Faculty Council
Minutes of the meeting of December 11, 1995
Meeting called to order by Ted Steinberg at 4:07 P.M.
1. Steinberg asked that the agenda be approved as distributed. Passed
2. Approval of the minutes from November 13, 1995. Passed
3. President's Report:
President Donald A. MacPhee commented on the December 1st report regarding "Rethinking SUNY", Board of Trustee's Report to the Legislature and to the Governor and the Prospects for the 1996-1997 Budget. MacPhee noted that there remains no agreement on many of the details of the December 1, 1995 report. SUNY has agreed to be less specific on specifying such matters as faculty productivity and academic programs which will allow individual campuses to decide where to make its own budget cuts (when the budget is known). MacPhee commented that. "..it is quite clear that the balance of relative autonomy and operational freedom will shift between the Central Office and the Campus... but not complete freedom or autonomy at the campus level".
MacPhee further commented that the 30% cut in SUNY will happen but how it would happen is still unknown. MacPhee commented that there probably will be a change of status of the hospitals in SUNY. MacPhee stated that the main issue (question) regarding the future of SUNY is the public policy issue, i.e. to what extent is the current NYS administration or the Board of Trustees committed financially to its State University? MacPhee reminded us of how the 90% support level of state funding (when he first came to Fredonia) has slipped to less than 50% this year. MacPhee informed us that the budget would be released this Friday (December 15, 1995). MacPhee predicts around a 4% budget reduction for our campus. On a positive note, MacPhee added that the fundraising level is at 5.7 million dollars for our campus. MacPhee asked for any questions. M. Nelson asked about the much quoted $400.00 tuition increase figure and/or free-choice differential tuition for each campus. MacPhee doubts that there will be a "free-choice" differential across campuses but the $400.00 figure has been discussed. As far as "differential levels" most discussion has been regarding university centers versus college campuses. M.R. Amiran inquired as to how individual campuses would handle their own "cuts" in relation to the "autonomy" issue raised earlier in the President's report. MacPhee responded that, "... we are just at the beginning of realizing autonomy over our own cuts".
MacPhee pointed out that the current (apparently successful) defense of retaining programs at our campus emphasized how important the programs were, not the relative importance, to maintain a particular staffing level. MacPhee further noted that there will probably be some elimination of program duplications (in SUNY) but where and whose program(s) will be discontinued no one knows at this time. K. Mantai asked what criteria will be used to judge individual programs? MacPhee responded that programs that attract students will probably stay and those that do not probably will not be retained. Mantai further asked about SUNY quality specifically how are we to measure program quality? MacPhee responded that we have had discussions about quality and will continue to have these discussions on campus.
A. Sarkar spoke at some length regarding the issue of what we call ourselves and how very important it is to our present and future well-being as an educational institution. A. Sarkar moved that we change our name from State University of New York College at Fredonia to State University College at Fredonia. Seconded by M. Nelson. (It was noted by R. Deming that it wasn't appropriate to make a motion at this time but it could be brought up under new business. T. Steinberg asked that it be brought up under new business.) MacPhee commented that the more we use the name "Fredonia" the better we advertise ourselves noting that Potsdam calls itself Potsdam College. President MacPhee further commented that he thinks we are currently closer to using State University College at Fredonia.
K. Mantai asked where the moneys have gone since we switched to MCI. V.P. Burdette responded that the service has increased and the revenue will be about the same.
N. Nelson asked about if there was any developments regarding the recent "cross-burning". V.P. Dimitri responded that we do not have a primary suspect, "... but surely are investigating every lead". Dimitri further commented that he was disappointed that the $2000.00 reward didn't generate more specific information about the incident. K. Mantai asked if there is any indication of a conspiracy -- more than two people involved. Dimitri responded that their investigation at this time indicates that only two individuals were involved and that there was no conspiracy. J. Gillette asked if it was known where the cross was made? Dimitri responded that they knew where the materials came from. J. McVicker noted that at the last FC meeting there appeared to be more optimism about an arrest of those individuals responsible. Dimitri responded that this is true but the information they had at that time had not proven to be conclusive. MacPhee commented how pleased he was regarding the very positive response to the "Forum for Learning and Healing" held November 29, 1995 in King Concert Hall. In addition, MacPhee noted that he will be meeting with a broadly based committee in a couple of days to discuss what we should be doing from this point.
4. Chairperson's report: No report.
5. Vice-chairman's report: No report.
6. Faculty Senator's report: No report.
7. Election of FC Chairperson and College Senate Secretary: Steve Rees reported that there was received one nomination for Chairperson of FC (Bob Deming) and one nomination for College Senate Secretary (Jefferson Westwood). It was moved and seconded that the nominations be closed and that the FC Secretary cast one ballot for Bob Deming as Chairperson of Faculty Council and one ballot for Jefferson Westwood as Faculty Council Secretary. Passed. M. Nelson requested as a special order of business the following ,...it was moved to thank both T. Steinberg and J. Onufrak for their excellent work on Faculty Council. Passed.
8. Standing Committee Reports:
a. Governance:
S. Rees reported that the faculty census is completed. The census of the Faculty for purposes of representation on the Faculty Council taken in November of 1995 is as follows: Arts, education and humanities (171 FTE) will have 17 representatives, Natural and Social Sciences (123.3 FTE) will have 12 representatives, and Professional and Management Confidential (150 FTE) with 15 representatives for a total of 44 representatives from these three areas. Regarding another matter, there is a call for nominations for Student Association Board of Directors.
b. Academic Affairs:
T. Rywick commented on the apparent change of policy for transfer students that have received an associates degree in that lower division courses for completion for the baccalaureate degree shall be considered satisfied. This will be applied to our Parts I and II of our GCP. Rywick noted that Academic Affairs wishes to express their concern for lack of consultation of this interpretation. President MacPhee commented that it seemed a reasonable thing to do following the Board of Trustees action. J Krauss asked why the Board of Trustees is doing this at this time. MacPhee responded that it would ease transfer within the SUNY system. J. Hurtgen responded that in most instances both Part I and Part II are covered but if there is a deficiency it is in the science area. L. Maheady also commented that when a student transfers to education, individual advisement (needed for certification) corrects for any deficiencies. (T. Steinberg asked that Academic Affairs continue to monitor this action taken by the Board of Trustees.) M. Nelson reported for the Calendar Committee. M. Nelson moved that the guidelines should read,... schedule no fewer than 68 days per semester plus exams, and no fewer than 140 days per academic year plus exams. Passed and....moved the following schedule for the academic year 1999-2000 (Passed):
| Register/Begin Classes | Not in Session | Exams |
| August 30 (M)/31 (T) | Oct. 7-8 (Th-F) Nov. 22-27 (M-F) Dec. 16-17 (Th/F) |
Dec. 20-22 (M-W) |
| January 18 (T)/19(W) | March 17 (F)-24 (F) April 21 (F) |
May 8-12 (M-F) Graduation: May 13 (S) |
c. Planning and Budget:
No formal report. J. Kraus noted that he and others members of this committee think that some members of the administration should be full members of the committee.
d. Professional Service: No report.
e. Student Affairs: No report.
9. Report of the Improvement for Undergraduate Education:
Larry Maheady presented a written report stating that the primary activities of the committee were (1) organized a series of professional development workshops during the Spring and Fall Terms, 1995. (2) organized and conducted the new faculty orientation on August 25, 1995, (3) discussed the general topic of instructional quality on campus and how it was (and is) impacting the recent budget cuts. and (4) future committee business will include the development of a professional development calendar for spring 1996. A copy of the report is available from L. Maheady.
10. New Business:
M. Nelson moved that a discussion of A. Sarkar motion (found in the President's Report) be postponed to the first meeting of the Spring 1995 semester. Passed. (A. Sarkar had moved and M. Nelson had seconded that our name be changed from State University of New York College at Fredonia to State University College at Fredonia.) M. Nelson suggested that there be "some sort of a report" devoted to this issue.
11. Motion to Adjourn. Passed at 5:15 P.M.
Attendance:
Professional Staff/Management:
[E] K. Bonds
[x] S. Clarke
[E] V. Conover
[ ] D. Danielsen
[ ] A. Jackson
[ ] T. Malinoski
[x] S. Maloney
[ ] L. Marrano
[ ] J. Moss
[x] T. Murphy
[x] C. Niles
[ ] W. Ortega
[E] T. Tzitzis
[ ] S. Mazumdar
Arts, Education and Humanities:
[x] M. Amiran
[x] C. Brown
[x] R. Deming
[x] Gillette
[ ] R. Klassen
[x] R. Ma
[x] L. Maheady
[x] J. McVicker
[ ] K. Mills-Court
[x] M. Nelson
[x] J. Onufrak
[ ] J. Parla-Burdic
[x] G. Sebouhian
Natural and Social Sciences:
[x] N. Gee
[x] J. Kraus
[x] G. Lash
[x] K. Mantai
[x] P. Mattocks
[ ] A. Parai
[x] T. Pencek
[E] G. Prechtl
[x] A. Sarkar
[x] B. Stephens
[ ] M. Vassallo
[x] D. Welch
Ex Officio:
[E] J. Adams
[x] D. Burdette
[x] J. Crowley
[x] M. Dimitri
[ ] G. Harper
[x] D. Hess
[x] J. Hurtgen
[ ] S. Kraus
[x] D. MacPhee
[x] S. Rees
[x] J. Romal
[x] T. Steinberg
[x] S. Zablotney
Guests:
Ron Ambrosetti
Carolyn Briggs
John A. Onufrak College Senate Secretary
ADDENDUM from new College Senate Secretary Jefferson Weswood entered onto computer file Feb. 8, 1996:
A. Sakar will introduce a CORRECTION to the minutes regarding the motion he made concerning the college name.