Faculty Senate hears updates on neighborhoods, emeriti, and more

The Faculty Senate heard updates on admissions, athletics, residential education, and the university’s emeriti, among other topics, in a packed agenda during the first meeting of the 2023-24 academic year on Thursday.

The year promises rich discussions and debates, said Faculty Senate Chair Mary Beth Mudgett, senior associate dean for the natural sciences and a professor of biology in the School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S). “I’m really looking forward to working with all of you to bring the views and the interests of our faculty to bear on the governance of our university,” she said.

President Richard Saller addressed the senate for the first time since stepping into the position on Sept. 1 and said he expects to continue the university’s Long-Range Vision as the presidential search committee looks for the university’s 13th president.

Saller discussed the university’s plans to join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) next fall following the departure of multiple other universities from the Pac-12, noting that the university is working to understand and mitigate the impact on the education of student athletes and on university finances. “We have a fundamental commitment to our outstanding student athletes to provide for competition at the highest level,” he said.

Richard Taylor, the Barbara Kimball Browning Professor and professor of mathematics in H&S, asked how athletics will be impacted by a reduction in revenue as a result of joining the ACC.

It’s expected that a budget deficit in Stanford Athletics will increase by $25 million in the first year of the transition from the Pac-12 to the ACC, Saller said, and that will come out of the Office of the President’s discretionary funds. However, revenue stemming from a 40% increase in the university’s endowment two years ago will help cover that deficit, he explained, and it is not expected that there will be any reduction in the amount of president’s discretionary funds that historically have been available to fund other institutional priorities. University general funds will not be needed to address the deficit, he said.

Provost Jenny Martinez provided an update on admissions following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that upended the long-standing practice of race-conscious university admissions. Martinez, former dean of the law school, started as provost Oct. 1.

Among other issues this year, Martinez said she looks forward to working with the new union representing graduate students as they negotiate their union contract; continuing to explore issues around student life, particularly mental health; and continuing to make progress on the university’s IDEAL initiative – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in a Learning Environment.

Martinez also announced the search committee for the new dean of the law school.

Creating community

In 2021, Stanford launched a residential neighborhood system to address concerns about the previous model – such as how the draw disrupted communities since it virtually ensured students would change housing each year. The neighborhood model allows for students to have continuity to live and learn together, form inclusive communities of belonging, and achieve intellectual and personal growth, said Elaine Treharne, senior associate vice provost for undergraduate education and the Roberta Bowman Denning Professor and professor of English in H&S.

To best address students’ needs and resolve pain points surfaced during the initial years of the implementation of the neighborhood system, former Provost Persis Drell created the Neighborhoods Task Force to recommend changes to housing assignments, neighborhood reassignments, the configuration of neighborhood buildings, and more, said Susie Brubaker-Cole, vice provost for student affairs (VPSA).

As part of this process, the VPSA office is gathering feedback about the neighborhoods from students, alumni, faculty, staff, resident fellows, and professional staff in the residences. By the end of the fall quarter, the task force is expected to make recommendations that will be implemented in 2024.

Mehran Sahami, the James and Ellenor Chesebrough Professor in the School of Engineering and professor of computer science, wondered out loud what occurred over the last 30 years since he was a Stanford resident advisor and fellow to result in a “dramatic change” in how students view housing and community on campus.

“I never, for those 10 years that I was in the undergrad dorm, heard the kind of vitriol directed toward our housing systems I have consistently from students now,” Sahami said.

Brubaker-Cole responded that there are many factors at play. For example, more students nationwide are reporting fewer friendships and more loneliness than in years past. Implementation of the neighborhood system won’t solve this complicated issue, she said, and it may have even contributed to some problems because the model is still taking shape.

But she reiterated her hope for the future. “I will express again my optimism, based on the really excellent research that’s gone into informing the task force and on the engagement of the members, that we’re going to create really positive change,” Brubaker-Cole said.

Senate Vice Chair Grant Parker, associate professor of classics, asked what more can faculty do to support students’ experiences.

Treharne suggested meeting students for coffee, having mixers, or taking students to dinner or to local attractions. “This is not about faculty friendliness, or accessibility,” she added. “Really, we want to reach those students who otherwise don’t feel confident or have the ability to form the kind of professional relationships with faculty that really can have an impact on the whole of the rest of their lives, but certainly their careers at Stanford.”

Toward this end, the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education has launched the Academic-Residential Co-Curriculum (ARC), an experiential program connecting students with faculty and academic staff.

“As faculty, you’ll be able to reach them in ways that others can’t, to fully connect what they’re learning in the classrooms with other mentoring and shared experience outside of the classroom,” Treharne said.

Interested faculty can fill out the ARC Grant Interest Form for more information or apply for a Nexus Departmental Grant – a program supported and funded by ARC – to help build a co-curriculum supporting sustainable connections between faculty and students.

Emeriti

Stanford can make changes to better take advantage of its talented emeriti who largely would like to remain active at the university, said Iris F. Litt, chair of the Emeriti/ae Council and associate dean for senior and retired faculty at the School of Medicine.

The structure of the university’s three-tier professoriate was codified in 1904 when there were no emeriti, and it should be updated to address the needs and offerings of around 800 emeriti whose longevity has significantly increased in the 100 years since, explained Litt, who is also co-director of the Stanford Center on Longevity and the Marron and Mary Elizabeth Kendrik Professor in Pediatrics, Emerita.

This fall, the School of Medicine and its Office of Academic Affairs are launching the Academy for Retired Faculty, Litt said, which will engage retired faculty in ways that benefit trainees, patients, and the institution while supporting senior and retired faculty’s professional fulfillment.

Gavin Jones, the Frederick P. Rehmus Family Professor in Humanities and professor of English, asked if there are guidelines on how departments can better incorporate emeriti. Litt replied that a workshop is being held on how to do so for chairs in the medical school, and similar workshops could be implemented in other schools.

“Once they’re made aware of the issue and realize that it’s a win-win to involve [emeriti] in departmental activities, there’s really been a lot of receptivity,” Litt added.

Faculty can visit the Emeriti/ae Council’s webpage for more information about how to advocate for meaningful inclusion of emeriti in their departments.

In memory

Senators heard a memorial resolution for Walter G. Vincenti, professor emeritus of aeronautics and astronautics, who died Oct. 11, 2019, at the age of 102.