The Senate Assembly elected new members to the central faculty governance system’s executive committee Monday, but who will fill which term — and even the number of terms to be filled — is yet to be determined.
Several factors made for an unusual Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs election this year, and the final outcome will not be known until the Senate Assembly’s April meeting.
There were four SACUA seats to be filled as of Monday, but that number could grow to six if two other members take leaves of absence next year during their current terms.
Silke-Maria Weineck, professor of Germanic languages and literatures, and comparative literature; and Stefan Szymanski, professor of kinesiology, expect to know by the Senate Assembly’s next meeting, April 18, if they will be taking leaves.
Another twist in the election was a tie for fourth place. If only four seats are eventually filled, the fourth-place winner will be determined in a runoff election, which also would take place at the April meeting.
The top three vote getters, each of whom are assured seats on SACUA, were:
• William Schultz, professor of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics, and naval architecture.
• Michael Atzmon, professor of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences, and materials science and engineering.
• Dr. Ruth C. Carlos, professor of radiology.
Tying as the fourth-highest vote getters were Neil Marsh, professor of chemistry and biological chemistry, and Robert M. Ortega, associate professor of social work.
If six seats eventually open up for the coming year, the final spot would be filled by Robert Fraser, librarian and lecturer at UM-Dearborn.
Other nominees receiving votes Monday were: Sara Ahbel-Rappe, professor of Greek and Latin; Beau David Case, librarian; Weiyun Chen, associate professor of kinesiology; and Paul R. Kileny, professor of otorhinolaryngology, head-and-neck surgery.
Three regular SACUA terms will end April 30, and a fourth vacancy opened when a former member left the university in January. The new regular terms run from May 1, 2016, through April 30, 2019. The partial term expires April 30, 2018.
Each of the top four vote getters will be allowed to choose which term they wish to fill. The order in which they choose will be based on the number of votes each candidate received.
They will join incumbents Weineck; Szymanski; John Lehman, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; David Smith, John G. Wagner Collegiate Professor of Pharmacy and professor of pharmaceutical sciences; and David Wright, associate professor of accounting.
Leaving SACUA when their terms end April 30 are Anne Mondro, associate professor of art and design; and Robert Ziff, professor of chemical engineering. Schultz is completing a partial term that also ends April 30, so he was eligible to run again.
SACUA is the nine-member executive arm of U-M’s Faculty Senate and Senate Assembly. The Senate consists of all professorial faculty, librarians, full-time research faculty, executive officers and deans. The Senate Assembly consists of 74 elected faculty members from the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses.
