Professor of law Richard L. Williamson heads a group of newly elected officers to the University of Miami’s Faculty Senate, the entity that plays a critical role in dealing with academic policies, new program and degree approvals, reviews of chairs and deans, and many other matters of collegial concern. Williamson, who joined the School of Law in 1994, has been elected chair.

The other incoming Faculty Senate officers for 2009-2010 include Sherrill H. Hayes, professor and chair of physical therapy at the Miller School of Medicine, who has been elected first vice chair of the senate; and Victoria Mitrani, a professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies, who is the senate’s new second vice chair.

For more information on the Faculty Senate, including its activities, a list of members, and meeting dates, visit www.miami.edu/fs.

All University of Miami faculty are required to complete the annual faculty disclosure form (FDF). To complete the form, log on to your myUM account, click on the “Employee” tab, and select “Payroll, HR, & Misc.”  Under the “Employee Information” section, click on ”Disclosure form.”  You will be brought to the main page of the new FDF. The updated form has simple instructions and is so easy to use that you can finish in minutes. 

The FDF is available until Sunday, May 31, 2009.  Even if you have not performed any outside professional activities, all faculty members are required to complete the FDF in accordance with University policy. In the future, the FDF will be accessible through the fiscal year with an annual May 31 deadline for completion. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 305-243-4054.

Attend the Faculty Senate meeting on Wednesday, April 22, at 3:30 p.m. at the M. Christine Schwartz Center for Nursing and Health Studies, room 106. All faculty members are welcome to attend. Visit the Faculty Senate Web page for more information.

At its meeting on Wednesday, February 25, the Faculty Senate passed the following legislation and President Donna E. Shalala approved:

• Legislation #2008-18(B): Establishment of Educator Faculty at the School of Education
• Legislation #2008-19(B): Amend the Charge of the Tenure Review Board in the Faculty Manual [timing issues]

To find out more about the Faculty Senate, including a list of meeting dates and current senate members, visit www.miami.edu/fs.