Arkansas Tech University Faculty Senate is an elected representative body that acts on behalf of all ATU faculty. All Faculty Senate meetings are open, and all faculty members are welcome to participate in discussions at meetings. The Faculty Senate provides a forum for ATU faculty to participate in discussion about their concerns.
Opening luncheon: Tuesday August 18, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (West Dining Hall)
Meetings generally take place on the second Tuesday of each month,
3.00 p.m. CST, in Rothwell 312:
Tuesday 8 September
Tuesday 13 October
Tuesday 10 November
Monday 7 December (1 PM)
Tuesday 9 February
Tuesday 9 March
Tuesday 13 April
Thursday 29 April (1 PM)
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Membership:
The membership of the Faculty Senate is established according to Article II, Section
I of the Constitution of the Faculty Senate of Arkansas Tech University. For elected
members, a term equals three years, and no senator may serve more than two consecutive
terms.
Function:
The Faculty Senate serves as a committee on committees that includes elected faculty
members and shall act for the faculty in all curricular matters other than those involving
changes in general academic policies, and for the faculty or the administration on
matters referred to it for action; the Faculty Senate serves as an advisory body to
the faculty on matters involving academic policies and to the administration or the
faculty, as appropriate, on any other matters of general concern to the University.
Dr. Subha Pratihar, Arkansas Tech University assistant professor of chemistry, was recognized as ATU faculty member of the month by ATU Faculty Senate on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Pratihar served as faculty mentor for a poster presentation by ATU student Jaycie Massengale that earned first place at the Arkansas Academy of Sciences 2026 meeting in the chemistry and geology division.
The winning poster presentation was entitled “Comparison of Experimental and Computational Oxidation Reaction Enthalpies of Fatty Acids.”
Pratihar is chair of the central Arkansas section of the American Chemical Society, and she recently earned a $15,000 NASA Arkansas Space Grant Consortium student intensive training grant.
The grant will provide research and training opportunities for undergraduate students, support workforce development in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and contribute to ATU’s research and experiential learning initiatives.
Pratihar has been a member of the Arkansas Tech faculty since 2022.
She holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Calcutta. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur.
The ATU faculty member of the month award presentation was made by Dr. Carl Brucker, ATU Faculty Senate chair.
Pratihar is the second ATU faculty member of the month selection for the 2026-27 academic year. Dr. Tori Sharpe, ATU associate professor of English, was similarly honored during the ATU Faculty Senate meeting on Sept. 8. The recognition program was initiated by ATU Faculty Senate during the 2025-26 academic year.
2026-2027
Summer: Dr. Tori Sharpe
September: Dr. Subha Pritihar
October:
November:
Winter:
February:
March:
April:
2025-2026
Summer: Dr. Jason Grosskopf
September: Dr. Julie Mikles-Schluterman
October: Professor Neal Harrington
November: Dr. Cheryl Monfee
Winter: Dr. Bindu Subhadra
February: Dr. Jason Ulsperger
March: Dr. Dana Tribble
April: Dr. Robin Ghosh
The Award’s Purpose:
Once a month, the Faculty Senate will recognize ATU faculty members who are doing amazing things – undertaking activities that have a positive impact on ATU, its students, and its communities. The award is open to all faculty at ATU. (Please see the eligibility section below).
Award-worthy activities can involve service, scholarship & creative endeavors, or teaching, but this monthly award is not the Faculty Excellence Awards. The Faculty of the Month Awards are not given for each category, but for activities that can span multiple categories or only represent one category.
| Faculty Activity Period | Nomination Due Dates |
| May, June, July, and August | August 28 for Summer Award |
| September | September 30, for September Award |
| October | October 30, for October Award |
| November | November 30, for the November Award |
| December and January | January 30 for Winter Award |
| February | February 27 for February Award |
| March | March 30 for March Award |
| April | April 20 for final April Award |
Eligibility:
The faculty of the month award is open to any member of the ATU faculty including tenured, tenure track, instructor, legacy, and/or adjunct faculty.
Nomination Process:
Process:
The Senate president will solicit nominations from faculty, chairs, and deans on a monthly basis. The nominees’ names and accomplishments will be e-mailed to the Senate e-mail (facultysenate@atu.edu) and the chair or secretary will forward nomination letters to the Faculty- Member – of -the Month- Committee. The committee will meet, make their choice, and then forward that choice to the Faculty Senate Chair. The committee is to choose one faculty member for each month.
AWARD:
Award recipients will be invited to the senate meeting, where they will receive a certificate of recognition and a personalized engraved acrylic star desk topper, as well as have their nomination letter read into the minutes to highlight their exceptional work.
Passed September 2020
Updated: September 2025
2021: Dr. Barbara Johnson, VPAA
2022: Ms. Angela Black, Interim Head Librarian
2023: Ms. Tammy Weaver, Registrar
2024: Ms. Andrea Eubanks, Executive Assistant to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
2025: Not awarded
2026: Mr. Sam Strasner. Director of University Relations