Oregon State University Faculty Senate
Meeting of the Faculty Senate
April 16, 2026
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Memorial Union, Rm13 and Zoom
MINUTES
A recording of the meeting is available here.
Senators Present:
- Agricultural Sciences: Bishop (remote), Creason (remote), Ellsworth, Ghajar, Gwin (remote), Scott Heppell, Selina Heppell, Hooven, Jones (remote), Langellotto (remote), Moore (remote), Velez, Ward, Young (remote), Zambrano
- Associated Faculty: Aguiar, Alapisco (remote), Betjemann, Bird (remote), Buck (remote), Elmshaeuser (remote), White Eyes (remote), Jessica Beck (v. Fleury) (remote), Hansen (remote), Jacob Mastel (v. Hayes) (remote), Katherine McAlvage (v. McCarley), Merrell (remote), Ramos (remote), Riggs (remote), Rooney (remote), Schaffer (remote), Seton (remote), Shaw, Signs, Watte
- Business: Baldridge (remote), Kalodimos (remote), Morris, Rees (remote), Taplin
- Cascades: Adoretti (remote), Brauner (remote), Orr (remote), Smith (remote)
- Earth, Ocean, & Atmospheric Sciences: Creveling, Dever, Phil Mote (v. Eidam), Yvette Spitz (v. Fram), de Silva
- Education: Dykeman (remote), Potter (remote)
- Engineering: Apte, Auyeung, Conley Jr. (remote), Johnston (remote), Jovanovic (remote), King (remote), Lavelle (remote), Moon (remote), Redfield (remote), Santala, Scheel, Tadepalli (remote)
- Extension: Arispe (remote), Davis (remote), Riggs (remote), Tanner (remote)
- Forestry: Hatten (remote), Powers (remote), Robinson (remote), Warren (remote)
- Hatfield Marine Science Center: Reed (remote)
- Health: Bovbjerg (remote), Branscum (remote), Gunter (remote), Kile, McGraw (remote), Newsome= (remote), Riportella
- Liberal Arts: Boovy (remote), Bernardin, Cramer (remote), Long (remote), Maes (remote), Maldonado (remote), Mize (remote), Shay (remote), Tam Ward (v. Sullivan-Vance), Zapata (remote)
- Library: Margaret Mellinger (v. Hussong-Christian)
- Pharmacy: Suchy (remote)
- ROTC: Field (remote)
- Science: Bob Mason (v. Burand) (remote), Cheong (remote), Clark (remote), Cozzi (remote), Escher (remote), James, Kerish, Kirk (remote), Minot (remote), Olarra, Quick (remote), Root, Walsh
- Student Affairs: Baxter (remote), Castro (remote), Douglas, Garry (remote), Mott
- Veterinary Medicine: Scollan (remote), Tanenbaum (remote)
Senators Absent:
- Agricultural Sciences: Elliott
- Associated Faculty: Burns
- Business: Hall, Leavitt
- Cascades: No senators absent
- Earth, Ocean, & Atmospheric Sciences: Engels
- Education: No senators absent
- Engineering: Bobba, Fischer, Mills, Simon
- Extension: Jones
- Forestry: Panwar
- Hatfield Marine Science Center: No senators absent
- Health: No senators absent
- Liberal Arts: Becker-Blease, Detar, Gurung, Plaza, Yates-Doerr
- Library: No senators absent
- Pharmacy: No senators absent
- ROTC: No senators absent
- Science: No senators absent
- Student Affairs: Flores, Smith
- Veterinary Medicine: Hall
Ex-Officio members present: Castillo, Haggerty (remote), Halsey (remote), Hamblin, Hansen (remote), MacDonald, Valls, Zardinejad (remote)
Non-Voting members present: Beachley, Palmer (remote)
Staff: Caitlin Calascibetta, Susie Sprinson
Guests: Mike Bailey (remote), Zack Barnett (remote), Brian Baugh (remote), Stephanie Baugh, Vrushali Bokil (remote), Colin Bowyer (remote), Gigi Bruce (remote), Nya Buckner (remote), Gina Cavanaugh (remote), Gloria Crisp (remote), Sara Daly (remote), Marcia Lynn Dickson (remote), Kelsey Emard, Susan Gardner (remote), Mendy Gayler (remote), Alix Gitelman (remote), Polly Harrell (remote), Kirsten Hextrum (remote), Ashley Holmes, McKenzie Huber, Nadia Jaramillo (remote), Laurel Kincl (remote), Kendon Kurzer, Sarah Kolesar (remote), Kyung-Shin Suh (remote), Brenda Langley (remote), Jan Lewis (remote), Shannon Lewis (remote), Scott Liv (remote), Sam Logan (remote), Romeo Lopez Gonzalez (remote), Rebecca Mathern, Whitney McFarlan (remote), Meg Mobley (remote), Elisa Monaco (remote), Janice Nave-Abele (remote), Bach Mai Dolly Nguyen (remote), Rob Odom (remote), Tuba Ozkan-Haller (remote), Emily (remote), Amy Riley (remote), Melanie Dawn Rose (remote), Carolyn Rothwell (remote), Robbin Sim (remote), Caryn Stoessm Amy Thomson (remote), Zuzana Thomson (remote), Zach Walter (remote), Sandra Wang (remote), Samuel Williams (remote), Sieuw Sun Wong (remote)
Welcome and Remarks from Faculty Senate President
Faculty Senate (FS) President Jacob Hamblin called the meeting to order. He provided an overview of the meeting agenda and reminded faculty that they have the opportunity to volunteer for Faculty Senate and University committees via the Committee Interest Form. He also provided an update on the efforts of the Institutional Policy and Procedures for Program Reorganization or Elimination (IPPPRE) Review Subcommittee. President Hamblin shared the composition of the IPPPRE Review Subcommittee. He explained that the Faculty Senate will vote on any revisions to the policy. The subcommittee's work will likely continue into AY 2026-2027.
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) Learning Outcome, Criteria, and Rationale (LOCR)
Kendon Kurzer, WIC Director, and Kelsey Emard, Co-Chair of the Core Education Committee, introduced a draft of the WIC LOCR. They explained that because OSU’s new Core Education has been successfully launched, WIC requires updates to align to the Core Education framework and modern disciplinary writing norms. Additionally, they hope to make WIC more accessible from an institutional perspective, and more navigable for instructors and the Core Education Committee (CEC). Kendon provided an overview of key changes to the learning outcomes and criteria, as well as the timeline for implementation.
Senator KC Walsh (Science) asked about guidelines regarding AI for students and instructors. Kendon explained that there are ways to use AI that do not circumvent the writing and learning process. Kendon noted that instructors have the option to support AI use based on disciplinary norms. Senator Katie Shaw (Associated Faculty) asked about university-approved training for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). Kendon explained that GTA training would be determined in conversation with the graduate student union. Senator Matt Powers (Forestry) asked for additional information on updated criteria 4. He stated that it felt more prescriptive and inconsistent with the broader objective of offering WIC courses that are structured around discipline-specific writing expectations and norms. Kendon explained that that the writing requirements are less prescriptive, allow for more flexibility, and leave word count decisions to the instructor’s discretion. Senator Christine Escher (Science) asked for additional information on instructor training. Kendon explained that the current seminar is 10 hours per quarter, meeting 5 times for two hours each. Instructors are compensated $500.
Administrative Modernization Project (AMP) Update
Tim Carroll and Bob Mason, members of the AMP Steering Committee, provided an update on the Administrative Modernization Project. They explained that AMP remains on schedule and on budget. They are in the process of collecting feedback from users through a user experience review process. They explained the timeline for launch and cutover, explaining that in June 2026 units can expect temporary system outages, with limited outages continuing into July 2026. They noted that some administrative activities required earlier planning and completion starting in March 2026. They emphasized that academic processes will not be paused in June, including summer hiring for Academic and Graduate Assistants.
Senator Selina Heppell (Agricultural Sciences) expressed concern that Workday will have limited flexibility and asked for additional information on training and support. Heather Riney, Executive Director of AMP, reassured Senator Heppell that there will be go-live events, information sessions, training documents, and help to support faculty during the transition. Heather explained that the service desk will also be available if faculty need to reach out to someone directly. Other senators voiced excitement for changes that will result from AMP.
Accreditation Site Visit Re-Cap
Rebecca Mathern, University Registrar, provided a re-cap of the Accreditation Site visit. She thanked everyone for their participation and engagement during the process and explained that the visit went very well. OSU received 7 commendations and 2 recommendations during the exit meeting. OSU will not take action on the recommendations until the detailed report is received from NWCCU in summer 2026.
Action Item: Curricular Proposals
Kaplan Yalcin presented four proposals for Faculty Senate consideration:
- Transferring College Student Services Administration (CSSA) programs from the College of Liberal (CLA) Arts to the College of Education (CoEd)
- 161 - College Student Services Administration Graduate Major (EdM, MS)
- 669 - College Student Services Administration Graduate Certificate
- 948 - Ocean Technology Certificate (Undergraduate)
- 951 - Early Childhood Leadership, Policy, and Practice Undergraduate Major (BA, HBA, BS, HBS)
Senators asked for additional information on the CSSA program college change. Gloria Crisp, Associate Dean and Professor of Adult and Higher Education, explained that the CSSA program was originally moved to CLA ten years ago, and is now being moved back to CoEd. Gloria explained that CoEd is well-positioned to manage the CSSA program. Gloria explained that there is minimal expected financial impact to CLA from the re-organization, and the currently enrolled students will be supported and taught out. Kirsten Hextrum, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the CSSA Program, explained that her position will move to CoEd, and two instructors in CLA are not moving to CoEd. Senator Allee Newton-Garry (Student Affairs) asked about the differences between the CSSA program and the Adult Higher Education (AHE) program now that they are housed in the same college. It was clarified that the AHE programs are currently structured to focus on instructional design, as well as on human resource and workforce learning, not just higher education.
Motion to approve curricular proposal 161: College Student Services Administration Graduate Major (EdM, MS). The motion passed with 92 votes in favor, 4 votes in opposition, and 3 abstentions.
Motion to approve curricular proposal 669: College Student Services Administration Graduate Certificate. The motion passed with 94 votes in favor, 4 votes in opposition, and 1 abstention.
Motion to approve curricular proposal 948: Ocean Technology Certificate. The motion passed with 96 votes in favor, 1 vote in opposition, and 2 abstentions.
Motion to approve curricular proposal 951: Early Childhood Leadership, Policy, and Practice Undergraduate Major (Ba, HBA, BS, HBS). The motion passed with 92 votes in favor, 2 votes in opposition, and 5 abstentions.
Strategic Resource Renewal (SRR) Update
Faculty Senate President Jacob Hamblin provided an update on the Strategic Resource Renewal, explaining the work that McKinsey has completed in Phase I. During Phase I, they primarily identified areas where the university can reduce external costs. Phase II will involve engaging with the community to design solutions and projects to generate additional ideas to generate income for OSU. Opportunities for engagement include town halls, ideation sessions, and continued updates to the Faculty Senate. Senator John Morris, (Business) asked if Phase I had generated an analysis of the university’s current state. Provost Roy Haggerty stated that the university had significant capability to gain revenue and to reduce external costs.
New Business
Senator Jen Olarra (Science) raised concerns from faculty in her unit over the announced closure of Beaver Beginnings. She explained that a number of faculty on campus have children enrolled at Beaver Beginnings and are struggling to find alternatives. President Hamblin acknowledged that he has recently been made aware of the closure and is working to gather additional information. He noted that there is a frequently asked questions website available to those who have questions.
Adjournment
With no further discussion or business before the FS, President Hamblin adjourned the meeting.