CEPP Meeting Minutes

23 September 2026, 15:10–16:10 @CIS 265

Present: Adrian Bautista (DoS/VPSA), Yelena Biberman (Faculty), Kim Frederick (Faculty), David Howson (Faculty), Ryan Richard Overbey (Chair), Javier Perez-Moreno (Faculty), Kelly Sheppard (Assessment), Kate Sterling (SGA VPAA), Natalie Taylor (Interim DoF/VPAA), Leo Thomson (SGA)

Absent:  None

Guests: Rachel Roe-Dale (FYE), Eliza Camire-Akey (OCSE)

Scribe: Yelena Biberman

Introductions and Approval of Minutes

• Welcoming Rachel Roe-Dale (FYE) and Eliza Camire-Akey (OCSE)
• Introductions
• Minutes approved

Announcements and Updates

• Daniel T. Konstalid running a meeting to discuss the budget at 3:15pm on 30 September
• CEPP will not meet on that day; CEPP members encouraged to attend Konstalid’s budget meeting instead
• CEPP is playing a role in Strategic Action Agenda – thanks to subcommittee meeting (Kelly, Javier, Yelena)
• President reached out about coming to CEPP to talk about mission
• To talk on the College’s mission statement, which is currently outdated
• Designating October 7 for the President to visit

Proposal from the Dean of Faculty’s Office on team teaching

• From Corey and David to change the team-teaching calculations
• Current rule is obscure and not known to faculty etc.
• Old system creates uncertainty and if you commit to it, you are not sure until enrollment comes out how many course credits you will get
• Committee observations: the current rule has been inconsistently applied, Department chairs may not know that policy and not record credit hours accurately, misunderstanding in the policy itself
• This could discourage faculty from team-teaching
• The proposal is a more generous policy than we had before, which makes team-teaching a more realistic pursuit for faculty
• Proposal: if the class enrolls at 30% or more, than team-teaching instructors receive full credit for it
• Would immediately go into effect
• CEEP is overwhelmingly in favor. Ryan will inform David and Corey.

Proposal for London FYE Discontinuation and Ongoing Work for Global FYE Travel Seminars [Rachel Roe-Dale and Eliza Camira-Akey]

• The committee will consider the proposal 
• August 2026 proposal:
• Same as in the Spring, with the adjustment of a small number error (in final cost of London program last year)
• Financial viability and challenges of first-year students
• This is the 25^th year of London FYE, and has been a program that has been heralded and set as a model for other outside programs
• The program has been highly successful, but encountering administrative and academic challenges
• Challenges in students’ ability to thrive, especially in post-COVID years
• Shift in provider. Had a great 2 year run, then different issues were exposed.
• This program is costing more and more to implement and in context of financial constraints the college faces, recommending closure (recommendation brought to CEPP early last Spring)
• Seeking to develop a replacement program – Global FYE
• Completely separate program, using the existing Travel Seminar model 
• Students begin in the Fall by being on campus with program and information sessions; they would take a course in the Spring and then travel on spring break or in summer.
• Continue the learning goals around global learning, but with a much smaller financial footprint but larger student and faculty footprint (because allows more students and faculty to participate)
• Questions and Comments: 
• Timing of closing vs. developing proposal for Global FYE disaggregated 
• CEPP and faculty need to vote to close the London program
• New model: built on a travel seminar model, espouses the learning goals of FYE but not tied to FYE – does not necessitate CEPP to bring to faculty for vote
• OSCE may potentially retain share of London FYE program budget to administer financial aid for Global FYE
• Suggestion to completely disaggregate the programs
• Information that would be helpful: What changed? Was it not meeting learning goals, or just budget?
• Learning goals 
• Provider unable to accommodate individual students’ needs outside of class
• If faculty wants to retain London, we would have to invest significantly more resources
• Suggestions:
• Cost of program can be highlighted, and that the program requires more funding
• It is still financially viable, but the opportunity cost is a high amount
• The amount could offset other program closures and other opportunities
• Emphasize the value of residential experience 
• Original program goal was to manage over-enrollment, which it is no longer serving
• Would replacement program have the same kind of problems?
• Having a Fall at Skidmore may help with student readiness
• What does it do to the kind of stories admissions tells about the distinctiveness of Skidmore?
• Anecdotally, we are not hearing of profound student interest in London
• Global FYE could be a helpful recruitment tool
• Travel seminars can be very impactful, more than study abroad potentially  
• It would have to be CEPP’s proposal, as CEPP is responsible for closing programs
• Has implications for the budget ’27-’28, benefit to moving quickly if CEPP agrees it’s a good idea
• CEPP will craft the motion to discontinue the London FYE program
• Not merely a budget problem
• But is actually an improvement 
• Consistent with commitment to global education and have students have different pathways to that (e.g., could be a solution to Fall athlete)
• It’s a special way to continue into the second semester (as currently FYE focuses on Fall semester)
• Also a way for first years to get exposure beyond London
• More students would participate in it (40-60) and allow for high-need students to be supported at 100%
• If CEPP endorses the development of Global FYE, it would assist with it having the resources
• Would we need a faculty vote to approve the Global FYE program?
• No, if it is a travel seminar, that program already exists
• Someone suggested this is doing a lot more with less
• How fast could Global FYE be deployed? Fall 2028 for Spring 2029
• Chair observes consensus that this is an issue CEPP should take up – Chair will draft the motion that will be shared around for feedback (over email)
• Goal is by early October to have a motion that we can bring  to the faculty floor