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Message from Dean William Fry

Welcome to our website.  Its purpose is to assist faculty and others on a variety of issues.  We welcome your suggestions. 

As the incoming dean of the University Faculty, I’d like to indicate that I’m looking forward to working with the faculty and other members of the university during the next several years.  It’s indeed an honor to be the dean of the Cornell Faculty.  I’d also like to express my appreciation to Charlie Walcott for the outstanding job he has done over that past five years.  We all owe much to Charlie.  I’m especially pleased that Charlie has agreed to serve as associate dean of the Faculty during the fall semester while Brad Anton is on sabbatical leave.

On a practical basis, the purpose of the Office of the dean of the University Faculty is to assist faculty and others: to learn about the University Faculty; to navigate the procedures of the University and the University Faculty as efficiently as possible; and to guide persons to the appropriate resources to address a variety of questions.  In particular, Diane LaLonde can be very helpful as a knowledgeable (and human) guide to the Faculty Handbook or other procedures in the University.  Diane can be reached at 255 4843 or ddl4@cornell.edu.  Sandie Sutfin is very helpful concerning the activities, meeting times and composition of the many committees of the University Faculty.  Sandie can be reached also at 255 4843 or sbp1@cornell.edu. Additionally, this office aids individuals needing to contact an “official” voice of the University Faculty.  I am available at 255 4843 or at wef1@cornell.edu. 

The Deanship of the University Faculty is described in Article XII of the University Bylaws.  These Bylaws stipulate that “The Dean shall be the chief administrative officer of the University Faculty.” Over time this has included liaison on all matters of concern to the Faculty as they relate to the President, the Trustees, and other segments of the University community. This is not meant in any way to imply restriction of communication between any faculty member and any member of the university administration or the Trustees, and thankfully there are many, many examples of communication between an individual faculty member and an administrator or member of the Board of Trustees.  However, it is the dean of the University Faculty who is the official voice of the University Faculty.  Much of that communication involves the University Faculty Senate and its committees. The dean of the University Faculty is not a member of the administration. 

Specific duties of this deanship are defined by the University Faculty in its Bylaws, known as the Organization and Procedures of the University Faculty (OPUF), and are further described in the faculty handbook: 

“The dean shall: (1) represent and advocate the interests of the faculty to the president, the trustees, and the university community; (2) advise the president and central administration on matters of university policy and seek the president’s advice on matters of concern to the faculty; (3) assist the faculty and the Senate in formulating judgments on questions of concern to the faculty; (4) be available for consultation and advice to members of the faculty, to students, and to members of the university community on matters within the jurisdiction of the faculty; (5) assist in resolving problems for individual faculty members in their relationships with other members of the faculty, with academic or administrative officers, with committees, with students, or other segments of the university community; (6) oversee the work of all committees of the University Faculty or the Senate; (7) serve as an ex officio member on each University Faculty and Senate committee; (8) call meetings of the University Faculty and the Senate and prepare and distribute the agenda for those meetings; (9) maintain a file of records of actions, reports of committees, and other records as necessary; (10) prepare reports as deemed appropriate; (11) meet with the Board of Trustees and its Executive Committee in discussions of questions of educational policy; and (12) perform such other functions as determined by the University Faculty or the Senate.”

This office exists to aid the faculty in the furtherance of their mission and to aid communication to and from the administration and the Board of Trustees.  Please contact us if you need assistance.