Faculty Meeting Minutes
February 4, 2022
Michael Orr, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. He welcomed everyone to the first faculty meeting of the semester and thanked everyone for their understanding over the uncertainty caused by the shifting weather forecast. He then reminded attendees of the procedures to be followed during the Zoom meeting and requested that anyone wishing to contribute to the meeting use the raise hand feature so that they can be called upon to speak.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
DOF/VPAA Orr asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held December 3, 2021. Hearing none, he announced the minutes were approved.
REPORT
On behalf of the Campus Master Planning Task Force, Assistant Professor Erica Wojcik introduced Kevin Petersen from Ayers Saint Gross (ASG) to share an update on the campus master planning project. Professor Wojcik noted that following Mr. Petersen’s presentation, a survey will be distributed requesting feedback. She encouraged everyone to complete the survey and to reach out to her with any questions.
Mr. Petersen provided an update on the campus master plan project to date, sharing a Powerpoint presentation which included a draft of the proposed Campus Master Plan (see attached). He reminded everyone that the campus master planning process had begun with an observation and assessment phase, involving listening sessions, open forums, and tours of the campus. Over the past few months, ASG has been working on testing and developing various concepts to address the issues identified, and the process has now moved into the “synthesize” phase, the goal of which is to take all of the input and distill it into a draft plan to share with the campus community and key stakeholders in order to get feedback. The feedback will then be used to refine the draft into a final plan with a phasing and implementation strategy for Board consideration and approval. Mr. Petersen stated that the goal is to complete this process in May.
Mr. Petersen stated that the draft campus master plan was shaped by planning principles developed early in the process. The planning principles informing the draft master plan are as follows: (1) Integration: foster creative learning, discovery, and collaboration across the disciplines and departments; (2) Flexibility: ensure that the design has adaptive, student-centered spaces that promote academic success and educational experiences; (3) Belonging: ensure that the campus is nurturing inclusivity, is welcoming, and is accessible throughout the campus and prioritize the campus care for learning and student engagement; (4) Wellness: support the holistic health and well-being of students and the entire campus community; (5) Humility: preserve the unique, understated beauty of the campus while cultivating pride in its history, purpose, and mission; and (6) Stewardship: maintain compactness and prioritize a sustainable campus environment.
Mr. Petersen then shared a current map of the campus with key buildings identified followed by a map of the campus showing a 10-15 year plan for new construction, renovations, and landscaping. He reviewed suggested academic projects, including the renewal/renovation of the Tisch Learning Center, Ladd, Palamountain Hall, Bolton Hall, Saisselin Art Building, and JKB Theater, with the goal of transforming classrooms and creating informal/formal collaborative spaces in older academic buildings. He also described the potential location for a new academic building that would create synergies with CIS and improve the main entrance to campus. The proposed campus master plan also proposes improvements to the North Broadway and Clinton Street entrances, renovations to Colton House and relocation of Greenberg Child Care as well as enhancements to the student experience. The enhancements to the student experience include renovation/renewal of Starbuck Center, Ladd, Case Center, Falstaff’s, the Sports Center, as well as the construction of a fitness and tennis facility with a health and wellness addition. Mr. Petersen stated that the proposed renovations/renewals were all designed to support the College’s goals of sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to support active learning, provide spaces for collaboration, accommodate spaces in residence halls to foster community, and diversify the scale and types of student-centered spaces. To improve the residential experience of students, the campus master plan proposes renovations/revisions to the North Quad, South Quad, and Wiecking Halls, and identifies two possible locations for the construction of a new residence hall. The renovations to existing residence halls and construction of a new residence hall would restore community space and decrease the reliance on triples.
Mr. Petersen then reviewed the inclusion of landscape and open space projects in the draft plan. Proposed projects include entrance signage and landscape improvements for the Clinton Street and North Broadway entrances; open space, landscape and storm water management initiatives; enhancements to central gathering spaces; accessibility improvements; and expansion and improvements of the trails network. He then shared possible sites for potential new construction projects over the long-term, noting that one of the goals is to maintain a compact campus footprint.
Mr. Petersen stated that the next steps are to refine the draft plan and begin to prioritize the projects. In order to determine the priority of projects, each project will be assessed on (1) how well it addresses a priority need of the college and how well it supports student recruitment and the student experience; (2) how well it addresses the six planning principles; (3) how well it promotes sustainability and the responsible use of existing resources; and (4) how well it promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. The survey that will be distributed shortly will ask everyone to assess the potential master planning projects using these four metrics. In concluding his presentation, Mr. Petersen indicated that the next steps are to gather feedback on the draft plan, develop a phasing strategy for the projects, and develop a final plan. Mr. Petersen concluded his remarks by thanking everyone who has participated in the process so far and indicating that he looks forward to continued input.
Following Mr. Petersen’s presentation, President Conner thanked Mr. Petersen, the entire ASG team, and everyone who has participated in the process. President Conner then commentated that it is exciting to see the master plan come into focus and to be thinking about our aspirational future. The process has been collaborative and input has been received from students, staff, faculty, neighbors, board members, and alumni. All of this input, President Conner stated, has been used to shape the draft master plan. He stated that February will provide an opportunity for additional community input through the survey and through open forums that will occur at the end of the month. Thereafter, the process will move forward with the continued work of the Task Force, the Steering Committee, and the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee. Ultimately, the campus master plan will come before the Board of Trustees for their consideration and approval at the May board meeting. President Conner reminded everyone that the campus master plan is a guide to possible campus projects, as opposed to a strategic plan; it will help inform our ongoing strategic thinking and ensure that we coordinate our projects so that our efforts are campus-wide and collaborative, and in harmony with our guiding principles. He then thanked everyone for their time and effort contributing to this project.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
OTHER
On behalf of the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC), Associate Professor Jason Ohlberg presented the Committee of Committee’s report (see attached) from the meeting held on December 13, 2021 with representatives from all elected college governance committees, with the exception of the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning and the Periclean Honors Forum Council. Professor Ohlberg reported that each committee had had an opportunity to report on the valuable and important work they have conducted over the fall semester and on their intra- and inter-committee interactions. Professor Ohlberg reported that all committees expressed positive and productive intra- and inter-committee interactions as well as positive and healthy working relationships with college administration.
Professor Ohlberg highlighted two specific topics from the larger group discussion. The first concerns a request received from a faculty member asking for transparency about committee meeting times and course release information during the annual solicitation for preference sheets to help better inform faculty when ranking committee choices. Representatives of FEC believe this request is reasonable and beneficial, and thus, this information will accompany the call for preference sheets during next fall’s election cycle.
The second topic concerned the limited availability of eligible faculty to serve on governance committees, particularly in regards to the requirements for three-year terms of service on many committees. Professor Ohlberg stated that, as indicated in the report, there is no simple solution to the problem, as most committees deemed that three-year terms were necessary due to the nature of their work. This will be an ongoing issue for which FEC will continue to seek a solution.
Professor Ohlberg concluded by reporting that FEC will soon be seeking volunteers for some committee replacements for the 2022-23 academic year for which there are currently no eligible candidates in the ad hoc pool.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Conner welcomed everyone back to the first gathering since December and reminisced that it was two years ago that he and Mrs. Conner were on campus to be introduced to the community. He recalled that he was planning to attend his first in-person faculty meeting at that time but that due to an ice storm and power failure, the faculty meeting was cancelled. Little did he know at that time that two years later he still hasn’t been able to attend an in-person faculty meeting.
President Conner stated that since our last meeting in December, we had a very successful Skidmore Cares event. He expressed his appreciation for all the contributions and activity and hoped everyone had a wonderful winter holiday and a restful and productive winter break. We have had a good return to campus – all our students are back on campus and we are continuing in-person instruction. Although COVID still continues to hang over everything we do, he is proud of how we responded to the Omicron variant as early as late November. The requirement for the booster for our whole community put our students in a good situation going into the winter break and preparing them for what was ahead. The COVID Logistics Working Group, the Cabinet and many others on campus have worked through December and January on preparations to bring our students safely back to campus. Clear and steady communication continues to be the most important element in how we are responding to COVID. President Conner acknowledged that one of the tough things about COVID is the additional burden it places on our already-full regular workload, and encouraged everyone to be patient and kind as we move through the busy spring semester.
President Conner then reported that the college received a generous gift from a donor for the library. This gift will fund an exciting renovation of the first floor of the library that will have more cutting-edge learning spaces and a more inclusive and welcoming environment as one enters the library. COVID has certainly been a reminder of how significant the library is for students in particular.
President Conner also referenced the grant received from the Mellon Foundation for Black Studies and Racial Justice that Professors Winston Grady-Willis and Beck Krefting spearheaded. He reminded everyone that the Mellon grants are very prestigious and focus on the great work of faculty. This grant was received in coordination with our racial justice initiative and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. To that end, an announcement will be made shortly about a major commitment to support DEI projects for faculty, staff and students.
Turning to this year’s admissions, President Conner stated that this year we have received a record number of applications for the Class of 2026 of over 13,000. While a number of applications are from international applicants, we have also seen a 13 percent increase in domestic applications. This was a goal for our admissions colleagues this year, so it is very exciting to see.
President Conner acknowledged that this continues to be a tough time, especially for morale. However, he has seen many positive things happening on campus and is immensely proud of how we have managed, not just to move forward through COVID, but to move other goals and projects forward as well. The Campus Master Planning project is just one example, but there are many more achievements and exciting things happening, such as the study being conducted on faculty and staff compensation. He concluded by remarking on the endurance and resilience of our community. He continues to be proud of the way our students have maintained themselves during this challenging time as well as the hard work by all of us—from the faculty to the staff, including (but not limited to) such areas as Facilities, Campus Safety, Admissions, and Advancement.
The floor was then opened for questions and comments. Discussion was held concerning policies regarding spring break travel, plans for students returning to campus, practices to ensure student compliance with COVID testing, and plans for an update on the protests last semester around trans-inclusivity and sexual- and gender-based violence.
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS’ REPORT
DOF/VPAA Orr thanked everyone for a successful start to the spring semester and for working through the challenges posed by the Omicron variant and the various changes and adjustments that needed to be made to our health and safety guidelines and protocols. He noted that this semester is offering some new and different challenges from last semester, particularly the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant which has resulted in more students testing positive and not being able to attend in-person classes. Although the length of isolation is shorter, and, for most individuals, the symptoms are much milder, the number of students who have had to temporarily isolate is much larger. As a result, there is much greater potential for disruption to student attendance this semester and there will likely be an increased need for faculty to accommodate absent students. Furthermore, the increased transmissibility of Omicron has caused an increase in the frequency of childcare and daycare disruptions that add to the challenges. DOF/VPAA Orr acknowledged and thanked everyone for their understanding and flexibility during this time and encouraged anyone with specific questions about COVID safety measures and how they apply in the classroom to reach out to his office.
Thereafter, DOF/VPAA Orr provided an update on the faculty compensation study that was discussed at the December faculty meeting. Our consultants are in the midst of completing a detailed market analysis of compensation levels across the different ranks and categories of faculty, and the preliminary results should be received within a couple of weeks. Once those results have been received, the question of internal salary equity will be considered. Our consultants will assist us in completing a variety of regression analyses to identify areas where equity adjustments are needed. A more detailed report with findings will be presented later this semester. The overall goal remains to develop a comprehensive compensation plan for the College as a whole, ensuring we have a both a market competitive and internally equitable compensation program.
DOF/VPAA Orr then provided an update on the work of the faculty advisory group on hiring. The group worked last semester to consider the criteria for assessing and ranking the proposals and requests that have come in. The group has also been gathering data from Institutional Research and the Dean of the Faculty’s office to ensure a common data set on staffing levels of departments and programs, enrollment trends, and major and minor requirements. DOF/VPAA Orr assured everyone that the group is very conscious that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach on to how to assess the needs for positions. The group is now beginning to consider the various proposals from departments and programs. DOF/VPAA Orr will provide an update once specific recommendations have been identified.
Thereupon, DOF/VPAA Orr reported that he and Associate Dean of the Faculty Janet Casey have been partnering with the Committee on Academic Freedom and Rights (CAFR) to consider non-tenure-track faculty contracts and the distinction between fixed-term, non-renewable contracts and renewable continuing appointments. A few weeks ago, CAFR and the Dean of the Faculty’s office held a discussion at a meeting of department chairs and program directors; since that time, CAFR has been soliciting input from both departments chairs and program directors, as well as from non-tenure-track faculty members. In conjunction with this, we have also been looking at the Faculty legislation that originally created the category of teaching professor in 2015 and looking at how that has been enacted in the Faculty Handbook as well as other issues, including the process for moving from a non-renewable contract to a renewable continuing contract. DOF/VPAA Orr expects to have more information to report later this semester.
In concluding his report, DOF/VPAA Orr briefly described the submission process for the successful Mellon grant proposal, noting the extraordinary collective effort that had gone into submitting the final proposal. In mid-April last year, Skidmore had been one of 50 liberal arts colleges that had been invited to submit proposals to the Mellon Foundation for initiatives to support newly-developed curricula that would both instruct students in the methods of the humanities and also demonstrate how those methods are relevant for pursuing broader social justice goals. The request for proposals from the Mellon Foundation included an incredibly compressed timeline with final proposals due by the end of June. We ended up having five faculty teams develop proposals during a very busy time of the semester. Of the more than 70 proposals that the Mellon Foundation received in total, only 12 received awards. DOF/VPAA Orr thanked everyone who had contributed to the grant writing process and noted that the way that the faculty had collectively come together to work on this project and that Skidmore had been the recipient of one of the grants, was a testament to the dedication and hard work of our faculty.
There being no further business, DOF/VPAA Orr adjourned the meeting at 4:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,