Ryan Couch

The discussion centered on the role of universities in bringing talented individuals together to address and solve problems across various disciplines. Key topics included the mission of land-grant universities, emphasizing teaching, research, and service, alongside the importance of accessibility to people outside the university. The conversation also highlighted energy as a vital resource, the need for responsible environmental practices, and the significance of data-driven decision-making. Additionally, the discussion touched on marketing the university's strengths, leveraging sports to promote social responsibility, and the importance of healthcare resources.

The meeting included faculty announcements and achievements, such as publications by faculty members. The Vice President of Academic Affairs provided updates on student enrollment, reminders about cybersecurity training, trunk-or-treat event, mid-term grades, and university closures. There were questions regarding faculty vacancies, workload distribution, short/long-term plans, and the status of the institution. The Chair reported on the Faculty Assembly Committee list, advising for Spring 2025, and methods to speed up the dual-campus registration process. The Senate Report included updates from the Presidential Search Committee, the Provost, eCampus Ultra development, and the Global Career Accelerator service. The Faculty Status Committee revised and reviewed the P&T document. The meeting also covered the approval of the Promotion and Tenure Document, a constitutional amendment, the formation of an ad-hoc committee for WVUe 191, and the Faculty Athletic Representative Position.

The town hall meeting focused on underage drinking, identifying issues, sharing ideas, and hearing from stakeholders and officials. Discussions included the problems associated with high-risk drinking, situating these problems at various levels (university, community, state, and beyond), and brainstorming potential solutions. The meeting also covered the co-creation of knowledge, with experts and stakeholders providing different perspectives.

The meeting included faculty announcements and achievements, such as publications by faculty members. The WVU President was impressed with the faculty achievements. Retirees were honored at the End of Semester Cookout. DFW rates decreased from Fall 2022 to Fall 2024. Commencement will be held Saturday 5/10/25. The ACF discussed SB 474 and academic leadership. The Senate report included the introduction of WVU President Michael Benson and revisions to Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure Guidelines. Spring 2025 Candidates for Graduation were approved. There was a discussion on the Graduate Placement Survey. School Chair will sign Course Overload Petitions. Carter Hall steps will be repaired over the summer. Mary Strife will be retiring. Dr. Barko's last meeting as Faculty Assembly Chair.

The meeting included faculty announcements and achievements, such as the availability of COVID-19 and flu vaccines and recent faculty publications. The Vice President of Academic Affairs welcomed new faculty members, introduced the WVU Tech debit card, updated on Academic Transformation, and announced the upcoming resignation of Dr. Andi Kent. Discussions covered changes in student accommodations, academic integrity violations, and the new early alert process for students. The need for a new ACF representative was noted, and updates were provided on the WV Higher Education Policy Commission Instrumentation and Innovation grant applications. Tarek Farhat was elected to the Academic Awards Committee, and the need for a new Faculty Athletic Representative was discussed. University Relations requested faculty to share announcements of activities and achievements and to update their information on the Tech website. The formation of an Ad Hoc Committee for WVUe 191 was proposed to evaluate the course's effectiveness.