Faculty Council
Minutes of the meeting of April 10, 1995
Meeting called to order in Fenton 105 by Ted Steinberg at 4:03 P.M.
1. Steinberg asked that Agenda Item # 9. Report of Curriculum Review Committee be postponed to next meeting. Moved and Seconded. Passed. Approval of Agenda as amended. Passed.
2. Approval of minutes from March 13, 1995. Passed.
3. President's Report:
President MacPhee expressed his sorrow and shock over the death of Provost Aaron N. Bloch Provost at the University of Buffalo who died very suddenly this past Saturday. Provost Block's son Adam is a student at Fredonia. MacPhee then spoke about the budget noting he just finished a conference call with the Chancellor and others noting that there does not seem to be any way to estimate when the budget will be passed. There remains a mix of variables which makes it difficult to presently know what and where the cuts will be. MacPhee further noted that, "as far as history goes the farther the budget goes the better that SUNY fares",... so this at least appears positive. MacPhee further commented that for planning purposes Fredonia is using 5% and 7% as estimated projected budget cuts but he hopes it will be less than that. There seems to be some evidence that tuition will not go up over $1000.00 with an approximate 30% cut to SUNY Central. MacPhee further commented that the college is continuing to hold on a number of actions including part time adjunct appointments, searches, and sabbaticals until better information about the budget is received. MacPhee will be meeting with the Planing and Budget Committee tomorrow to discuss some planing options for example the 5% and 7% budget cut models. MacPhee then asked for questions.
J. Straight commented on his recent Faculty Senate meeting at Plattsburg where it was noted that a 5% cut would be a reasonable figure to use for planning purposes. Straight also noted his concern for the search process particularly as it effects Mathematics where there are four retirements. MacPhee thanked Straight for his comment noting his own reluctance to "staying on hold" for too long and hoping for something very soon to allow for more definite planning, possibly next week. M. Nelson complimented a report that President MacPhee commissioned and Tom Rywick did regarding the arming of Public Safety Officers noting it to be "... a model and excellent piece of work". MacPhee noted he also thought the model went very well and thanked Tom for his work. M. R. Amiran asked for clarification regarding the decision making relationship between the New York State Assembly and Senate and SUNY Central regarding SUNY's budget. MacPhee commented that no one really knows the answer for sure. In fact, that kind of question was raised during the recent phone conference with the Chancellor. For example, regarding tuition, to "overly simply" the ideology of the assembly is pushing for a lower tuition increase or no increase, the ideology of the senate seems to be less concerned about the level of tuition increase. Straight commented that he is doing Xeroxing (billed through FSA) at his own expense and asked President MacPhee if this expense, "... could be made as cheap as possible". MacPhee inquired if Xeroxing budgets are completely gone? He further suggested that the matter be discussed with department chairs and with the deans. He asked Tracy Bennett to look into the matter. Lucey- Commented that recently the media indicated that there would be no campus closings but that there would be some restructuring of SUNY and asked if the Chancellor shared his thinking as to how that would occur? MacPhee commented, "...no not specifically", noting that in his view it is too late this year to do any major restructuring. And further that there has not been a general discussion among presidents on the restructuring issue. And finally we won't know what kinds of restructuring are necessary until we know the percentage of the budget cuts.
4. Chairperson's Report: no report
5. Vice Chairperson's Report: no report
6. Faculty Senator's Report:
J. Straight commented on the meeting he attended last Friday and Saturday at the College at Plattsburg. (1) Vincent Aceto, SUNY Albany was elected president of the Senate for a two year term. (2) President James Chen (College at Geneseo) spoke to the Faculty Senate having been briefed by SUNY's "budget gurus" on the state senate's and state assembly's budget bills for SUNY. President Chen reported that the Senate is asking for a $1000.00 tuition increase and a "bottom line" $34 million cut including a $3.5 million cut for SUNY Central which would be a 2.5 %- 3.0% cut for the campuses. This would include a $40 million restoration for TAP and a $11.8 million (out of $40 million) restoration for EDP, SEEK, and HEOP. For the Assembly a $600-$700 tuition increase and a "bottom line" $43 million cut with no mention of TAP restoration and a restoration of 15.3 million (out of $16.8 million) for EDP which would be a 4% cut for the campuses. (3) There was a warning from Mary Ware, Senator from Cortland regarding enrollment shortfall due to an unusually large number of students finishing up in the summer at the probable lower tuition rates. (4) Chancellor Bartlett is recommending "vertical" rather than "across the board" cuts. In addition, Chancellor Bartlett mentioned on several occasions teacher education as an area where SUNY may have an excessive amount of duplication. (5) The Senate passed a number of resolutions including one for revisions in eligibility and selection criteria for the rank of Distinguished Service Professor and the final report was accepted (and essentially adopted) from the Distance Learning Committee. (A full report will be given by Straight at a later date.)
On another mater Straight noted that his term of office will be up and that there will be forthcoming an election for Faculty Senator for a three year term. Straight encouraged anyone to consider the position.
7. Standing Committee's Reports:
a. Governance:
S. Lewis reported on the results of recent elections. For the Planning & Budget Committee Holly Lawson (Natural and Social Sciences) was reelected and Larry Maheady (Arts, Education and Humanities was elected. On another matter, Lewis reported that most of the standing committees have at least one seat open.
b. Academic Affairs:
T. Rywick noted that although he had no formal report the academic affairs committee has been discussing the proposed changes of the General College Program and at this time does not recommend any changes. As chair of the academic affairs committee, Rywick will be meeting with Dean Hurtgen and the executive committee of faculty council to further discuss this mater.
c. Planning & Budget: no report
d. Student Affairs: no report
e. Professional Service: no report
8. Report of Director, Reed Library:
S. Besemer noted the following "Good News": Attendance up 40% from last year and 94% from two years ago; circulation of materials up 3% from last year and 8.3% from two years ago; interlibrary loan requests are up 288% from last year; we now have FirstSearch Capability which is a SUNY wide contract (a very easy and useful data base search); the capital campaign has resulted in some gifts from alums, including one medieval musical manuscript; and (concluding this section of her report) thanked the Departments who have made generous gifts to the library including the School of Music who donated musical CDs purchased from revenues from a concert in February 1994. "Weighty Matters": A building update notes that everything is just about finished; in the process of adding 26 public terminals in the main part of the library; at the end of the month the library will have 4.5 vacant positions (two librarians, 2.5 support positions). Besemer noted the, "...this makes it very difficult to do anything but the basics..." expressing her concern about hiring new people because of the present budget situation but is hopeful that the library may be able to find and hire some people very soon; there has been $20,000 taken from the book budget for this year but books can be ordered (notices to the chairs have been recently sent out), however, the reduction will be prorated to each department. "Awareness Item": Routine Interlibrary Loans for students will be limited from April 16 until the end of the semester because of the difficulty of filling such requests within the time frame that the students need them. Any students who have compelling needs for library loans at this time should talk directly to ILL staff, not reference librarians, to request fax service. In addition, Besemer has met with the Student Affairs Committee to discuss the possibility of adding additional hours to the library on Friday night and Saturday morning. M. Nelson asked a question- "What is the bare bones cost of keeping the library open for an hour minimally staffed." Besemer responded that if there isn't any librarians or support staff we can keep the library open with students for approximately $25.00 an hour. Further commenting that we wouldn't want to do that all the time. Mantai commented that there is a possible area of potential serious injury regarding one of the doors to the library. Besemer thanked Mantai for his comment and said that she would look into the matter. Steinberg asked about the additional terminals and if they would be on the upper floors. Besemer responded that they would be on every floor.
10. New Business:
Steinberg mentioned that we (Executive Committee of FC) have been reading in the Assessment Newsletter questions about class attendance and that he has asked the Academic Standards Committee to look into the matter. Steinberg then asked M. Amiran to start a discussion of class attendance. Amiran stated that judging by the response of faculty to the Assessment Newsletter the issue of students missing classes is very widespread. Amiran noted that, "...I myself am firmly of two minds." (laughter) Amiran went on to note that if students generally don't feel they are getting anything out of a course they shouldn't have to attend but maybe it is the responsibility of the teacher to help develop academic priorities, e.g. Amiran said that some students told her that they have overslept her 11:00 o'clock class. Amiran then discussed the possibilities of developing a WN grade where the faculty member could withdraw the student from a class for failure to attend. At this point general discussion followed concerning class attendance. M. Nelson moved that Faculty council ask the academic affairs committee to discuss the possibility of requiring attendance at Fredonia including the possibility of a WN grade and report back to FC. The Motion was seconded. At this point discussion followed considering the motion. The Motion Passed.
11. Motion to adjourn. Motion Passed at 5:10 P.M.
Attendance:
Professional Staff/Management:
[x] K. Bonds
[x] S. Clarke
[E] V. Conover
[ ] D. Danielsen
[ ] A. Jackson
[x] T. Malinoski
[ ] S. Maloney
[x] L. Marrano
[ ] J. Moss
[x] T. Murphy
[x] C. Niles
[ ] W. Ortega
[x] T. Tzitzis
Arts, Education and Humanities:
[x] M. Amiran
[ ] C. Brown
[x] R. Deming
[x] R. Klassen
[x] R. Ma
[x] L. Maheady
[ ] J. McVicker
[x] K. Mills-Court
[x] M. Nelson
[x] J. Onufrak
[x] J. Parla-Burdic
[ ] G. Sebouhian
Natural and Social Sciences:
[ ] S. El-Mofty
[x] N. Gee
[x] J. Kraus
[E] G. Lash
[x] K. Mantai
[x] P. Mattocks
[x] A. Parai
[x] T. Pencek
[x] G. Prechtl
[x] A. Sarkar
[E] B. Stephens
[x] M. Vassallo
[x] D. Welch
Ex Officio:
[ ] D. Burdette
[ ] J. Crowley
[ ] M. Dimitri
[ ] G. Harper
[x] D. Hess
[x] J. Hurtgen
[x] S. Kraus
[x] S. Lewis
[x] D. MacPhee
[x] J. Romal
[x] T. Steinberg
[x] J. Straight
[x] S. Zablotney
Students:
[x] Stacy Kraus
[x] Ken March
[x] Nate Merkel
Guests:
Ron Ambrosetti
Tracy Bennett
Susan Besemer
Tesfai Kflu
Richard Larson
Ken Lucey
Melissa Nowak
Tom Rywick
John A. Onufrak College Senate Secretary