Campus | Photo by Harminder Singh Langri | The Wright State Guardian
The Wright State (WSU) Faculty Senate met on Dec. 6 to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees, dean searches and a no-hate campaign.
Vaccine mandate
WSU is moving forward with requiring all university employees to get vaccinated against COVID by Jan. 4, 2022. President Sue Edwards discussed various Ohio legislation that would prevent institutions from having vaccine mandates. However, WSU will only rescind its vaccine mandate if these bills are passed.
Bills such as H.B. 218 being presented to the state would not allow the university to have a mask mandate.
“As long as I am not prevented from the state of Ohio, I will continue to have a mask mandate,” Edwards said.
Faculty Senate members also brought up concerns surrounding exemptions to the vaccine mandate. WSU will be required to authorize these exemptions according to Edwards.
“We are required to provide those exemptions,” Edwards said. “Medical exemptions are ones that do have to come from a medical practitioner.”
No-hate campaign
Dr. Matthew Chaney, Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, announced a new campaign to combat prejudice and discriminatory acts on campus.
“We are developing a no-hate campaign for the campus community in our efforts to make the institution a very welcoming environment,” Chaney said.
Chaney stated that any discriminatory acts can be reported anonymously including microaggressions and unconscious biases.
The no-hate campaign will be open to students, staff and faculty to report any act of discrimination including but not limited to, racial, gender, ethnicity, disability and sexuality discrimination.
Faculty searches
During the meeting, Edwards gave an update on the dean searches in the College of Health, Education, and Human Services (CHEHS) and the College of Science and Math (CSM). Candidates for these positions have been narrowed since the last meeting.
Edwards also explained applications for Vice Provost of Lake Campus are being reviewed. There have also been applications for Chief Recruitment Officer according to Vice Pres. Megan Faragher.
A College of Liberal Arts (CoLA) dean search has been initiated after the reorganization of the college was announced at the November meeting.
