Faculty Council
Minutes of the meeting of September 13, 1993
1. Chairperson Theodore Steinberg called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
2. Motion (M.L.Lunde/F.Krohn): to approve the published agenda. Motion passed.
3. Motion (F.Krohn/M.L.Lunde): to approve the minutes of the May 10, 1993 meeting as published. Motion passed.
4. President Donald A. MacPhee announced that his address at the Sept. 10 General Faculty meeting would be circulated to the faculty in printed form soon. He said that reports on instruc- tional technology, and on assessment will be forthcoming during the fall. MacPhee announced that he would be taking a study leave in England, beginning September 15, and that a memo was in the mail covering plans for this absence. He said he had become a convert to E-mail, and hoped to stay in touch with the campus by this means and others during his absence. He said he would not appoint an acting president but that the cabinet officers would coordinate with one another to cover all areas during his absence. J.Straight referred to the Library newsletter and in- quired what improvements were envisioned concerning the walkway near the library. MacPhee answered that details would have to come from Susan Besemer or David Burdette.
4. Chairperson Theodore Steinberg began his report wishing the MacPhees a successful and productive time in Cambridge. Steinberg expressed thanks to Thomas McNeil, College Senate Secretary; H.Joseph Straight, Faculty Senator; Franklin Krohn, Chair of Governance Committee; and Stephen Warner, Past Chair of FC for their abundant work and help on the Executive Committee. Steinberg reported that the new Curriculum Review Commit- tee will have far-reaching effects on campus. He announced that the committee was still being appointed and over time would look at transcripts and syllabi to assess effectiveness of writing components, and multiculturalism. He said they would consider number of electives students have outside their majors, and whether they are upper- or lower-level courses. He said they might also review course numbering with an eye toward greater coherence across the college. He said he would report further on the committee's composition and work at the next FC meeting. Chairperson Steinberg then read the following charges he had made to the standing committees for the coming year:
Governance Committee Examine whether the chair of the Faculty Council should serve a one-year or two-year term (or one year with an option for two years). Examine the mechanism for choosing a vice chair, since for the past two years the process has not worked very well. Consider whether it would be more efficient and more appealing to have the vice chair rather than the immediate past chair serve on the Planning and Budget Committee.
Academic Affairs Committee Examine and report on the progress that departments have made in their plans for assessment. Several years ago, each department developed assessment plans: have those plans been implemented or revised? Have they shown any results? Where do we stand on assessment? Examine and report on the progress that departments have made in incorporating multiculturalism in their curricula. Monitor the work of the Teaching Subcommittee. Make sure that adequate progress is being made in the discussion of teach- ing on campus and the implementation of new ideas. Monitor the work of the Task Force on the Undergraduate Curriculum. Examine the mechanism by which students are designated as graduating with honors. Do we want to continue relying strictly on a student's GPA or do we want to institute a system of depart- mental honors that would rely on other criteria? Should depart- mental recommendations be forwarded to the Dean of Students for confirmation and possible appeal? Report on the effects of our current registration process on students' academic programs. Can the system be improved so that advisement is no longer a lost cause at the Change Center? Can the system be improved so that the Early Change Center will no longer be necessary?
Planning & Budget Committee Develop plans for restructuring the committee in line with the discussions that took place at the orientation meeting on August 26, 1993. Develop a mechanism by which the committee will actually take an active role in planning for the college. For example, the committee may want to form some connection with the newly struc- tured Enrollment Management Committee or with the Intercultural Advisory Committee. What else can the committee contribute to the planning process?
Professional Service Committee Review (yet again) the criteria for promotion, tenure, and leave. Review especially the role of research (as a separate item from publication), and the role of service on key committees and clarify the issue of qualitative as opposed to quantitative measures.
Student Affairs Committee Examine the state of multiculturalism outside of the classroom. Report on the progress of multiculturalism in the dorms and elsewhere. The committee may want to form an official relationship with the Intercultural Advisory Committee. Examine the current registration process from the per- spective of our students. How can it be improved? Look into the registration process at comparable schools for ways of improving our process.
5. Faculty Senator H. Joseph Straight reported that the Faculty Senate would meet October 1-2 in Albany meeting, and would include meetings of the standing committees and meetings with leaders of local campus governance. He said he would be glad to forward to the Senate any issues of concern. He said there is usually an opportunity to meet with and question the Chancellor at these meetings. He said these meetings also provide opportuni- ties to compare what we are doing with similar situations pre- vailing at other similar campuses. He said he would try to find what other campuses are doing regarding policies on graduating with honors.
6. Governance Committee Chair Daniel Jelski chair reported that the committee had met Sept. 7, and that he had been absent but had been elected chair anyway. He announced the appointment of Governance Committee liaisons to the standing committees: Jefferson Westwood to Professional Service, Laurie Lanza to Academic Affairs, Stephen Rees to Student Affairs and Daniel Jelski to Planning & Budget. T.Malinoski inquired when the annual faculty preference poll [for committee and other college service] would be done. Former Governance chair Frank Krohn replied that it is usually done by Sandra Brown early in Fall Semester.
7. There was no new business.
8. Chairperson Steinberg announced that volunteers were still sought for the office of Vice Chair. He said that if no one can be found soon, he would be willing to serve another year as Chairperson.
9. Motion (F.Krohn/M.Nelson): to adjourn. Motion passed at 4:19 p.m.
Attendance:
Professional Staff, Management:
[1] K. Bonds (95)
[x] S. Clarke (93)
[x] V. Conover (93)
[x] D. Danielson (95)
[E] K. Harrington(94)
[1] T. Kflu (93)
[x] T. Malinoski (93)
[x] G. McNeil (95)
[x] C. Niles (94)
[1] M. Pabst (94)
[E] B. Servatius (93)
[1] A. Wiedenbeck (95)
Arts, Education, Humanities:
[1] J. Burke (94)
[x] M. Charbonnet (93)
[E] J. Gillette (93)
[x] H. Jacobson (93)
[x] D. Kerzner (95)
[x] R. Klassen (95)
[x] T. Loughlin (93)
[x] K. Lucey (93)
[x] L. Maheady (94)
[x] J. McVicker (95)
[x] M. Nelson (93)
[x] J. Parla (95)
[ ] (VACANT)
Natural and Social Sciences:
[1] G. Baird (94)
[E] J. Hansen (94)
[x] T. Janik (93)
[1] J. Kraus (95)
[x] F. Krohn (93)
[x] K. Mantai (93)
[x] A. Parai (95)
[x] J. Romal (93)
[x] T. Rywick (94)
[x] A. Sarker (95)
[x] P. Sinden (93)
[1] B.J. Stephens (95)
[x] M. Vassallo (95)
Student Representatives:
[x] N. Crino
[x] S. Downey
[1] G. Schneider
[ ] (VACANT)
[ ] (VACANT)
[ ] (VACANT)
Ex Officio:
[1] D. Burdette
[x] J. Crowley
[x] M. Dimitri
[x] D. Hess
[x] J. Hurtgen
[x] D. Jelski
[x] M. L. Lunde
[x] D. MacPhee
[x] T. McNeil
[x] T. Steinberg
[x] J. Straight
[1] S. Warner
[x] A. Wheeler
[x] S. Zablotney
Guests:
Minda Rae Amiran
Adrian Gomez
Heidi Mahoney
Christopher Smith
Connie Willeford
Tracy S. Bennett
Dorothy Harris
Marjorie Maloney Plaister
Thomas McNeil, College Senate Secretary