The possibility of creating additional pathways for faculty development was considered by the Faculty Senate executive committee during their meeting Thursday in the Roe R. Cross room. No action was taken on the topic, but the current process will remain open for discussion at the next meeting.

Those potential changes could range from examining the definition of research and creativity to how evaluation and promotion is con-ducted, according to David Cordle, provost.

“One thing that seems somewhat problematic, especially with the potential idea of alternative path-ways to tenure, is that that’s not really entirely the realm of the university,” said Brenda Koerner, associate professor of biological sciences. “That’s the realm of each department’s FRC (Faculty Recognition Committee) and their faculty because every single department has different criteria for getting tenure.”

When thinking about ways to update the process, Steve Lovett, Faculty Senate president and assistant professor of business administration, recommended that they not take anything out of consideration, even if it means coming full circle and making no changes at all.

The Faculty Senate bill requiring that a diversity statement be included in all syllabi was signed over the summer by President Allison Garrett, according to Cordle.

Including a diversity statement in all syllabi was heavily supported by students, including Associated Student Government, after an incident last semester in which a professor allegedly read aloud a poem that repeated a racial slur.

Faculty Senate passed the bill on April 12.

It’s unclear how many faculty members have included it in their syllabi yet, but no faculty have refused to put it in, according to Lovett.

The next executive committee meeting will be 3:30 p.m. today in the Roe R. Cross room.