Courtesy of Jackson State University
The Jackson State University Faculty Senate held its annual appreciation lunch on May 2 at the Walter Payton Center. During the celebration the group installed officers, celebrated academic excellence and the accomplishments of the university’s athletic teams, and heard remarks from the JSU president and provost.
“It’s our tradition to end the year with a luncheon to install officers and applaud the work of our Faculty Senate members and others across campus,” said Dawn Bishop McLin, Ph.D., president of the Faculty Senate. “This year, we chose to honor some of JSU’s coaches because of the stellar accomplishments of their teams.”
Installed as Faculty Senate officers were McLin, president; Sophia Leggett, Ph.D., vice president; Don Spann, treasurer; Andre Hines, Ph.D., secretary; Kay Sly, Ph.D., sergeant at arms; and Carolyn. B. Howard, Ph.D., parliamentarian. Okechuckwu D. Anyamele, Ph.D., is the past president.
Certificates were presented to each Faculty Senate member in appreciation of their service. Resolutions were given to the coaches of the football team, the women’s basketball team, the women’s tennis team, the volleyball team and the men’s cross country team, each of which led their respective team to earn a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.
JSU President Thomas Hudson, J.D., and Provost and Vice President Alisa Mosley, Ph.D., commended the senators for their service as well as the coaches.
Having President Hudson and Provost Mosley take time out of their busy schedules to attend and make comments added value to the event, said Spann.
He said faculty members look forward to the luncheon because it gives them an opportunity to spend time in fellowship with each other and this year that was especially true since the global COVID-19 pandemic has prevented such in the previous two years.
Composed of representatives elected from academic departments and at large, the Faculty Senate is a deliberative body that provides official representation for all faculty members of the University in matters that affect the general welfare of the University and its educational purposes and effectiveness.
The Faculty Senate considers proposals from students, alumni, teaching faculty, academic departments and administrative units, and provides consultative services to the president of the University by considering all matters referred to it by the president of the University. Additionally, the group serves as an instrument by which information of university-wide interest and concern may be freely collected, disseminated and discussed by members of the faculty and students.
The Faculty Senate also serves as a means of review and recommendation on other actions regarding professional ethics, encourages the intellectual growth and development of faculty members, promotes the material well-being of the faculty members and students and strives to improve communications between the faculty and administration.
In addition, the Faculty Senate considers all matters of academic policy and non-academic matters affecting the professional status and performance of the faculty.
