Chair-elect says tenure one of several key issues for SACUA

Currently serving his 25th year at U-M, Professor Stan Berent recalls a time when he did not feel as strongly about the tenure process.

Berent (Photo by Biomedical Communications)

"Early on, I thought there were things you had to do to get tenure, because that is what you did when you got into academics," says Berent, professor in the Department of Psychology and chair-elect of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA). "But looking back, there were things I was able to accomplish as an individual faculty member that I could not have accomplished without tenure."

Determining the function of tenure at U-M and looking at how it fits into the University are key issues for SACUA to continue addressing in the coming year, Berent says.

"While there are many issues the committee will need to address in the coming year, I want to keep [tenure] on the table and deal with it," says Berent, a former chair of the Senate Assembly's Tenure Committee who currently serves as SACUA liaison to the group. "If we can find out objectively that tenure is an important function of the University, then we need to do what we need to do to preserve it."

Members of SACUA on Feb. 2 elected Berent chair for 2004-05. Berent, who also holds appointments in psychiatry and neurology in the Medical School, and environmental and industrial health in the School of Public Health, will replace Dr. Charles Koopmann Jr. May 1.

"I believe this is an important position, representing a key element in the institution—its faculty—as well as the relationship between faculty and other aspects of the University," Berent says. "Real contributions can be made to improve the University and keep U-M in the forefront of world-class institutions.

"I felt a good deal of pride and gratitude that my peers thought enough of my abilities to elect me to SACUA in the first instance, and now to trust me with serving as its chair," says Berent, who also will serve as chair of the University Senate and Senate Assembly. "I feel a sense of responsibility to live up to that trust."

Berent joined the U-M faculty in 1979 as associate professor of psychology. He earned a bachelor of science in psychology from Old Dominion University, a master of science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a doctorate from Rutgers University. He serves as SACUA liaison with the Assembly's General Counsel's Advisory Committee.

"SACUA is composed of a great group of individuals who conscientiously represent the faculty in the best way I can imagine," he says. "This group makes a difference, and I am looking forward to working with it in the year ahead."

The committee also elected Silvia Pedraza, associate professor of sociology, vice-chair.

Pedraza graduated from U-M with a bachelor of arts in sociology, and went on to complete a master of arts in teaching at the University. She also holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago.

Pedraza (Photo by Department of Sociology)

A faculty associate of the Program in American Culture, Pedraza is active in the Latino Studies Program and the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program.

A SACUA liaison with the Assembly's Government Relations Advisory Committee, as well as the University Secretary Advisory Committee, Pedraza served as Faculty Senate representative for 2003 Spring Commencement Graduate Exercises.

"Being elected to any position is always an honor and a trust," Pedraza says. "Most important about SACUA is that we always work on behalf of the faculty—whatever we do, we do while thinking about what most of the faculty at the University want; what will make their lives better; and what will involve them most in the life and governance of this University."

Both Berent and Pedraza are serving their second year on SACUA. Koopmann, professor and associate chair of the Otorhinolaryngology Department, is completing his second term as SACUA chair and his third and final year on the committee.

Current vice-chair John Riebesell, associate professor of biology at U-M-Dearborn, and Seonae Yeo, associate professor of nursing, also are completing their final year on SACUA. Elections for the three open positions will be held at the March 15 Senate Assembly meeting. The University Record will publish candidate platform statements March 8.