University Senate discusses proposed TCPL policy change, receives 3 special reports

Nathan French, vice chair of the senate and chair of the Senate Executive Committee, set the tone at University Senate’s second meeting of the semester on Sept. 22 by emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and diversity of perspectives.

“FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, notes that this is a moment of expanding censorship of free expression on campuses.I hope you will all take a moment to consider how we might work to affirm the conditions needed to deliver knowledge as a public good.” French said.

This was followed by updates from the previous meeting’s discussions on the senate’s Ad Hoc Committee, which is now established in full and is active. However, the new voting mechanism for senate has been placed on hold again until the Enabling Act is revised by the committee.

Provost Chris Makaroff gave a brief update.

“I will tell you that [the board of trustees] were very open and supportive when I told them that I was working with senate,” Makaroff said. “Senate wanted to work with me to repair the relationship between the board and senate. So I had a very good feeling of that.”

Zeb Baker, dean of the Honors College, gave a special report on its progress. With 612 incoming honors students in Fall 2025, there are now 2,064 in total.

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“What comes next [for the college] is another question, and I’m happy to come back later in this academic year and try to provide you as much clarity as I can,” Baker said.

Elizabeth Hoover presented updates from the Liberal Education Council (LEC). The revised approach to the Miami Plan Course Review process now emphasizes formative feedback,using five primary methods to assess each course. This includes surveys and reviewing artifacts, amongst other things. They have reviewed 30 courses and approved 28.

Additionally, the Office of Liberal Education discussed the cap on the percentage of continuing faculty that are permitted to be teaching, clinical professors and lecturers (TCPLs).

Amity Noltemeyer, dean of the College of Education, Health and Society, visited senate to share a proposal to raise the TCPL cap from 29% to 40%, which would put it parallel to the TCPL for the Farmer School of Business. This carries no intentions of reaching 40%, but rather to have flexibility.

The vote on the topic of recommending raising the TCPL cap in the College of Education, Health and Society was tabled to reappear at the next meeting.

University Senate's next meeting will be Oct. 6 at 3:30 p.m. in 111 Harrison Hall.

duganec@miamioh.edu