Faculty Senate

I have been asked to serve as the library representative to the faculty senate here at Roberts. It is a huge responsibility, and one I do not take lightly. I hardly feel I have the necessary institutional immersion yet to fully grasp what my role is about even though I have been here four years (does that seem possible?).

I follow long time employee, Roberts alum, and archivist who has served as senator often and is just completing his repeat term of the current assignment. I am sorry he will be rotating off as I know he has the full sense of the lay of the land and our role therein.

The senate asks the new representatives to attend its final session of the academic year alongside the current senator. I walked across campus with my colleague, a bit nervous. After all, I am about as political as a squash! We stepped into the meeting room greeted by a wonderful spread of fruit salad, ice tea and little pastries. A delicious treat.

During the course of the meeting, I was able to keep up since the paperwork had been sent us in advance. In places, I whispered questions to my colleague who helped me get my bearings. The discussions were productive and informative. It is a whole new perspective on campus happenings, one that will help the library as we work to embed resources in programs.

They properly thanked the outgoing senators and welcomed the incoming (there are 3 of us). I am looking forward to serving next year. It will be a challenging year as we move from a division oriented campus to a school oriented campus. I suspect I will be in my colleague's office often for the lowdown scoops.