FACULTY MEETING

MAY 15, 2002
GANNETT AUDITORIUM

MINUTES

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the April 26, 2002 meeting were approved as revised and circulated.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President Jamienne S. Studley gave the faculty a heartfelt thank you for all of its hard work and effort. She reflected upon this wonderful time of year when we send our students off into the world. President Studley then gave a very warm thank you to Susan J. Bender, Associate Dean of Faculty, for her outstanding work and dedication and to Jim Gette for his two years of service in the President’s Office.

President Studley also applauded Penny Jolly’s Hair Symposium, adding that this is the kind of intellectual experience that provides the community with the opportunity for creative and meaningful discourse.

President Studley spoke of the HEOP graduation dinner on May 14 at which students reflected on their experiences and personal achievements. They appreciated the willingness of the faculty to provide them with an opportunity tosucceed. Jamie remarked that this was an especially emotional and rewarding event, and thanked the faculty for assisting this group of students and so many others.

President Studley reported that this was a challenging and successful year. Skidmore has made great strides in academic excellence and diversity. She reported for Mary Lou Bates, Dean of Admissions and Student Aid, in stating that SAT scores of applicants are the highest ever. Fifteen percent of entering students are students of color. Moreover, applicants represent an increasing geographic diversity both within and beyond the United States. More information will follow. Mary Lou is confident that the Class of 2006 will be the right size, and that students will be stronger than ever.

President Studley announced that the Board unanimously approved the strategic plan, and encouraged Skidmore to move energetically to implement it. The Board also authorized proceeding to the next step in designing a new music building. Jamie thanked the many faculty who worked hard on developing and writing the Plan. President Studley thanked President’s Staff for its work. She complimented Charles M. Joseph, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, on his leadership of Academic Affairs during this demanding period. The President remarked that in the interests of stability, CAPT and CFG had recommended that the interim appointment for Dean Joseph be extended through the 2003-04 academic year, and that she is pleased to announce that Dean Joseph has agreed to extend his appointment. This will also allow a national search process for a regular appointment to evolve without haste.

DEAN OF THE FACULTY’S REPORT

Dean Joseph thanked President Studley and President’s Staff for allowing him to adjust to his new role. He then thanked the community at large for all of its hard work.

Dean Joseph thanked his staff for all its hard work: Patti Heritage, Karen Garnsey, Chris McGill, and Sue Blair. Dean Joseph also gave special thanks to Susan J. Bender, Associate Dean of the Faculty for her dedication and hard work.

Dean Joseph gave an update on the progress of the Athletic Review Committee (ARC). The review will be made available soon. He expressed his gratitude for the dedication ARC contributed to the report.

Dean Joseph informed the faculty that Kate Leavitt has been serving admirably in chairing the search committee for a new Athletic Director. He is hopeful of a decision soon.

Dean Joseph has created an informal committee called the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) which will include the chairs of the following committees: CAFR, CAPT, CEPP, CFG, CC, FPPC, the DOF and the Associate Dean. Bringing the chairs together will give us a better understanding of what all of us are doing.

Dean Joseph announced that we expect to add seven new faculty lines in the next three years (three the first year, two the following year, and two the year following). He reminded the faculty that the Board needs to approve every faculty line. He is hoping to announce which positions will be added as early as the end of the summer.

REPORTS

Professor Mark Huibregtse, Chair of the Committee on Faculty Governance (CFG), gave the annual report of the Committee of Committees.

The Committee of Committees (comprising the faculty members of the All-College Council, CAFR, CAPT, CEPP, College Benefits Committee, Curriculum Committee, CFG, FPPC, and IPC) met three times during the academic year 2001-2002. One of the meetings was called at the request of interim VPAA/DOF Chuck Joseph, who attended as a guest.

For the most part, committees reported that their relations with the administration regarding routine business were good, and characterized by timely and effective communication. However, the past academic year was anything but routine. The faculty governance system was sorely tested, and sustained some damage. It is important that we learn from this experience.

The first Committee of Committees meeting, held at the end of the fall semester (12 December 2001), revealed a widely shared sense that we faced some very serious problems. The strategic planning process appeared to be out of control, IPC’s constitutional authority to develop the strategic plan had been undermined by the faculty’s endorsement of the Writing Group (notwithstanding the latter’s important contributions to the discussion and the final product), and the faculty, by focusing on its own interests in revising the strategic plan, had alienated other
constituencies at the college. Much of the discussion concerned how the faculty might get its own house in order and mend fences.

Early in January John Berman resigned his position as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, and then-Associate Dean Chuck Joseph was appointed as the interim VPAA/DOF. Shortly after this, Chuck Joseph requested the opportunity to meet with the Committee ofCommittees to explore a range of issues related to improving faculty governance and the Dean’s role in that endeavor. The meeting (21 January 2002) included discussion of the following topics:

• Ways to increase faculty participation in the governance system;
• Possible creation of a governance advisory council [since accomplished];
• The role of the Dean in committees on which he/she or his/her designee serves; and
• Strategic plan status and prospects.

CFG’s agenda for spring 2002 was largely set by the suggestions made at this meeting.

At the most recent Committee of Committees meeting (2 May 2002), the main foci of discussion were the plans for a Benefits Task Force and a retrospective discussion of the recent problems in leadership and governance. Several committees expressed a concern that, in spite of the positive interactions with the administration on routine business, there had been a deeper failure of communication, and that the good offices of the governance system were not always effectively used. Furthermore, there was a sense that we need to control the urge to pursue ad hoc solutions
(e.g., the Writing Group) and work within our existing governance structure whenever possible. The perennially problematic committees IPC and FPPC were also discussed; it was suggested that some of IPC’s recent problems could have been mitigated by a regular meeting time and more frequent meetings, and that FPPC plays an important role, even if its work is often reactive, by delivering financial information to the community in a comprehensible and timely fashion.

In closing, the Committee of Committees urges the faculty to reflect on its role in the events of recent years, and to consider how we can improve our management of large and contentious issues. The committee also conveys its thanks to Chuck Joseph for all that he has done to help us through this time of storm and stress.

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES

President Studley thanked Ann Henderson, Registrar and Director of Institutional Research, and her colleagues for her heroic work in assembling all the material so quickly and efficiently.

Ann Henderson thanked Judy Stephens and her office staff. Ann reminded the faculty to keep all the handouts confidential.

Ann Henderson read the following four resolutions:

RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Bachelor of Arts degree to 332 students of the Class of 2002 to be awarded on May 19, 2002.
RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Bachelor of Science degree to 172 students of the Class of 2002 to be awarded on May 19, 2002.
RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Bachelor of Arts degree to 25 students of the Class of 2002 upon satisfactory completion of the degree requirements by August 31,
2002.
RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Bachelor of Science degree to 26 students ofthe Class of 2002 upon satisfactory completion of the degree requirements byAugust 31, 2002.

A motion to accept the above resolutions was made and seconded. There was no discussion, and the motions carried with all voting in favor. (See Attachment A-1 and Attachment A-2.)

Jon Ramsey read the following two resolutions:

RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College approve Departmental Honors for two students from the Class of 2001 and 162 students from the Class of 2002—as presented at the May 15, 2002 Faculty Meeting.

A motion to accept the resolution was made and seconded. It carried with all voting in favor.

RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College approve one student from the Class of 2001 and 116 students from the Class of 2002 for cum laude distinction; for magna cum laude distinction, one student from the Class of 2001 and 49 students from the Class of 2002; for summa cum laude distinction 27 students from the Class of 2002 as presented at the May 15, 2002 faculty meeting. (Attachment B is no longer available.)

A motion to accept the resolution was made and seconded. It carried with all voting in favor.

Professor Gregory Goodwin read the following resolution on behalf of the External Master of Arts Committee:

RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Master of Arts degree to two students. Of these, one student receiving the Master of Arts degree will do so contingent upon completion of all degree requirements by August 31, 2002. (See Attachment C.)

Mary Angela Ivancic Jaworski
Polly Parkingson
Rodney David Shively
Tracy Marie Stortevant

The motion carried with all voting in favor.

Joanna Zangrando read the following motion for the University Without Walls Committee:

RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Bachelor of Arts degree to 17 students and theBachelor of Science degree to 11 students: (See Attachment D.)

The motion carried with all voting in favor.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Dean Joseph announced that the following faculty members were promoted:

To Professor - Tenured Faculty
Susan Bender, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
Gregory Pfitzer, Department of American Studies
Lary Opitz, Department of Theater
Linda Simon, Department of English

To Associate Professor
Eric Lewis
James Kennelly
Kate Leavitt
Viviana Rangel
Susan Walzer

To Senior Artist-in-Residence
Pola Baytelman
Joel Brown
Richard Hihn
John Nazarenko
Anne Turner
Jan Vinci

To Librarian
Susan Zappan

To Associate Librarian
Barbara Norelli

To Senior Teaching Associate
Jill Linz

Don McCormack, Dean of Special Programs, informed the faculty of the many upcoming summer programs and he encouraged the faculty to attend these events. A copy of the summer arts calendar will be available shortly. 

 Don informed the faculty of recent allegations in the media regarding a counselor in the Boy’s Choir of Harlem. Don is communicating with the Choir about the charges of abuse. At this time he has no information that would alter our relationship with the Choir or support for its mission. If there are other questions or rumors the faculty have heard, they are welcome to talk to Don about them.

Don informed the faculty about a University Without Walls (UWW) program in Antigua. UWW staff and Skidmore faculty have visited the site to discuss the potential for expansion. He will give an update in the fall. Charlie Stainback, Dayton Director of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery announced the Sonnabend Exhibition and Gala. He briefly explained the Sonnabend exhibit will include over 100 artists, and the show is getting considerable national and international attention. The Gala will be held on June 21 (opening and fund raiser). The grand opening will be on June 29th for the Skidmore and Saratoga communities. Charlie welcomed the faculty to attend.

Michael Casey, Vice President for Advancement, announced the participation rate in the senior class fund is approaching 50 percent. He indicated that we are looking at our best annual fund raising year ever. Mike Sposili, Director of Alumni Affairs, gave a quick update on the exciting weekend planned for families and graduates. From 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., lunch will be served under the tent onCase Green for the faculty to interact with students and their families. He announced that there would be fireworks at 10:30 p.m. and a band playing great dance music. He thanked the faculty for helping keep the alumni and donors connected to Skidmore by traveling on the road: Regis Brodie, Mary Stange, Mary Lynn, Leslie Mechem, and Michael Arnush were mentioned.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer, President Studley thanked the community a final time. Jamie remarked that she looked forward to seeing the faculty at Commencement, and once again in September.

The meeting adjourned at 11:12 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia A. Heritage
Executive Secretary
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
and Dean of the Faculty