Faculty Senate Committees 2025-2026
Senate Bylaws 2.1 In order to accomplish the objectives of organizing the Faculty, the Faculty Senate shall be divided into subcommittees. The basic functions of the committees shall be to investigate and make recommendations to the executive leadership of Faculty Senate on matters pertaining to the academic affairs of the University. They may also work with administrators to craft University or Academic Affairs policies, catalog policies, or participate in task forces and initiatives. They may do this on instruction from the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. They shall report to the Faculty Senate and summarize their yearly work in an annual written report. A chair of a standing committee may be recalled as chair by two-thirds vote of the committee membership.
Charge according to Senate Bylaws 2.3: This committee shall appoint members of all committees, standing and ad hoc of the Faculty Senate. It may serve as an ad hoc committee and create and dissolve standing and ad hoc committees within Senate. It may recommend creation or dissolution of University and Academic Affairs standing committees. It shall recommend, when requested, faculty members to serve on ad hoc committees, task forces, and commissions. It shall appoint the Faculty Senate ex officio members for standing University and Academic Affairs committees. It shall regularly meet with the Provost/EVPAA to discuss matters brought forth by Senate Committees and individual Senators. Executive Committee members shall represent the Faculty Senate in meetings with deans, department heads, Staff Council, SGA, and Cabinet, when requested by these groups.
- Faculty Senate President, Dr. Heidi Dempsey (Chair), Psychology
- Faculty Senate Vice President, Dr. David Dempsey, Mathematical, Computing, and Information Sciences (MCIS)
- Faculty Senate Secretary, Dr. Barbie Norvell, Teacher Education
- Faculty Senate Historian, Dr. Wendy Key, Nursing
- Chair, Advocacy Committee, Dr. Kathryn Catlin, Chemistry and Geosciences
- Chair, Elections Committee, Dr. Jeff Zanzig, Finance, Economics, and Accounting
- Chair, Policies and Campus Planning Committee, Dr. Mike Burns, Biology
- Chair, Student Retention Committee, Prof. Courtney Peppers, Psychology
Charge according to Senate Bylaws 2.7: This committee shall notify and work with departments who need to hold elections to elect new Senators, investigate contested elections, solicit the faculty to find members who are willing to serve on university-level committees and forward these names to the Executive Committee, and determine apportionment of Senators among the departments. It shall keep a running list of all faculty members who are appointed to University and Academic Affairs standing committees, solicit preferences from faculty regarding committee preferences, and recommend appointment of faculty members to these committees to the Faculty Senate President.
- CBI Representative, Dr. Jeff Zanzig (Chair), Finance, Economics, and Accounting
- CHPW Representative, Dr. Stacy Mikel, Nursing
- CAHS Arts/Humanities Representative, Dr. Lance Ingwersen, History
- CAHS Math/Science Representative, Dr. David Thornton, Mathematical, Computing, and Information Sciences (MCIS)
- CSBS Representative, Dr. Jody Long, Social Work
- Library Representative, Prof. Allison Boswell
- CEPS Representative, Dr. Diane Best, Career Technical Education and Professional Studies
- Faculty Senate Vice President, ex-officio (voting), Dr. David Dempsey, MCIS
Charge according to Senate Bylaws 2.7: This committee shall notify and work with departments who need to hold elections to elect new Senators, investigate contested elections, solicit the faculty to find members who are willing to serve on university-level committees and forward these names to the Executive Committee, and determine apportionment of Senators among the departments. It shall keep a running list of all faculty members who are appointed to University and Academic Affairs standing committees, solicit preferences from faculty regarding committee preferences, and recommend appointment of faculty members to these committees to the Faculty Senate President.
- CBI Representative, Dr. Jeff Zanzig (Chair), Finance, Economics, and Accounting
- CHPW Representative, Dr. Stacy Mikel, Nursing
- CAHS Arts/Humanities Representative, Dr. Lance Ingwersen, History
- CAHS Math/Science Representative, Dr. David Thornton, Mathematical, Computing, and Information Sciences (MCIS)
- CSBS Representative, Dr. Jody Long, Social Work
- Library Representative, Prof. Allison Boswell
- CEPS Representative, Dr. Diane Best, Career Technical Education and Professional Studies
- Faculty Senate Vice President, ex-officio (voting), Dr. David Dempsey, MCIS
Charge according to Senate Bylaws 2.6: This committee shall review and provide recommendations for additions and revisions to the JSU Policies and Procedures Manual. Additionally, they will consider proposals and provide recommendations regarding the development and expansion of the university, such as outlined in the campus master plan and strategic plan, to include consideration of space needs and utilization, building of new buildings, parking, budgetary requirements, and expanded degree offerings.
- Dr. Mike Burns (Chair), Biology
- Dr. Yajun Lu, Management and Marketing
- Prof. Chris Hosmer, Music
- Dr. Leah Simmons, Criminal Justice
- Dr. Ashley Rattner, English
- Eddie Walker, Military Science
- Faculty Senate Vice President, ex-officio (voting), Dr. David Dempsey, MCIS
Charge according to Senate Bylaws 2.5: This committee shall review and provide recommendations for additions and revisions to policies and procedures pertaining to students as they progress through their academic career, including those housed in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs. Such policies and procedures include, but are not limited to, admission and retention of students, academic standing requirements, graduation requirements, class attendance and absence regulations, student advising, academic forgiveness, credit for prior learning, faculty mentoring of students, student mental and physical health services, and student safety. This committee shall serve as a liaison to Student Success and Academic and Career Advising.
- Prof. Courtney Peppers, Chair, Psychology
- Dr. Maureen McGuire, Art and Design
- Prof. Andres Crawley, Respiratory Therapy
- Dr. Kimberly Southwick-Thompson, English
- Dr. Chris Clark, Kinesiology
- Dr. Noureddine Bekhouche, Applied Engineering
- Faculty Senate Vice President, ex-officio (voting), Dr. David Dempsey, MCIS
Charge: To (1) collect departmental tenure and promotion guidelines into a central repository; (2) provide guidance and assistance to departmental committees who are developing/revising departmental guidelines; (3) to investigate how departments are using Digital Measures in FARs and tenure/promotion; and (4) to investigate and make recommendations for a method by which JSU can move to digital portfolios for tenure and promotion (either through Digital Measures or another method).
- Barbie Norvell (Chair), Teacher Education
- Kazi Rahman, Mathematical, Computing, and Information Sciences (MCIS)
- Randal Blades, Theatre and Film
- Patrick McGrail, Communication
- Laura Barrow, Nursing
- Chan Wang, Emergency Management
- David Dempsey, MCIS
- Mica Mecham, Director of Faculty Commons
Charge: To make recommendations to changes to the Faculty Senate bylaws to reflect shared governance processes and ensure that the bylaws reflect the current workings of the Faculty Senate.
- Heidi Dempsey (Chair), Psychology
- Randal Blades, Theatre and Film
- Allison Boswell, Library
- Patrick McGrail
- Jeff Dodd, MCIS
- David Dempsey, MCIS
- Christie Shelton, Provost/EVPAA
