BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Master of Science in Media, Technology, and Ethics, MS in the College of Arts, Media and Design as approved by the University Graduate Curriculum Committee 29 May, 2024 (13-0-0)

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Master of Science in Creative Technologies, MS in the College of Arts, Media and Design as approved by the University Graduate Curriculum Committee 29 May, 2024 (13-0-0)

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Practices and Technology, MFA in the College of Arts, Media and Design as approved by the University Graduate Curriculum Committee 29 May, 2024 (13-0-0)

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Master of Professional Studies in Applied AI, MPS in the Office of the Provost as approved by the University Graduate Curriculum Committee 2 October, 2024 (16-0-0).

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Master of Professional Studies in Applied AI--Connect, MPS in the Office of the Provost as approved by the University Graduate Curriculum Committee 2 October, 2024 (15-0-0).

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Doctor of Professional Studies (DPS) in the Office of the Provost as approved by the University Graduate Curriculum Committee 2 October, 2024 (13-0-0).

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Master of Science in Sustainability Engineering Leadership, MS as approved by the University Graduate Curriculum Committee 2 October, 2024 (13-0-0).

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, BFA in the Office of the Provost in close collaboration with the College of Arts Media and Design as approved by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 9 October, 2024 (16-0-0)

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, BFA in the Office of the Provost as approved by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 9 October, 2024 (16-0-0)

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Bachelor of Arts in Dance, BA in the Office of the Provost in close collaboration with the College of Arts Media and Design as approved by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 9 October, 2024 (16-0-0)

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, BFA in the Office of the Provost in close collaboration with the College of Arts Media and Design as approved by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 9 October, 2024 (16-0-0)

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre, BFA in the Office of the Provost in close collaboration with the College of Arts Media and Design as approved by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 9 October, 2024 (16-0-0)

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design, Technology, and Stage Management, BFA in the Office of the Provost in close collaboration with the College of Arts Media and Design as approved by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 23 October, 2024 (19-0-0)

BE IT RESOLVED That the University establish the Associate of Arts in Social Sciences, AA in the Office of the Provost as approved by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 23 October, 2024 (19-0-0)

WHEREAS Section 2 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws of the Northeastern University Faculty Handbook establishes the Functions and Responsibilities of the Faculty Senate:

b. To be consulted as either a whole body or in appropriate committees on all policies, proposals, and problems of faculty concern, including such matters as the creation of new colleges, new campuses, and new departments;

d. To initiate consideration and recommendation on any matter of faculty concern; and

f. To provide communication between the University faculty and the Administration;

WHEREAS the Administration made changes to Policy Number 617: Policy on Demonstrations without consulting the Faculty Senate;

WHEREAS the Academic Freedom Module of the Northeastern University Faculty Handbook states that Northeastern University subscribes to the 1940 Statement of Principles of Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure issued by the American Association of University Professors and the Association of American Colleges, as amended in 1970;

WHEREAS existing policy language in the Statement on Free Expression in the Academic Freedom module of the Faculty Handbook is outdated and inconsistent with the recent statements of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), which robustly protect academic and extramural speech, controversial discourse, and peaceful protest;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the University Faculty Senate calls for the strengthening of policy language in the Faculty Handbook in the Statement on Free Expression, aligning it with the latest standards of the AAUP to ensure protection for all forms of academic expression and to prevent undue administrative interference in areas of teaching, research, and faculty autonomy;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, effective immediately, the Senate Agenda Committee will create an Academic Freedom Ad Hoc Committee. The Academic Freedom Ad Hoc Committee will review the existing policy language in the Statement on Free Expression in the Academic Freedom module of the Faculty Handbook, as well as Policy Number 617: Policy on Demonstrations, and make specific recommendations for improvements, including recommendations designed to improve shared governance.

WHEREAS Section 2 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws of the Northeastern University Faculty Handbook establishes the Functions and Responsibilities of the Faculty Senate:

b. To be consulted as either a whole body or in appropriate committees on all policies, proposals, and problems of faculty concern, including such matters as the creation of new colleges, new campuses, and new departments;

d. To initiate consideration and recommendation on any matter of faculty concern; and

f. To provide communication between the University faculty and the Administration;

WHEREAS freedom of speech and freedom of expression are matters of faculty concern: they are foundational commitments of the university, essential to the protection of democratic values, academic excellence, and the nurturing of a nonpunitive and inclusive environment for learning and research;

WHEREAS faculty have raised serious concerns about the fact that, in the spring of 2024, the Administration created and published, without consultation with the Faculty Senate, “Northeastern Global News: Safe Campuses, Civil Discourse: Frequently Asked Questions,” which contained the Administration’s answers to questions about freedom of speech and freedom of expression

WHEREAS faculty have reported that many of the answers in “Northeastern Global News: Safe Campuses, Civil Discourse: Frequently Asked Questions,” chilled free expression within the university community; encouraged a surveillance atmosphere that hampered faculty core roles in research, teaching, and democratic discourse; eroded faculty governance; contributed to a hostile, rather than collaborative, relationship between the Administration and the faculty; and lead to inequitable burdens on some faculty, including those with less secure employment, women, and people of color;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the University Faculty Senate affirms its commitment to defending faculty’s, staff’s, and students' rights to freedom of speech, association, and assembly, both within the academic setting and as participants in wider societal discourse, without fear of retaliation, surveillance, or disciplinary measures;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the University Faculty Senate calls for the Administration to involve the Faculty Senate in the formulation and publication of any policies and external communications affecting freedom of speech.

WHEREAS Section 2 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws of the Northeastern University Faculty Handbook establishes the Functions and Responsibilities of the Faculty Senate:

b. To be consulted as either a whole body or in appropriate committees on all policies, proposals, and problems of faculty concern, including such matters as the creation of new colleges, new campuses, and new departments;

d. To initiate consideration and recommendation on any matter of faculty concern; and

f. To provide communication between the University faculty and the Administration;

WHEREAS the Northeastern University Policy Oversight Committee creates university policies of faculty concern;

WHEREAS no Northeastern University Faculty Senator is a member of the Northeastern University Policy Oversight Committee;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Senate Agenda Committee will annually nominate one Faculty Senator to serve on the University Policy Oversight Committee for that academic year