VOL. 23, NO. 21	APRIL 17, 1998

he University Senate Faculty Affairs Committee will hold an open hearing on Tues., Apr. 21, to discuss a proposed resolution to define the Tenure Review Advisory Committee (TRAC) in the University Statutes.

  The TRAC, created in 1984 and consisting mainly of tenured faculty, advises the Provost on the composition of the ad hoc committees that conduct tenure reviews. The hearing will take place at 5:00 P.M. in Room 103 of the Law School.

  Faculty Affairs presented a preliminary version of the proposal to the Senate for discussion in March, and expects to discuss it further with the Senate’s faculty caucuses and at Tuesday’s hearing before offering a revised version for action at the last Senate meeting of the year on Apr. 24.

  The preliminary version of the legislation, called “An Act to Establish the Tenure Review Advisory Committee and Define Its Responsibilities,” offers some provisions intended to expand the role of faculty in the tenure review process, including some Senate participation in the appointment of new TRAC members and new reporting responsibilities for the TRAC on aggregate statistics about the ad hoc process.

  In response to criticisms of the Faculty Affairs proposal from some faculty, the committee will also offer for discussion a statutory definition of the TRAC establishing its current structure and functioning, as outlined in the Provostial document “Customs and Guidelines Governing the Procedures of Ad Hoc Committees and University-wide Tenure Review.”

  Copies of the preliminary proposal are available from the Senate Office (406 Low Library). Call 854-6836, or email: tmm2@columbia.edu.