STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS AND INTENTIONS
2003-04 FACULTY SENATE OFFICERS

Bob Buckley
Nominee for Chair of the Faculty Senate

I am a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science faculty in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. I first joined the faculty as a part-time instructor in the late 70s while still a graduate student at UCD. I taught initially in Economics and then Computer Science, joining the University on a full-time basis in 1981. I have served regularly on number of departmental committees and became a member of our College Academic Council in the mid 80s. I served as a member of the Council for over ten years, serving at least half that time as its chair. My Senate service began six years ago as a member of an ad-hoc committee charged with the task of recommending improvements in the general operation of the Senate. The committee’s recommendations were subsequently adopted and have resulted in major changes in the manner in which the Senate and its committees operate. During the 1998-99 academic year I became a member of the Executive Committee and was elected and; began serving as Senate chair in the 1999-2000 academic year. I am currently completing my fourth term.

In the coming year we will again experience growth in student enrollment along with the inability and unwillingness of the Governor and the Legislature to adequately fund education at all levels. For the CSU and more specifically for us, this will mean budget reductions for 2003-04 and beyond. We, the faculty involved in the shared governance of the University, must work with the administration to better understand the impact of these reductions and to recommend to the President both the plans and processes necessary to maintain, at the very least, a quality education for our students. Doing more with fewer real dollars will continue to be the source of argument and debate in the coming few years. Providing the campus community with a clear understanding of the basis for 1) the amount of reductions needed, 2) the decisions to be made on what specifically to cut, and 3) for what we all lose as a result is essential. This understanding will inform us about what needs to be restored once the economy turns and funding again begins to increase.

We all know our faculty population continues to experience significant turnover as retirees are replaced by increasing numbers of new faculty. While we have gradually been losing our base of leadership and engagement in the faculty governance, we will begin the 2003-04 academic year with a significant number of new faculty appointments to Senate committees. These committees provide the opportunities to fulfill the constitutionally specified roles and responsibilities vested in the faculty. The University committees, on the other hand, provide the opportunities for faculty to be involved in the shared governance in all other areas. Our challenge will be to have faculty involved in all facets of the University; building strong collegial and collaborative bonds between the faculty and the administration. This involvement requires all to commit time and their full intellectual resources to this endeavor. I would hope that the beginning of President Gonzalez’s tenure would provide the opportunity and the motivation for sufficient numbers of faculty to become fully engaged in the shared governance of our University.

As I also mentioned last year, I continue to believe that working collaboratively and collegially with the administration is the most effective way to represent our faculty and to serve our University community. The following quote from an article on faculty leadership, provides what I believe is a critically important guide for all faculty engaged in shared governance. The quote: “Pertinacity is a critical value, and the need for change, often not self evident, becomes clear only through repeated contact. Achievement of governance objectives is won less by intensity than by integrity, less by aggressive assault than by concentration prolonged over some time.” There are many opportunities for faculty participation in the critical decisions that will affect our university. I believe the faculty should be represented “at the table” and actively engaged in the decision making at all levels of the University. As chair I will do the best I can to facilitate this engagement.

I am honored to serve as Senate Chair and will do my best to represent the Senate, and all members of the faculty, in a manner that reflects positively on all of us.

Steve Perez
Nominee for Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate

I have been nominated to be the vice chair of the Faculty Senate for the academic year 2003-04. I am honored and excited about being the vice chair next year. This will be my third year as a senator and my second year on the executive committee. I have thoroughly enjoyed my responsibilities as an at-large member of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and welcome the added responsibilities of being the vice chair.

My qualifications include nine years of experience in academics. From 1994-1997, I was an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. From 1997-2001, I was an assistant professor at Washington State University. And I have been an assistant professor of economics here at CSU – Sacramento since 2001. I have enjoyed working here very much and appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the institution through the shared governance role played by the Faculty Senate.

I intend and look forward to fulfilling the responsibilities of a senator in the office of vice chair. As a member of the executive committee, I will continue to serve the Faculty Senate. And as a member of CUP, I look forward to contributing to the decision making process as the institution continues to evolve as a high quality academic university.

Tom Krabacher
Nominee for Chair of the Academic Policies Committee

I write this as a nominee for the position of Academic Policies Committee (APC) chair for the upcoming (2003-2004) academic year. My name was placed in nomination by this year’s Academic Policy Committee (APC) at its meeting on April 4th.

I will bring to the position considerable experience in faculty governance and policy development at CSUS. From 1997-1999, I served as CSUS Faculty Senate chair. More recently, I have been a member of the Academic Policy Committee for the last four years and during the past three years (2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2002-2003) I have served as its chair. During my time on the APC, the Committee has dealt with a number of major issues, among them revision of university grade appeal procedures (which has occupied the committee for close to two years), development of academic readmission procedures, clarification of the university syllabus policy, review of the academic calendar, a consideration of the units students may take while on probation, and –during the current academic year—a comprehensive overhaul of the university’s policies on academic dishonesty. This background means that I already have experience in those areas that are the primary responsibilities of the Committee chair: committee management, service on the Senate Executive Committee, and serving as a member of CUP (Council for University Planning).

If re-elected Committee chair, I will bring continuity to APC leadership. My goal for the upcoming year will be to ensure that the Committee works as an efficient component of the overall faculty governance structure. This means ensuring that business is dealt with promptly and that recommendations are reported out in a timely fashion. Some of the major topics that I see the Committee dealing with during the 2003-2004 academic year are: completion of there view of the university’s academic dishonesty polices, a comprehensive review of those policies that govern enrollment, retention, and academic quality (e.g., enrollment policies, policies in the “academic action” category, etc.), and possibly an consideration of issues related to electronic privacy.

It is a privilege to have been again nominated for the position and I will attempt to carry out its responsibilities as diligently as possible. Thank you for your support.

Ben Amata
Nominee for Chair of the Curriculum Policies Committee

I have been nominated to serve as the Chair of the Curriculum Policies Committee by the CPC.

For the 2002/03 academic year, I served as the Curriculum Policies Committee (CPC) Chair. As such, I have set the committee's agenda and run the meetings, besides serving on various other relevant committees such as the Executive Committee, CUP, etc. Some of the work started this year won't be completed until next academic year.

Before serving as the CPC chair, I was a member of the CPC for 5 years and the liaison to the Curriculum Subcommittee. Serving on these committees has provided me with substantial experience in dealing with the issues that commonly come before them for consideration. During the Spring semester of 2000, I volunteered to serve as the CPC chair while Tom Kando was on sabbatical. At that time, CPC reviewed and updated the Distance Education Policy which was approved by the Senate and the President. We also developed program review questions concerning the issue of diversity that were eventually accepted and incorporated into the program review process.

During that time, I have had considerable experience being the chair of and serving on Library committees, so I have experience in setting agendas, facilitating discussions, and performing the follow up work associated with committee recommendations. Twice I have chaired the Library Faculty, the group of professional librarians who meet once a month to discuss Library problems, budgets and planning issues in order to participate in the shared governance of operating the Library. I have also served on and chaired numerous search committees.

Amy Liu
Nominee for Chair of the Faculty Policies Committee

I am a full-time tenure-track faculty in the Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). I am willing to participate in faculty governance by serving as the Chair of the Faculty Policies Committee (FPC), the Faculty Senate at CSUS. I am well qualified for this position. I have been the Chair of the FPC this year, and an active member of this committee since 1998. I am very familiar with many committee members, and the structures, charges, issues, and operations of this committee, its subcommittees, and working groups. Since I went through tenure and promotion process a year ago, I also understand the needs of faculty, especially the newer faculty on this campus.

The challenges faced by this committee and the Faculty Senate to promote faculty development on this campus are enormous. This is especially true given the current budget situations in California. I intend to work closely with the members of the Faculty Policies Committee, the Faculty Senate, and Administration to identify where the faculty needs are and to explore more development opportunities for faculty on this campus. With the support of the committee members and the Faculty Senate, I hope to continue the excellent work that the past PFC Chairs have done to enhance this committee’s involvement in and influence on the overall Faculty Senate and the campus community.

Jackie Donath
Nominee for Chair of the General Education Policies/Graduation Requirements Committee

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