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News

New leader takes executive office

Increased University support for guest lectures, research, travel top president's agenda for 2007

by KELSIE HAHN
The Daily Cougar

The Faculty Senate saw a changing of the guard Wednesday as the 2007 Faculty Senate president officially took his new post. 

Sociology professor Joseph Kotarba said he plans to foster research and scholarship activity among faculty, work closely with the Athletics Department and encourage excellence among the University's faculty.

"The major theme of my presidency will be the enhancement of the rule and identity of ‘the professor,'" he said. 

Kotarba said he believes in preserving the honor of the title. 

Provost Donald Foss compiled a report last year showing the UH faculty is moving in the right direction as far as the publication of scholarly material goes, Kotarba said, and he wants to continue in this vein throughout his term.

"We will work hard this year to increase institutional support for travel to professional meetings, short-term research support, summer research support, guest lecturers and other professional activities," he said.

Kotarba said he will also rely on the experience of his six years as a senator and that of other leaders in the Senate.

Economics professor Steven Craig, 2006 Faculty Senate president, gave his farewell address as he stepped down from the office, outlining progress made in clarifying Senate objectives. collecting data for decision making,

Craig specifically noted a Senate task force requested a scholarship report on the amount of research and scholarly works being produced by UH faculty and communicated with the Student Government Association on meeting textbook deadlines.

The Senate also fielded concerns from faculty not part of the Senate body, a development Craig saw as an encouraging sign of increased trust in the Senate.

"That people viewed the Senate as the right group in which to raise these concerns is gratifying, and points the Faculty Senate in the right direction. That we responded shows their faith is well founded," he said.

Craig also encouraged the Senate to continue developing close ties with other bodies on campus.

"UH is on the cusp of an amazing transformation into a serious research university," he said. "The city of Houston desperately needs us to be successful as it prepares for this new century."

The Senate's Budget and Facilities Committee, the Committee on Committees, the Educational Policies and Student Affairs Committee, the Faculty Affairs Committee, and the Scholarship and Community Committee also presented end of the year reports. Issues addressed through the year included a push for more efficient faculty salary data collection, efforts to improve UH admissions, orientation and retention, and a new UH mission statement.

Foss and UH President Jay Gogue also gave end of the year reports. 

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