You might remember the official-looking e-mails urging you to vote on an initiative to expand membership in BU’s Faculty Assembly. A positive vote would allow nontenure-track lecturers with more than 50% appointments to participate in faculty governance. With over 90% approval, the measure passed.
The issue did not seem to pertain directly to the Medical Campus because tenure does not exist for our faculty, though they are already members. The new rules will allow the 40% of faculty on the Charles River Campus with “lecturer” status to participate more actively in deciding academic programs and initiatives.
Including lecturers makes sense because many of them hold terminal degrees, conduct research, and perform valuable teaching duties. Their perspective on university matters will be useful. Moreover, it helps reduce their second-tier status while rewarding their commitment to the institution.