Aloha Senators,

As I mentioned at our last MFS meeting, there are a lot of proposals coming down from administration. Interim Chancellor Lassner has been in office for about 26 days. Interim Chancellor Lassner has already convened a “brainstorming session” on strategic planning for deans, directors, Vice Chancellors, etc. At first the only faculty member invited to participate SEC chair, but arguing that only one pair of eyes and ears is not enough to represent faculty, we were able to get an invitation for the Vice Chair as well.

From the brainstorming session, Interim Chancellor Lassner organized a “Mini-Retreat on Academic Structure and Organization” to discuss possible reorganizations. For this we advocated hard for at least the full SEC to be included. It was split into two sessions, one last Saturday and the next in 2 days. If you have comments or concerns please send them to me. Lassner has stated that these are preliminary discussions and consultation would occur with faculty and other stakeholders before decisions are made. It seems that they are trying to explore which reorganizations might be possible mainly based on the input of deans.

Vice Chair John Casken and I had our first meeting with iChancellor Lassner this week. It was cordial, and one issue that I have been asking about his how he will implement consultation with the broader faculty.

Another initiative that is being mentioned from Lassner and iVCAA/VCR Bruno is finding some way to allow faculty to be simply faculty rather than I/R/S/etc. This is not the topic of discussion on Saturday, but it is something that administration is exploring.

Finally, a formal proposal to move Manoa Facitities, CIP, (parts of HR), and Communications has been submitted by VPA Jan Gouveia for faculty consultation. It is a reorganization proposal of wide-ranging impact so I am including it here (you may also see it through your committees).

Also campus visits of the candidates for permanent Chancellor are hoped to start in October.

Here are the materials we have received thus far regarding reorg brainstorming.

It is truly challenging to keep up (still teaching and trying to keep my research program going as I serve as MFS Chair). I hope you had a chance to see my note to the Faculty Congress. I am starting a page on my website to document my correspondence as chair. http://butlerlab.org/mfs-chair-2016-2017/

Comments are welcome.

Your humble MFS chair,
Marguerite