The Academic Senate met for the first time in its new composition
At the constituent session, the Chairmanship was elected and the Senate committees were appointed. The reform of doctoral studies was also discussed.
The Academic Senate expresses solidarity with the democratization movement in Iran
It also approved the terms of admission and the addition of a disciplinary committee and discussed the funding of Ukrainian academics and the process of electing student representatives to program boards.
At its meeting on 24 October 2022, the Academic Senate of the MU Faculty of Arts approved the terms of admission for the year 2023/2024. The new conditions include the possibility of passing the admission exam based on completing not only expert but also creative practice.
Adéla Svobodová was appointed the second student delegate in the Disciplinary Committee.
A discussion followed on the possibilities of funding Ukrainian academics when their university-wide funded contract, originally only for one year, expires. The matter will be consulted by Chair Štěpánek with vice-rector Hanuš and possibly discussed again at the next meeting. However, the best way appears to be not to seek university-wide support and rather to resolve the funding of the persons concerned individually directly from faculty sources or through research projects.
Dean Radová presented the steps currently underway to establish a university-wide ombudsperson position. He or she should be functioning from the new year.
The student chamber expressed dissatisfaction with the current system of nominations of student representatives to the program boards, which in practice brings the absence of any information about the motivations of the nominees and therefore makes it difficult for the student chamber to decide on the final candidate. Student senators would like to raise the issue at the university-wide senate so that a better solution can be sought. They also asked the faculty leadership to help promote the program boards. The Senate supported their efforts, as did the faculty leadership.
At the suggestion of doc. Šefčík, the Senate adopted a resolution on the current situation in Iran:
Aware of the historical experience of Czech society, the AS FF MU expresses its solidarity with the democratization movement in Iran and supports the students of Iranian universities in their struggle for freedom and against violence.
The detailed course of the meeting of the Senate is recorded in the minutes.
The next meeting of the Senate will be held on 28 November 2022.
