Erik Estrada
Editor-in-chief
A state law effective Sept. 1 will shift power from faculty to university presidents, Faculty Senate President Charles Watson said at the Texas A&M University-San Antonio convocation Aug. 21 in the auditorium.
“I have the privilege of representing a truly special faculty,” Watson said. “I’m very proud that you have trusted me to represent you and your interests as what will be the last elected president of the Faculty Senate.”
Texas Senate Bill 37 requires university governing boards to review curriculum every five years and gives them greater authority over academic programs. The law also diminishes the role of faculty senates and makes Watson the last elected president of the senate.
“Intellectuals are the enemies of those who seek to control the populous,” Watson said. “Primarily because we equip our youth to think for themselves, question the status quo and make informed decisions based on evidence.”
Watson, a biology professor, received a standing ovation at convocation, an annual ceremony at the beginning of the academic year that brings together faculty and staff for speeches and a sense of community.
Speakers included Caroleena Mancilla, Student Government Association president.
“What makes this university special is the students themselves, each one with their own story, challenges and dreams,” Mancilla said. “With your support, those dreams aren’t just pursued, they’re achieved. You help students turn their goals into reality.”
Heather Olague, acting Staff Council president and assistant dean of students for the Cisneros Institute of Emerging Leaders, said the time and dedication given to the campus by staff and faculty are a testament to the growth and future development of A&M-San Antonio.
“We deeply appreciate the valuable work each of you contributes to creating a holistic and meaningful experience for our students,” Olague said.
While staff and faculty continue to play a vital role in shaping the student experience, Watson expressed concerns about the increased power that the law gives university presidents.
“The amount of power and associated responsibility that this law gives to the office of the university president could easily be abused to the extent that shared governance would completely disappear,” Watson said, clarifying that he was not suggesting President Hector Salvador Ochoa would act in that way.
Watson elaborated on the potential consequences of the new legislation, emphasizing that while the formal channels of shared governance might be constrained, the faculty’s influence and role in the university’s core mission remain unchanged.
Watson quoted actor Denzel Washington to sum up his feelings on the matter: “The devil is not attacking you because you are weak, the devil is attacking you because you are a threat.”
He warned that the true strength of the university lies in the faculty’s ability to foster independent thought and innovation within their curriculum and that no legislation can strip away that essence.
“We are the custodians of knowledge, and it is our duty to ensure that the light of intellectual freedom never dims,” Watson said, with this rallying cry and a raised fist that brought the audience of staff and faculty to their feet.
Despite the bleak legislative impacts, Ochoa shared his goal of moving forward with the university’s achievements and priorities for this year:
- Jaguar Athletics: Launched men’s and women’s basketball programs, with historic achievements in golf, soccer and softball, including multiple conference tournament appearances.
- Student credit hour enrollment: Rose to more than 86,000 from nearly 83,000.
- Employee dependent tuition assistance: A plan to help boost employee retention.
- Balanced budget: The university is not spending more than it brings in. This year’s budget includes $5.358 million in new allocations to support initiatives like salary increases and the Jaguar Promise scholarship.
After highlighting the university’s accomplishments, Ochoa turned to the importance of unity and shared purpose in serving students.
“We need to work together because we are here to serve our students first and foremost,” Ochoa said. “I do believe in transparency and I believe all the actions that I have done have hopefully earned your respect and faith and trust that that will continue to happen.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that the $5.358 million refers to new allocations in this year’s budget to support university initiatives, not the university’s overall budget.
