FACULTY MEETING

April 1, 2005
Gannett Auditorium

MINUTES

President Philip A. Glotzbach called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m.

President Glotzbach asked if there were any objections to the approval of the March 4, 2005 Faculty Meeting minutes; hearing no objections, the minutes were approved.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President Glotzbach opened his remarks by announcing that Masako Inamoto, Lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures has been awarded the Chaplin Prize for Excellence in Teaching Japanese, a prestigious national award given by the Ohio State University. A Title VI-A Grant from the Department of Education in the amount of $173,000 was awarded to the International Studies Program to enhance international education and foreign language training. President Glotzbach thanked Associate Professor Mary-Beth O’Brien and Professor Roy Ginsberg
for their work on the proposal. Academic Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, May 4 and all faculty were encouraged not only to participate, but to refrain from scheduling or conducting other business for that day in order that they may attend. The theme for this year’s festival is “Celebrating Excellence.”

President Glotzbach stated that the Institutional Planning Committee (IPC) would be formally presenting the Executive Summary of the revised Strategic Plan for Skidmore to the faculty for endorsement later in the meeting. Supporting documents contained in the Appendices will be presented to the community for comment at a later time. Appendices of the Plan are still under development. As part of the development of the Plan, the “Student Retention Study” will also soon be available to the community for its consideration. President Glotzbach is confident that this document presents a solid plan for the future, a plan of which the community can be proud. He thanked everyone who helped bring the Plan to fruition.

President Glotzbach discussed the progress of the North Woods Apartments Project. The ground has been cleared and the project is moving ahead on schedule. He gave an overview of the environmentally-responsible steps that have occurred to date: 1) approximately 12 acres of trees were removed, which is actually one acre less than originally planned due to careful consideration during the cutting phase; 2) approximately five acres of the total site were considered a “Brownfield” due to previous use as a clean dump site and ski slope; 3) three ponds will be constructed to contain storm water runoff, which will prevent erosion of that area of the woods; 4) 10,000 board feet of lumber will be harvested from the trees removed, which will be milled and returned to the site for use as trim and moldings in the apartments. All of the wood chips collected were used as bio-mass fuel for a heating system in a hospital in Northampton, Massachusetts. Some of the trees were sent to the Art Department for using in carving projects. The remainders of the trees are being sold for lumber, plywood manufacturing, and furniture. 5) The entire complex will be heated and cooled using a Geo-thermal system. A series of up to 80 wells will be drilled 400 feet deep in order to reach the level at which the earth’s temperature remains constant. Water pumped through these wells will release heat in the winter and absorb heat in the summer so that the College will realize about a 30 percent reduction in heating costs and a
50 percent reduction in cooling costs compared to traditional systems. A grant from NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) in the amount of $175,000 will help defray the costs of this portion of the project. 6) All lighting will be low-energy-consuming fixtures and lamps; for example, an 18-watt lamp will provide the same lumens of light as a traditional 75-watt incandescent lamp. 7) All water devices will be lowconsumption fixtures; i.e., low-flow shower heads and toilets. 8) The structure itself will have R-19 wall insulation and R-30 ceiling insulation (both ratings are above the current energy code requirements), and all windows will have glass that is double-paned, argon gas filled, low-e glazed. President Glotzbach is proud that these apartments will be the “greenest” and most energy-efficient buildings constructed to date on Skidmore’s campus.

President Glotzbach introduced Professor Alice Dean, as chair of the Dean of Student Affairs Review Committee. Professor Dean informed the faculty that Dean of Student Affairs Pat Oles will be undergoing a six-year review as mandated by the Faculty Handbook for all senior administrators. The review committee consists of: Barbara Beck, Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration and Director of Human Resources; Alice Dean, chair of the committee and Professor of Mathematics; Marny Krause, Associate Vice President for Advancement and Director of
Development; Don McCormack, Dean of Special Programs; Flip Phillips, Associate Professor of Psychology; and Stephanie Van Allen (Review Committee Coordinator), Special Projects Manager for the Office of the President. An email will be sent out to the community giving further information and asking for feedback.

President Glotzbach announced that the preliminary AAUP data regarding faculty salaries for fiscal year 2005 have been received. The data will be analyzed within the next couple of weeks. A report will be brought to the faculty for discussion.

DEAN OF FACULTY’S REPORT

Dean Charles M. Joseph opened his report by announcing that former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky will be at Skidmore during the week of April 11 as the Don and Judy McCormack Visiting Artist-Scholar for the spring semester. He also announced that Associate Professor Rajagopal Parthasarathy will be presenting a reading of his poetry at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in Davis Auditorium. Assistant Professor Dan Nathan has received two fellowships to support research projects during the 2005-06 academic year. Dean Joseph attended two recent lectures: “Same-Sex Marriage and the Shadow of Polygamy" the inaugural Karen Levin Coburn '63 Lecture in Women's Studies at Skidmore given by Cheshire Calhoun of Colby College and a lecture entitled "The Rising Peril of HIV/AIDS in China: Sex Work, Human Rights, and the Challenges Facing Public Policy" addressing the increasing threat of HIV/AIDS in China. Both were terrific lectures, but what he was most impressed with was the high level of student participation at both events. Ann Henderson has been working very hard on the new student registration system. Dean Joseph thanked her for her efforts and for the cooperation of those who have helped move this project forward. He asked for everyone’s patience with the new system while the bugs are worked out. Accepted Candidates’ days will be held on April 11, 15, 18, and 22, and Dean Joseph thanked Dean Mary Lou Bates for her hard work on this project as well as the department chairs and program directors who are participating in those events. Ruth Copans, Librarian, will be teaching in the London during the fall semester and on sabbatical during the spring, therefore, Susan Zappan will stand in as Acting College Librarian.

Celebration Family Weekend and the Mini-College Program will occur in October and an email will be issued soon with further information and details.

Associate Professor Mark Hofmann gave an update on the Dean of Faculty’s search. The committee has been meeting regularly with Tobie van der Vorm. There have been over 70 applicants for the position and new applications will continue to be reviewed as received. The pool has been reduced to approximately 12 diverse candidates. References are being checked and next week the committee will meet to determine which candidates will be invited to off-campus interviews. Three to four candidates will then be selected for on-campus interviews. Open forums will be held on
April 25 and 28 and May 2 and 5 at 4:30 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium. After the interviews are completed, the search committee will solicit input from the community. Further details will be provided in a forthcoming email.

Professor Carolyn Anderson gave an update on the Dean of Special Program’s search. The committee has also been meeting regularly with Tobie van der Vorm. The committee has read and discussed approximately 73 applications and the pool has been narrowed down to 14 candidates whose references are being checked. The committee will meet to discuss those candidates and will then select candidates to schedule for preliminary interviews toward the end of April. Based on those interviews, selected candidates will then be invited to campus in mid May. More specific information on exact dates and scheduling will be forthcoming. An open forum for each candidate will also be held.

Associate Professor Mark Youndt gave an update on the Athletic Director’s Search. The committee has been working since January. The Athletic Director Search Committee consists of: Pat Oles, Dean of Student Affairs and Co-Chair of the Committee; Adam Branfman ’06, Crew Team; Alexis Sherman ’05, Field Hockey Team; Beverly Becker, Emerti Faculty and member of Friends of Skidmore Athletics; Jill Belding Greenleaf, Teaching Associate and Aquatics Director, Swim Coach; John Brueggemann, Associate Dean of Faculty Development; John Chaplin, Leadership Gifts
Officer and member of Friends of Skidmore Athletics; Kate Berheide, Professor of Sociology, NCAA Faculty Representative, and Chair of Athletics Council; Mark Youndt, Associate Professor of Management and Business and Co-Chair of the Committee; Mary Lou Bates, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid; and Ron Plourde, Teaching Associate and Baseball Coach. The Committee has received 60 applications with a pool consisting of more female than male applicants. The pool has been narrowed to four finalists. The schedule of candidates’ visits to campus will be sent out by email to the community. Feedback will be solicited. More information will be available on the Athletics Director Search web site.

Dean Joseph offered comments regarding the upcoming writing requirement proposal. First he mentioned that he has been impressed with the high level of student participation. He sees this proposal as a first step to a more vigorous writing requirement at Skidmore. It will ultimately be up to the Dean of Faculty to make the decision about staffing and numbers in the future, but currently it has been determined that the Department of English is adequately staffed to handle the requirements of the proposal as presented. Dean Joseph asked everyone to consider the proposal on its merits when debating the motion.

Dean Joseph thanked everyone for their hard work during this extremely busy spring, and he asked for everyone’s help in the coming months.

REPORTS

GORDON THOMPSON, Committee on Educational Policies and Planning (CEPP)

Professor Thompson gave a report on behalf of CEPP. CEPP is currently working on addressing some minor problematic details in the implementation of the new First-Year Experience Program. A policy is needed to address mid-year transfers into the program, withdrawals from the course, and those few who fail the course. CEPP is working in cooperation with the Committee for Academic Standing and the First-Year Seminar Committee to develop policies. Those policies will be brought back to the faculty at the next meeting.

OLD BUSINESS

MOTION:

Professor Gordon Thompson, on behalf of the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning (CEPP), offered a further revised motion (see Attachment A): The Committee on Educational Policy and Planning moves that the faculty adopt the following change in the college Expository Writing Requirement: the current college expository writing requirement that is fulfilled by completing EN 105, EN 105Honors, or a Writing Intensive course before the end of the student’s sophomore year will be replaced by EN 105, EN 105Honors, or a one (this modification in the revised proposal’s language addresses the concerns of some faculty regarding the continued existence of EN 105 as one of the ways of satisfying the requirement) Writing Intensive course to be completed by the end of the sophomore year and two other writing courses (designated as either Writing Intensive or Writing Enriched) taken throughout the student’s college career. Those students who need to take EN 103 Writing Seminar I as preparation for meeting this requirement must do so by the end of their first year.

The rationale of this motion was substantially changed since the previous meeting. CEPP stated it’s desire to vote upon the motion by paper ballot. The motion having been revised and held over from previous meetings (see History below) was debated. A secondary motion was made to call the question and close debate; the secondary motion was voted on and passed by majority. The Committee on Faculty Governance distributed and collected paper ballots. President Glotzbach announced the results of the paper ballot vote: 40 in favor, 68 against, no abstentions. The motion was defeated by majority.

HISTORY:

A revised motion was offered at the March 4, 2005 faculty meeting (see Attachment B): The Committee on Educational Policy and Planning moves that the faculty adopt the following change in
the college expository writing requirement: the current college expository writing requirement that is fulfilled by completing EN 105, EN 105Honors, or a Writing Intensive course before the end of the student’s sophomore year will be replaced by one Writing Intensive course to be completed by the end of the sophomore year and three two other writing Enriched courses (designated as either Writing Intensive or Writing Enriched) taken throughout the student’s college career. Those students who need to take EN 103 Writing Seminar I as preparation for meeting this requirement must do so by the end of their first year. [Amended based on recommendations by Michael EnnisMcMillan, Tim Burns, Greg Pfitzer, and Terry Diggory.] Discussion ensued. A secondary motion was made to close debate and postpone the vote until the April 1 faculty meeting; this motion was seconded and debate ensued. The secondary motion to close debate and postpone the vote on the main motion was put to a vote, first orally, then by show of hands. The motion carried by majority and the main motion was held over until the April 1 meeting.

Original Motion offered at the February 4, 2005 meeting (see Attachment C and Attachment D [Addendum]): The Committee on Educational Policy and Planning moves that the faculty adopt the following change in the college expository writing requirement: Replace the current college expository writing requirement that is fulfilled by completing EN 105, EN 105Honors, or a Writing
Intensive course before the end of the student’s sophomore year with three Writing Enriched courses taken throughout the student’s college career. Those students who need to take EN 103 Writing Seminar I as preparation for meeting this requirement must do so by the end of their first year. Coming from the Committee, the motion required no second and was held over until the March 4 faculty meeting. This motion was introduced at the December 3, 2004 faculty meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

MOTION:

Professor Susan Kress, on behalf of the Institutional Planning Committee (IPC), introduced the following motion: The Institutional Planning Committee (IPC) presents to the faculty Engaged
Liberal Learning: The Plan for Skidmore College: 2005-2015, specifically, the Executive Summary of the Plan and requests the faculty’s endorsement of the Executive Summary. (See Attachment E for the Executive Summary of the Plan.) The motion will hold over until the April 29 faculty meeting for debate.

OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Leslie Mechem, on behalf of the Skidmore Employee Federal Credit Union (SEFCU), announced that the Credit Union will be hosting a Home Buyers’ Seminar on May 12 with a session scheduled for both morning and afternoon. The seminar is free of charge to Credit Union members.
• Phyllis Roth announced a new initiative on campus to save energy. The money saved from a radical reduction in energy spending is hoped to reach $5,000 which will be put to use as a scholarship grant to assist an incoming or enrolled Skidmore student. Phyllis encouraged all faculty to be diligent about turning off lights when leaving a room. The tentative name of the program at this time is “Lights Out” but proposals for a more “illuminating” name are being sought.
• Ruth Copans announced the Faculty Meeting Reception to be held in the Pohndorff Room in Scribner Library.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Colleen M. Kelly
Executive Secretary
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty