Nursing professor John Whitcomb to serve as president-elect of the Faculty Senate

John Whitcomb, an associate professor in Clemson’s School of Nursing, was elected in March as president-elect for Clemson University’s Faculty Senate.

Whitcomb, who directs undergraduate programs for the School of Nursing, will serve as vice president/president-elect from April 2019 until April 2020, when he will become Faculty Senate president for the 2020-2021 term.

During his term, Whitcomb will continue his focus on due process and shared governance as it relates to faculty.

“I am honored to have been chosen to lead the Faculty Senate through issues that we address regularly. While some may be simple, others require further research and data, but no decision is made without due process. I believe this emphasizes the importance of understanding the process and having shared governance,” Whitcomb said. “While I recognize the upcoming years will hold new challenges as the University continues to grow our research programs and address compensation, I am confident in our ability to maintain the highest levels of academia and leadership.”

Whitcomb also said he believed that effective and responsive governance is vitally important during times of change within higher education.

“Shared governance in the face of sweeping and transformative change can help shift the thinking of boards,” Whitcomb said. “When efforts are aligned, solutions are often more thoughtful, and implementation is accelerated.”

Whitcomb is an experienced, highly respected member of the Faculty Senate, having served as the chair of the Welfare Committee and Policy Committee and also as Lead Senator for the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences.

School of Nursing Director Kathleen Valentine said the school is appreciative of Whitcomb’s leadership with faculty, students and staff.

“We all benefit from Dr. Whitcomb’s talents within the School of Nursing,” Valentine said. “I am confident that the University community will also be well served during his tenure as president of the Faculty Senate.”

The Faculty Senate is the representative assembly of the faculty. It recommends new policies or changes in existing policies to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost; and promotes the welfare of the faculty. The Senate which consists of 50 members– 35 full-time, tenure-track faculty and 14 non-voting, lecturer delegates all representing the colleges of the University, including 1,500 faculty members across Clemson.