Changes at the Senate & Town Hall

From an email circulated today:

Members of the Academic Senate

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to a new academic year! I am delighted to introduce myself as your new UCLA Academic Senate chair.

I am looking forward to representing the UCLA Division of the Academic Senate through the University’s process of shared governance. Along with its impact on our teaching, research and service missions, the COVID-19 pandemic has direct impact on all members of the university community including our students and those whom we serve directly and indirectly. The University is facing enormous fiscal exigency whilst our campus is in transition to a new budgetary model. The State’s recovery is typically slow and its funding of higher education often suffers lasting damage. Society has become even more divided and polarized. Together, we will face many challenges; but we will find opportunities to do better and harness pressures to evolve into a more diverse and better place. Together, we must all do more to tangibly improve social justice. The Senate must and will step up to the plate.

Jody Kreiman, Professor in Residence, Head & Neck Surgery and Linguistics, joins me as the Vice Chair/Chair Elect. I am grateful for Michael Meranze’s exemplary service as Chair during the unforgettable 2019-2020 academic year. He now moves into the Immediate Past Chair position. I am glad that his wisdom and experience will continue to guide the Senate. Please visit the Academic Senate website to find out more about us.

Please join me in thanking Joe Bristow for his three years of distinguished service in the Chair leadership roles. He created lasting positive changes across the campus and within the Senate.

Please feel free to reach out to me at swhite@senate.ucla.edu. I look forward to having you join us at the upcoming Faculty Town Hall on Fall 2020 Teaching on Thursday, September 17, 2020, from 2:00pm to 3:00pm via Zoom videoconference. Please RSVP your attendance and submit any questions by Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

Sincerely,

Shane White

Chair, UCLA Academic Senate