In its final meeting of the academic year, Northeastern’s Faculty Senate elected University Distinguished Professor Richard Daynard as new chair of the Senate Agenda Committee, the senate’s six-member leadership group. Daynard, who was unopposed in his nomination, is a current member of the committee.

Mary Jo Ondrechen, professor of biology and chemical biology, was also elected secretary of the Senate Agenda Committee. Hillary Poriss, associate professor of music, was reelected to the committee, along with three newly-elected members: Carmen Sceppa, associate professor of health sciences; Carey Rappaport, professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Stuart Peterfreund, professor of English and acting chair of the Department of Communication Studies.

Daynard and Stephen W. Director, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, lauded both the current and new members of the Senate Agenda Committee, and the senate as a whole. Faculty Senate members also acknowledged the hard work of Daynard’s predecessor Lou Kruger, an associate professor of counseling and applied psychology. Kruger thanked senate members for their service and their friendship.

“It’s clear that faculty participation is helping this university achieve its mission,” Director said. “Serving on the Faculty Senate is a commitment of time and energy, and the university is much stronger for having people who are willing to dedicate themselves to that.”

During the meeting, the Faculty Senate approved a broad range of resolutions, including new degree programs, a committee report on teacher evaluations, a student residency requirement and an ad hoc report on shared governance.

Five newly-approved degree programs are: a master of science in pharmaceuticals, a doctor of philosophy in pharmacology, a doctor of philosophy in pharmaceuticals, a professional masters degree in biomedical nanotechnology and the Audiology Plus 3 program.