The University of Michigan Senate Assembly convened at the Alexander G. Ruthven Building on Monday to address a broad agenda, ranging from updates to clinical faculty promotion standards to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the classroom.
Revisions to Clinical Faculty Promotion
Kentaro Toyama, chair of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA), introduced revisions to the promotion criteria for clinical faculty within the Medical School. The current system, which Toyama described as decades old and better suited for tenure-track faculty, has left some physicians in the same rank for years.
The new criteria introduce three distinct categories for clinical faculty and allow for promotions based on a portfolio of accomplishments relevant to actual clinical practice. While the changes were generally well-received, clinical professor Terrill Bravender noted that the update should be viewed as a streamlining of the process rather than a "complete overhaul," emphasizing that expectations for academic productivity remain in place.
Addressing Student Rights and AI Integration
The Assembly also reviewed efforts to amend the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. These amendments were initiated in response to changes made by the Board of Regents regarding disciplinary procedures for student protests. Faculty concerns centered on the fairness and due process of these procedures. According to Toyama, University President Domenico Grasso has agreed to move forward with 22 of the 28 proposed amendments.
The discussion then shifted to the integration of generative AI in higher education. Tazin Daniels, associate director at the Center for Research on Learning & Teaching, highlighted the tension faculty face in balancing academic integrity with the burden of "policing" student AI usage. This comes amid broader global discourse on the technology; while Microsoft founder Bill Gates has described AI as an "evolutionary event" that may redefine intelligence, economists like Apollo Global Management’s Torsten Slok have noted that, outside of the tech sector, corporate investments in AI have yet to deliver significant financial payoffs.
The conversation prompted debate among faculty members regarding the potential erosion of human expertise. History professor Derek Peterson expressed concern that relying on AI to evaluate student work could diminish the value of a university education, while associate psychology professor Francine Dolins raised intellectual property concerns, suggesting that students should provide consent before their work is processed by AI tools.
Governance and Future Rights
Faculty Senate Director Luke McCarthy presented several proposed amendments to the regents’ bylaws, including "housekeeping" updates and substantive changes such as granting voting privileges to emeritus faculty with at least 50% active employment. The Senate Assembly approved these amendments by unanimous consent, moving them to a final vote by the University Faculty Senate.
The meeting concluded with the introduction of a draft declaration of faculty rights and responsibilities. SACUA intends for this document to serve as a "north star" for future negotiations with the administration regarding academic freedom, shared governance, and compensation. The draft is currently undergoing edits, with a final vote expected within the current academic year.
