UT regents OK faculty advisory groups as SB 37 abolishes senates at UTEP, system universities

By Daniel Perez, El Paso Matters As Texas colleges and universities prepare for changes to their faculty senates on Sept. 1, campus leaders must weigh how such entities will function — and whether they can preserve the independent role instructors have usually played in shaping academic life. In the case of the University of Texas System, its Board of Regents decided last Thursday to allow its campus presidents to establish “faculty advisory groups” to replace existing faculty senates as part of Senate Bill 37, which became law earlier this year.

These advisory groups would perform similar functions as a faculty senate or council to maintain an institution’s operations. In the past, such duties have included the creation of curriculum, the development of majors, minor and certificates, an