re welcoming more than 3000 students from Arkansas. Truly align with the land grant mission.
  • We have 4611 graduate students, which is another success story.
  • We are making progress with infrastructure improvement.
  • With more students, we need more housing. Fall of 2028, we will open new residence hall.
  • Two weeks ago, we dedicated the Anthony Tumberlane building.
  • Fine Arts auditorium is scheduled to open Oct 01.
  • Exciting times ahead, and I look forward to working with you.

   3. Report from UA Transit and Parking, and Alliance Transportation Group.

• • We completed a transit study, and we will share the data from that survey.
  • The study evaluated current campus transit services and plans for the future.
  • We evaluated micro mobility like scooters.
  • We prepared a phased plan to improve transit.
  • We are exploring options to establish a service facility for the transit system.
  • We examined other transit opportunities, such as ORT, and explored alternative options, including micro transit systems.
  • Bus stop study in collaboration with the City of Fayetteville.
  • Some draft route recommendations were created.
  • We are recommending several things like micro transits. We are recommending micro transits at the end of bus routes. We want to use it as a feeder for our fixed route systems.
  • How people are getting to the bus and from the bus.
  • We have three recommendations for three micro transit routes.
  • Central route: long-established route. Cross management might be beneficial.
  • Hill and MLK may need city wise education program combined with physical improvements.
  • There is a demand for MLK to the east.
  • Northern routes: splitting route 26 to two routes.
  • Route 21: we expect more demand for this route.
  • Western routes: We recommend a slight adjustment for stoppage on the frontage road. One more adjustment to accommodate developments across this route.
  • We recommend continuing with adding routes and frequency.
  • We are in the process of community engagement. We had two open houses, attended events in front of the union, and used campus students’ ambassadors.
  • Survey closes on Sep 19^th, so we need your help to disseminate the survey and encourage people to complete the survey.
  • We established a competitive pay plan to attract more drivers, and now we don’t have vacant positions.
  • We have a study with the City of Fayetteville and ORT to study accessibility. Our transit system is ADA accessible.

VI. Old Business

None

VII. New Business

A. Consent Agenda:

1. Course Change Proposals – including undergraduate courses approved by the Undergraduate Council on August 22, 2025, and graduate courses approved by the Graduate Council on August 21, 2025. Details related to course changes may be viewed at: https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve/.  Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate (1_coursechanges_report_09102025).
2. Undergraduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Undergraduate Council on August 22, 2025:

• None

1. Graduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Graduate Council on August 21, 2025 (3_programchanges_report_09102025):

1. Proposed graduate program change for the Graduate School and International Education – GRAD Admission Reqs – Admission to the Graduate School
   (3a_grad_admission_reqs_ admission_to_grad_school_report_09102025).
2. Proposed graduate program change for the Graduate School and International Education – Grad Admission Reqs – Classifications of Admission to Graduate Standing
   (3b_grad_admission_reqs_classif_of_admission_grad_standing_
   report_09102025).

Consent agenda passed enounoumsly

B. Additional items

• None

C. Announcements:

• None

VII. Faculty Senate and Campus Council Elections

VIII. Adjourn

Faculty Senate Agenda
October 2025

I. Call to Order:  Chair, Kevin Brady

II. Roll Call - Secretary, Adnan Alrubaye

III. Approval of Agenda

Agenda approved.

IV. Approval of Minutes

Sep_2025

Minutes approved.

V. Reports

A.  Kevin Brady, Faculty Senate Chair

• There are some unprecedented situations in higher education. We have two guest speakers with one theme speaking on how to improve safety on campus. Mr. Gahagans will talk about the recent security incident that happened in September. We responded to faculty requests, and the two guests are here because of faculty requests.

B. Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost 

• It has been three months since I started my role. I have been visiting with all schools, and I held multiple town halls. I have one more town hall left, and then I will utilize that information to inform the goals and objectives moving forward. I hope to continue conducting town halls at least once a year moving forward.
• We are under federal shutdown, and we have been communicating with associate deans for research, and the VCRI to determine the necessary steps. People that were affected are the ones paid by federal grants. As we have new information, we share it with administrators and faculty.
• We have not received any “stop work” on any of the grants, and thus all have been working on their projects.
• The Fine Arts Center restoration is almost complete, and classes are already happening in the Fine Arts Center. I was really excited to see that.
• We have been discussing how to increase award nominations for our faculty. We have a Provost Fellow who is looking into this. External awards help departments, colleges, and the entire institution.
• We want to have a campus-wide celebration for highly accomplished faculty in research and grants.
• I was able to attend the Google event in West Memphis, and we are partnering with Google on this effort. There is an opportunity to provide degree-seeking students with AI tools, Google Classes, and micro-certificates to enhance their education.
• We have received the 10 commandments posters, and we are working with FAMA to install them. We are a State institution, and we are required to comply.
• Senators requested guidelines on how to address questions or concerns from students regarding the 10 commandments. The Provost recommended that those issues be brought to department leadership and the Dean’s office. The 10 commandments will be installed in classrooms and buildings.
• Senators requested a universal message from the upper administration that describes the new policy of installing the 10 commandments.
• Faculty shared concerns about violating their First Amendment and constitutional rights.
• This will be done expeditiously.

C. Rachel Eikenberry, Director – Office of Student Accountability

- Code of Student Life for 2025-26 and University Hazing Prevention Policy

• Annual report
• Faculty Senate Memorandum
• Updated policies: 
  • OSA 2025 Faculty Senate Annual Report
  • Stop Hazing
  • Student Handbook

• Every year I come to the Faculty Senate to share my report.
• I have an additional legislative update about policies.
• In the last legislative session, there were a couple of different things that happened that impacted student policies. Also, there is a federal guideline that impacts the campus.
• Stop Hazing Act and the Anti-Semitism Act.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act: A federal law signed in December 2024. It provides institutional policies to provide transparency regarding hazing. Help students, faculty, and staff better understand signs of hazing and enhance reporting. The ASR report includes alleged crimes. The new report will report findings on hazing on our campus. This will be published in December 2026. It will be providing mandated hazing policies.
• Act Prohibiting Antisemitism ACT 721 of 2025: This is a new act that prevents antisemitism and adds it to student handbook.
• Policy changes: We revised four different components of the students’ code.
• Hazing initiative policy: The University created the Hazing Prevention task force to get the institution up to compliance. We started to move forward in the hazing prevention. We now have a website about hazing prevention and hazing education. You can report hazing using the website.
• Code of student related to hazing is more in line with federal policies.
• Review all policies as shown in the agenda, and let me know if you have any questions.
• Antisemitism is prohibited based on the new policy.
• Annual report data:
  • Our enrollment continues to rise, and the number of violations also increases.
  • Gender: We are continuing to see males are more frequent and higher cases compared to females.
  • The majority of students who are referred to our office are freshmen.
  • College of Studies: Walton College is the college with more student violations. The Walton College is the highest number of students.
  • We had some repeat offenders.
  • Appeal outcome: Faculty serve as chairs and members in our All-University Conduct Board. Some students appeal decisions, and some win and some don’t.
  • Housing staff report the most cases. We receive some cases from UAPD and the local police department.
  • The primary violations are alcohol, but we’ve seen a decline. We continue to receive reports of fake IDs.
  • We have also seen an increase in bias-related incidents.
  • Decrease in term suspensions and no-contact orders.

D.  Mr. Gahagans, Director – UAPD

   - Active Shooter Hoax Incident and Updated Safety Initiatives at UA

• This is the first time I have been invited to the faculty senate. I’ve been with the University of Arkansas since 2003. I would love to come again.
• What happened on Aug 25^th, the response was 1 minute and 42 seconds.
• No one was injured or hurt, which is positive.
• On that day, we were at the shooting range, and we got our gear and headed to the campus.
• We heard shots in the background, and two top leaders went inside Mullins Library, and we received help from Fayetteville and Springdale PDs and five federal agencies. There were reports about attacks in other buildings. What we’ve done, we have been discussing what happened, and what we could have done differently. We have a consultant to review what happened. The consulting company came up with what we’ve already identified.
• Senators and faculty shared their concerns and asked questions.
• Chief Cahagan answered faculty questions.

V.  Old Business

None

VI.  New Business

A. Consent Agenda:

1. Course Change Proposals – including undergraduate courses approved by the Undergraduate Council on September 26, 2025, and graduate courses approved by the Graduate Council on September 18, 2025. Details related to course changes may be viewed at: https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve/.  Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate.
 (1_coursechanges_report_10082025)

2. Undergraduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Undergraduate Council on September 26, 2025:
(2_programchanges_report_10082025)

1. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, Department of Architecture – ARCHBA – Architecture, Bachelor of Architecture
   (2a_archba_report_10082025).
2. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – STEMCP – STEM Education, Certificate of Proficiency
   (2b_stemcp_report_10082025).
3. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering – CHEGBS – Chemical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
   (2c_chegbs_report_10082025).
4. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Finance – FINN-M – Finance Minor for Non-Business Students
   (2d_finn-m_report_10082025).
5. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Finance – WFIN-M – Banking/Financial Management/Investment Minor for Business Majors
   (2e_wfin-m_report_10082025).

3. Graduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Graduate Council on September 18, 2025:

1. Proposed graduate program change for the Graduate School and International Education – Academic Grievance Procedures – Academic Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students
   (3a_academic_grievance_procedures_report_10082025).
2. Proposed graduate program change for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, African and African American Studies – AASTGC – African & African American Studies Graduate Certificate (3b_aastgc_report_10082025).
3. Proposed graduate program change for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, School of Art – CDESMDES – Communication Design, Master of Design (3c_cdesmdes_report_10082025).
4. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods – ADLLED – Adult and Lifelong Learning, Doctor of Education (3d_adlled_report_10082025).
5. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy – OTDEDP – Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy (3e_otdedp_report_10082025, 3e_otdedp_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_10082025).
6. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering – CVEGMS – Civil Engineering, Master of Science in Civil Engineering (3f_cvegms_report_10082025).

Consent agenda passed enounoumsly

B. Additional Items:

• • None

C. Announcements:

• • None

VII. Adjourn at 05:02 PM

Nov 2025

I. Call to Order:  Chair, Kevin Brady

II. Roll Call - Secretary, Adnan Alrubaye

III. Approval of Agenda

Agenda approved.

IV. Approval of Minutes

Oct_2025

Minutes approved.

I.  Call to Order:  Chair,  Kevin Brady

II. Approval of Agenda

agenda approved.

III.  Approval of Minutes

Oct  2025

Minutes approved.

IV.  Reports

A.  Kevin Brady, Faculty Senate Chair

• The Deans and Associate Deans received an email from me asking to schedule a meeting for 30 minutes with each of them. We need to find out faculty issues in each college and were they overlap and where they are different.
• We will start a survey to ask about the role of faculty senate and to ask about certain issues. Please respond to the survey and identify the leading issues.
• Planning to invite Chief Gahagans to the Senate in the next at large meeting.
• The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate will issue a formal statement regarding the 10 commandments. We understand that people are looking for answers and guidance. Senator Brady thanked Senator Robinson and Goering for helping draft this statement. We hear your message loud and clear. The message is from the Senate leadership.

B. Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost 

• Government shutdown: We are optimistic that it will end tonight after 42 days. We are encouraged that the government will re-open. The ROTC experienced some delay in cadets payment. We were told that the cadets will receive payments retroactively. The ROTC had two civilians were furloughs. 500 students on Chapter 35 survival and dependents funds experienced some funding delays.
• The projects that were previously funded had no issues. Delay in announcing new RFAs, and committees are not meeting, which will delay the award of new grants. Anything requiring approvals from program leaders like buying equipment is seeing some delay.
• We will see the how the delay in RFAs will impact the upcoming year’s funding.
• We are in the process of conducting budget hearings with deans, and this will go through the remainder of this semester.
• We have a goal to increase our 6 years graduation to 80%. We started Mission 6 to increase 6 years graduation rate. This will be for students who started in 2020. We are identifying students who should graduate this year, and we are working with colleges to work with those students. Another project is to work with students who stared in 2021 to help them graduate within 6 years.
• Emergency preparedness update: We continue to discuss and to prepare better. UAPD spoke with the Faculty Senate last month. We are updating our emergency preparedness and asking faculty to add the new plan to faculty syllabi.
• We have a holiday reception, which will be on Dec 02^nd at 5:30 in the SEC club. I encourage faculty to attend.
• 10 commandments posters: During the fall break and ending last week, FAMA installed posters across campus. FAMA provided us with schedule of locations that it had identified. We reached out to Associate Deans and departments heads to identify specific locations within classrooms to install the 10 commandments. FAMA has not identified more staff to install more posters. There will be a limited number of new posters installed. The project will be completed before the start of the spring semester. I understand that faculty and staff raised concerns about the constitutionality of this new law. We are required to abide by the law. Faculty have asked how to address students concerns. Faculty are encouraged to direct students to departments heads and associate deans. Faculty raised concerns on why no message released from the upper administration. We have discussed this issue with the Faculty Senate leadership and deans. Students will face possible disciplinary actions if they damage those posters because the posters are the State property. Students who damage those posters will be referred to the office of Student Accountability Office.
• Senators raised concerns about no message from the upper administration. Senators asked about the amount of time FAMA spent to install the 10 commandment posters, and there was no record according to the Provost.
• We have policy on posters and where they are placed on campus. Senators asked about students posters were removed.
• Senators argues the constitutionality of placing the 10 commandments. 

C. Chris Bryson, Executive Director, Academic Initiatives and Integrity Office

       - 2024-25 Annual Report

• Every year we present this data to you about the previous year.
• The data is from fall 2024-spring 2025.
• This past year, we increased in number of cases reported and the number of students found responsible.
• 88% of cases were returned to faculty within a week.
• 12% of the cases were disputed by either the faculty or the student. Then those cases were reviewed by AIM.
• Most common violations were plagiarism and most of these were AI generated texts not the traditional plagiarism.
• Falsifying attendance and having unauthorized resources during an exam were the second and third types of common violations.

V.  Old Business

None

VI. New Business

A. Bryan Hill and Deb Korth, Undergraduate Grade Exclusion Policy: Review by Academic Standards Committee 

- Proposal to Update the University of Arkansas Grade Exclusion Policy

- Redline Proposal for Undergraduate Grade Exclusion Policy

• You should have the red lined proposal as posted on the Faculty Senate website.
• The current policy is 9 credits of grade exclusion where the grade is not counted toward the degree or GPA.
• The proposed policy is changing the policy from 9 credit hours to 4 courses. Labs can be excluded with the lecture. Lab must be taken in the same semester.
• Students has choice to exclude lab or keep.
• The Students Success Steering committee believe three benefits:
  • The policy helps students facing academic challenges by allowing grade exclusion.
  • Grade exclusion works by supporting students who are changing majors.
  • The committee did bench marking and there are a number of institutions who do grade exclusion.

B. Changes to the Undergraduate Council membership.

- Matt Gaino, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, COEHP 

 (b_ug_council_membership_proposed_changes_oct_2025_11122025).

• Please review the document as posted on the Faculty Senate website.
• Add the first one from the document.
• One year renewable term membership for undergraduate stuents instead of three years.
• Defining quorum, which is 50% of the members to reach quorum.

C. Consent Agenda:

1. Course Change Proposals – including undergraduate courses approved by the Undergraduate Council on October 24, 2025, and graduate courses approved by the Graduate Council on October 16, 2025. Details related to course changes may be viewed at: https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve/.  Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate.
    (1_coursechanges_report_11122025).
2. Undergraduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Undergraduate Council on October 24, 2025:
   (2_programchanges_report_11122025).

1. Proposed undergraduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Asian Studies – EAHP-M – East Asian History and Politics Minor
   (2a_eahp-m_report_11122025, 2a_eahp-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_11122025).
2. Retracted by the sending college.
3. Proposed undergraduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of History – MILS-M – Military Leadership Minor (2c_mils-m_report_11122025, 2c_mils-m_new_minor_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_11122025).
4. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Information Systems – CYBRCP – Cybersecurity and Data Management, Certificate of Proficiency (2d_cybrcp_report_11122025, 2d_cybrcp_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_11122025).
5. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Information Systems – ISYSBS-DCSM – Information Systems: Data and Cybersecurity Management Concentration (2e_isysbs-dcsm_report_11122025, 2e_isysbs-dcsm_new_concentration_ ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_11122025).

3. Graduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Graduate Council on October 16, 2025:

1. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering – EMGTMS – Engineering Management, Master of Science
   (3a_emgtms_report_11122025).
2. Proposed graduate program change for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, Department of Architecture and Design Dean – DSGNMDS – Design Studies, Master of Design Studies (3b_dsgnmds_report_11122025).
3. Proposed graduate program change for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, Department of Architecture and Design Dean – DSGNMDS-ADVD – Design Studies: Advanced Design Concentration (3c_dsgnmds-advd_report_11122025, 3c_dsgnmds-advd_new_concentration_ ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_11122025).
4. Proposed graduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, School of Journalism and Strategic Media – JOURMA – Journalism and Strategic Media, Master of Arts (3d_jourma_report_11122025, 3d_jourma_title_change_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_11122025).
5. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – BADMMB – Business Administration, Master of Business Administration (3e_badmmb_report_11122025, 3e_badmmb-hcba_badmmb-ehlc concentration_deletions_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_11122025).
6. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – BADMMB-BADM – Business Administration: Full-Time Business Administration Concentration (3f_badmmb-badm_report_11122025).
7. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – BADMMB-EBDM – Business Administration: Executive Business Administration Concentration (3g_badmmb-ebdm_report_11122025).
8. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – BADMMB-EHLC – Business Administration: Executive Healthcare Business Administration Concentration (3h_badmmb-ehlc_report_11122025, 3h_badmmb-ehlc_concentration_deletion_ ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_11122025).
9. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – BADMMB-HCBA – Business Administration: Healthcare Business Administration Concentration (3i_badmmb-hcba_report_11122025, 3i_badmmb-hcba_concentration_deletion_ ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_11122025).
10. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Information Systems – INSYMI – Information Systems, Master of Information Systems (3j_insymi_report_11122025, 3j_insymi_concentration_deletion_ltr_of_notification_11122025).
11. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Information Systems – INSYMI-CBMT – Information Systems: Cybersecurity Management Concentration (3k_insymi-cbmt_report_11122025, 3k_insymi-cbmt_concentration_deletion_ltr_of_notification_11122025).
12. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Information Systems – INSYMI-DIIN – Information Systems: Digital Innovation Management Concentration (3l_insymi-diin_report_11122025, 3l_insymi-diin_concentration_deletion_ltr_of_notification_11122025).
13. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Information Systems – INSYMI-ERPM – Information Systems: Enterprise Resource Planning Management Concentration (3m_insymi-erpm_report_11122025, 3m_insymi erpm_concentration_deletion_ltr_of_notification_11122025).
14. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Information Systems – INSYMI-ITMT – Information Systems: Information Technology Management Concentration (3n_insymi-itmt_report_11122025, 3n_insymi-itmt_concentration_deletion_ltr_of_notification_11122025).
15. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Information Systems – INSYMI-SEMT – Information Systems: Software Engineering Management Concentration (3o_insymi-semt_report_11122025, 3o_insymi-semt_concentration_deletion_ltr_of_notification_11122025).
16. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation – ENTRGC – Entrepreneurship Graduate Certificate (3p_entrgc_report_11122025).
17. Proposed graduate program change for the University Libraries, Mullins Library – LIBSMLIS – Master of Library and Information Studies (3q_libsmlis_report_11122025, 3q_libsmlis_ltr_of_intent_11122025, 3q_libsmlis_new_program_proposal_final_11122025, 3q_libsmlis_supporting_documentation_11122025).

Consent agenda approved anonymously.

D. Announcements:

• None

VII. Adjourn

VII. Adjourn at 05:02 PM

Dec 2025

Faculty Senate Agenda
Dec 2025

I.  Call to Order:  Chair,  Kevin Brady

- Roll Call, Adnan Alrubaye

II. Approval of Agenda

Agenda approved.

III.  Approval of Minutes

Nov  2025

Minutes approved.

IV.  Reports

A.  Kevin Brady, Faculty Senate Chair

• Chair Brady presented a summary of what has happened since September
• Chief Cahagan presentation was welcomed.
• Letter to faculty about the 10 commandments.
• Faculty survey.
• Innovation and entrepreneurship in the APT process
• Erin Kaye Howie Hickey
• Chair Brady summarized the work completed in the fall of 2025.

B. Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost 

• The Provost appreciates working with the Faculty Senate.
• The Provost congratulated the Senators on a successful completion of the semester.
• I am excited to participate in my first commencement at the University of Arkansas.
• There will be two commencements with two speakers.
• The Provost thanked the FSEC for attending the holiday celebration.
• We are consulting with the Boston Consulting Group to achieve Forward150 on our three targets. Target is $500 million in research funding. What do we need to do collectively to get to $500 million. What kind of investment do we need to make? We are consulting with a consulting company called Boston Consulting Group. We are developing a roadmap. They will start in January with a very aggressive timeline. Deans will participate with different stakeholders. This will be an all-inclusive plan. Schools, colleges, deans, faculty, and staff. What comes out will be a roadmap for the entire university.
• Den Peter MacKeith will step down in June 2026. I want to recognize the great job he did.
• Jim Gigantino: The state is looking at the General Education requirements. First meeting was the week before Thanksgiving. It will start in 2027. We had a statewide task force. A two-hour meeting, but there were two decisions made. It is not feasible that we can do a full revision to the state minimum core by the fall of 2027. We will have a much longer conversation about the core over a longer period. The implementation will be in the earliest fall of 2028 or maybe fall 2029. The second takeaway, we will have to comply with the State Law. We have not changed the state minimum core fundamentally for almost 30 years. There is an interest in thinking about changes every 10 years. They want us to control our destiny and control our campuses. It will reduce the social science from 9 to 6 hours. For students admitted in fall 2027, they will have to take American National Government.
• We have contracted with an external consultant to look at our faculty and staff annual evaluation. We have different expectations and numerical scoring across campus. This is an attempt to look at best practices and evaluate the process. That process will start in January, and it will take 4-6 months to analyze the process and discuss it in the summer.
• We have engaged a consultant to handle faculty evaluations. We have begun collecting personnel documents for the consultant. We will not kick of with them until January. We will engage with FS, departments, and faculty. As we move forward, we will update you.
• The Provost will remind the deans about the submission of grades on time.
• The Provost wishes everyone a happy holiday.

C. Margaret Sova McCabe, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

- Research & Scholarly Misconduct Overview

- Research Misconduct Policy 2024 -FINAL REVIEW COPY

- Executive Summary ORI-PHS-Rule-2024-Policy

- Research scholarly misconduct-policy-11102011 

• Introducing Bob Davis, senior research officer, and Jennifer Christensen, research compliance.
• Thank you to Jim Gigantino and Bill Kinkaid, who helped tremendously with the policy I am presenting today.
• We are an R1 institution that receives millions of dollars from the federal government and must comply with federal guidelines on research misconduct.
• For the full context of the changes, please refer to the PowerPoint presentation.
• Research misconduct involves three phases: Assessment phase, inquiry phase, and investigation phase.
• The division of research and innovation was created. We try to provide clarity and transparency. Records must be retained.
• The 2024 rule mandate is an important step.

V.  Old Business

A. Bryan Hill and Deb Korth, Undergraduate Grade Exclusion Policy: Review by Academic Standards Committee 

- Proposal to Update the University of Arkansas Grade Exclusion Policy

- Redline Proposal for Undergraduate Grade Exclusion Policy

Policy passed unanimously.

B. Changes to the Undergraduate Council membership.

- Matthew S. Ganio, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, COEHP 

 (b_ug_council_membership_proposed_changes_oct_2025_11122025)

Policy passed unanimously.

VI. New Business

None

VII. Consent Agenda:

1. Course Change Proposals – including undergraduate courses approved by the Undergraduate Council on November 21, 2025, and graduate courses approved by the Graduate Council on November 20, 2025. Details related to course changes may be viewed at: https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve/.  Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate.
    (1_coursechanges_report_12102025).
2. Undergraduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Undergraduate Council on November 21, 2025:
   (2_programchanges_report_12102025).

1. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, School of Human Environmental Sciences – HOSPBS – Hospitality Management, Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Science
   (2a_hospbs_report_12102025, 2a_hospbs_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
2. Proposed undergraduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Geosciences – GEOGBS-GESC – Geography: Geospatial Science Concentration (2b_geogbs-gesc_report_12102025, 2b_geogbs-gesc_title_change_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
3. Proposed undergraduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of History – OZRK-M – Ozark Studies Minor (2c_ozrk-m_report_12102025, 2c_ozrk-m_new_minor_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
4. Proposed undergraduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Mathematics – STAT-M – Statistics Minor (2d_stat-m_report_12102025).
5. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Management – DEIMUM – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Undergraduate MicroCertificate (2e_deimum_report_12102025).
6. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Management – HRMGUM – Human Resource Management Undergraduate MicroCertificate (2f_hrmgum_report_12102025).
7. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Management – LEAD-M – Leadership Minor for Non-Business Students (2g_lead-m_report_12102025).
8. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods – HRDEBH – Human Resource Development, Bachelor of Human Resource Development (2h_hrdebh_report_12102025, 2h_hrdebh_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
9. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods – HRDE-M – Human Resource Development Minor (2i_hrde-m_report_12102025, 2i_hrde-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
10. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods – PHRDE – Human Resource Development (Pre-Human Resource Development) (2j_phrde_report_12102025).
11. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – CHEDBS – Childhood Education, Bachelor of Science in Education (2k_chedbs_report_12102025, 2k_chedbs_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
12. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – CHEDBS-EASL – Childhood Education: EASL Concentration (2l_chedbs-easl_report_12102025, 2l_chedbs-easl_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
13. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – CHEDBS-GATE – Childhood Education: Gifted and Talented Concentration (2m_chedbs-gate_report_12102025, 2m_chedbs-gate_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
14. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – CHEDBS-READ – Childhood Education: Reading Concentration (2n_chedbs-read_report_12102025, 2n_chedbs-read_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
15. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – CHEDBS-STEM – Childhood Education: STEM Concentration (2o_chedbs-stem_report_12102025, 2o_chedbs-stem_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
16. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – ECEDBS – Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Science in Education (2p_ecedbs_report_12102025, 2p_ecedbs_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
17. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – PECED – Early Childhood Education (Pre-Early Childhood Education (2q_peced_report_12102025).
18. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – SSEDBA – Social Studies Education, Bachelor of Arts in Teaching (2r_ssedba_report_12102025).
19. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation – ODLR-M – Outdoor Leadership Minor (2s_odlr-m_report_12102025, 2s_odlr-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
20. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Engineering, Data Science – DTSCBS-FIDA – Data Science: Financial Data Analytics Concentration (2t_dtscbs-fida_report_12102025).
21. Proposed undergraduate program change for College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering – MEEGBS-ROBO – Mechanical Engineering: Robotics and Controls Concentration (2u_meegbs-robo_report_12102025, 2u_meegbs-robo_new_concentration_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
22. Proposed undergraduate program change for Graduate School and International Education, Materials Science and Engineering – MSEN-M – Materials Science Minor (2v_msen-m_report_12102025, 2v_msen-m_reconfiguration_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).

3. Graduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Graduate Council on November 20, 2025:

1. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – AUSDGM – Autism Spectrum Disorder, Graduate MicroCertificate
   (3a_ausdgm_report_12102025).
2. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods – CCLEME – Community College Leadership, Master of Education (3b_ccleme_report_12102025, 3b_ccleme_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
3. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – ELEDMA – Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching (3c_eledma_report_12102025, 3c_eledma_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
4. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – ELEDMA-EASL – Elementary Education: English as Second Language Concentration (3d_eledma-easl_report_12102025, 3d_eledma-easl_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
5. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – ELEDMA-GATE – Elementary Education: Gifted and Talented Concentration (3e_eledma-gate_report_12102025, 3e_eledma-gate_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
6. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – ELEDMA-READ – Elementary Education: Reading Concentration (3f_eledma-read_report_12102025, 3f_eledma-read_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
7. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – ELEDMA-STEM – Elementary Education: STEM Concentration (3g_eledma-stem_report_12102025, 3g_eledma-stem_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
8. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – ETECGC – K-12 Online Teaching Graduate Certificate (3h_etecgc_report_12102025, 3h_etecgc_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
9. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation – EXSCMS – Exercise Science, Master of Science (3i_exscms_report_12102025).
10. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods – HIEDME – Higher Education, Master of Education (3j_hiedme_report_12102025, 3j_hiedme_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
11. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods – HIEDME-CCLE – Higher Education: Community College Leadership Concentration (3k_hiedme-ccle_report_12102025, 3k_hiedme-ccle_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
12. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods – HIEDME-LEAD – Higher Education: Strategic Leadership & Administration Concentration (3l_hiedme-lead_report_12102025, 3l_hiedme-lead_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
13. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods – HIEDME-SAFF – Higher Education: Student Affairs Concentration (3m_hiedme-saff_report_12102025, 3m_hiedme-saff_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
14. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation – ORSTMS – Outdoor Recreation and Sport Tourism, Master of Science (3n_orstms_report_12102025, 3n_orstms_letter_of_intent_form, 3n_orstms_new_program_proposal_12102025).
15. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation – PBHLMPH – Public Health, Master of Public Health (3o_pbhlmph_report_12102025).
16. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation – SPMTMS – Sport Management, Master of Science (3p_spmtms_report_12102025, 3p_spmtms_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
17. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering – OPMGMS – Operations Management, Master of Science in Operations Management (3q_opmgms_report_12102025, 3q_opmgms_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
18. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering – PAVEMS – Pavement Technology, Master of Science in Pavement Technology (3r_pavems_report_12102025, 3r_pavems_letter_of_intent_12102025, 3r_pavems_new_program_proposal_12102025).
19. Proposed graduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures – FRENMA – French and Francophone Studies, Master of Arts (3s_frenma_report_12102025, 3s_frenma_reconfiguration_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
20. Proposed graduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures – MLANMA-GERM – Modern Language: German Concentration (3t_mlanma-germ_report_12102025, 3t_mlanma-germ_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
21. Proposed graduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Social Work – SCWKMS – Social Work, Master of Social Work (3u_scwkms_report_12102025, 3u_scwkms_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).
22. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Finance – FINNMS – Finance, Master of Science (3v_finnms_report_12102025, 3v_finnms_removing_online_delivery_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_12102025).

Consent agenda passed unanimously.

4. Announcements:

• None

VIII. Adjourn

• Meeting adjourned at 4:48 pm.

Faculty Senate Agenda
Jan 2026

I. Call to Order: Chair, Kevin P. Brady

-Roll Call: Chair Brady introduced rationale for the sign-in sheet roll call.

II. Approval of Agenda

Agenda approved.

III.  Approval of Minutes

Dec  2025

Minutes approved.

IV. Reports

1. Kevin Brady, Faculty Senate Chair

APT Special Election:

• There is an ongoing special election for two vacancies on the University APT committee
• As of May 2025 (see May 2025 meeting minutes at https://facultysenate.uark.edu/minutes/2024to2025.php), NTT at the rank of Associate Professor level can serve on the APT committee
• Nominations will be accepted until Friday, Jan. 16 @ 5 pm
• Some have not received this email with the nomination form and this is a particular issue for AFLS faculty members, as some emails are not being forwarded between UADA and UARK accounts
• If you have not received the email, please contact Chair Brady at kpbrady@uark.edu

Faculty Senate Survey Update:

• There is a draft for a faculty senate survey
• The executive committee will review this survey first
• The overall goal is to assess if there are issues of particular concern among faculty that need addressed

Emergency Preparedness:

• Emergency preparedness has been an ongoing concern for many faculty since the fall semester
• Chair Brady again noted his appreciation for UAPD Chief Stephen Gahagans visit to faculty senate last fall
• We will have a dedicated session with a Q&A regarding emergency preparedness in the months to come

Other:

• Chair Brady has plans for upcoming guest speakers involving faculty wellness toolkits and more!
• Welcome back to the new (and busy) spring semester!

Questions:

Did everyone receive the special election nomination form even if they are not eligible to serve on the APT committee?

• Yes, everyone should have received the email for nominations regardless of eligibility

1. Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost

2. The Provost had a great break and expressed how impressed he was by P and/or T packets. Provost Chaubey noted that these packets showcase our faculty and their good work. It is a point of pride.

   Fall 2025 Grade Submission:

   • Everyone is thanked for their timely grade submissions. There were challenges with Workday Student but it worked. The Provost was very appreciative for faculty and staff efforts. Thank you all!
   • During the grade submission period, the Provost’s office was constantly monitoring the submission of the grades. The deadline for grade submission was not changed because, compared to previous years, the percentage of the grades coming in at various timepoints/milestones was similar to previous semesters (with UAConnect).
   • The Provost again thanked faculty and staff that worked around the clock to make this process and transition to Workday Student as smooth as possible.
   • Timely grade entry is especially appreciated for the purposes of enrollment, academic standing, etc. i.e., there are several important reasons for meeting the grade submission deadlines.

    

   Annual Evaluation Process:

   • There is an external consulting group looking at our annual evaluation processes
   • The goal is to bring some consistency to the process (regardless of college and/or department/unit)
   • The secondary goal is to identify high-performing faculty and to celebrate them specifically
   • Two faculty are on the task force including Chair Kevin Brady (TT, EDUC/CLRM and Dave Bostwick (NTT, ARSC/JOUR)

    

   150 Forward Strategic Plan:

   • The Boston consulting group was here last week and they will be back soon
   • The first phase will be approximately 8 weeks
   • The consulting group will provide us with a report for how we can meet our goals

    

   COACHE Survey:

   • We participate in this survey every four years
   • Our most recent data has been received and that data is being explored by the provost’s office
   • A presentation/report will be provided to the faculty in the weeks to come
   • See additional information related to the COACHE survey here: https://provost.uark.edu/coache-survey.php

    

   Questions:

   Does CourseLeaf talk with Workday?

   • Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Jim Gigantino said there are efforts to more fully integrate CourseLeaf with Workday
   • Courseleaf is great but has challenges working with Workday… there is a new version of CourseLeaf i.e., CourseLeaf 10 so there are discussions about whether our campus should upgrade to CourseLeaf 10 prior to further CourseLeaf/Workday integration efforts with no timeline stated

V. Old Business

None

VI. New Business

None

VII. Consent Agenda:

1. Course Change Proposals – including undergraduate courses approved by the Undergraduate Council on December 12, 2025, and graduate courses approved by the Graduate Council on December 18, 2025. Details related to course changes may be viewed at: https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve/.  Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate.
    (1_coursechanges_report_01142026).

Approved.

2. Undergraduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Undergraduate Council on December 12, 2025:
(2_programchanges_report_01142026).

1. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Technology – AGED-M – Agricultural Education Minor
   (2a_aged-m_report_01142026,
   2a_aged-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_01142026).
2. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Department of Food Science – FDSC-M – Food Science Minor (2b_fdsc-m_report_01142026, 2b_fdsc-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_01142026).
3. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology – PLPA-M – Plant Pathology Minor (2c_plpa-m_report_01142026, 2c_plpa-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_01142026).
4. Proposed undergraduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, International and Global Studies – GLST-M – Global Studies Minor (2d_glst-m_report_01142026).
5. Proposed undergraduate program change for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, School of Journalism and Strategic Media – ADPRBA – Advertising/Public Relations, Bachelor of Arts (2e_adprba_report_01142026).
6. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Management – WMGT-M – Management Minor for Business Majors (2f_wmgt-m_report_01142026).
7. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering – IEOABS – Industrial Engineering and Operations Analytics, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Analytics (2g_ieoabs_report_01142026).

Approved.

3. Graduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Graduate Council on December 18, 2025:

1. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Eleanor Mann School of Nursing – NUEDGC – Nursing Education Graduate Certificate
   (3a_nuedgc_report_01142026, 3a_nuedgc_deletion_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_01142026).
2. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation – PHEDME – Physical Education, Master of Education (3b_phedme_report_01142026).

Approved.

VIII. Announcements:

(a.) Special election: 2 faculty vacancies on the University APT Committee

(b.) Faculty senate survey: Release in February 2026

(c.) Upcoming: Emergency preparedness discussion

IX. Adjourn:

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:54 pm.

Faculty Senate Agenda
Feb 2026

I. Call to Order: Chair, Kevin P. Brady

• Roll Call (via sign-in sheet)

II. Approval of Agenda

• Agenda approved.

III. Approval of Minutes

• Jan 2026
• Minutes approved.

IV. Reports

A. Kevin Brady, Faculty Senate Chair

Chair Brady delivered a report entitled, “Academic Freedom at Public Land Grant Institutions: Serving Best Interests of Faculty, Students, and in Service to the State Of Arkansas.” The report provided an overview of the role and necessity of academic freedom at land-grant institutions, including the University of Arkansas.

• Land-grant institutions depend on academic freedom to fulfill their mission to the state. The chair exemplified this by making reference to research performed by a faculty member at the U of A on the digital divide. Having academic freedom allowed her to present findings regarding weaknesses in state policy and thereby serve the state and its residents, serving the public good.
• Without academic freedom, we cannot innovate, challenge students to think critically, and fulfill our mission statement.
• Academic freedom ensures the integrity, honesty, and independence of research, which is necessary to ensure that research serves the public good.
• Academic freedom is a right not a privilege. It is a constitutional requirement that has been affirmed by the courts.
• Academic freedom protects institutional autonomy.
• Academic freedom is essential to recruitment and attracting talent to the university and the state.
• Academic freedom ensures continued academic and student success and keeps us on an upward trajectory. It is in the collective interest to maintain academic freedom.
• Public land-grant institutions, such as the University of Arkansas, have a unique responsibility to uphold academic freedom for faculty since they are funded by the public and serve the state and the nation’s diverse communities.
• Future faculty and student success at the University of Arkansas relies on academic freedom for the continuation of benefiting the state of Arkansas and beyond.

B. Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost

The Provost discussed the university’s growth and successes.

• Spring enrollment reached 32,168 students (a 1.6% increase over last year). Over half of the students are Arkansans.
• Fall 2026 applications are up by more than 8% (almost 34,000 applications so far with an expected final count of over 35,000 applications)
  • Scholarship applications are up by 11%.
  • The average GPA for the incoming Fall 2026 class has risen to 3.87 (compared to 3.84 last year).
  • The average ACT score has increased to 25.2 (up from 24.8)
• The Provost acknowledged the amazing work of the admissions team.
• We are on track to meet our housing contract and admissions target. These statistics our indicative of the bright future ahead and our ability to attract high-quality students.
• The Provost highlighted student Sam Sooter as an exemplar of success. Sooter was named as one of 16 Churchill Scholars and is an accomplished student studying Physics and Mathematics.
• The university is in continued discussions with Boston Consulting Group to develop a roadmap for the 150 Forward implementation. There is good progress, and a report will be presented when complete.

The Provost provided information about matters related to hiring university leadership.

• The decision to rescind the offer to Emily Suski in the search for a new Dean of the Law School was an extremely difficult one. The Provost and Chancellor did not do so lightly and only took this step out of concern for current faculty and students in the law school.
• Looking forward, the next step is to appoint an interim dean. Nominations have been solicited and should be submitted by Friday (2/13). Provost Chaubey will reach out to all nominees to discuss the interim position. Although this is an interim dean position, the provost sees this role as one focused on moving the law school forward and the interim dean will be empowered to do so. The law school will not be stagnant during this transition period. A new search for a dean will be run in two to three years from now.
• The search for a new Dean of Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design has officially launched. The search website is live. Dean Edwards is chairing the search committee, and a consulting firm will help with recruitment. The hope is to have a new leader of Fay Jones by July 1.

The floor was opened for questions from faculty. Chancellor Robinson joined Provost Chaubey to answer questions.

• Faculty senators expressed concern about a “chilling effect” on campus in the wake of the Law School Dean decision. Specifically, faculty senators asked for assurances regarding academic freedom moving forward, including in the P&T process. Senators also noted that faculty are not the only concern. Specifically, senators expressed a concern for students and what they should say to them, particularly vulnerable members of our community who have expressed feeling unsafe and unsupported by leadership.
• The Provost and Chancellor are very aware of these concerns and understand them. They encouraged all faculty to sign up to come express concerns during the scheduled coffee meetings. The Chancellor emphasized that this was a terrible situation that should not have happened, that he tried to prevent from happening, and that he is taking steps to ensure does not happen again moving forward. Specifically, he is communicating the problems with this incident to the board so they can advocate for us, and he is also communicating these problems to state leaders and stakeholders. The Provost and Chancellor also emphasized that this was an exceptional situation not the norm. For instance, there has been no impact on P&T and there is no indication of a future impact on P&T. The Provost emphasized that the contributions of all campus members continue to be celebrated and there is no reason to think this will change. The Chancellor acknowledged that this has had a negative effect on recruiting talent to the university but remains optimistic about the future and our ability to achieve our goals.
• Chair Brady praised the consistency of the Provost and Chancellor in their presentation of the facts as they unfolded surrounding the Suski incident. The issue is heavy and complex but we remain united and dedicated to working through these challenges together via shared governance. The provost thanked the chair and concurred with his sentiment.
• A faculty senator expressed continued concern about the Ten Commandments and the desire for further information on how to communicate about these issues to students. This relates to the Law School Dean search and broader concerns on campus about free speech.
• Provost Chaubey and the Chancellor stated that the institution has no choice but to follow the current law about posting the Ten Commandments.
• A faculty senator asked about the recently announced board decision regarding changes in the funding of athletics.
• The Chancellor said he is still working out the details of the plan but assured faculty that money would not come from academics to support athletics.
• Chancellor Robinson ended by assuring faculty that these issues mean a lot to him and the provost. He restated his commitment to supporting the faculty and the university during this hard time.

V. Old Business

None

VI. New Business

None

VII. Consent Agenda: 

1. Course Change Proposals – including undergraduate courses approved by the Undergraduate Council on January 23, 2026, and graduate courses approved by the Graduate Council on January 15, 2026. Details related to course changes may be viewed at: https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve/.  Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate.
    (1_coursechanges_report_02112026).
2. Undergraduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Undergraduate Council on January 23, 2026:
   (2_programchanges_report_02112026).
   1. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – WCOB Acad Regs – WCOB College Academic Regulations
      (2a_wcob_acad_regs_report_02112026).

   2. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – WCOB Honors – WCOB College Honors Requirements

      (2b_wcob_honors_report_02112026).

   3. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – WFEI-M – Financial Economics Minor for Business Majors

      (2c_wfei-m_report_02112026,

      2c_wfei-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_02112026).

   4. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Marketing – WMKG-M – Marketing Minor for Business Majors

      (2d_wmkg-m_report_02112026).

   5. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, William Dillard Department of Accounting – ACCT-M – Accounting Minor for Non-Business Students

      (2e_acct-m_report_02112026,

      2e_acct-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_02112026).

   6. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Economics – BECO-M – Business Economics Minor for Non-Business Students

      (2f_beco-m_report_02112026,

      2f_beco-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_02112026).

   7. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Economics – INTB-M – International Business Minor for Non-Business Students

      (2g_intb-m_report_02112026,

      2g_intb-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_02112026).

   8. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Economics – WBHE-M – Behavioral Economics Minor for Business Majors

      (2h_wbhe-m_report_02112026,

      2h_wbhe-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_02112026).

   9. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Management – ENRP-M – Enterprise Resource Planning Minor for Non-Business Students

      (2i_enrp-m_report_02112026,

      2i_enrp-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_02112026).

   10. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Management – ENSY-M – Enterprise Systems Minor for Non-Business Students

       (2j_ensy-m_report_02112026,

       2j_ensy-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_02112026).

   11. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Information Systems – ISYS-M – Information Systems Minor for Non-Business Students

       (2k_isys-m_report_02112026,

       2k_isys-m_deletion_ltr_of_notification_02112026).

   12. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Supply Chain Management – SCMT-M – Supply Chain Management Minor for Non-Business Students

       (2l_scmt-m_report_02112026,

       2l_scmt-m_ltr_of_notification_02112026).

   13. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Eleanor Mann School of Nursing – PNURS – Nursing (Pre-Nursing/Health)

       (2m_pnurs_report_02112026).

3. Graduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Graduate Council on January 15, 2025:

   1. None

Consent agenda passed unanimously.

VIII. Announcements:

1. Chancellor and Provost hosting coffee events for faculty on Feb. 13, 2026 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and Feb. 16, 2026 from 2-3pm (Register by 5pm on Feb. 9th).
2. Deadline for faculty to complete the innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer (I/E/T) activities survey is February 17th.

IX. Adjourn:

• The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:38pm.

Faculty Senate Agenda
Mar 2026

I. Call to Order: Chair, Kevin P. Brady

• Roll Call (via sign-in sheet)

II. Approval of Agenda

• Agenda approved.

III.  Approval of Minutes 

Feb 2026

• Minutes approved.

IV. Reports

A. Kevin Brady, Faculty Senate Chair

The chair opened by expressing appreciation for the faculty, particularly for their feedback to his presentation about academic freedom at the February meeting. 

B. Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost 

• • ASG presented the findings of their annual survey of students. 71% of students indicated they had at least one faculty or staff member who cared about them, and 61% reported a sense of belonging on the campus. This data demonstrates that faculty are providing a welcoming environment to students, which is essential to transformational education outcomes. 

• • About 65 faculty members attended the coffee and conversation events hosted by the Provost and the Chancellor. These events led to enriching conversations. Leadership took note of concerns and questions and will be responding. More coffee events open to faculty will be held in the future. 

• • The Board of Trustees recently approved two new Master’s programs. The first is a fully online program in Outdoor Recreation and Sports Tourism, which will launch in Fall 2026. The second is a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) set to launch in Fall 2027. 

• • The details about changes in athletic funding are still being decided. The Provost assured faculty that there would be no negative impacts on academic programs or departments. 

• • The Provost announced that the university is working on distributing IDC back to faculty.  

• • The university is on target to meet its enrollment goal of 7,000 freshmen. Over 6800 housing contracts have been signed, which is up 2% from last year. This illustrates that our education is in demand. 

Provost Chaubey addressed a few questions from faculty senators:  

• • A question was posed as to whether quality instruction remains important at the U of A, particularly in relation to the rise of AI and technological innovation.  

The Provost responded that student success is a priority and quality instruction is essential to achieving that goal. The Provost does not view technological innovation and teaching excellence as mutually exclusive; he stated that faculty should be responding to what adds value to the degree without compromising quality. 

• • A question was asked as to whether the IDC distribution model will remain the same.  

The Provost explained that the university is participating in the national conversation on this topic; whether things change will depend on what happens with the FAIR model. 

• • Lastly, a senator raised a concern about the administration’s guarantee that the situation with athletics funding would not negatively impact departments. Particularly, departments like Music are concerned about how this might affect scholarships for students that are currently funded through athletics.  

The Provost explained that neither programs nor faculty will be cut as a result of changes in the athletic funding model.  

V. Old Business

• None 

VI. New Business

A. Bryan Hill – Chair, Academic Standards Committee

Implementing a Course Repeat Policy and Updating the Withdrawal Policy to Improve Graduation Pathways

Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses - Redline Document

Proposed Addition to Undergraduate Course Catalog 

Proposed Course Repeat Policy: 

• • Students may take a course twice. A third attempt requires a mandatory meeting with a student success consultant, who will discuss things like study strategies with the student. A fourth attempt requires a petition to the Academic Standards Committee. If this proposal passes, the Academic Standards Committee will have to develop a process for reviewing these petitions. 

• • This policy applies to any attempt to repeat a course regardless of the grade earned.  

• • There is no appeals process past the Academic Standards Committee. 

• • In response to a faculty senator asking whether the faculty member of a course might be consulted in this process, Deb Korth suggested that the Student Success Consultant could reach out to faculty members when appropriate.  

Proposed Withdrawal Policy: 

• • Under this proposed policy, there would be a universal drop date that aligns with the last day of classes for the semester. Students would be able to withdraw from a single course at this time rather than having to withdraw from all of their classes.  

• • This will benefit students, who will no longer have to make navigate whether to withdraw from all classes when they are only struggling in certain courses. This will also streamline drops for the advising team, particularly in the new Workday system.  

• • If a student drops a class, then they will not be included in the instructor’s teaching evaluation data for that class. 

B. Colleen Williams – Chair, Calendar Committee 

2026 Fall Break Reconsideration

2027-28 UARK calendar

The calendar committee proposes moving the 2026 Fall Break from October 12-13 to October 19-20 in response to a letter from ASG. Students would like the break moved because the homecoming football game is currently scheduled for the weekend leading into Fall Break.  

A number of clarifying questions were posed: 

• • Would this change conflict with the public school calendar and was this taken into consideration? 

• • Would moving Fall Break a week later interrupt the flow of the semester? 

• • Could faculty have a list of the criteria that the Calendar Committee used to make this decision? 

Colleen Williams explained that the committee did not consider conflicts/alignment with the public school calendars. She offered to email committee members to ask what criteria they considered when voting in support of the calendar change. 

• • A faculty senator asked if there has been any consideration of combining Fall Break and Thanksgiving Break.  

 Colleen Williams explained that this is under discussion, but not for Fall 2026. The earliest this change could take place is Fall 2027.  

Gary Gunderman presented the proposed 2027-2028 calendar. 

C. Deb Korth – Chair, Student Success Steering Committee

Proposal for Revising the Student Attendance Policy 

Attendance Policy for Students – Redline Document 

Deb Korth outlined a proposal to modify the attendance policy in both the faculty handbook and the undergraduate catalog. Specifically, the Student Success Steering Committee would like to change the policy to encourage faculty to refrain from requesting documentation for absences. One goal of doing so is to help Pat Walker Health Center, which is overrun and does not provide doctor’s notes. The second rationale for this policy centers on student equity; some students may not be able to afford to go to a clinic that will provide a certified doctor’s note. Finally, the language about absences is somewhat different in the faculty handbook and the undergrad catalog, so this proposal will also address these discrepancies.  

A number of clarifying questions were posed: 

• • Is the instructor the judge of what qualifies as “significant absences”? 

Deb Korth explained that yes, according to the proposed policy, instructors are the judge of this. 

• • Are faculty required to adopt this policy? If this passes, will faculty be held accountable if they require a note? Are students going to be citing this policy if asked for a note (ex. “you can’t ask for documentation”)? 

Deb Korth clarified that the policy is “recommending” that faculty refrain from requesting documentation.  

• • The current policy says that faculty have “the right to require documentation,” is this proposed policy actually different?   

Deb Korth expressed that she hoped the proposed change in policy language would generate conversations around how instructors approach absences and excuse notes. She explained that the proposed policy is different because it deletes “the instructor has the right” and recommends refraining from asking for a note; additionally, it adds language recommending the use of U of A Cares as a resource. 

• • What is the actual recommendation that senators will vote on? Will the language be “congruent” between the handbook and the catalog, or will it be identical language? 

Deb Korth explained that the proposed plan is for the language to be identical, but she is certainly open to amending this based on faculty response. If not identical, however, the language should be similar.  

• • When faculty discuss the policy, will they be allowed to talk about adding types of absences, such as work? 

Deb Korth affirmed that this could be discussed as part of the debate surrounding the proposed changes. 

VII. Consent Agenda:  

1. Course Change Proposals – including undergraduate courses approved by the Undergraduate Council on February 27, 2026, and graduate courses approved by the Graduate Council on February 19, 2026.  Details related to course changes may be viewed at: https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve/.  Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate. 
(1_coursechanges_report_03112026).

2. Undergraduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Undergraduate Council on February 27, 2026:  
(2_programchanges_report_03112026).  

a. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Department of Human Environmental Sciences – EVMG-M – Event Management Minor (2a_evmg-m_report_03112026).

b. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Department of Human Environmental Sciences – HDFSBS – Human Development and Family Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Science (2b_hdfsbs_report_03112026). 

c. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Department of Human Environmental Sciences – HDFSBS-CHLF – Human Development and Family Sciences: Child Life Concentration (2c_hdfsbs-chlf_report_03112026). 

d. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Department of Human Environmental Sciences – HDFSBS-LFSP – Human Development and Family Sciences: Lifespan Development in Diverse Contexts Concentration (2d_hdfsbs-lfsp_report_03112026). 

e. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Department of Human Environmental Sciences – NUTR-M – Human Nutrition Minor (2e_nutr-m_report_03112026). 

 f. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of History – HISTBA – History, Bachelor of Arts (2f_histba_report_03112026). 

 g. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Political Science – PLSCBA – Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (2g_plscba_report_03112026). 

h. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Philosophy – PHILBA – Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts (2h_philba_report_03112026). 

i. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Finance – WFIN-M – Financial Management/Investment Minor for Business Majors (2i_wfin-m_report_03112026, 2i_wfin-m_title_change_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_03112026). 

 j. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Finance – WRME-M – Risk Management/Real Estate/Banking Minor for Business Majors (2j_wrme-m_report_03112026, 
2j_wrme-m_title_change_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_03112026). 

 k. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – ELELBS – Elementary Education, Bachelor of Science in Education (2k_elelbs_report_03112026, 2k_elelbs_dese_coversheet_03112026, 
2k_elelbs_dese_protocol_03112026). 

 l. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Honors College, Department of Honors Dean – HNRS Admission Reqs – Honors College Admission Requirements (2l_hnrs_admission_reqs_report_03112026). 
 

3. Graduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Graduate Council on February 19, 2025: 

a. Proposed graduate program change for the Bumpers College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Agri Food and Life Sciences Dean – AFLSPH-ENTO – Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Entomology Concentration (3a_aflsph-ento_report_03112026). 

b. Proposed graduate program change for the Bumpers College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Agri Food and Life Sciences Dean – AFLSPH-PLPA – Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Plant Pathology Concentration (3b_aflsph-plpa_report_03112026). 

 c. Proposed graduate program change for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Philosophy – PHILPH – Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy (3c_philph_report_03112026, 3c_philph_curriculum_revision_ltr_of_notification_rev_bot_03112026). 

d. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Engineering, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering – BENGMS – Biological Engineering, Master of Science in Biological Engineering (3d_bengms_report_03112026). 

e. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering – OMDSGM – Decision Support for Operations Managers Graduate MicroCertificate (3e_omdsgm_report_03112026). 

Consent agenda passed unanimously.

VIII. Announcements: 

1. Friday, March 13: Deadline for submitting nominations for Campus-Wide Faculty Governance Positions 

Campus-Wide Faculty Governance Positions Spring 2026 Nomination Form  – Fill out form 

- Committee of the Whole

IX. Adjourn:

• Meeting adjourned at 4:36 pm

Apr 2026

I. Call to Order: Chair, Kevin P. Brady

• Roll Call (via sign-in sheet)

II. Approval of Agenda

• Agenda approved

III.  Approval of Minutes 

Mar 2026

• Minutes approved.

VI. Reports

A. Kevin Brady, Faculty Senate Chair

• Election: Ballots for Faculty-at-Large Senate positions are being finalized and will be sent to faculty soon.
• Faculty Senate Website: The Provost office is providing support for website updates. The goal is to make the site more clear, concise, accurate, and accessible

B. Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost 

• • • Enrollment Update: Enrollment numbers look excellent. More than 7,000 housing contracts. The university is currently on track to meet its goal of 7,000 incoming students.
    • Land of Opportunity Scholarship: This is a new scholarship for Pell-Eligible students in the state. The first cohort will begin this Fall, and 110 students have accepted offers. This is an academically gifted set of students with an average high school GPA of 4.23 and an average ACT score of 26.8. Recipients represent 72 of 75 counties in Arkansas. This evidences that we are meeting our land grant mission to support Arkansas students.
    • Leadership Changes: Ann Bordelon (Executive Vice Chancellor For Finance and Administration) is leaving the university to take another position. With her departure, university leadership is going to take some time to explore what they want for the future of that position before moving forward with a replacement search. In the meantime, a number of people in the administration office will be taking on new responsibilities and roles.
    • Faculty Appreciation and New Research Awards for Faculty: This week is Faculty Appreciation Week. There is a lot to celebrate. Thank you for everything you do for the university and its mission as the flagship. Based on feedback from faculty, the Provost’s office is partnering with the Division of Research and Innovation to launch new awards (a Chancellor’s Medal or a Distinction Medal) to celebrate faculty who bring in funding. The threshold for recognition will vary depending on one’s field/method of research.

C. Margaret E. Sova McCabe, Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation

*Because Margaret Sova McCabe was away for a conference, Bob Davis presented a presentation entitled, “Research Administration Transformation,” on her behalf.

• • • Faculty First: Davis emphasized that they are taking a “faculty first approach.” Because processes grew organically in various offices across campus, many of these processes are siloed and disconnected. They are working to connected and streamline processes. They are working with travel, procurement, etc. to make the process make more sense in terms of how faculty actually do their work. Goals are connection, clarity, and consistency.
    • Campus Research Services: A new office called “Campus Research Services” has been created. This is being headed up by Hanna Ford.
    • Compliance: OSP is there to ensure that Federal Regulations are met. The purpose is oversight.
    • IRB: The IRB process needs revision. Office was understaffed. Jennifer Christensen began working in November and they also hired a consultant half-time. Work flow was starting to even out and then, in January, there was a spike due to undergraduate proposals. They have successfully decreased first contact time (previous average was 2-4 weeks; new average is 1-3 days). Average turnaround is 20 days (but varies from 5-50 days). Goal is to continue to improve these statistics and to be ready to go for the busy season in October.
    • Questions from Faculty Senators:
      • In responding to a senator’s question about educational plans, Davis explained that for the first time have a dedicated training person. Education and support are a big part of the plan.
      • In response to a senator’s question about who will be assigned to work with units, Davis showed a new part of the website where faculty can see which staff member is assigned for pre and post-award process.
      • In response to a question about prioritization of IRB protocols, Davis explained that, for now, they are just focused on the backlog (with a first in, first out approach). Moving forward, however, they hope to be able to consider things like funding in determining the prioritization of proposals. A faculty member also suggested that it might be good to give priority to early career faculty.
      • As far as the timeline for implementation beyond the pilot program with Fulbright College, it will be 3-6 months before they can assess what they have learned.
      • A faculty member expressed concern about continued administrative creep onto faculty (Will this new way of doing things create more administrative work for faculty?). Davis emphasized that the university must make sure all are meeting federal guidelines. Faculty first is about figuring out how to make that happen without making it too onerous on faculty

V.  Old Business

A. Bryan Hill – Chair, Academic Standards Committee

Implementing a Course Repeat Policy and Updating the Withdrawal Policy to Improve Graduation Pathways

Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses - Redline Document

Proposed Addition to Undergraduate Course Catalog 

• • • Summary of Course Repeat Policy Proposal: Students may take a course a second time. To attempt a course for a third attempt requires a mandatory meeting with a student success consultant, who will discuss things like study strategies with the student. A fourth attempt requires a petition to the Academic Standards Committee.
    • Questions from Faculty Senators: In response to questions from senators, Bryan Hill and Deb Korth explained that: (1) The level of interaction advisors have with students varies by college and this policy will give advisors more tangible things to talk about with students who are struggling to make progress. (2) Students will be able to find approved consultants on the website. (3) The SOAR team will be responsible for the labor required by this policy. A successful pilot program has already been run with Survey of Calculus students. Short conversations with students and academic improvement plans helped reduce the DFW rate. (4) The policy does not apply to transfer courses.

Course Repeat Policy Passes (with minor linguistic amendments)

• • • Summary of Proposed Updates to Withdraw Policy: This policy creates a universal drop date that aligns with the last day of classes for the semester. It allows students to withdraw from a single course at this time (rather than only allowing them to withdraw from all of their classes at this point in the semester). Withdrawn students will be removed from course evaluation survey data.
    • Concerns from Faculty Senators: (1) Many Walton faculty have expressed an unfavorable attitude toward the proposed policy because they reach out to students not making progress on a weekly basis. This policy extends that labor further into the semester. (2) A senator expressed concern that this policy may encourage a student to hold out hope of passing a course that they will fail further into the semester. This may unintentionally harm student success, as the student could have devoted more time to their other courses if they dropped the class they will fail earlier in the semester.

Updates to Course Withdrawal Policy Passes (with minor linguistic amendments)

B. Colleen Williams – Chair, Calendar Committee 

2026 Fall Break Reconsideration

2027-28 UARK calendar

*Colleen Williams not in attendance to discuss the calendar committee’s proposal.

• • • Summary of Fall Break Proposal: Senators discussed a proposal to recommend to move the 2026 Fall Break from October 12-13 to October 19-20 to avoid overlap with the homecoming football game that is scheduled for the weekend leading into Fall Break. 
    • Support for Recommendation: (1) It is important that students get a real break at this point in the semester. (2) Faculty should support students in their request, which was made much earlier this year. (3) Homecoming is an important event for cultivating a sense of belonging for students on campus (which is tied to student success).
    • Concerns about Recommendation: (1) School districts (particularly Fayetteville Public Schools) had set their calendar purposefully to align with the university’s Fall Break. Moving the break may harm faculty members as well as students with children. Additionally, Education students completing their residencies in the public school system would no longer get a break if the university moves their break to a different weekend. (2) Will this change set a precedent in terms of adjusting the academic calendar for football games? (3) The current Fall Break does not prohibit students from deciding to attend Homecoming.

Proposal to Recommend Moving Fall Break Fails

• • • Approval of 2027-2028 academic calendar

2027-2028 Academic Calendar Passes

C. Deb Korth – Chair, Student Success Steering Committee

Proposal for Revising the Student Attendance Policy 

Attendance Policy for Students – Redline Document 

• • • Summary of Revisions to Attendance Policy: Due to the expenses of going to the doctor to get a note and strain on Pat Walker, the Student Success Steering Committee proposes to change the Attendance Policy to include language recommending that faculty refrain from requesting documentation in the form of a doctor’s note.
    • Concerns: Senators heard from faculty that they were against the proposed changes. For instance, faculty in Architecture have hours-long studio classes involving experiential learning that cannot be replicated outside of the classroom and therefore, faculty rely on doctor’s notes to hold students accountable for coming to class. Another example given was the necessity of doctor’s notes on Exam days. In sum, concerns centered on how this policy would impact faculty’s ability to hold students accountable for meeting learning objectives in more experiential and participation-based courses as well as the practical management and added labor of makeup assignments (given that if a doctor’s note were not required more students would be likely to miss class).
    • Response to Concerns: The proposed changes to the policy do not take away faculty’s right to require doctor’s notes.
    • Amendments from the Floor: Faculty senators voted to amend the proposal (1) to add back in the statement explicitly noting faculty’s right to require documentation and (2) to adjust the proposed new language to be about “exercising flexibility” when requesting documentation rather than “refraining from” doing so.

Amended Proposal to Revise the Attendance Policy Passes

 VI. New Business

A. Chris Bryson, Executive Director, Academic Initiatives and Integrity

Academic Integrity Policy Suggested Edits - Redline Document

Academic Integrity Sanction Rubric - Redline Document

• • • Academic Integrity Monitors: The first edit to the Integrity Policy is a minor change adding flexibility as to who can serve as an Academic Integrity Monitor, a role currently limited to “associate deans” in the policy.
    • Integrity Remediation Program: The second edit to the Integrity Policy adds an option for undergraduate students with no prior violations to participate in a voluntary remediation program if they have been found responsible for a level 0 or level 1 violation. Upon successful completion, this would seal the student’s violation from being reported to external parties (such as grad schools and employers). This would not affect grade sanctions nor would it prevent the accumulation of sanction points due to subsequent academic integrity violations.
    • Graduate Students and XFs: The proposed change to the Sanction Rubric would allow for graduate students to petition for the removal of an “X” from an “XF” after one year. Currently, the policy limits this option to undergraduate students.

VII. Consent Agenda:

1. Course Change Proposals—including undergraduate courses approved by the Undergraduate Council on March 20, 2026, and graduate courses approved by the Graduate Council on March 19, 2026. Details  related to course changes may be viewed at:   https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve. Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate. (1_coursechanges_report_04082026).

2. Undergraduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Undergraduate Council on March 20, 2026. Details related to program changes may be viewed at:  https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve. Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate. (2_programchanges_report_04082026).

1. 1. 1. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Economics – BECOBS-BECO – Business Economics: Business Economics Concentration.
      2. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Economics – BECOBS-IECB – Business Economics: International Economics and Business Concentration.
      3. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Management – GBUSBS – General Business, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

3. Graduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Graduate Council on March 19,   Details related to program changes may be viewed at:  http://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve/. Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate.  (See the program changes report in agenda item 2 above).

1. 1. 1. Proposed graduate program change for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Philosophy – PHILMA – Philosophy, Master of Arts.
      2. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, William Dillard Department of Accounting – BSBA/MAcc/MPAcc Integrated Program.
      3. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – GSB Admission - Doctoral – Graduate School of Business Doctoral Admission Policy.
      4. Proposed graduate program change for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Department of Business Dean – GSB Admission – Master’s – Graduate School of Business Master’s Admission Policy.

Consent agenda passes unanimously.

VIII. Announcements:

•  None

IX. Adjourn

• Meeting adjourned at 5:27pm

Faculty Senate Agenda
May 2026

I. Call to Order: Chair, Kevin P. Brady

• Roll call (via sign-in sheet)

II. Approval of Agenda

• Agenda approved.

III. Approval of Minutes

Apr 2026

• Minutes approved.

IV. Reports

1. Kevin Brady, Faculty Senate Chair

• • • Chair Brady gave a farewell speech, emphasizing the importance of shared governance, deliberation, and faculty engagement. He thanked the members of the faculty senate and the Executive Committee and gave special thanks to Samantha Robinson, Chris Goering, and John Pijanowski. He also thanked the administration, including Chancellor Robinson, Provost Chaubey, Senior Vice Provost Gigantino, for working with faculty senate and valuing shared governance. Finally, he thanked all faculty who reached out to him.

2. Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost 

• • • Provost Chaubey opened by thanking Chair Brady for his service as well as thanking the faculty senate for a successful academic year. People, place, and culture are essential at the university. We have seen tremendous growth at U of A, including the creation of world class facilities for research and for students; we have a culture of collaboration, respect, and being student-centered; most importantly, we have dedicated faculty who care about student success and the land grant mission.
    • Two new degrees have officially been approved (MS in Outdoor Recreation & Leadership and Master of Library Science)
    • Last week, the university hosted three candidates for the Dean’s position in Fay Jones School of Architecture. The hope is to move forward in the search in the coming days; the candidates are excellent, and we should have someone in place by Fall 2026.
    • The COACHE survey website should be live next week. The site will present the data from the survey about faculty satisfaction as well as what those in leadership are doing to address feedback, questions, and concerns.
    • During the April session, Faculty Senate voted against a proposal to recommend moving Fall Break. Provost Chaubey announced that University leadership discussed the issue further and ultimately decided to move Fall Break from October 12-13 to October 19-20. Provost Chaubey summarized that this decision was made because Fall Break is primarily for students to get a break for mental health reasons (so they have time to unplug and unwind). Because the request to move Fall Break came from students, leadership felt it was important to make this change in the schedule. In sum, Provost Chaubey expressed appreciation for the discussion held by Faculty Senate about this issue during previous sessions, but believes that moving the break is what is best for the students.
    • Comments and Questions from Senators:
      • A senator expressed concern that moving Fall Break may set a dangerous precedent of changing the set schedule for football games. Provost Chaubey responded that the academic calendar has been adjusted in the past and that he cannot guarantee that it will not be adjusted in the future. He emphasized that this change is due to a student request, not due to a request from athletics.
      • A senator representing Architecture thanked the provost for doing such good work in the facilitation of the Fay Jones Dean’s search.
      • A senator asked for comment on the budget approved by the state legislature. Provost Chaubey summarized that we are in good place budget wise. After the budget is presented and approved by the Board of Trustees later this month, then the budget will officially be set.

 V.  Old Business

1. Chris Bryson, Executive Director, Academic Initiatives and Integrity

Academic Integrity Policy Suggested Edits - Redline Document

Academic Integrity Sanction Rubric - Redline Document

• • Academic Integrity Monitors: The first edit to the Integrity Policy is a minor change adding flexibility as to who can serve as an Academic Integrity Monitor. This change is to help with the case workload.
  • Integrity Remediation Program: The second edit to the Integrity Policy adds an option for undergraduate students with no prior violations to participate in a voluntary remediation program if they have been found responsible for a level 0 or level 1 violation. Upon successful completion within 60 days, this would seal the student’s violation from being reported to external parties (such as grad schools and employers). This would not affect grade sanctions nor would it prevent the accumulation of sanction points due to subsequent academic integrity violations. Essentially allows a minor violation.
  • Question: Is there a way to make this information available to graduate students? Not for the purpose of formal remediation, but just for educational purposes?
    • Chris Bryson noted they will likely be able to make the various modules accessible for educational purposes beyond the remediation process.

Updated Integrity policy passes unanimously.

• • Graduate Students and XFs: The proposed change to the Sanction Rubric would allow for graduate students to petition for the removal of an “X” from an “XF” after one year. Currently, the policy limits this option to undergraduate students.

Updated sanction rubric passes unanimously.

 VI. New Business

• None

 VII. Consent Agenda:

1. Course Change Proposals—including undergraduate courses approved by the Undergraduate Council on April 24, 2026, and graduate courses approved by the Graduate Council on April 16, 2026. Details  related to course changes may be viewed at:   https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve. Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate.

(1_coursechanges_report_05062026).

2. Undergraduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Undergraduate Council on April 24, 2026. Details related to program changes may be viewed at:  https://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve. Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate.

(2_programchanges_report_05062026).

1. 1. Proposed undergraduate program change for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of English – ENGLBA-RHWR – English: Rhetoric and Writing Studies Concentration.
   2. Proposed undergraduate program change for Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, Department of Architecture and Design Dean – ARCH Honors – Architecture School and Departmental Honors Requirements
   3. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy – CSDIBS – Communication Sciences and Disorders, Bachelor of Science.
   4. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy – PCSDI – Communication Sciences and Disorders (Pre-Communication Sciences and Disorders).
   5. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – CATEBS-FCSE – Career and Technical Education: Family and Consumer Sciences Education Concentration.
   6. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – STEMCP – STEM Education, Certificate of Proficiency.
   7. Proposed undergraduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation – PHEDBS – Teaching K-12 Physical Education and Health, Bachelor of Science in Education.

3. Graduate Program Change Proposals approved by the Graduate Council on April 16, 2026. Details related to program changes may be viewed at:  http://nextcatalog.uark.edu/courseleaf/approve/. Under the “Your Role” field, select Faculty Senate.  (See the program changes report in agenda item 2 above)

1. 1. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – CIEDES-EDEX – Curriculum and Instruction: Education Examiner Concentration.
   2. Proposed graduate program change for the College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation – HSESPH – Health, Sport and Exercise Science, Doctor of Philosophy.
   3. Proposed graduate program change for the Graduate School and International Education, Department of Graduate Dean – ENGL Lang Prof – English Language Proficiency Requirements.
   4. Proposed graduate program change for the Graduate School and International Education, Department of Space and Planetary Sciences – SPACMS – Space and Planetary Sciences, Master of Science.

Consent agenda passes unanimously.

VIII.  Announcements:

• Arkansas Research Institute for Electronics Systems (ARIES)
  
  The establishment of the Arkansas Research Institute for Electronics Systems (ARIES) unites complementary expertise and facilities at the University of Arkansas to accelerate the state’s leadership in electronics while lowering barriers to innovation and real-world impact. Positioned to become a national research leader, ARIES will address critical military and commercial needs and strengthen the U.S. microelectronics infrastructure. It will operate and sustain MUSiC, the nation’s only open, low-volume SiC prototyping fab supporting wafers, power devices, integrated circuits, sensors, and optoelectronics. Through these efforts, ARIES will catalyze economic development and cultivate a future-ready workforce, advancing Arkansas’s innovation economy, national competitiveness, and technological leadership.

IX. Adjourn

• Meeting adjourned at 4:16pm.