Faculty Senate met on April 13 and April 27 virtually. At the April 13, 2021 meeting Nicholas Ambrose from Testing Services provided SOS administration updates and took questions from senators. Newly appointed Interim Director of Testing Services, Melanie Marine, was also introduced. Senators discussed a joint Senate of Academic Staff and Faculty Senate committee proposal regarding changes to GOV 6.1, which defines voting rights for instructional academic staff.  Voting items included APC Forms C, a handbook change form for updates to the LGBTQ+ committee, and a call for nominations to the executive committee. Senators also discussed the UW System online distance education (DE+) proposal as it was presented to the UW System Board of Regents. 

At the April 27, 2021 meeting senators discussed several items that will be on May 11th agenda. These included Handbook changes for the Improvement of Instruction Committee that expand the membership of the committee and clarify its charge and the formation of new university Climate Action Committee. Guest Brad Spanbauer was on hand to answer questions about the new committee as well as a draft Faculty Senate resolution regarding climate neutrality. Senators provided feedback to the joint Senate of Academic Staff and Faculty Senate committee working academic staff voting rights, resolved to extend the trial period for the online SOS procedure, and acted on several APC items. Finally Senators Lancaster, Stuart, & Loewenstein were (re)elected to the executive committee for the 2021-2022 academic year.