March 2008

Dear Colleagues:                                                                                   

The University Senate carries out its responsibility to provide faculty/staff/student input into university decision-making through a governance structure that involves over 150 persons. These people serve as volunteers exercising their responsibilities in a common effort to improve the university.

 The Senate performs some business in monthly plenary sessions, but primary business is conducted in standing committees.  Listed below are the Senate Standing committees and the faculty member openings to be filled this year:

Academic Planning and Resource Allocation:
1 from Health Sciences Center
1 from Humanities and Fine Arts
1 from the Library
1 from Social and Behavioral Sciences

Administrative Review:
1 from Health Sciences Center
1 from Humanities and Fine Arts
2 from Natural Sciences and Math
2 from Social and Behavioral Sciences

Campus Environment:
1 from Health Sciences Center
2 from Humanities and Fine Arts
1 from the Library
1 from Natural Sciences and Math
2 from Social and Behavioral Sciences

Computing and Communications:
1 from Health Sciences Center
1 from Humanities and Fine Arts
1 from the Library
1 from natural Sciences and Math
2 from Social and Behavioral Sciences

Graduate Council:
2 from Health Sciences Center
1 from the Library
2 from Natural Sciences and Math

Library Promotion and Tenure:
1 from Non-tenured Librarian from HSC (1-year term)
2 from College of Arts and Sciences
1 from the Library

Library Services:
1 from the Health Sciences Center
1 from the Library
1 from Natural Sciences and Math
1 from Social and Behavioral Sciences

Research Committee:
2 from Humanities and Fine Arts
1 from the Library
2 from Natural Sciences and Math
1 from Social and Behavioral Sciences
SPD Council:
1 from Health Sciences Center
2 from Natural Sciences and Math
1 from Social and Behavioral Sciences

Student Life:
1 from Humanities and Fine Arts
1 from Natural Sciences and Math

Undergraduate Council:
1 from Humanities and Fine Arts
1 from Natural Sciences and Math
1 from Social and Behavioral Sciences

University Affairs:
1 from Social and Behavioral Sciences

Health Sciences Center:
24 At-Large Senators

These positions are open as part of the normal election cycle, and we urge you to volunteer yourself or to suggest colleagues to stand for election.  The charge for each committee and the continuing membership for each committee can be viewed on the University Senate website at http://stonybrook.edu/univsenate  by clicking on “Standing Committees”
 
This spring there are also vacancies for:

• TWO SUNY State-wide Senators with one from West Campus and one from East Campus and ONE SUNY State-wide Alternate.  Please feel free to nominate any faculty or professional for these positions.
• ONE position on the FSA Board for a West Campus faculty member.

As part of the nomination process, please confirm that your nominee is agreeable to running. Ballots will be prepared for election of nominees according to Senate bylaws. Balloting will take place near the end of March using the Stony Brook Solar System Web Site.
           
     You may make nominations by e-mail to the Senate office secretary, LTheobalt@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.  In order to get names on the ballot, we will need nominations by March 31st, 2008.  We appreciate your suggestions very much, especially self-nominations.
              
Sincerely,

Bernard P. Lane, M.D.
President
University Senate