Dear UHD Faculty,
I wanted to follow up on some questions that have arisen on shared governance, faculty voice, and faculty input on campus matters. SB 37 reiterated the role of the UHS Board of Regents as the governing authority of the system and its individual universities. It also included the concept of shared governance which the Board adopted in their Bylaw 2.7. Consequently, there are four shared governance bodies on our campus – Faculty Council, Staff Council, Student Government Association (SGA), and Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA). These advisory entities provide a venue for campus constituent voices to be heard.
It is important to note that I, President Blanchard, and the administrative cabinet believe that shared governance is an important component of university life at the University of Houston-Downtown. Shared governance requires collaboration and consultation to ensure that faculty have opportunities to provide feedback to inform a policy and/or procedure decision before it is finalized. President Blanchard and I, as well as the other administrators across the university, are committed to being available and active participants in conversations to gain insights and/or address concerns through the shared governance structures.
I strongly recommend that constituents of these groups reach out to their respective representatives or the leadership of these shared governance bodies to share agenda items or discussion topics at future meetings. These representatives and leadership teams are easy to find on the website and in the respective colleges and units.
While some faculty may not agree with the structure of the Faculty Council, this is the shared governance representative body for faculty. Faculty from every college have been actively engaged in the various councils and committees that are dedicated to university, college, and departmental work. Their insights and input are invaluable as we move the university forward.
Policies are also being updated and feedback is solicited on changes and updates. Stakeholder groups are involved at the initial stages and feedback from wider audiences is obtained as we move through the process. Please provide your feedback through the SharePoint venues that are sent out to the campus. As was noted in the Faculty Council meeting on November 4, 2025, while feedback informs decisions, not all comments will be incorporated into the revised policies. All comments will be shared with the campus community so that everyone can see what changes have been made based on the feedback.
At UHD, we are all proud of our passionate and dedicated faculty. That passion is often evident in the discussions of issues and concerns. While we may disagree or have different viewpoints, it is essential that the focus is on the issues and not personal comments on individuals.
Please use the Faculty Council website to find information on the role of the Faculty Council, its leadership and membership, meeting minutes, and meeting schedule. The next Faculty Council meeting is on December 2, 2025.
The work of the Faculty Council and the faculty of the University of Houston-Downtown is both valued and greatly appreciated. When we work together, we can move forward to support and enhance the work of our faculty, staff, and students. I look forward to our continued collaborative work in bringing UHD to even greater success with faculty research, scholarship, and creative activities.
Warm regards,
Dr. Deborah E. Bordelon
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Houston-Downtown
