Faculty Senate

Subcommittees

Academic Issues Committee

The Academic Issues committee attends to issues related to the academic functioning of the University. The issues might include admission standards, academic progression, academic support services, and academic integrity.

Committee Members 2023 - 2024

  1. Melissa Riley (Arts and Sciences – Science) Chair
  2. Tim McCoy (Business)
  3. Maryam Hamidi (Engineering)
  4. Jennifer Thedford (Arts and Sciences – Science)
  5. Brielle Frost (Fine Arts and Communication)
  6. Daniel R. Chilek (Education)
  7. Jiangjiang (Jane) Liu (Arts and Sciences – Science)
  8. Chelsea Lyles (Fine Arts and Communication)
  9. Daryl Ann Borel (Education)
  10. Stephan Malick (Fine Arts and Communication)
  11. Amanda Allison (Arts and Sciences – Science)

Former Committee Members

2022 - 2023

Melissa Riley (Arts and Sciences – Science) Chair
Stephan Malick (Fine Arts and Communication) Vice Chair
Pat Heintzelman (Arts and Sciences – Arts)Tim McCoy (Business)
Ginger Gummelt (Arts and Sciences – Arts)
Maryam Hamidi (Engineering)
Jenny Thedford (Arts and Sciences – Science)
Brielle Frost (Fine Arts and Communication)
Doug Boatwright (Education)
Jiangjiang Liu (Arts and Sciences – Science)

Faculty Affairs Committee

The Faculty Affairs Committee advises the Senate on matters of policy concerning faculty. The matters might include academic freedom, teaching, research, curriculum design, interpersonal conduct, terms of appointment, promotion and tenure, and faculty well-being. The Committee also has the responsibility of aiding the president of the university by ranking the applicants for the Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award.

Committee Members 2023 - 2024

  1. Sujing Wang (Arts and Sciences – Science) Chair
  2. Shelly Allen (Education)
  3. Paul Eric McCluskey (Fine Arts and Communication)
  4. Wen Liu (Arts and Sciences – Science)
  5. Kelly Weeks (Business)
  6. Tina M. Kibbe (Arts and Sciences)
  7. Raouth Kostandy (Arts and Sciences – Science)
  8. Mark Mengerink (Arts and Sciences – Arts)
  9. Alan Brincks (Fine Arts and Communication)
  10. Gleb Tcheslavski (Engineering)

Former Committee Members

2022 - 2023

Sujing Wang (Arts and Sciences – Science) Chair
Shelly Allen (Education)
Mark Broome (Arts and Sciences – Arts)
Thomas Harvey (Education)
Kelly Weeks (Business)
Trina Nolen (Library)
Jennifer Huff (Arts and Sciences – Science)
Mark Mengerink (Arts and Sciences – Arts)
Alan Brinks (Fine Arts and Communication) 

Faculty Evaluation Committee

The Faculty Evaluation committee investigates the annual review process and suggests changes to the current structure to ensure that the reviews are conducted in the spirit of openness and collegiality, with an emphasis on constructive development of the individual faculty member as well as the institution.  The F2.08 committee develops a two-way communication performance review process to be used by faculty and administrators in communicating expectations related to the performance review.  This communication, documented in written form, allows faculty and administrators to identify issues, develop standards, create metrics, and provide support.

Committee Members 2023 - 2024

  1. Millicent Musyoka (Fine Arts and Communication) Chair
  2. Mohamad Khal Hamza (Education)
  3. Poornima Gunasekaran (Library)
  4. Jim Armacost (Arts and Sciences – Science)
  5. Ashraf El-Houbi (Business)
  6. Clayton Jeffryes (Engineering)
  7. Xenia Fedorchenko (Fine Arts and Communication)
  8. Sharon Joffe (Arts and Sciences, Fall 2024 Faculty Development Leave, returning Spring 2025)

Former Committee Members

2022 - 2023

Mohamad Khal Hamza (Education) Chair
Millicent Musyoka (Fine Arts and Communication)
Poornima Gunasekaran (Library)
Jim Armacost (Arts and Sciences – Science)
Ashraf El-Houbi (Business)
Clayton Jeffryes (Engineering)
Edgardo Pujols (Arts and Sciences – Science)
Xenia Fedorchenko (Fine Arts and Communication) 

Documents

Research and Creative Activity Committee

The Research and Creative Activity Committee reviews and makes recommendations on policies and procedures related to research and creative activities of the faculty.  The committee assists the Provost in the awarding of Faculty Development leave and works with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to advocate, support and foster faculty research and creative activity and provide an interface between the faculty and the administration with regard to pre-award and post-award services.

Committee Members 2023 - 2024

  1. John Gossage (Engineering) Chair
  2. Ian Lian (Arts and Sciences – Science)
  3. Perumalreddy Chandrasekaran (Arts and Sciences – Science)
  4. Chun-Wei Yao (Engineering)
  5. Kelly Brown (Education)
  6. Vivek Natarajan (Business)
  7. Lilian Felipe (Fine Arts and Communication)
  8. Penny Clark (Library)
  9. Kathryn Washington (Education)

Former Committee Members

2022 - 2023

John Gossage (Engineering) Chair
Perumalreddy Chandrasekaran (Arts and Sciences – Science)
Chun-Wei Yao (Engineering)
Kelly Brown (Education)
Ricardo Tovar-Silos (Business)
Lilian Felipe (Fine Arts and Communication)
Wen Liu (Arts and Sciences – Science)

Budget and Compensation Committee

The Budget and Compensation committee monitors and oversees the academic budget to ensure that planning processes for the University are aligned with academic values and faculty interests.  Issues the committee might attend to include matters related to salary and benefits, hiring of faculty and instructional staff for teaching and research, funding for laboratories, faculty travel to conferences, capacity planning, and other academic needs.

Committee Members 2023 - 2024

  1. Jennifer Fowler (Arts and Sciences - Science) Chair
  2. Mark Broome (Arts and Sciences – Arts)
  3. Xiao Zhang (Business)
  4. Eunjin Kwon (Education)
  5. Mien Jao (Engineering)
  6. Cengiz Sen (Arts and Sciences – Science)
  7. Andre Favors (Fine Arts and Communication)

Former Committee Members

2022 - 2023

Jennifer Fowler (Arts and Sciences - Science) Chair
Garrick Harden (Arts and Sciences – Arts) Vice Chair
Xiao Zhang (Business)
Eunjin Kwon (Education)
Mien Jao (Engineering)
Beth Byers (Fine Arts and Communication)
Cengiz Sen (Arts and Sciences – Science)
Yasuko Sato (Arts and Sciences – Arts)

Senate Faculty Handbook Committee

The Senate Faculty Handbook Committee serves as the liaison between the Faculty Senate and the Administration in their shared responsibility of developing and approving policies and procedures in the Lamar University Faculty Handbook (all drafts pending and future).  The role includes, but is not limited to, presenting recommendations to the Administration and monitoring any proposed changes by the Provost.

Committee Members 2023 - 2024

  1. Garrick Harden (Arts and Sciences– Arts) Chair
  2. Pat Heintzelman (Arts and Sciences– Arts)
  3. Elia Hatfield (Arts and Sciences– Arts)
  4. Raymond Doe (Arts and Sciences – Arts)
  5. Gevorg Sargsyan (Business)
  6. Stephan Malick (Fine Arts and Communication)
  7. Matt Hoch (Arts and Sciences – Science)

Former Committee Members

2022 - 2023

Nicki Michalski (Fine Arts and Communication) Chair
Matt Hoch (Arts and Sciences – Science) Vice Chair
Cheng-Hsien Lin (Faculty Senate President)
Joe Nordgren (Faculty Senate Secretary)
Raymond Doe (Arts and Sciences – Arts)
Cristina Rios (Education)
James Slaydon (Business)
Gleb Tcheslavski (Engineering)

Faculty Handbook

Ad Hoc Committee on HR Policies and Procedures

This committee has completed its function and is no longer needed as of spring 2024.

Committee Members 2022 - 2023

James P. Nelson (Arts and Sciences – Arts) Chair
Pat Heintzelman (Arts and Sciences – Arts) Vice Chair
Sharon Joffe (Arts & Sciences – Arts)
Ginger Gummelt (Arts & Sciences - Arts)
Kelly Brown (Education)
Xiao Zhang (Business)
Stephan Malick (Fine Arts and Communication)
Mien Jao (Engineering)
Eric McCluskey (Fine Arts and Communication)