Archives and Special Collections
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Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

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Collection Overview
Title: Faculty Senate records
Dates:1940-1997 (bulk 1961-1993)
Location:29/2
Call Number:A35
Volume:5.90 cubic ft. (18 boxes)
Scope and Content Note:The bulk of the collection spans 1960-1993 and documents the operations of the Northeastern University Faculty Senate and its committees. The collection includes agendas, minutes, correspondence, newsletters, membership lists, reports, and resolutions. Of particular interest are the annual reports tracing the changing nature and focus of the Faculty Senate. Also included are petitions signed by faculty members in 1979 supporting freedom of speech for invited guests of Northeastern University.
Historical Abstract:Northeastern University's Faculty Senate was formed in 1961 by President Asa S. Knowles as an advisory and review body that would involve the faculty in administering the university. The Faculty Senate originally consisted of 24 faculty members representing the academic colleges, the provost, and seven members of the administrative faculty appointed by the president. The provost serves as chair. The Faculty Senate initially included three standing committees: Agenda, Academic and Research Policy, and Faculty Policy. The current standing committees are: Agenda, Academic Policy, Admissions Policy, Faculty Development, and Financial Aid. The Senate Agenda Committee serves as an executive council, and its chair is Vice-Chairman of the Senate. In its early years, the Faculty Senate focused on determining its own structure and reviewing tenure, sabbaticals, and faculty benefits. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, it played a role in mediating conflicts on campus between students and the administration. By the mid-1970s, its focus had returned to faculty working conditions. In 1993, it concentrated its efforts on strategic planning for Northeastern University.
Arrangement:Organized into 3 series: 1. Faculty Senate; 2. Committees; and 3. Subject Files.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Faculty Senate.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.)--Faculty.
Restrictions:Records are closed for 25 years from their date of creation, unless researchers have written permission from the creating office. Personnel files (grievances in box 16) are closed for 75 years.
Processor:Finding aid prepared by Alison Brown, September 1999

Historical Note

The Faculty Senate was formed in 1961 by President Asa S. Knowles as an advisory and review body to provide the faculty with involvement in the university's administration. The Senate originally consisted of 24 (now 30) faculty members proportionately representing the academic colleges, the provost, and seven members of the administrative faculty appointed by the president.  The Provost serves as chair.  The Faculty Senate initially included three standing committees: Agenda, Academic and Research Policy, and Faculty Policy. The Senate Agenda Committee served as an executive council and its chair was Vice-Chairman of the Senate.  The current standing committees are Agenda, Academic Policy, Admissions Policy, Faculty Development and Financial Affairs. 

In its early years, the Faculty Senate focused on determining its own structure and reviewing tenure, sabbaticals, and benefits.  In 1965 Knowles sent a proposal to establish the College of Criminal Justice to the Senate for its approval.  This marked the first time the Senate became involved in approving a degree-granting program, a task that would become a central responsibility of the Faculty Senate.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Faculty Senate played a role in mediating conflicts on campus between students and the administration, seeking ways of keeping the atmosphere of the campus peaceful.  In January 1970, S.I. Hayakawa, then President of San Francisco State College, came to Northeastern to speak.  Several student groups protested Hayakawa's appearance, accusing him of racism.  The event led to a confrontation between students and Boston Police.  In the wake of this, the Faculty Senate distributed a petition asking faculty members to affirm the rights of any speaker, regardless of his or her views, to speak on campus if invited by a legitimate student, faculty or administrative organization.  The petition was signed and returned by many faculty members and led to the passage of a senate resolution assuring freedom of speech for guests to the university.

By the mid-1970s, the focus of the Senate had returned to working conditions of the faculty.  In 1978 a report by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges found that the Senate was "focused too narrowly on faculty benefits and prerogatives, and not enough on academic standards, curriculum coordination and development and critical reviews of old and new programs."  The Senate took the criticism seriously.  While it continued to support issues regarding faculty working conditions, such as the professional travel allowance policy approved in 1979, it focused on academic issues.  It formed the Library Operations Committee in 1978 to put pressure on administration for a new library.  The Senate became involved in the debate regarding the merger of Boston Bouvé‚ and the College of Education.  It participated in searches for new deans of the colleges of nursing, and arts and sciences and the search for a new university president in 1988.  Between 1984 and 1989, the Faculty Senate approved five new graduate level programs, including two doctoral programs.  In 1989 the New England Association of Schools and Colleges once again issued a report on the Faculty Senate, this time noting "a marked increase in faculty participation in virtually all aspects of university life" and concluding that "the senate [sic] seeks to address all academic issues today."

The 1982-1983 academic year, however, saw a breakdown in the operations of the Faculty Senate. A conflict developed between the Senate Agenda Committee Chairman, Samuel Bernstein, the Provost and Senate Faculty Chairman, Melvin Mark, and the members of the Senate Agenda Committee.  Because of the conflict, several meetings of the Senate focused on parliamentary procedure with little being accomplished.  The Senate, however, was able to recover a collegial atmosphere over the next few years and once again concentrate on the business of the university.

In 1993 the Senate concentrated its efforts on the university's Strategic Plan.  The plan was approved by the Senate in December and approved by the faculty on February 7, 1994.  The plan included new guidelines for tenure, promotion, and salaries for faculty.
Chronology
1960Knowles appoints subcommittee to examine feasibility of Faculty Senate.
1961Faculty Senate first meeting with 32 members.
1962Senate accepts first University sabbatical policy.
1965Knowles sends proposal for College of Criminal Justice for Senate approval.
1965Elected membership increased to 30.  Administrative appointments increased to 10.
1967Committee on Faculty Policy divided into Committee on Faculty Development and Committee on Faculty Grievances and Appeals.
1969Senate establishes an ad-hoc committee to be consulted by the administration to respond to student demonstrations.  Senate resolves to support Vietnam Moratorium Day by declaring the University closed October 15, 1969.  President Knowles rejects the resolution.
1970Faculty Agenda Committee recommends full faculty meeting to discuss the student strike.  The faculty vote (377 to 229) to suspend normal academic activities indefinitely.
1972Members of the Senate Agenda Committee negotiate with protestors who have taken control of the Bursar's office.  The situation ends peacefully and is the last demonstration on campus of the era.
1972Dr. Irene A. Nichols elected the first woman chair of the Senate Agenda Committee.
1973Senate approves a final definition of "faculty" to be used in the Faculty Handbook.
1975By-laws altered to require the University president to meet with the Senate Agenda Committee at least quarterly and the full Senate at least annually.
1978Library Operations Committee formed.
1979After functioning as an ad-hoc committee for four years, the Financial Affairs Committee becomes a standing committee to provide a faculty voice in the University budget process. Admissions Policy Committee becomes fourth standing committee.
1980Senate establishes new grievance and tenure policies.
1993Senate approves the Strategic Plan.
Chronology of Chairmen of Senate Agenda Committee by Year of Election
1961Donald Pitkin
1962Gregg Wilfong
1963David W. Barkley
1964Sidney Herman
1965-1966Ralph A. Troupe
1967Frank F. Lee
1968Wesley W. Marple, Jr. 
1969Joseph H. Wellbank
1970Arvin Grabel
1971Spencer Rochefort
1972Irene Nichols
1973Robert L. Cord
1974Robert G. Finkenaur
1975Suzanne B. Greenberg
1976Norbert L. Fullington
1977Robert D. Klein (term completed by Robert P. Lowndes)
1978-1979Robert P. Lowndes
1980Frank F. Lee
1981Charles H. Ellis, Jr.
1982Samuel J. Bernstein
1983-1984Charles H. Ellis, Jr.
1985Maurice E. Gilmore
1986Joseph Meier
1987-1988William L. Faissler
1989-1990Wesley W. Marple, Jr.
1991Richard A. Daynard
1992Stuart S. Peterfreund
1993Sharon M. McKinnon
1994-1995Arvin Grabel
1996-1997Holbrook C. Robinson
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Series:
1. Faculty Senate, 1960-1997
Volume:3.90 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical by subject
Summary:

This series documents the operations of the Faculty Senate.  The collection includes agendas, minutes, correspondence, membership lists, newsletters, reports, and resolutions.  Agendas and Minutes, and Resolutions are organized by academic year.  Correspondence includes letters and memoranda between members of the Faculty Senate, the Senate and university presidents, the Senate and the faculty, and other individuals and the Senate.
BoxTitleDate
1-5, 18Agendas and Minutes (45 folders)1961-1997
6Ballots and Surveys1969-1991
6Bylaws1960-1990
6Correspondence (7 folders)1962-1996
6Faculty Meeting Minutes1940
7Membership1961-1996
7Newsletters1969-1980
7Petitions1971
7Reports (4 folders)1961-1991
7Resolution Index1961-1973, 1979-1990
7-11Resolutions (41 folders)1962-1995
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Series:
2. Committees, 1961-1997
Volume:1.75 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical by committee name
Summary:

This series documents the operations of the standing and ad-hoc committees of the Faculty Senate.  The collection includes agendas and minutes, appointment lists, correspondence, and reports.  Financial Affairs includes material from both the original ad-hoc committee and the later standing committee.  Ad-hoc committees are organized alphabetically by name of committee.  These committees reviewed issues related to all aspects of university life from academic programs and the university calendar to parking.  Of the 78 ad-hoc committees represented in the collection, nearly 30 relate to faculty working conditions - grievance, tenure, and sabbatical polices; appointments; benefits; and faculty participation in university governance.  Selection Committees were formed to name department chairs, deans, the Provost, and the University President, and these files are organized alphabetically by the title of the position being filled.  The Faculty Senate Vice-Chairman has the responsibility of naming members to non-Senate committees (e.g., Orientation, Founder's Day, Northeastern University Editorial Board) and materials related to this function have been included in Non-Senate Committees. 
BoxTitleDate
Academic Policy
12Agendas and Minutes1961-1980
12Appointments1962, 1979-1994
12Charge to Committee1969, 1979-1994
12Correspondence1964-1994
12Reports (4 folders)1962-1996
12-15Ad-Hoc Committees (79 folders)1956-1995
Admissions Policy
15Appointments1979-1994
15Change to Committee1979-1994
15Correspondence1979-1991
15Reports (2 folders)1980-1994
15Committee Lists1968-1992
Faculty Development
15-16General (3 folders)1966-1994
16Grievance and Appeals1966-1991
16Policy1961-1965
Financial Affairs
16Agendas and Minutes1987-1996
16Appointments1979-1992
16Charge to the Committee1973-1993
16Correspondence (2 folders)1973-1994
16Reports (3 folders)1973-1991
17Non-Senate Committees (14 folders)1968-1997
17Search Committees (34 folders)1968-1995
Senate Agenda Committee
17Agendas and Minutes1968-1992
17Correspondence1965-1994
17Membership1968-1995
17Reports1970-1987
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Series:
3. Subject Files, 1966-1992
Volume:0.25 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical by subject
Summary:

The subject files are not official records of the Faculty Senate or its committees.  It is material received by the Senate office and related to issues important to the faculty.  The series include a contract, correspondence, newsletters, reports, and resolutions.  The majority of the material relates to the fight for a faculty union in the mid-1970s.  The Persico Contract is an agreement between the university and a Harvard University doctoral candidate to study the operations of the Faculty Senate as a means of faculty participation in university governance.
BoxTitleDate
17American Association of University Professors1966-1974
17Northeastern University Faculty Organization1973-1976
17Ombudsperson1991-1992
17Persico Contract1984-1985
17Strike Central/Communiversity1970(?)
17Student Strike1970
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