The Faculty Senate will vote on a resolution at a meeting Friday which, if passed, will have the body endorse that institutional neutrality is not the solution to challenges, like free speech issues, at the University.
Guillermo Orti, a faculty senator and the co-chair of the Professional Ethics and Academic Freedom Committee, will present a resolution to senate that, if passed, will have the senate endorse the American Association of University Professors’, a nonprofit association of faculty and researchers, statement on institutional neutrality and the committee’s statement, which says institutional neutrality is not the solution or “panacea” to the problems at the University. The resolution comes after PEAF formed a subcommittee on neutrality in November 2024 to decide if GW should include the topic of institutional neutrality when developing its strategic framework, according to the resolution.
The resolution states that GW should “look inward” at its character, educational mission and core values by upholding academic freedom and shared governance as opposed to adopting institutional neutrality.
It further states that the committee is concerned that statements made by the University’s administration could be misconstrued as reflecting the views of the faculty.
“We want to emphasize that academic freedom is distinct from and does not constitute a collective faculty view,” the resolution states. “Hence, this subcommittee reiterates that University statements on any issue under public discussion do not and should not be presented/ interpreted as representing a collective view of the University Faculty.”
Orti will also present a report on concerns and feedback from committee members on guidelines for the University’s policy review process. The report comes after the the senate adopted a resolution in September 2024 enacting guidelines for the University’s policy review process to encourage GW to uphold shared governance principles and “meaningfully” consult faculty on policies that affect the University community.
University officials shared a guideline document with the committee in February, which outlines the process of policy approval and the officials that will be involved in the process, according to the report. The process includes a Policy Approval Board, which reviews drafted policies to ensure alignment with the University’s missions and values, composed of senior University officials.
The report states that the committee’s “most burning concern” with the process is that the board’s membership lacks faculty representation.
The report states the guidelines document “compels” the committee to reassert the “essence” of shared governance in decision and policy making and “demand” the broadest exchange of information between officials and faculty.
Heather Bamford, a faculty senator and the co-chair of the Appointments, Salary and Promotion Policies Committee, will present a resolution to maintain the University’s commitment to tenure. If passed, the resolution will approve an amendment to a Faculty Code clause that moves the requirement for the proportion of regular nontenure track faculty to not exceed 25 percent to its own section of the code, which the resolution states will ensure consistent and transparent compliance with the thresholds.
Faculty said last month that tenured and tenure-track positions are “crucial” to the University’s research mission after the 2025 core indicators report presented at the senate meeting last month showed a decade-low drop in tenured and tenure-track faculty during the 2023-24 academic year.
Amita Vyas, a member of the Executive Committee, will present a resolution that recognizes Ilana Feldman, the chair of the committee, for her “continuous service” as her term as chair reaches its three-year limit this month.
Senators Oleg Kargaltsev, Don Parsons, Sarah Wagner, Yixin Lu, Blake Morant, Jim Tielsch, Paul Marvar and Bob Zeman will complete their terms at the end of the academic year and depart the senate.
University President Ellen Granberg, Provost Chris Bracey and Feldman will also share additional reports.
