Faculty Council
Minutes of the meeting of December 9, 1996
1. Chairperson Robert Deming called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. in Fenton 105. The agenda was approved as distributed.
2. The minutes of the meeting of November 11, 1996 were approved as distributed.
3. President's Report (Dr. Dallas K. Beal):
In the interest of getting closure on matters that have come before the Faculty Council, I would like to announce my approval of the action of the last meeting on the Bachelor of Science in Social Work, and also my approval of the creation of the General College Program Standing Committee.
I know that you have a meeting following this one, to discuss the recent racial incidents that have beset us, and I will attend that meeting. Let me just say a word or two on that, and if we need to go into any further discussion about it then I'll be here after the meeting is over to respond. I think everyone in this room received a copy of my memorandum to the campus, so I will not go into great detail on that. Let me just give you, for whatever benefit, my own thinking about the way the incidents seem to divide themselves from what the campus ought to be doing which is good for the college. And I think those should be separated a little bit.
Speaking generally, I believe the initiatives that we've taken are in the line of things we do pretty well, and are prepared to do: We can build programs and all the matters that I mentioned [in my memorandum to the campus]. And there's a tendency to think, well that's in response to the incidents that beset us. And there is some real truth to that. However when you start thinking about the resolution, then you think about what is in the best interest of the college. These are things we should be doing anyway.
And that's where the issues become a little bit separate. Because there is no way that we can possibly protect ourselves against the perpetration of uncivil acts. They seem to be a part of the culture. They're going to happen here; they're going to happen elsewhere. And my general feeling is that we have to reach a point, we're not there yet, where when these things happen, we the college collectively -- all of us -- do not border on almost a nervous breakdown. Because it is my strong belief that that tends to feed even more into this kind of behavior. But you can't leave it there. You have to build strong positive initiatives some of which I mentioned in my memorandum. So that we will reach a point, in the future, when these things occur, that we can put them in the perspective they deserve. Which is sort of the bottom of our individual agenda. Now that's easier said than done, and I'm open to any suggestions you might have about additional things that we might do to build the kind of community here at this college where we will be able to deal with those matters in such a way that they do not distract us from our primary purpose.
I can't feel all of the pain that some of our students must feel. I certainly have felt some of it, as all of you have. And I understand how those feelings develop, and how they're exercised. And I compliment our student leaders on the way in which they handle themselves. I think it shows a level of maturity that should make us rather proud.
In this connection you know that I approved the appointment of a Director of Multicultural Affairs on a full-time basis. I felt that this was the right thing to do at this point in time. And I know of no brief for the combination of those two positions given the circumstances that we have been through. So I think we should get on with the appointment of this person as soon as we possibly can. I hope the director of multicultural affairs will be on board with the beginning of the spring semester.
That leaves us with a situation regarding the affirmative action position. I've discussed this with Dr. Hefner, and on his request, and I certainly agree with it, we will leave that opening for him when he arrives. I think it's appropriate that the new president engage in the development of that position -- where it fits in the administrative organization of the college is something I should not take away from him. It's something that he should be free to do. There will be, I suppose, a hiatus when Mr. O'Rourke leaves at the end of December until Dr. Hefner is able to fill the affirmative action position. And we're discussing ways in which we can fill that gap as soon as possible.
Regarding admissions for fall: I can report to you from November 30 data, which is the latest report I have. We need to remember the distinction between applicants and applications. Applicants those are individual people, applications mean you count up the applications, one person might have applied to fifteen schools, so it's better to be concerned with how many specific applicants we have. The University Centers are down 11.2% from last year. The Arts and Science Colleges are down 11% from last year. The community colleges are down 12.9%. At Fredonia with our Freshman applicants, we are down .7% (seven tenths of one percent) from last year. The range in the arts and science colleges is from .7% to a decrease of 20.2%. To put it succinctly Fredonia at this point in time at least is in the best shape of any of the arts and science colleges or for that matter the University Centers. Will that change next week? Yes. These things flip up and down. In fact I was all ready to report to you a 2% increase over last year and then another report came in and said, no its down to .7%. But generally though we seem to be in better shape than most of the other [SUNY] institutions and I should tell you that.
Regarding Spring applications we're just about within a few students of where we were last year. So that looks pretty good.
The general education study that has been a part of the agenda of the University over the past several months, is moving forward, slowly. There is a steering committee made up of the head of the State University College Senate, and the Community College Senate. And I thought I'd share with you a quote that was sent to me from this steering committee. They are saying "The purpose is not to develop one required SUNY-wide general education program with one course syllabi, but to examine and develop a system wide policy statement with recommendations to the chancellor." They expect this report to come out spring of 1997. My hope is that they'll keep it about as general as that. But we'll see and I think it bears watching.
The SUNY learning network, of which we're a part will increase from 14 courses this fall to 20 in the spring. And of course Professor Lucey will be Fredonia's interactive professor this spring semester.
Now to the 1997-98 budget: [Hand-outs were distributed by Vice President Burdette]. The trustees sent forward what is generally called a flat budget. The requirement from the governor was that all agencies submit a no-increase budget. And of course that is what the trustees did. However they included with that budget, in their financial plan base, a series of numbers, requests if you will, that would show that we need for this college another $311,000 generally if we are to operate next year the way we operate financially this year it would requite about another $311,000. So that has been included as a piece of the budget. Thus a discretionary part of the budget, would include for us another $311,000. Now remember there is no assurance that that will happen. But it is an expression of what we need to move this year's budget over into next year.
I think that one of the things that is certainly in the picture, is the fact that the state has about a 3 billion dollar hole in next years budget. SUNY's share of that is estimated to be around 100 million dollars. So our share of that would be about one million plus. I don't think we need to speculate too much on that, because there is so much work left on this budget. I wouldn't worry too much. We'll wait and see what the Governor's Budget shows on January 15th. I'm merely saying I don't think we can live with great optimism about that budget.
I'm putting together for the new president an advocacy group made up of people from the campus here, as well as businesses people in the community -- Chambers of Commerce and others -- who can be called together to become strong advocates of restoration in the event that there are serious reductions in the budget. I just felt that I was in a better position to do that than Dr. Hefner since I know so many of the players. So that is underway. David do you want to say anything?
Vice President David Burdette: Just one or two other things. On the numbers that you have, it's because CSEA has settled their contract, that those are contractual costs for CSEA. UUP has not settled their contract, so there are no [numbers reflected for this.]
Dr. Beal: My understanding is that historically the legislature has appropriated the money to cover the salary increase. I hope they don't learn any lessons from Connecticut. I was always dealing with the legislature smiling, approving a contract, and then not appropriating the money, saying "Well, we gave you the agreement to do this." I hope that's not infectious.
The variable tuition is still being discussed. There are three matters that have come to my attention that have not surfaced necessarily out of the committee but are part of the discussions that sort of take place out in the hall. There seems to be some positiveness toward campuses retaining their own tuition, rather than shipping it off to Albany, and I think that's probably a plus. However, there is also the concern that campuses not be left solely on their own to determine their own tuition rate. This could create a kind of warfare that could ultimately hurt the students. The other concern is about how this all works out in terms of its impact on financial assistance for students. If I were to make a prediction, it would be that this discussion about variable tuition will be with us for quite some time. I don't think the matter is going to be resolved in one year.
The Chancellor has our proposal on out of state tuition, which I reported to you at the last meeting. I put a call in last Friday, and at this point in time I have not had a response, although in earlier discussions the Chancellor was certainly favorable to consideration.
The search for a new Chancellor is proceeding, I guess. The last I have is that they have some names from an organization they employed to help with the search. And they are reviewing those names. But I don't think they've made much progress beyond that at the present time.
This leads me to my final point, which is to say good-bye again. And I want to tell you that I know I believe Dr. Hefner is certainly well prepared by experience, but that he also has the disposition well suited to the needs of Fredonia now and in the future. And I put a lot of emphasis on disposition. I find a lot of people who have knowledge, but sometimes the disposition is not really there. I think he has a good combination of both of those things. He seems to have the boundless energy necessary, and the motivation to deal with the issues and problems that lie ahead. We have a president coming on board who is ready to take the wheel in hands. And I only hope that there isn't a lot of traffic immediately. I hope he has a chance to proceed at pace.
I know you'll give him support, as much, a lot, more than you've given me during these past few months, and in the years past. I want to take the opportunity to say thanks to you for that. And I thank you also for the kind words, and the continued cooperation. You've made my brief return pleasant and rewarding. I step aside for a new leadership with no less faith or fondness than I've always for you and for this institution. So Kris joins me in extending our best wishes for a bright future, and for a pleasant, pleasant and happy holiday season. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Chairperson Deming: I have a lot in my report. The executive committee last month recommended to the Faculty Council the name of Julie Henry to serve as College Senate Secretary. Are there any further nominations for the position of College Senate Secretary? Not hearing any the chair will entertain a motion instructing the secretary to cast a unanimous ballot electing Julie Henry as College Senate Secretary.
Motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
Dr. Deming: Thank you. It would help Julie now today and in the future if you would identify yourself when you first speak until she begins to learn people's names.
Let me give you some background on this statement here [on the agenda] about a resolution regarding Faculty Council's role in the creation of new majors and new minors. There was some confusion, as the Social Work major was moving through committee, as to whether the Faculty Council should or should not approve that major. Those of us who have served on Council for a long time and have some intimate acquaintance with the bylaws, more or less met and decided that, yes as far as we knew majors and minors came before Council after they had moved through appropriate committees. But since there was some confusion, I would like to propose the following resolution: Resolved, that Faculty Council has the responsibility to approve new majors and minors. Is there a motion to approve the resolution?
Motion was moved and seconded.
Dr. Deming: I would like to point out that this discussion took place much in advance of the proposal of a series of interdisciplinary minors in American Multiculturalism. Is there any discussion?
Dr. Ken Lucey: Does this mean if Council disapproves [a given major or minor] that we would have blackball or veto power?
Chair Deming: Yes. The President of course always has the right to overrule. We're advisory. All the resolution does is simply clarify what most of us remember standard operating procedure to be. Any further discussion?
Dr. Zablotney: As a point of clarification, does this resolution pertain to new major that would have a new HEGIS Code, or would this be a new major that a department would be creating within their existing program.
Chair Deming: Both.
Dr. Zablotney: So this would apply to a track as well, under the resolution?
Dr. Deming: Yes. The only time it seems to me in the past that Academic Affairs has not sent something to Faculty Council for approval is when it was merely a revision of an existing major. Is that right Dave?
Vice President Hess: That's correct.
Motion passed unanimously.
The executive committee has forwarded to the interim president a friendly memorandum, clarifying the role of the Faculty Council and the bylaws in the appointment of search committees for certain administrative officers. The interim president has agreed with the executive committee that this is a matter that the executive committee and President Hefner should address as soon as possible. Since it is not clear in the by laws how far down into the level of director (after president, vice-president and dean) Faculty Council has a bylaws obligation to establish search committees. So we're going to try to get that clarified as soon as possible. It was a friendly memo, but it did take exception to the two recent searches.
As you know, or as you probably do not know, last week when President Hefner was here, Jefferson Westwood delivered to him about fifty-six copies of the employee opinion survey which had been turned in up to that point. Opinion surveys can still be sent in by Monday December 16th. There is however a provision in the cover memo which says that an additional copy of each form will be put on reserve in Reed Library, for use by appropriate campus committees. For some reason Friday morning I received a copy of all of the surveys that had been sent to President Hefner. I was not aware I was going to receive a copy. I read the opinion surveys. And it was my judgment that the tone, and the substance (particularly of some of the unsigned opinion surveys) was of such hostility and of such tastelessness and of such personal venom that I felt it was not in the interest of the college or appropriate campus committees for these to be seen by anyone other than President Hefner. And therefore without consultation with the executive committee I removed the copy from Reed Library. I subsequently, before our meeting with President Hefner, at 2:30 on Friday, consulted with the other members of the executive committee and they have, even having not seen the copies, agreed with my judgment.
Finally, I would like the council to approve the following resolution.
Resolved: that the Faculty Council thanks Interim President Dallas K. Beal for all that he has done for the college this semester and especially for being such a friend of Governance.
Motion was moved, seconded and passed.
Dr. Beal: Thank you all very much. [Hearty Applause].
Vice chair: No report.
Faculty Senator: No report.
Report of the presidential search committee: (Ray Belliotti):
After this, my final report on behalf of the Presidential search committee, I will invite questions. Committee member Jefferson Westwood asked me to announce the following: The committee met 46 times, over a period of 14 months while examining the credentials of over 140 applicants for the presidency. During this period the committee consumed 34 pizzas, 114 sandwiches, 1 lasagna, 146 soft drinks, and innumerable bottles of Pepto-Bismol. At the conclusion of the second and final stage of the search in November, after extensive review of employment backgrounds, interviews and investigative reports, and campus and community evaluations, the committee recommended only one finalist -- Dr. Dennis Hefner -- to the College Council. After appropriate deliberation the College Council recommended only Dr. Hefner to the SUNY Chancellor and SUNY board of trustees.
As you know Dr. Hefner will begin his tenure as President of the college in January.
A question has arisen on campus regarding the difference in the number of finalists recommended during the two stages of the search. You will recall that at the conclusion of the first stage in May it was reported that the committee and the College Council recommended three finalists to the SUNY board of trustees. Such reports were accurate. The committee recommended three finalists at that time pursuant to a specific request made by the board. Although the official SUNY guidelines for Presidential searches permit a College Council to submit only one candidate to the chancellor and the board.
Our committee was informed that these guidelines were being revised and that we should forward three applicants to the board. The committee complied with that request in May. (Although I should point out there are numerous ways to forward three candidates in a written report to the board.)
Upon the collapse of the first stage, later in May, as two of the four finalists withdrew prior to action by the board, and the failure of the board to agree upon revised written guidelines for presidential searches, our committee operated under the assumption that it was permitted to recommend only one person at the conclusion of the second stage of the search. Interim Chancellor Ryan played a constructive role throughout this time. He facilitated the committee's efforts to operate under the SUNY guidelines of presidential searches that had not yet been officially revised. Accordingly this scenario accounts for the difference in the number of candidates forwarded to the board during the two stages of the search.
Another question that has arisen on campus concerns the two finalists Dr. Wendell Rayburn and Dr. Robert Burns, who remained after the collapse of the first stage of the search in May. One of these finalists withdrew formally, in order to accept another employment opportunity, while the other withdrew de facto by ceasing communications with the executive vice chair of the committee. Thus neither of these candidates was an applicant during the second stage of the search.
In conclusion I would like to single out the College Council members of the committee. Mark Hampton, Joe Johnson, Ann Manly, and Kirk Williams with their exemplary service. They consistently performed tasks such as liaison with the Interim Chancellor, members of the SUNY board, and legislators, that other members of the committee could not have undertaken. Moreover I applaud the members of the president's office: Dr. Dallas Beal, Theresa Dispensa, and Doranne Damore who dealt effectively with a host of logistical problems and matters of protocol.
Finally I acknowledge all of you, who extended yourselves in so many ways during the past 14 months -- by acting as escorts, by attending meetings, by painstakingly evaluating candidates, and by generally promoting the campus and the community. Your efforts made a significant difference and are greatly appreciated. Thank You.
[There were no questions.]
Governance Committee (Stephen Rees):
There will be in the mail tomorrow morning a couple of items. First, there will be a "This is not a ballot" slate for the General College Program Standing Committee. There are a large number of names on that slate already. We are seeking other nominations. We are ultimately looking for one member from Professional Staff/Management Confidential, two members from Arts, Education and Humanities, and two members from Natural and Social Sciences. The actual ballot will be going out a week from today and will be due back the 23rd of December.
The second thing that will be going out with that package will be ballots from Professional Staff and Management Confidential for two members of Faculty Council and also a ballot going out to the Natural and Social Sciences area for six members of the Faculty Council. There will be no election for Arts Education and Humanities. All of these ballots will also be due back the 23rd of December.
Chair Deming: If anyone wishes to know whether his or her term on council expires at the end of this calendar year, you may see me, Steve, Jane or Julie.
Question from Minda Rae Amiran: How many representatives will there be from Arts, Education and Humanities when elections are over?:
Mr. Rees: There will be twelve.
Academic Affairs (Joe Straight):
At the last meeting, the November meeting of council, I brought before you the proposal for the new major in Social Work. And at that time I handed out a summary of the activities of our committee for the fall semester. We've only had one meeting since the November meeting of council. I've been working on some new issues, and will expect to bring a number of proposals to council at its first meeting of the Spring semester. One of the things that I thought I'd bring to your attention and perhaps you can give the committee some guidance on this, is the issue of mid-semester grades.
A number of members of the committee had noticed that in working with our advisees when they came in to pick up their mid-semester grades, that there were a number of either missing grades or it seemed like the use of the X grade was a bit higher than usual.
We asked Registrar Nan Bowser to give us some data on this, and it turns out that she had been keeping this data for some past semesters, and was also able to look at it for Fall '96. As it turns out, I would say there is not too much of a change over time. It's somewhat up and down, but I don't see any real trend over time.
For all divisions for the Fall of '96 the X grade was given in 13% of the courses and in 10% of the courses there was no grade given at all. Thus, grades were given in 78% of the courses. There are some variations among the various disciplines. For example in Education the X grade was used in 46% of the courses and a grade was given 45% of the time. So I guess you could say that roughly in 1/4 of the courses you are not seeing a letter grade being given.
In our preliminary discussions of this in the Academic Affairs Committee, we were thinking of proposing -- and we'd be happy to get some feedback on this -- is that we might allow use of S and U grades at mid-semester, even if the final grade reports are not going to be an S or U. So S would simply mean satisfactory progress in the course, and U would mean unsatisfactory progress in the course, but not necessarily failing. And of course people could still use the letter grades A, B, C, D and so on as they do now. Our hope would be that this would reduce somewhat the use of the X grade. And also, [keep in mind that] 10% of the faculty are not turning in mid- semester grades at all. This is kind of bothersome to me. I think instructors should turn in a mid-semester grade, especially when you have the option of using the X grade. Perhaps S and U is at least somewhat more meaningful than just the X grade. And we're hoping that this might present an option to those faculty that feel that they want to use the X grade, or because they just sort of have a loss to know what to do at mid-semester, and are not submitting a mid-semester grade at all.
Dr. Macolm Nelson: I just want to mention that I found the S/U grade very useful for one particular kind of unconventional course I'm teaching: an honors course.
President Beal: We do have an increasing number of adjunct professors, and I wonder if they're all apprised of our expectations about this. A number of them were employed at the last minute. I wonder if that effected your response. You might want to look into that Dr. Straight: We may need some additional notification going out [when it is time for] mid-semester grades. Of course something does come from the registrar's office with the forms that indicates that mid- semester grades are to be turned in by such and such a time. But maybe they don't realize it's not optional, or shouldn't be optional anyway.
Dr. Deming: I hate to ask a mathematician this question, but [are your numbers] supposed to equal one hundred?
Drs. Nelson and Beal in rapid succession: Rounding Off.
Dr. Straight: No. [Titters]. I'm glad you noticed that. It comes close though.
Dr. Julie Henry: I'm from the Education Department, and I just didn't want to let that stand. Our senior methods courses are taught in such a way that we teach them half the semester, and then they go student teach. And when they get their mid-term grades, they're actually done with our classes. So we give them all an X because we don't have any of their final projects graded and we're afraid that if they get a mid- term grade at that point, they'll think that's the valid grade. And that's about one fourth of our classes, and those are all X's. This explains why Education has such a large percentage of X grades.
Dr. Straight: I wasn't making any comment on whether it was appropriate or not, but David is on committee.
Dr. Lawrence Maheady: The other thing that's going on too with the early education courses is they now list the field based portions on the transcripts. So all the students taking the course, we put it on the transcript so it reflects that they have a field placement. And all of those I imagine are coming with X grades at that point in the semester, because they have just started their field experience.
Dr. Kenneth Lucey: Just a comment on procedure. About a third of the way into this semester, I put out a note to all my faculty, including a large number of adjuncts [letting them know about my] expectation that they should be turning in mid-semester grades. But I realized that that's really too late, because some of them had devised syllabi, which didn't have that built in. So if you're going to put people on notice you should put them on notice before they get their syllabi done.
Dr. Straight: We've been working on that issue as well and we proposed to Nan Bowser we might in fact list the date at which mid- semesters would be due in the course offerings bulletin. There were some reasons why that wasn't feasible but she did agree that it is something that faculty need to know in time to fit the building of their syllabus. So I think the current plan is that at some time in the spring semester -- maybe latter in the spring semester but in the spring semester -- she would put out kind of a Registrar's calendar, similar to what the Vice President of Academic Affairs does. This would list a variety of dates that are important in that regard. This publication would list the dates at which mid-semester grades would be due. We're trying to add that, so we will know the dates when we are making up our syllabi.
Dr. Nancy Boynton: That doesn't really answer what Ken Lucey was talking about, because when new people -- either adjuncts or any new people -- would not be around in the spring and probably wouldn't be plowing through the course offerings bulletin to look at that information. What we need to do is be somehow reminding ourselves to tell these people what to expect.
[Additional discussion]
Dr. Minda Rae Amiran: I think the S/U option at mid-terms is a very good idea. I think that might really help faculty who haven't had a lot of graded work or maybe haven't had any graded work, but have had work and know whether or not the student is on track or is totally off track -- [for instance, someone who] hasn't been attending and hasn't turned in work. And it is certainly helpful to me as an advisor to have something there [on the mid-semester grade report.] It's always by some mischance the marginal students who have all these blanks on their mid-semester grades. And you sit there wondering what to say, and the student says "Oh, I'm doing fine in all my courses."
Vice President Hess: Regarding the definition of the X grade, it's my recollection is that the X grade is to be used when you do not have a basis on which to give a grade. [If this is correct,] then how would you give an S or a U if you had no basis on which to make an assessment.
Dr. Straight: I guess it's felt that you might have a basis for that at least. As I said, even if you said I'm going to give U's to those people who have had too many absences, or are not participating in class discussion, or something like that.
Dr. Jan McVicker: If Academic Affairs recommends that S/U be used more frequently as an option [at mid-terms], I think that somehow this should get communicated to the Student Association so the students can be aware of that. I can imagine that if students feel that they are taking a course for a letter grade, and suddenly they get an S or a U as a mid-term grade -- without having [advance knowledge of this as a new college-wide policy, -- there could be some problems.] This could get even more confusing than the current state of affairs.
Dr. Straight: We would try to come up with a language that will certainly be included in the catalog, and which would also go out explaining the grades, but we haven't really gotten that detailed yet.
Dr. Jane Romal: I like the proposal, but the only thing that bothers me is that a lot of people who do give grades might give S's and U's. Then the students wouldn't have as much information as they may be entitled to in many cases.
Dr. Straight: That's the gamble. I guess we're hoping that those who give letter grades out will continue to give letter grades, and those who are giving X grades or no grades will be induced to use the S/U.
Dr. Macolm Nelson: Dr. McVicker's point about informing students is a good one, but let me tell you: they got the message in my class. The ones that got the U (and there were two or three out of thirty), immediately came up see me, [saying things like] "What's wrong?" and "What can I do?" It was very useful.
Planning and Budget: No report.
Chair Deming: [An additional bit of information for you,] just in passing: At the Executive Committee's meeting with President Hefner, we also raised the issue of Planning and Budget: i.e. whose committee is it, what did he plan to do with it, think about it. He has his own ideas.
Professional Service: No report
Student Affairs: No report and a chair has still not been elected.
New business:
Dr. Amiran: President Beal, I would like to ask about what you said in your memorandum to the campus about having a special person on campus in both the spring and in the fall. I'm delighted that the multicultural position is being made full time. I agree entirely with you and with the cabinet, that it's really important that that person has a full time job. But I wonder: given that fact, what is the assignment to be of the person coming on campus in the spring, and the person coming on campus it the fall.
President Beal: My own view of this, and of course I think it should be subject to some possible modifications by Dr. Hefner, is that I want this to focus on the academic development. I'm hoping that, and in fact we're having some discussions about finding an individual who has demonstrated through experience in publication that he or she has a real grasp of what is involved in putting together a concentration in Black Studies. The multicultural position I think will be one that involves more day to day work with the students. That door to that office should never be closed. It should be open day and night, I hope. But I think that if we're going to get some of these courses on the books and get them through the governance procedure -- Faculty Council and so forth -- we need someone who has had experience in building that concentration to work with the Steering Committee.
Dr. Amiran: Would that be a full time position?
President Beal: No I don't think so. It would be a consultant.
Vice President Hess: The idea for the spring is to look for someone who would come in for a few days, a couple of times during the semester, to work with interested faculty on the task force and to work on issues developing that Black Studies minor. As far as the fall, we [would have a] more extensive placement. We would look for more extensive service from someone potentially who might come and teach in that particular area or one semester. The one in the spring would simply be a consultant to come in and work with interested faculty and the task force, and the students, perhaps for a few days at a time.
President Beal: I'd rather look for someone who has done this.
Dr. Amiran: Thank you, this clarifies things. It was not clear to me how these different positions were being defined.
President Beal: I'm now going to give an answer to a question you didn't ask. I've always been struck by how little any of us know, really, about our own culture, no matter what direction or where we came from. There seems to have been an American tendency to sort of push that away. So I would look forward to the development of a sequence of courses, and Black Studies in particular, that would open it up to all students, but would be particularly beneficial to those students of color who maybe don't know and don't appreciate their rich cultural history. I think as we build that sense of belonging to the past, and appreciating it, then hopefully it will be a less emotional reaction to events that appear on bathroom walls and places like that. We're not there yet, as we all know, but we have to get there.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 4:55 p.m.
Attendance:
Professional Staff/Management Confidential:
[x] Sylvia Clarke
[x] Fabrizio Daloisio
[x] Susan Maloney
[x] Kevin Michki
[ ] Timothy Murphy
[ ] William Ortega
[x] Martha Smith
[ ] Charlene Wiles
[x] Vivian Garcia Conover
[ ] Thomas Malinoski
[ ] Lisa Marrano
[ ] Jerome Moss
[ ] Patrick Rocheleau
[x] Terry Tzitzis
Arts, Education, and Humanities:
[x] Minda Rae Amiran
[ ] Robert Deming
[ ] Carl Farraro
[x] Rose Klassen
[x] David Ludlam
[x] Lawrence Maheady
[x] Malcolm Nelson
[x] Robert Klassen
[x] Stephen E. Rees
[x] Candice Brown
[x] Janet Fairbairn
[x] Harry Jacobson
[x] Kenneth Lucey
[ ] Ringo Ma
[x] Karen Mills-Courts
[ ] George Sebouhian
Natural and Social Sciences:
[x] Nancy Boynton
[ ] Jon Kraus
[x] Kenneth Mantai
[ ] Tom Pencek
[x] Amin Sarkar
[ ] Mario Vassallo
[ ] Nancy Gee
[x] Gary Lash
[x] Peter Mattocks
[x] Greg Prechtl
[x] Brenda Joyce Stephens
[ ] Deborah Welch
Ex Officio:
[x] Julius Adams (Faculty Senator)
[ ] Jean Malinoski (VP, Development)
[x] Gregory F. Harper (Acting Dean, Educational Studies)
[ ] Peter Mooney (SA President)
[ ] Jefferson Westwood (College Senate Secretary)
[x] Jane Romal (Vice-Chair, FC)
[x] David Burdette (VP, Administration)
[x] Michael Dimitri (VP, Student Affairs)
[x] David Hess (VP, Academic Affairs)
[ ] Dallas K. Beal (Interim President)
[ ] Stephen Rees (Chair, Governance Committee)
[x] Sharon Zablotney (Dean of the Faculty)
Guests: Ron Ambrosetti Jan McVicker
Respectfully submitted,
Jefferson Westwood, Secretary
Many of those present remained for an *off agenda* discussion on recent racial incidents on campus. Faculty Council, December 9, 1996