Academic Senate discusses possible plans for fall semester
Central Michigan University's Academic Senate discussed possibilities for the fall at its April 21 meeting.
Many options are being discussed regarding changes to the upcoming fall semester in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Options include:
- Delaying the beginning of classes and having a 13-week semester
- Conducting classes online for half of a semester and face-to-face for half
- Transitioning entirely to online classes again
The university will wait to make a decision until the long-term effects of the pandemic are more clear, which will hopefully be the by end of May.
Senators approved a motion to allow any course currently offered face-to-face to be available in an online format in the upcoming fall semester. This will allow students and professors to continue to take classes if they are immunocompromised or at risk for COVID-19 even after face-to-face classes have reopened.
President Bob Davies addressed the senate directly about budget cuts in the coming year. Where cuts of five to ten percent across all departments were already planned due to enrollment drops, Davies now warns that percentage will rise and might double. Despite these significant changes made in response to this pandemic, Davies spoke words of encouragement and explained his confidence for the university going forward.
“I strongly believe there is a strong future for CMU for our students and for every member of our community, and I look forward to creating it with you,” Davies said.
Searches
The search committee for Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services has met and is currently accepting applicants. The committee is co-chaired by Executive Vice President and Provost Mary Schutten and Associate Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Michael Alford. The search is being assisted by search firm DHR International.
David Weindorf was appointed vice president of research and innovation. Weindorf most recently served as Vice President of the Office of Research and Innovation and BL endowed chair of Pedology at Texas Tech. He will begin June 15.
The virtual forums for Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs finished this week. The search committee, chaired by College of Health Professions Dean Tom Masterson, will make its final decision soon.
An additional Academic Senate meeting will be held on May 5th because of the fast-changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. Academic Senate meetings are available for anybody to watch over livestream on CentralLink.
