Faculty Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2017
Gannett Auditorium
MINUTES
President Philip A. Glotzbach called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
President Glotzbach asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held December 2, 2016. Hearing none, he announced the minutes were approved.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
President Glotzbach welcomed everyone back for the spring semester. He thanked Parker
Diggory, Cerri Banks, and Joshua Woodfork for organizing last evening’s “Unity Gathering.”
He also thanked all the various offices and divisions who stepped up to support the
event and to everyone who chose to attend.
Thereafter, President Glotzbach introduced Joel Aure, our new Title IX Coordinator. Joel holds a B.A. in Writing from Johns Hopkins and an M.F.A. in Writing from Sarah Lawrence and comes to us from SUNY Purchase, where he most recently served as Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator. At Skidmore, Joel will partner with different divisions and work with all community members to enhance the College’s prevention and educational efforts to reduce all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex, especially sexual- and gender-based misconduct. President Glotzbach then thanked the members of the Steering Group that facilitated this hire: Chris Kopec, Alena Llorens-Myers, Mariel Martin, Tim Munro, students Max Fleishman and DyAnna Washington, and Joshua Woodfork, chair.
Thereupon, President Glotzbach introduced Mary Lou Bates, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, who provided an update on this year’s admissions performance. Dean Bates reported that we have a record number of applicants this year, having received over 10,000 applications (last year we received 9,200 and the year before we received 8,500). The challenge is that the percentage of applicants seeking financial aid increased by 4 percent. Last year, 70 percent of the applicants were seeking financial aid; this year, that group represents 74 percent of the pool. This increase in applications also includes a significant growth in international applicants (an increase of 17 percent, representing 29 percent of the total applicant pool) and domestic students of color (an increase of 14 percent, representing 29 percent of the applicant pool). Of the 74 percent of the applicant pool seeking financial aid, 78 percent of international student applicants and 88 percent of domestic students of color applicants are seeking financial aid. In terms of applications from international students, Dean Bates believes we have become considerably visible based upon our average package for those international students that we admit and fund; our average package for the international students that we admit is one of the highest in the country. This year, we have 2,300 international applicants seeking financial aid, and we are targeting 15-18 students in the first-year class to receive aid.
Dean Bates also indicated that the number of early-decision applicants received this year is a record: up 14 percent over last year. Decisions for ED Round 1 were sent out in mid-December, and decisions for ED Round 2 will go out on or about February 13. She also reported that there has been an increase in early-decision applicants requesting financial aid as well – 65 percent of the entire early-decision applicant pool applied for financial aid, compared to 59 percent last year. Our overall target is to have 40 percent of the class on grant assistance. Dean Bates believes that the decision to change admissions policy to “test-optional” may also be a factor in our increased number of applications, especially from domestic students of color (tests are still required for international students in non-English speaking classes, schools with nontraditional grading, and for students who are homeschooled). Of the applications received this year, 74 percent of the applicants submitted test scores (61 percent of the domestic students of color submitted test scores and 64 percent of early-decision applicants submitted test scores).
Dean Bates concluded by reporting that the goal for the incoming class size is 620 students, with 35-40 students in London. Regular decision letters go out on or about March 22. She stated that once again Admissions will be in touch with all the yield activities this spring to help bring in yet one more terrific class. A round of applause was given to Dean Bates.
Following Dean Bates’ report, President Glotzbach introduced Michael Casey, the Collyer Vice President for Advancement, to provide an update on the Campaign. VP Casey reported on the Advancement goals for FY ’17:
President Glotzbach thereupon provided an update on the search process for a new Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs to replace Beau Breslin, who has announced his intention to return to the faculty at the end of the fall 2017 semester. President Glotzbach has been in conversations with the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC) about naming representatives of the faculty to the Search Committee for this position. Given the nature of this position, it is important that the Committee include strong representation from the faculty. As Chair of FEC, Professor Denise Smith reported that, historically, FEC issued a willingness to serve to make appointments to search committees. FEC imagines it will follow that process; however, FEC wishes to give everyone an opportunity for additional service, rather than those faculty members that are currently in their service cycle. FEC envisions four faculty members on the search committee heavily weighted with senior faculty. President Glotzbach stated that, in addition to the four faculty members, the search committee will comprise administrative, staff and student representatives as well. President Glotzbach indicated that he hopes to have the search completed by the middle of the fall semester with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2018 (if not sooner).
President Glotzbach also stated that we will be searching for a permanent Vice President for Communications & Marketing. This is the second Cabinet-level position we need to fill on a permanent basis, and President Glotzbach indicated that he still anticipates moving forward with a national search. However, President Glotzbach said the timing of this search is complicated by the VPAA search, by his schedule, and most importantly by crucial work that the people in Communications & Marketing are now engaged in. He will have more to say about the precise timeline in due course, but we are moving forward to retain a search firm and determine the timing of this process.
President Glotzbach thereupon recognized the amazing work that Debra Townsend and the members of her division have been doing in the year-and-one-half that she has spent in the position of Interim VP for Communications and Marketing. As an institution, we are extremely fortunate that Debra will continue in this position until we conclude the search. Debra has brought to her position decades of experience in this field; she has worked with more than 45 colleges and universities to build their capacity in the areas of communications and marketing. At Skidmore, she has taken on the charge of moving our communications operation from the print to the digital age and of establishing a true marketing operation to position the College with regard to external constituencies, especially in support of Admissions. In a remarkably short period of time, she has created this new division, has helped a number of staff members transition from the previous operation to the new one, has made some outstanding new hires, and has built a team that is extremely collaborative and high-functioning. Debra has been a fully contributing member of the President’s Cabinet, and she and her staff have worked with many members of the faculty to promote the research they are doing. A round of applause was given to Debra.
President Glotzbach then introduced Joshua Woodfork and Cindy Evans, as co-chairs of the Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding (CIGU). VP Woodfork reported that part of the CIGU charge was to do more outreach this year and is now seeking affirmation from the faculty on the “Diversity and Inclusion Statement” (https://www.skidmore.edu/diversity/about.php ) that originated from the work of CIGU during the 2011-12 academic year. In December, 2012, the statement was adopted by the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee and was sent to the whole student body, but it does not appear that it was ever affirmed by the faculty. CIGU would like to use this Statement as a living document and hopes that it can serve as a catalyst for discussion within departments and divisions on campus. As we have these difficult discussions about diversity and inclusion, when missteps are made, we are not able to point to what our institutional values are. We are best served when, at these moments, we can point to institutional shared values that we have agreed upon. Ms. Evans thereafter read the “Diversity and Inclusion Statement” in full. Thereupon, the faculty signaled their affirmation of the “Diversity and Inclusion Statement.”
Thereafter, VP Woodfork provided an update regarding the goals of CIGU:
(1) to strengthen our curricular offerings;
(2) to create a social justice space;
(3) to continue focus on recruitment, retention, and quality of the experience of students, staff, faculty, and alumni of color and other under-represented populations; and
(4) to assess current diversity training efforts for students, staff, and faculty.
CIGU spent the fall semester working on the first two goals and plans to continue this work in the spring semester. CIGU will also partner with the DOF/VPAA office and the CLTL to sponsor community lunches. The President’s Office is sponsoring a Community Dialogue series of lectures and events, including one in April on the topic of diversity and inclusion, and will bring to campus the film, Hidden Figures. VP Woodfork concluded by encouraging everyone to begin the semester anew and to think about how we can be kind to people in these challenging moments, to give someone the benefit of doubt when missteps are taken, and to be more welcoming and understanding. He added that we need to continue to look at decreasing our institutional barriers that allow us to be successful with these efforts.
Thereupon, President Glotzbach reported that he recently spent three days in Washington at the annual meeting of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and indicated that the mood in the Higher Education community mirrors that of the nation: uncertainty. As Henry Adams wrote, “Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.” But one can ask whether there can be too much “life.” We simply do not know in detail what direction the Trump Administration and the Congress will take, with regard to higher education. It is fair to say that we are facing a number of challenges, some of which may be unprecedented relative to recent experience.
We have begun to see the disruptive effects of the latest action regarding immigration. The Washington Post just reported that more than 100,000 visas have been revoked since the beginning of the travel restrictions. Presently, 10-12 percent of the Skidmore student body comes from 60 or more countries beyond the U.S. As he said at the December faculty meeting, President Glotzbach is concerned that the immigration policies of the Trump Administration may have a chilling effect that could substantially reduce international student applications, not just at Skidmore but at other colleges and universities as well.
At last evening’s Unity Gathering, our student Hatoon Mushasha ’19 told the story of speaking with her grandmother over the phone. Her grandmother said she was very worried about her and wondered if she should just come home. But she reassured her grandmother that at Skidmore she was in a welcoming community with people who cared about and supported her. Her grandmother was reassured and was content for her to remain at the College. President Glotzbach stated that the nature of our community matters. President Trump has commented that he does not plan on undoing DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. If that position holds, that will be good news, though it will not likely have a major effect on Skidmore.
We now know that the President has nominated Besty DeVos to be Secretary of Education. Her record on higher education is slight to non-existent. She has been focused most primarily upon K-12. The previous Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, also had no substantial prior track record on Higher Education, and yet his administration was very active in our area. At this point, it is not even clear whether Betsy DeVos will be confirmed by the Senate. But whether she is or not, the key question is: Who will become the Deputy Undersecretary for Higher Education? No one knows the answer to this question at this point. It does seem likely that the new leadership of the Department of Education, whoever it turns out to be, will be less aggressively focused on enforcement of Title IX than was the case in the Obama-Duncan years. But that does not mean that Skidmore will be less aggressive in our actions on that front.
President Glotzbach believes we can expect some easing of the regulatory environment on higher education – something that Senator Lamar Alexander and others have championed – but at this point, again, we have no way of knowing just what that might entail. The Trump Administration has named Jerry Falwell, Jr., President of Liberty University, to head up a Presidential Task Force to recommend reforms for the Department of Education. There is no way of knowing, at this point, how this process will proceed much less what recommendations it will produce. But Falwell has already sought the input of NAICU, so that is at least one hopeful sign.
There are a number of other, potentially troubling issues that will likely surface in the coming legislative sessions: potential challenges to some key scholarship and federal loan programs; possible regulation imposed upon institutions with endowments greater that $1 billion; and possible loss of the charitable tax deduction – as part of tax reform. Additionally, in New York State, Governor Cuomo has introduced a proposal to make SUNY and CUNY “tuition free” for families earning less than $125,000/year – a proposal that also includes stringent price controls on all colleges and universities in New York. President Glotzbach said that he will be spending some of his time keeping track of all this and doing what he can to communicate with our representatives – especially at the state level.
Returning to the theme that he articulated in December, President Glotzbach stated that it is up to all of us--and most especially to those in leadership positions: the members of the Academic Leadership Group (Division Directors) and Department Chairs and Program Directors--to work together to make Skidmore the welcoming place we want it to be, a College committed to inclusive excellence, as per the Strategic Plan. President Glotzbach urged everyone to recommit to the values that make us the kind of community in which we all want to live and work, and in which students want to come and study. Two of the foremost of these values are respect and kindness, and the two certainly go hand-in-hand. In these difficult times, President Glotzbach asked that everyone pay attention to their own actions and to look for ways to model these values – especially with regard to those with whom we work most closely.
Finally, President Glotzbach indicated that we also can reach out to those in our community who might need an extra measure of support. During the past winter break, 25 international students, whose family financial circumstances made it impossible to return home, stayed at Skidmore. Many of our international students – and some domestic students as well – will be here for spring break and over the summer. In addition to local community members who serve as host families for our students, over 30 of our international students were hosted by Skidmore faculty and staff families over this past Thanksgiving and winter break. This group of faculty and staff members included Sarah Ireland, Admissions; Jennifer Day, History; Stephen Fields, Dining Services; Eunice Ferreira, Theatre; Kate Bouchard, Theatre; Kyle Dzurica, Admissions; Bob Pierce, Campus Safety; Shawn DuBois, Zankel Music Center; Deb Hall, Art; Minita Sanghvi, Management and Business; Cathy Hill, Management and Business; Nurcan Atalan-Helicke, Environmental Studies and James Helicke, International Affairs; Sarah Goodwin, English, and Chef Robert Coleman, from Dining Services, who hosted over 15 students at his home. He acknowledged that this list is most likely incomplete and thanked everyone who has reached out to invite students to their home. He noted that anyone wanting to offer assistance to our international students should please contact Darren Drabek, Coordinator of International Student and Scholar Services.
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS' REPORT
Thereafter, President Glotzbach introduced Joel Aure, our new Title IX Coordinator. Joel holds a B.A. in Writing from Johns Hopkins and an M.F.A. in Writing from Sarah Lawrence and comes to us from SUNY Purchase, where he most recently served as Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator. At Skidmore, Joel will partner with different divisions and work with all community members to enhance the College’s prevention and educational efforts to reduce all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex, especially sexual- and gender-based misconduct. President Glotzbach then thanked the members of the Steering Group that facilitated this hire: Chris Kopec, Alena Llorens-Myers, Mariel Martin, Tim Munro, students Max Fleishman and DyAnna Washington, and Joshua Woodfork, chair.
Thereupon, President Glotzbach introduced Mary Lou Bates, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, who provided an update on this year’s admissions performance. Dean Bates reported that we have a record number of applicants this year, having received over 10,000 applications (last year we received 9,200 and the year before we received 8,500). The challenge is that the percentage of applicants seeking financial aid increased by 4 percent. Last year, 70 percent of the applicants were seeking financial aid; this year, that group represents 74 percent of the pool. This increase in applications also includes a significant growth in international applicants (an increase of 17 percent, representing 29 percent of the total applicant pool) and domestic students of color (an increase of 14 percent, representing 29 percent of the applicant pool). Of the 74 percent of the applicant pool seeking financial aid, 78 percent of international student applicants and 88 percent of domestic students of color applicants are seeking financial aid. In terms of applications from international students, Dean Bates believes we have become considerably visible based upon our average package for those international students that we admit and fund; our average package for the international students that we admit is one of the highest in the country. This year, we have 2,300 international applicants seeking financial aid, and we are targeting 15-18 students in the first-year class to receive aid.
Dean Bates also indicated that the number of early-decision applicants received this year is a record: up 14 percent over last year. Decisions for ED Round 1 were sent out in mid-December, and decisions for ED Round 2 will go out on or about February 13. She also reported that there has been an increase in early-decision applicants requesting financial aid as well – 65 percent of the entire early-decision applicant pool applied for financial aid, compared to 59 percent last year. Our overall target is to have 40 percent of the class on grant assistance. Dean Bates believes that the decision to change admissions policy to “test-optional” may also be a factor in our increased number of applications, especially from domestic students of color (tests are still required for international students in non-English speaking classes, schools with nontraditional grading, and for students who are homeschooled). Of the applications received this year, 74 percent of the applicants submitted test scores (61 percent of the domestic students of color submitted test scores and 64 percent of early-decision applicants submitted test scores).
Dean Bates concluded by reporting that the goal for the incoming class size is 620 students, with 35-40 students in London. Regular decision letters go out on or about March 22. She stated that once again Admissions will be in touch with all the yield activities this spring to help bring in yet one more terrific class. A round of applause was given to Dean Bates.
Following Dean Bates’ report, President Glotzbach introduced Michael Casey, the Collyer Vice President for Advancement, to provide an update on the Campaign. VP Casey reported on the Advancement goals for FY ’17:
- $135-140 million for the overall campaign
- $20-25 million in new campaign commitments
- $22.2 million in the overall cash goal
- $7 million for the Skidmore fund
- 100 events, and
- 2,000 staff visits.
President Glotzbach thereupon provided an update on the search process for a new Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs to replace Beau Breslin, who has announced his intention to return to the faculty at the end of the fall 2017 semester. President Glotzbach has been in conversations with the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC) about naming representatives of the faculty to the Search Committee for this position. Given the nature of this position, it is important that the Committee include strong representation from the faculty. As Chair of FEC, Professor Denise Smith reported that, historically, FEC issued a willingness to serve to make appointments to search committees. FEC imagines it will follow that process; however, FEC wishes to give everyone an opportunity for additional service, rather than those faculty members that are currently in their service cycle. FEC envisions four faculty members on the search committee heavily weighted with senior faculty. President Glotzbach stated that, in addition to the four faculty members, the search committee will comprise administrative, staff and student representatives as well. President Glotzbach indicated that he hopes to have the search completed by the middle of the fall semester with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2018 (if not sooner).
President Glotzbach also stated that we will be searching for a permanent Vice President for Communications & Marketing. This is the second Cabinet-level position we need to fill on a permanent basis, and President Glotzbach indicated that he still anticipates moving forward with a national search. However, President Glotzbach said the timing of this search is complicated by the VPAA search, by his schedule, and most importantly by crucial work that the people in Communications & Marketing are now engaged in. He will have more to say about the precise timeline in due course, but we are moving forward to retain a search firm and determine the timing of this process.
President Glotzbach thereupon recognized the amazing work that Debra Townsend and the members of her division have been doing in the year-and-one-half that she has spent in the position of Interim VP for Communications and Marketing. As an institution, we are extremely fortunate that Debra will continue in this position until we conclude the search. Debra has brought to her position decades of experience in this field; she has worked with more than 45 colleges and universities to build their capacity in the areas of communications and marketing. At Skidmore, she has taken on the charge of moving our communications operation from the print to the digital age and of establishing a true marketing operation to position the College with regard to external constituencies, especially in support of Admissions. In a remarkably short period of time, she has created this new division, has helped a number of staff members transition from the previous operation to the new one, has made some outstanding new hires, and has built a team that is extremely collaborative and high-functioning. Debra has been a fully contributing member of the President’s Cabinet, and she and her staff have worked with many members of the faculty to promote the research they are doing. A round of applause was given to Debra.
President Glotzbach then introduced Joshua Woodfork and Cindy Evans, as co-chairs of the Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding (CIGU). VP Woodfork reported that part of the CIGU charge was to do more outreach this year and is now seeking affirmation from the faculty on the “Diversity and Inclusion Statement” (https://www.skidmore.edu/diversity/about.php ) that originated from the work of CIGU during the 2011-12 academic year. In December, 2012, the statement was adopted by the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee and was sent to the whole student body, but it does not appear that it was ever affirmed by the faculty. CIGU would like to use this Statement as a living document and hopes that it can serve as a catalyst for discussion within departments and divisions on campus. As we have these difficult discussions about diversity and inclusion, when missteps are made, we are not able to point to what our institutional values are. We are best served when, at these moments, we can point to institutional shared values that we have agreed upon. Ms. Evans thereafter read the “Diversity and Inclusion Statement” in full. Thereupon, the faculty signaled their affirmation of the “Diversity and Inclusion Statement.”
Thereafter, VP Woodfork provided an update regarding the goals of CIGU:
(1) to strengthen our curricular offerings;
(2) to create a social justice space;
(3) to continue focus on recruitment, retention, and quality of the experience of students, staff, faculty, and alumni of color and other under-represented populations; and
(4) to assess current diversity training efforts for students, staff, and faculty.
CIGU spent the fall semester working on the first two goals and plans to continue this work in the spring semester. CIGU will also partner with the DOF/VPAA office and the CLTL to sponsor community lunches. The President’s Office is sponsoring a Community Dialogue series of lectures and events, including one in April on the topic of diversity and inclusion, and will bring to campus the film, Hidden Figures. VP Woodfork concluded by encouraging everyone to begin the semester anew and to think about how we can be kind to people in these challenging moments, to give someone the benefit of doubt when missteps are taken, and to be more welcoming and understanding. He added that we need to continue to look at decreasing our institutional barriers that allow us to be successful with these efforts.
Thereupon, President Glotzbach reported that he recently spent three days in Washington at the annual meeting of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and indicated that the mood in the Higher Education community mirrors that of the nation: uncertainty. As Henry Adams wrote, “Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.” But one can ask whether there can be too much “life.” We simply do not know in detail what direction the Trump Administration and the Congress will take, with regard to higher education. It is fair to say that we are facing a number of challenges, some of which may be unprecedented relative to recent experience.
We have begun to see the disruptive effects of the latest action regarding immigration. The Washington Post just reported that more than 100,000 visas have been revoked since the beginning of the travel restrictions. Presently, 10-12 percent of the Skidmore student body comes from 60 or more countries beyond the U.S. As he said at the December faculty meeting, President Glotzbach is concerned that the immigration policies of the Trump Administration may have a chilling effect that could substantially reduce international student applications, not just at Skidmore but at other colleges and universities as well.
At last evening’s Unity Gathering, our student Hatoon Mushasha ’19 told the story of speaking with her grandmother over the phone. Her grandmother said she was very worried about her and wondered if she should just come home. But she reassured her grandmother that at Skidmore she was in a welcoming community with people who cared about and supported her. Her grandmother was reassured and was content for her to remain at the College. President Glotzbach stated that the nature of our community matters. President Trump has commented that he does not plan on undoing DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. If that position holds, that will be good news, though it will not likely have a major effect on Skidmore.
We now know that the President has nominated Besty DeVos to be Secretary of Education. Her record on higher education is slight to non-existent. She has been focused most primarily upon K-12. The previous Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, also had no substantial prior track record on Higher Education, and yet his administration was very active in our area. At this point, it is not even clear whether Betsy DeVos will be confirmed by the Senate. But whether she is or not, the key question is: Who will become the Deputy Undersecretary for Higher Education? No one knows the answer to this question at this point. It does seem likely that the new leadership of the Department of Education, whoever it turns out to be, will be less aggressively focused on enforcement of Title IX than was the case in the Obama-Duncan years. But that does not mean that Skidmore will be less aggressive in our actions on that front.
President Glotzbach believes we can expect some easing of the regulatory environment on higher education – something that Senator Lamar Alexander and others have championed – but at this point, again, we have no way of knowing just what that might entail. The Trump Administration has named Jerry Falwell, Jr., President of Liberty University, to head up a Presidential Task Force to recommend reforms for the Department of Education. There is no way of knowing, at this point, how this process will proceed much less what recommendations it will produce. But Falwell has already sought the input of NAICU, so that is at least one hopeful sign.
There are a number of other, potentially troubling issues that will likely surface in the coming legislative sessions: potential challenges to some key scholarship and federal loan programs; possible regulation imposed upon institutions with endowments greater that $1 billion; and possible loss of the charitable tax deduction – as part of tax reform. Additionally, in New York State, Governor Cuomo has introduced a proposal to make SUNY and CUNY “tuition free” for families earning less than $125,000/year – a proposal that also includes stringent price controls on all colleges and universities in New York. President Glotzbach said that he will be spending some of his time keeping track of all this and doing what he can to communicate with our representatives – especially at the state level.
Returning to the theme that he articulated in December, President Glotzbach stated that it is up to all of us--and most especially to those in leadership positions: the members of the Academic Leadership Group (Division Directors) and Department Chairs and Program Directors--to work together to make Skidmore the welcoming place we want it to be, a College committed to inclusive excellence, as per the Strategic Plan. President Glotzbach urged everyone to recommit to the values that make us the kind of community in which we all want to live and work, and in which students want to come and study. Two of the foremost of these values are respect and kindness, and the two certainly go hand-in-hand. In these difficult times, President Glotzbach asked that everyone pay attention to their own actions and to look for ways to model these values – especially with regard to those with whom we work most closely.
Finally, President Glotzbach indicated that we also can reach out to those in our community who might need an extra measure of support. During the past winter break, 25 international students, whose family financial circumstances made it impossible to return home, stayed at Skidmore. Many of our international students – and some domestic students as well – will be here for spring break and over the summer. In addition to local community members who serve as host families for our students, over 30 of our international students were hosted by Skidmore faculty and staff families over this past Thanksgiving and winter break. This group of faculty and staff members included Sarah Ireland, Admissions; Jennifer Day, History; Stephen Fields, Dining Services; Eunice Ferreira, Theatre; Kate Bouchard, Theatre; Kyle Dzurica, Admissions; Bob Pierce, Campus Safety; Shawn DuBois, Zankel Music Center; Deb Hall, Art; Minita Sanghvi, Management and Business; Cathy Hill, Management and Business; Nurcan Atalan-Helicke, Environmental Studies and James Helicke, International Affairs; Sarah Goodwin, English, and Chef Robert Coleman, from Dining Services, who hosted over 15 students at his home. He acknowledged that this list is most likely incomplete and thanked everyone who has reached out to invite students to their home. He noted that anyone wanting to offer assistance to our international students should please contact Darren Drabek, Coordinator of International Student and Scholar Services.
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS' REPORT
Beau Breslin, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, welcomed
everyone back to the second semester. He invited everyone to attend the upcoming
2017 Edwin M. Moseley Faculty Research Lecture to be delivered by Pushkala Prasad,
Professor of Management and Business, scheduled for Tuesday, March 7, at 8:00 in Gannett
Auditorium. Professor Prasad’s lecture is entitled “(Ir)resistable and (Dis)reputable
Empire: Racializing Capitalism and the Tainting of Brand U.S.A."
DOF/VPAA Breslin thereafter reported on the various matters that his office is working on:
Associate Professor Sweeney shared a presentation outlining the Committee’s plan to put out a call for proposals to faculty to support the development of a new course or revisions to an existing course that supports a new paradigm for learning, such as (1) extended length courses (4-year long course, year-long course, or sandwich course), (2) condensed length courses (half-semester / four-week course, weekend course, pop-up course), (3) connected courses (paired courses, triple intensive, interdisciplinary lecture, add-ons or senior FYE), or (4) any other model that thinks about course structures creatively.
The call for proposals will be looking for courses to be offered in the Fall 2017 semester, with another call for proposals being sent for the spring 2018 semester. Faculty will receive a stipend in the amount of $1,500 to design the course, and the course can be delivered as part of the regular workload or as an overload. The proposal should include the faculty name and their department, a tentative title for the course, a rough course description, and a paragraph explaining how the course pushes the traditional course boundaries either in structure or content. Proposals will be due February 20 and a full syllabus for a course intended for the fall would need to be submitted to Curriculum Committee by March 27. Faculty will then need to participate in the innovative pedagogy discussions that will be held spring 2018 semester through the Center for Leadership, Teaching and Learning.
DOF/VPAA Breslin thereafter reported on the various matters that his office is working on:
- the budget process for FY ’18, including new initiatives, capital budget requests and operating budgets;
- planning for the Center for Integrated Sciences (we are still on target with the funding plan);
- partnering with Committee on Educational Policies and Planning (CEPP) on the general education proposal;
- partnering with CEPP on a black studies program;
- working with the Committee on Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure (CAPT) and FEC on (1) changes to the faculty handbook to eliminate the second year review for tenure and non-tenure faculty and (2) to allow us to hire senior faculty with tenure if they have tenure elsewhere;
- working with CAPT on calendar issues to handle the significant number of tenure cases coming up over the next five years;
- working with the Chairs Advisory Group to decide where to allocate tenure lines for next year;
- planning for training around bias in personnel decisions;
- planning for the AVD/Idea Lab;
- working with RPI on the possibility of a Center for Humanistic Inquiry;
- implementing the first year for HELIOS;
- NY6 will be funding a chairs boot camp at Minnowbrook this summer; invitations for nominations and interest will be shortly;
- working on peer observation models/personnel procedure models; and
- conducting 13 tenure line searches this year, including the Harder and Ho Family chairs.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.NEW BUSINESS
On behalf of the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning, Associate Professor Erica Bastress-Dukehart, introduced the following Motion (see attached):
MOTION: CEPP moves that the faculty establish a partnership with Frontiers Abroad in New
Zealand to establish the Skidmore in New Zealand program. Skidmore College will serve
as Frontiers Abroad’s School of Record, with the opportunity in the future to develop
a Skidmore-specific, STEM-based, faculty-led program in New Zealand.
There were no informational questions. The Motion will lie over until the next Faculty meeting.
OTHER
Associate Professor Sarah Sweeney led a discussion on the AVD/IdeaLab grant received from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, which was received to support several different initiatives that include planning for the physical IdeaLab to be located in the CIS and to support faculty to explore “out-of-the-box” curriculum and pedagogical practices. She indicated that she was the Co-PI of the grant along with DOF/VPAA Breslin and introduced the other members of the AVD/Ideal Lab Steering Committee: Bill Duffy, Marta Brunner, Ian Berry, Beck Krefting, Kim Frederick, David Cohen, and Masako Inamoto.Associate Professor Sweeney shared a presentation outlining the Committee’s plan to put out a call for proposals to faculty to support the development of a new course or revisions to an existing course that supports a new paradigm for learning, such as (1) extended length courses (4-year long course, year-long course, or sandwich course), (2) condensed length courses (half-semester / four-week course, weekend course, pop-up course), (3) connected courses (paired courses, triple intensive, interdisciplinary lecture, add-ons or senior FYE), or (4) any other model that thinks about course structures creatively.
The call for proposals will be looking for courses to be offered in the Fall 2017 semester, with another call for proposals being sent for the spring 2018 semester. Faculty will receive a stipend in the amount of $1,500 to design the course, and the course can be delivered as part of the regular workload or as an overload. The proposal should include the faculty name and their department, a tentative title for the course, a rough course description, and a paragraph explaining how the course pushes the traditional course boundaries either in structure or content. Proposals will be due February 20 and a full syllabus for a course intended for the fall would need to be submitted to Curriculum Committee by March 27. Faculty will then need to participate in the innovative pedagogy discussions that will be held spring 2018 semester through the Center for Leadership, Teaching and Learning.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Associate Professors Michael Marx and Katie Hauser read the following invitation/ statement that has been endorsed by 20 faculty members:
“The past sixteen months have been particularly fraught in terms of our interactions
around issues of race; during this time, many white faculty have come to understand
better the daily toll racism takes on our colleagues and how we have failed them.
However, we also acknowledge that these past months have revealed a long-standing
damaging dynamic, one we wish to change. First and foremost, we want to voice our
support for our colleagues of color.
We understand that in our statement here we will almost certainly offend some colleagues
unintentionally, but if we are so cautious as to never speak, we will never effect
change. Current events deepen our sense of urgency.
Since our last faculty meeting, an ad hoc, non-exclusive group of tenured white faculty
began an informal conversation about ways to improve the current climate. We are committed
to reflective listening, self-education, and informed action. We also acknowledge
our limits as a small and informal group, one that has surely, though again unintentionally,
left out many who feel as strongly as we do. Accordingly, we are taking this opportunity
to reach out to all of our faculty and staff colleagues so that we can begin to move
forward together.
Please feel free to contact either of us if you have questions.”
- On behalf of the Faculty Development Committee, Associate Professor Rachel Roe-Dale announced the deadline for submitting nominations for the Ciancio Award for Excellence in Teaching is February 17, 2017. An email reminder will be sent shortly.
- Associate Professor Michael Arnush reminded everyone that the third annual Open Classroom Week will be happening the week of February 20. To date, more than 50 faculty members have opened up more than 70 classes. A full schedule will be sent via email shortly, and he encouraged everyone to attend one of the courses to see what is happening in your colleagues’ classrooms.
- Paul Calhoun, Dean of Special Programs, announced the February residency of Ensemble Connect, formerly ACJW, culminating with a public concert on February 17. This marks the 10th anniversary of Skidmore’s relationship with Carnegie Hall. Dean Calhoun also announced that information will be forthcoming about series of events that will be occurring thanks to a grant received from Stewart’s. Dean Calhoun also announced this year’s McCormack Visiting-Scholar Residents will be Janine Antoni and Stephen Petronio. The artists will visit campus in March and April to engage with students, faculty, and the public. Public talks will be held on March 2 and April 6 at the Tang Teaching Museum.
- Cathy Hill, F. William Harder Chair of Business Administration, announced the annual Harder lecture will be held on March 27. Dr. Tom Caulfield, Senior Vice President at Global Foundries, will speak on collaboration and its role in business.
- Professor Pushi Prasad invited everyone to this spring’s Research Colloquium to be held on February 9, 2016, to be given by Assistant Professor Juan Navea; the title of his talk is “The Depth Hidden on the Surface: The Role of Atmospheric Aerosols in Climate Change and the Environment”. She encouraged everyone to RSVP as soon as possible as space is limited.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:08 p.m.
Debra L. Peterson
Executive Administrative Assistant
Executive Administrative Assistant