Holt hopes to make use of departmental experience

Brad Holt sees it as his time to serve.

The associate professor in Chemical Engineering will serve as vice chair of the Faculty Senate during the 2000-01 academic year. Although teaching and research are what brought him to the University, Holt says he’s proud and happy to serve beside Chair Mary Coney on the faculty’s legislative body.

“Faculty come here interested in teaching and research,” Holt said from the Faculty Senate office in Gerberding Hall where he will spend half of his workday for the duration of his term. The other half he spends in Benson Hall, home to the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Brad Holt. Photo by Kathy Sauber

“In general, faculty enjoy what they do and want to be left alone to do their teaching and research,” he said. “Nobody comes to the University for the sole purpose of serving on Faculty Senate. But this is a unique place. In addition to the teaching and research, we can also play a part in deciding the course of this University. That’s important. I’m glad to do that. And if I do a good job, then the rest of the faculty can concentrate on research and teaching.”

A sense of duty spurred his first involvement in the Faculty Senate in the late 1980s and he’s been with the faculty body on and off since then. After serving this year as the vice-chair, he will replace Coney as the chair for the 2001-02 academic year. When that term is done, Holt will return to the laboratory and classroom. But in the meantime, he’s happy to accept the challenge of contributing to the Faculty Senate.

“There’s a lot to learn,” Holt said of his new position. “You come in one day as a faculty member. The next day you’re vice chair of the Faculty Senate. You are also the chair of the Senate Committee on Planning and Budgeting (SCPB), which looks at long-range planning and budget issues at the University. So there’s a lot to learn and that learning will continue throughout the year.”

In his role as chair of SCPB, in addition to the budget and planning issues, Holt also hopes to expand on the success his home department has had involving undergraduates in faculty research.

Sixty-eight percent of chemical engineering undergraduates participate in faculty-sponsored research. That success has come largely from a department-wide commitment. Holt would like to see a similar commitment to undergraduate education throughout the University.

“We’re a Research I University and that means there is an immense opportunity to involve undergraduate students in research,” he said. “It’s a priority of the President and a priority for this University.”

One idea is for the UW to provide funding to faculty who involve undergraduates in research. Another idea he would like to pursue is to create a fund to help undergraduates travel to present their research at academic conferences.

“I’m looking forward to an interesting and challenging year working with Mary on the many issues facing the University,” he said.