Faculty Meeting Minutes
November 1, 2013
Gannett Auditorium
MINUTES
President Glotzbach was unable to attend this faculty meeting; therefore, Beau Breslin, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, chaired the meeting. DOF/VPAA Breslin called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
DOF/VPAA Breslin asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held October 4, 2013. Hearing none, he announced the minutes were approved.
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS’ REPORT
DOF/VPAA Breslin acknowledged the recent death of Kate Dudley-Perry, who served as an academic advisor in the Opportunity Program. A moment of silence was observed in her honor.
DOF/VPAA Breslin provided a summary of the recent Board of Trustees’ meeting. In the Academic Affairs Committee meeting, the Board addressed their routine business and then discussed the criteria and standards for tenure. The Board is aware that the Faculty Workload Working Group has been discussing various workload issues, including potential modifications to the Faculty Handbook, and two Academic Affairs board members are very interested in this topic. The Board is cognizant of their role, and conversation focused on what the Board can to do help on these important topics. The Board also discussed student climate issues, early budget parameters for FY ’15, and plans for the next stage of the science facilities planning (the building will be known as the Skidmore Center for Integrated Sciences).
DOF/VPAA Breslin also reported that, during the Board meeting, Michael Casey, Vice President for Advancement, and his staff led an Insider Kickoff for the new campaign. The co-chairs of the campaign are two members of the Board – Scott McGraw, a parent of a student from the class of ‘12, and Nancy Hamilton, an alum from the Class of ’77. This is a 6-year comprehensive campaign expected to raise between $220-$240 million; the goal of the campaign is to raise funds for the Center for Integrated Sciences, financial aid, transition and transformation, the Tang, a new admissions building, and the annual fund.
Thereafter, DOF/VPAA Breslin reminded everyone that the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee (IPPC) is beginning the process of preparing for the next Strategic Plan. The IPPC will be inviting committees, offices, departments, and programs to submit white papers describing where they see their committee/department in the next 10 years. The goal of the white papers is to see where there are synergies and overlaps. Further information on the white papers will be sent shortly with a deadline for the beginning of December. Please direct any questions to Joshua Woodfork, Executive Director, President’s Office.
In concluding his report, DOF/VPAA Breslin reminded everyone that open enrollment for benefits starts November 13. It is very important to take this opportunity to change your benefits for the upcoming calendar year.
Thereafter, discussion was held concerning the inclusion of transition and transformation (T&T) as a priority in the campaign. DOF/VPAA Breslin clarified that the T&T piece in the campaign is not related to the AVD Grant; it is about helping students make the transition to their post-graduate lives, including graduate school decisions and career choices. Opportunities such as the SEE-Beyond program were discussed.
In addition, clarification was requested on an email that was recently received concerning the re-fashioning of Case Center/Ladd Hall. Rochelle Calhoun, Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs, indicated that, while several years ago there was a Case Ladd Task Force that developed some recommendations for looking at Case/Ladd, it is a very long term plan. However, we will begin to have conversations about the usage of the building.
OLD BUSINESS
Committee on Educational Policies and Planning
On behalf of the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning (CEPP), Professor Peter von Allmen provided an update on CEPP’s review of the general education requirements. To date, CEPP has consulted with a few small faculty groups and has met with two of the divisional roundtables, Academic Counsel, and SGA Senate. CEPP will be meeting with the other two divisional roundtables and smaller groups of faculty to provide multiple opportunities for discussion. This work will continue through the spring semester.
Faculty Executive Committee
On behalf of the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC), Professor Joerg Bibow read the following Motion that was introduced at the October 4, 2013 faculty meeting (see attached):
MOTION: The Faculty Executive Committee moves to modify the Language in the Faculty Handbook as follows:
C. Academic Responsibilities (Faculty Handbook, p. 109, “All” vs. “tenured and tenure-track” faculty)
OLD LANGUAGE 5. Administrative Meetings: Faculty members are expected to attend Faculty Meetings and departmental and committee meetings when called. 6. College Functions: Faculty members are expected to attend Commencement, and they may be asked to represent their department or program at Honors Convocation. Any faculty member unable to attend Commencement should notify the Dean of the Faculty/Vice President of Academic Affairs. Faculty members are encouraged to wear academic regalia at Commencement and on other occasions as announced.
NEW LANGUAGE 5. Administrative Meetings: Tenure and tenure-track faculty members are expected to attend Faculty Meetings. Non-tenure-track faculty are encouraged to attend Faculty Meetings. Faculty members are expected to attend departmental and committee meetings when called. 6. College Functions: Tenured and tenure-track faculty members are expected to attend Commencement and should notify the Dean of Faculty/Vice President of Academic Affairs when unable to do so. Non-tenure-track faculty are encouraged to attend Commencement. Faculty members may be asked to represent their department or program at Honors Convocation. Faculty members are encouraged to wear academic regalia at Commencement and on other occasions as announced.
Lengthy discussion on the motion ensued. Many faculty members indicated that the new language sends mixed messages about non-tenure faculty and that we need to look more broadly at the role of non-tenure faculty first. Further, one faculty member noted that attendance at faculty meetings should be considered a responsibility regardless of faculty status. Some faculty members indicated their support of the motion, stating that the main purpose of the motion was to clarify that tenured and tenure-track faculty members must attend faculty meetings. In addition, other faculty members indicated that the Faculty Handbook already has language in it under the Faculty Meeting By-Laws indicating who is expected to attend faculty meetings and who is eligible to vote, and thus, the new language would conflict with the Faculty Meeting By-Laws.
Brief discussion was held concerning the next steps with regard to the Motion. A motion was made and seconded to table FEC’s Motion. The motion to table the FEC’s motion was voted on electronically and passed by majority vote.
NEW BUSINESS
On behalf of the FEC, Professor Joerg Bibow presented the following Resolution (see attached):
RESOLVED, that Skidmore faculty acknowledges with appreciation Phil and Marie Glotzbach’s 10 years of service to the Skidmore community.
DOF/VPAA Breslin asked the assembly to indicate their approval by acclamation.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
A motion was made and seconded to move into a Committee of the Whole to discuss the proposed language to the Faculty Handbook concerning standards and criteria for tenure and promotion; the motion passed by majority voice vote. Professor Bibow was appointed as chair of the Committee of the Whole. A 20-minute time limit was set. At the conclusion of the Committee of the Whole, Professor Bibow rose and reported that a discussion on the topic of standards and criteria for tenure and promotion was held.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- On behalf of the Faculty Development Committee (FDC), Professor Alice Dean reported that the FDC recently approved 25 Faculty Development Grants, 1 International Faculty Development Grant, and 1 Emeritus Faculty Development Grant (see attached). She noted that no one applied for the new Kress Creative Pedagogy grant; thus, the grant will again be offered during the Spring round. Professor Dean offered her congratulations to all the grant recipients.
- DOF/VPAA Breslin announced that the Skidmore Cares Holiday Open House will be held at Scribner House on December 6 immediately following the faculty meeting. Please bring a school supply or canned good that is assigned to your department.
- Professor Pushi Prasad invited everyone to attend a panel discussion sponsored by The Zankel Event Series and The Tang Museum’s Classless Society Exhibit entitled “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Multiple Faces of US Corporations” to be held on November 4, 2013 in the Tang Museum.
- Rochelle Calhoun,Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs, invited everyone to the Saratoga Room in Case for a reception immediately following the faculty meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:06 p.m.