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New Academic Senate Chair Len Fisk Urges Faculty Participation

Contemplating the challenges of the year ahead, new Academic Senate Chair Len Fisk, Computer Science, identified the presidential search as the most critical task facing the university.

"Manuel Esteban is a very hard act to follow," Fisk said. "There is a major concern among the faculty and the community that we get the right person." According to Fisk, who is also on the search committee, the new president must deal with all parties cordially and collegially, as "that is the legacy Manuel has left us."

Fisk is wary of changes that may be urged upon the university. "In trying times," he said, "there is pressure to change the way things are done. We must maintain the traditions of Chico, especially the tradition of having faculty and staff affect decisions on campus. It's up to us to educate the new president in that tradition."

Chico State is fortunate, Fisk said, to have pro-active faculty, staff, and a student body involved in the governance of the university. He attributes this to the residential tradition of Chico State. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and CSU, Humboldt are the only other residential CSU campuses; the others are commuter schools.

The Academic Senate has three members who represent the interests of Chico State at the CSU level: Kathleen Kaiser (Sociology), Sam Edelman (Center for International Studies and Communications Arts and Sciences), and Paul Persons (Political Science). "It helps to have advocates who keep reminding them that we're different," Fisk said.

Fisk wants to get more junior faculty involved in the Academic Senate. He thinks participating in governance should be given more weight in tenure and promotion considerations. "Often publishing is seen as the most important," he declared. "I'd like to see more emphasis on participation in campus affairs."

Fisk has been a member of the computer science faculty since 1975 and an Academic Senate member since 1980.

The Academic Senate meets the first and third Tuesdays at 2:30 pm in Kendall 207/209. The public is welcome.

Francine Gair