FACULTY MEETING

November 5, 2010
Gannett Auditorium

MINUTES

Acting President Susan Kress called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Acting President Kress asked if there were any corrections or comments to the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held October 1, 2010. Hearing none, the minutes were approved.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Acting President Kress welcomed everyone. With the beginning of President Glotzbach’s sabbatical under way, Acting President Kress, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs Muriel Poston, and Acting Dean of the Faculty Paty Rubio are adjusting to new roles and appreciate your patience during the transition.

Celebration Weekend marked the successful conclusion of the Creative Thought. Bold Promise. campaign, as well as the formal dedication of Zankel Hall, the celebration of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery’s 10th Anniversary, and the dedication of the Athletics Center in honor of Susan Williamson, Trustee.

To mark the many contributions of the community to the campaign, President Glotzbach recently authorized a staff appreciation day to grant employees the day before Thanksgiving as a holiday; there will also be a celebration of faculty later today at a reception at the Tang.

Acting President Kress gave a brief overview of the recent Board of Trustees meeting and the actions taken. Overall the meeting went very well. The Strategic Planning Committee approved the Action Agenda; the document will be available in the near future. The Student Life Committee discussed over-enrollment issues and the challenges they present. Approaches to addressing the issues and challenges are being discussed.

The Infrastructure and Budget and Finance Committees approved Wait Hall renovations. The Board was informed of the work President’s Cabinet has conducted with regard to the Campus Plan. The Cabinet has reviewed progress on the Plan since 2007 and reprioritized the remaining items. The Board was given a Scribner Village update and approved the revision to the Scribner Village Replacement Project. The Board also authorized Vice President for Finance and Administration Mike West to begin preparatory work for a bond issue to support the project. There are three phases to the replacement project: the addition of three buildings to Northwoods; two slope-side townhouses; and seven flat-site town houses on the current Scribner Village site. Estimated project cost is $42 million to be funded as follows: $20 million net from the bond issue; $12 million from the Sussman family gift; $5.5 million to be dedicated from a previous campaign commitment; and $4.5 million to be covered, if needed, by fundraising, over enrollment funds, or other revenues.

Acting President Kress asked President Cabinet members in attendance if they had any additions, or comments to add; there were none. Acting President Kress asked if there were any questions at this point in the meeting. A question was raised as to whether or not trees would be taken down to accommodate the new Northwoods buildings. Dean of Student Affairs Rochelle Calhoun stated that there will be no further clearing of Northwoods and that the three buildings will be built where a current parking lot currently exists.

Acting President Kress announced that it has been decided to add to the agenda under “Other,” as a regular feature, a Cabinet Q & A session, at which time questions can be asked of President’s Cabinet members.

Acting President Kress announced that since Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs Muriel Poston could not be at today’s meeting due to family reasons, Acting Dean of the Faculty Paty Rubio would give the Vice President for Academic Affairs report.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS’REPORT

Acting Dean of the Faculty Rubio provided information on the recent October Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee meeting. The Committee adopted the 2010-11 Faculty Handbook, passed a resolution regarding January degree conferrals, the Science Vision document was presented by Mark Hofmann which resulted in the Committee passing a Resolution of Commendation in support of the Science Vision. Members of the Science Working Group were present at the committee meeting. The Library/IT major facilities project also resulted in a Resolution of encouragement for taking the next steps toward implementation.

Acting Dean of the Faculty Rubio, on behalf of herself and Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs Poston, expressed their gratitude to academic department chairs and program directors for their support of the recent realignment of the administrative support staff. The reduction of three academic administrative support staff was required in order to meet the requested budgetary reductions for 2010-11.

Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration Barbara Beck announced Kathy Carter’s retirement at the end of December. She also introduced the new Assistant Director for Benefits and Labor Relations David Spokowski who began his position November 1.

OLD BUSINESS

Associate Professor Lisa Aronson, on behalf of the Curriculum Committee, read the following Motion previously introduced at the October 3, 2010 faculty meeting (see attached):

MOTION: The Curriculum Committee moves to eliminate the Biology-Philosophy interdepartmental major. Rationale: Students are better served by choosing either Biology or Philosophy as a major and selecting the other field as a minor or majoring in both departments.

There was no discussion, and the motion was voted on and passed with all in favor.

NEW BUSINESS

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE:

Associate Professor Lisa Aronson, on behalf of the Curriculum Committee, introduced the following Motion (see attached):

MOTION: The Curriculum Committee moves to eliminate the Sociology-Anthropology interdepartmental major. Rationale: Students are better served by choosing either Sociology or Anthropology as a major and selecting the other field as a minor or majoring in both departments.

There was no discussion, and the Motion will lie over until the next meeting.

The Curriculum Committee asked that if departments believe there are other interdepartmental majors that should be eliminated, they should advise the committee.

FACULTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

Associate Professor Pat Hilleren, on behalf of the Faculty Executive Committee, introduced the following Motion:

MOTION: The following material shall be inserted as the last sentence of the third paragraph of the “Preamble” to “Part Two: Faculty Governance” of the Faculty Handbook (page 201): When the Faculty seeks to establish broad and equitable representation of its body, the following Division of Disciplines shall be used: (see full motion and rationale attached).

Questions were raised regarding whether FEC will entertain revisions to the “Division of Disciplines” document prior to insertion in the Faculty Handbook. FEC will further discuss the motion in committee.

The Motion will lie over until the next meeting.

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL POLICIES AND PLANNING:

Associate Professor Bob Turner, on behalf of the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning, introduced the following Motion:

MOTION: CEPP moves that effective Spring 2011, Skidmore will accept in transfer on-line course work completed successfully through an appropriately accredited institution (see full motion and rationale attached).

A question was raised as to how we currently evaluate courses; the role of the Registrar and the role of the department in evaluating courses were clarified.

Another question was raised as to why this policy is being considered. CEPP reported that, while we do not officially accept online courses for transfer credit, we sometimes do not know whether a particular courses was delivered online; moreover, the Registrar’s Office did an informal survey of some of Skidmore’s peer institutions and found that a number of schools now accept online credits including Bates College, Connecticut College, Franklin and Marshall, Gettysburg, Hamilton, St. Lawrence, and Wesleyan.

The Motion will lie over until the next meeting.

REPORTS

Associate Professor Kate Graney, on behalf of the Committee on Academic Standing, presented a report regarding the proposed new language on advanced standing and transfer of credits for the College Catalog and the Committee on Academic Standing’s Operating Code. (Full report attached.)

Ann Henderson, Registrar and Director of Institutional Research, gave a report on certain aspects of data resulting from the most-recent National Student Survey of Engagement (NSSE). This is the third administration of the Survey at Skidmore; it was administered last spring between the months of February and April, and is derived from the Class of 2010 students. The Class of 2010 was chosen because it was involved in the 2007 survey and is one of the first groups to have gone through the First-Year Experience. There was approximately a 50 percent response rate, which is very good for a student survey. For full details of the data analysis presented. 

Michael Casey, Vice President for Advancement, gave a report on Skidmore’s recent campaign, Creative Thought. Bold Promise. The campaign was a six-year effort, started on June 1, 2004 with a campaign goal of $200 million; it ended on May 31, 2010 over goal having reached $216.5 million. The campaign was successful in many ways. Vice President Casey discussed the following topics: who gave, where donors gave, how much is currently collected and how much is due in pledges, the campaign objectives, base of engagement and support, comparison of the Creative Thought. Bold Promise. campaign to the Journey Campaign, growing the Annual Fund, identifying new volunteer leaders, doubling Skidmore’s yearly support ($27 million per year average), and the campaign’s impact on students, faculty, facilities, and Skidmore’s financial foundation. Vice President Casey also discussed lessons learned such as a deeper understanding of Skidmore’s donor base and potential for growth in the number of donors, ways to give and collection of gifts, keys for moving forward, and what’s next and how does Skidmore get there. Vice President Casey thanked the members of his team for their dedication and hard work. Acting President Kress also thanked Vice President Casey, President Glotzbach and Marie Glotzbach for their support and hard work. The next campaign is tentatively scheduled to begin June 1, 2014. For full details of the campaign report presented, (see attached PowerPoint file).

OTHER

President’s Cabinet Q&A: Acting President Kress opened the floor for questions to Cabinet members. There was a question about the nature and location of Moore Commons. Vice President Michael West indicated it is an outdoor plaza with fireplace and picnic tables located in the Northwoods Apartment Complex.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• John Weber, Dayton Director and Professor of Liberal Studies, invited everyone to the Community Reception as part of the 10th Anniversary of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:08 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Colleen M. Kelly

Data Projects Manager
Designated School Official, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement/SEVIS
Alternate Responsible Officer, Student & Exchange Visitor Program
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs