New Faculty Senate members have been elected for the 2012-2013 academic year. Dr. Rodney Ashlock, assistant professor of Bible, will serve as chair for the coming year.

The Faculty Senate serves the university by providing different decision making groups on campus with the perspective of the faculty, said Dr. Rusty Towell, chair and professor of the Department of Engineering and Physics. Towell is the current chair of the Faculty Senate and will serve as past chair next year.

“When the university does something and they would like to have faculty input, one of the easiest ways is for them to contact the senate and ask for help,” Towell said.

The senate meets every two weeks and often works on certain issues at the request of the president or provost to give feedback on things happening at ACU. It also has the ability to take the initiative to pursue an issue that the Faculty Senate members are interested in investigating, Towell said. The cancellation of dead day was an issue brought before this senate.

“That was not a decision made by the faculty senate, but the registrar did come and talk to us,” Towell said. “So, they sought our thoughts and then they went and made that decision.”

Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the Department of Political Science, will be chair elect of the senate. Coates said the heart of the university is the faculty and they are directly involved in curriculum and student issues.

Coates said students should look at the way ACU functions from a different perspective and talk to teachers about issues on campus, whether it is about a speed bump or the cost of tuition.

Coates said the faculty is always happy to be a part of the students’ lives. Faculty share the same recreation center and food court, among other facilities, and hold some of the same issues and concerns as students.

“Students need to realize they have a strong voice in the student government if they use it,” Coates said. “Students Association works with faculty to facilitate good things for everyone.”

Coates said he would like to see the student government and the Faculty Senate work together more in the future, since they serve very similar purposes.

“I view it as an important role because, for ACU to fulfill its mission, the faculty voice needs to be heard in implementing the mission,” Towell said. “So it’s an opportunity to serve.”

Faculty Senate members and officers for the upcoming academic year:

Rodney Ashlock, Bible, missions, and ministry, CBS, Chair (2014)

Neal Coates, political science, CAS Chair-elect (2015)

Rusty Towell, engineering & physics, CAS, Past chair (2013)

Tim Head, engineering & physics, CAS (2015)

Cynthia Roper, communication, CAS (2015)

Matt Dodd, conflict resolution, CAS (2013)

Autumn Sutherlin, chemistry & biochemistry, CAS (2015)

John Ehrke, mathematics, CAS (2014)

Kenneth Pybus, journalism and mass communication, CAS (2014)

Shelly Sanders, english, CAS (2014)

Allen Teel, music, CAS (2014)

Brandon Young, art and design, CAS (2014)

Vic McCracken, Bible, missions, and ministry, CBS (2014)

Jerry Taylor, Bible, missions, and ministry, CBS (2013)

Brad Crisp, management sciences, COBA (2014)

Darryl Jinkerson, management sciences, COBA (2015)

Brenda Bender, communication sciences & disorders, CEHS (2015)

Sheila Delony, teacher education, CEHS (2015)

Joe Bell, kinesiology & nutrition, CEHS (2013)

Shan Martinez, library (2015)

Dan McGregor, art & design, CAS (At-large) (2015)