Faculty Meeting Minutes

October 7, 2022
Gannett Auditorium/Zoom

Michael Orr, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m., after problems with technology delayed the start of the meeting.  He welcomed everyone to the second Faculty Meeting of the semester and expressed the hope that the semester was going well for everyone.  He noted some challenges this semester, particularly in terms of managing COVID given the number of students affected at the beginning of the semester, and indicated his appreciation for the continued flexibility and willingness to make adjustments to support our students that had been shown.  

DOF/VPAA Orr then requested everyone’s patience as we continue to experiment with holding the Faculty Meeting in a hybrid format.  He reviewed the procedures to be followed during the Faculty Meeting, including the process for voting using iClicker cloud.   He then reminded everyone that, immediately following the faculty meeting, a reception and celebration would be held in the CIS to mark the naming of the lobby in honor of President and Marie Glotzbach.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

DOF/VPAA Orr asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held September 9, 2022.  Hearing none, he announced the minutes were approved.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business.

OLD BUSINESS

On behalf of the Faculty Executive Committee, Associate Professor Xiaoshuo Hou read the following Motion (see attached) that was introduced at the last Faculty Meeting:

MOTION:  The Faculty Executive Committee moves that the 2022-2023 Faculty Handbook be adopted.  The following link takes you to the 2022-2023 Faculty Handbook (showing tracked changes) as well as handbooks from previous years: http://www.skidmore.edu/dof-vpaa/faculty-handbooks.php

There being no questions or discussion, the Motion was voted on and passed by majority vote.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A Committee of the Whole was held to discuss the utilization of time during Faculty Meetings.  Professor Hou was appointed as chair of the Committee of the Whole.  A 15-minute time limit was set and extended for an additional 5 minutes.  At the conclusion of the Committee of the Whole, Professor Hou rose and reported that a discussion on the utilization of time during Faculty Meetings was held. 

OTHER

Joel Aure, Title IX Coordinator, reminded everyone of their reporting responsibilities under Title IX in the event a disclosure is made to them about a report of sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or any form of sexual or gender-based misconduct (SGBM), including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (see attached for complete details).  He further noted that while the responsibility to report a disclosure is considered a compliance requirement, it is also an opportunity to show compassion and support to our students and to help them get connected to the resources and options available to them.  He encouraged anyone with questions or needing assistance to contact him or to stop by his office, now newly located in Case Center.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President Conner began by acknowledging the discussion that had occurred during the Committee of the Whole and commented that he considered one of the purposes of his portion of the agenda is to share his thinking on current issues facing the College and to field questions.  He expressed regret that there had not been time for questions during the September start-of-year Faculty Meeting but noted that the Faculty Meeting agenda isn’t under his control.  He reminded everyone that, at the end of the meeting, he had encouraged anyone with questions to reach out to him and that he frequently holds open office hours for anyone wishing to discuss any issues with him.  He encouraged anyone with any questions to feel free to reach out to him.

President Conner then briefly noted various College events held over the last several weeks, including the Steloff lecture, In It 7, the Moseley Lecture, Constitution Day, and Athletics Hall of Fame.  He noted that details about these events are readily available on the website and applauded all the work that faculty, staff, and students put into the extraordinary collection of events, gatherings, and programs.  He commented how remarkable it feels to have these events happening in person again.

With regard to the drop in COVID numbers on campus, President Conner indicated that that information is readily available on the Skidmore website.

President Conner then commented on the recent union vote held by non-tenure-track faculty.  He reiterated that he unequivocally supports our non-tenure-track faculty. As he has stated since the Union question arose last spring, the question on whether to unionize or not belongs to them and the College will support and abide by their decision wholeheartedly.  The vote to unionize was decisive and the College supports and abides by the democratic process.  While he continues to be pleased and proud of the process that was followed, President Conner stated that he is also conscious that scores of non-tenure-track faculty voted not to be part of the union.  He noted that we are all responsible for finding ways to help this work as we all have a stake in the outcome. President Conner stated that he is president for everyone in this community and makes no distinction between full-time, part-time, tenure-track, non-tenure-track, union, or non-union.  He explained that this is how he approaches this work and he encouraged everyone to enter into the work with a similar attitude.

Thereupon, President Conner stated that we are in the midst of this year’s Strategic Action Agenda.  He noted that the Strategic Action Agendas for prior years are available for review on the website.  The Strategic Action Agendas that President Conner has presented during the past two years have been concise documents that draw on the current Strategic Plan and have been developed in collaboration with the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee. This year’s five goals include:

• The Racial Justice Initiative, which continues in its third year, and remains one of our key goals.
• The Visions and Values project, which will focus on what distinguishes Skidmore.
• Campus Master Planning and the next steps for how we proceed. Some projects are already underway, such as the renovation to the main campus entrance and the relocation and expansion of the Greenberg Child Care center. The first major project to emerge from the Campus Master Plan (CMP) will be Health and Wellness, Fitness, and Athletics, a project which will include a state-of-the-art student Health and Wellness Center, a Fitness Center for the whole community, and long-deferred athletic facilities. We will be holding open forums to discuss this project in detail and noted that the proposed project would be the second LEED certified building on campus. He assured everyone that any projects emerging from the Campus Master Plan will be developed in a collaborative and transparent way, mirroring the highly inclusive process of the CMP.
• The three Vice Presidential searches. As noted in the Weekly Bulletin, a website has been developed for the Vice Presidential search updates; the website includes information on the search committees, search firms, profiles, and timelines. President Conner regularly sends updates to the chairs of FEC and ATC on the DOF/VPAA search in particular, and last month an all-campus forum was held to address questions and hear suggestions about that search.
• Speech and Expression. This is an issue of great consequence on our campus and across the globe.  We need to address the quality of expression and the openness to speech on our campus and in our community.

Next, President Conner introduced Charles Ingram, the new Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, who was greeted by a round of applause.

Concluding his report, President Conner provided an update on the search for the Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, noting that the timeline he had described at the May Faculty meeting remains on track.

• August 23: a 90-minute inclusive hiring, training, and discussion with the entire search committee and search firm.
• August 29: a meeting with the search committee and search firm for initial discussion of applications, review of position, and interview formatting questions.
• September 8: an open forum for our entire community to come and ask questions of the Search committee or the search firm. About 40 individuals attended the meeting.
• October 3: a 3-hour meeting of the entire Search Committee to discuss the initial selection of approximately forty applications. From there, 10 applicants were selected for the semi-finalist stage.
• Semi-finalist interviews are scheduled for the week of October 17.  Ten interviews will be conducted by Zoom.
• Three finalists are anticipated to be brought to campus, with visits tentatively scheduled for the weeks of November 7 to 18.

Thereupon, President Conner indicated that he hoped to see everyone at the celebration of Phil and Marie Glotzbach in the CIS lobby following the Faculty Meeting and then opened the floor for questions, comments, or suggestions:

• A faculty member thanked President Conner for the attitude he has taken with regard to the non-tenure-track faculty union vote and his willingness to be supportive of all, regardless of the way in which they voted.  The faculty member noted that for those that voted no, the process that has been followed and some of the language that has been used by the union organizers have left them feeling marginalized, isolated, and excluded from being able to express their opinions.  She expressed the hope that these faculty members can feel included and be part of the process and that any collective bargaining agreement reached will reflect the views of all non-tenure-track faculty. 
• In response to a question about the size of the pool of applicants received for the Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs search, President Conner stated that there had been over a hundred applications, including general inquiries, letters of interest, and formal applications.  He further noted that the search committee had access to all applications, not just those recommended for consideration by the search firm.  President Conner indicated that he will provide detailed data on the diversity of the pool once the search has concluded.  
• One faculty member commented that he felt much of the information President Conner provided during his report could have been sent out in an email prior to the Faculty Meeting and indicated that he felt that President Conner hadn’t really provided a response to the comments made by the faculty member with regard to the union vote.  He then asked President Conner to provide his thoughts on the issues raised by the faculty member regarding the union process.  President Conner disagreed with the characterization of his response.  He then explained that he does not believe the Faculty Meeting is the best forum for the union question to be debated and that, as President of the College, it would be inappropriate and unfair to everyone were he to share his personal views on the outcome of the union vote, whatever they might be. President Conner reminded everyone that he had previously shared his views on unionism as a whole and his commitment to unionism as a principal in practice. He then reiterated his position that the question of unionization is not for the College to decide and reminded everyone that the next stage involves collective bargaining and negotiation and that the President doesn’t engage in or comment on this process. 
• After repeated requests for any further questions from the floor, President Conner expressed his eagerness for further conversation with the faculty at their leisure.

DEAN OF THE FACULTY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS’ REPORT

DOF/VPAA Orr began his remarks by noting the clarification he sent out earlier in the week about the COVID vaccination clinic on Monday, October 10 being for students only.  He indicated that more information will be forthcoming about subsequent COVID vaccination clinics on campus that would be available to everyone.

Thereupon, DOF/VPAA Orr introduced several new staff members in Academic Affairs, including Zhenelle LeBel, the new managing director of the Zankel Music Center; Tara Rowse, the new Director of Sustainability Programs and Assessment; Njeri Jennings, the new Tisch Educator at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery (Tang); Hilarie duPont, the new designer at the Tang; and Evan Little, the Interim Curatorial Assistant at the Tang.  A welcoming round of applause was given.

Next, DOF/VPAA Orr addressed the recent union vote by both full-time and part-time non-tenure-track faculty. He stated that, since the election, he had reached out to the leadership of the union organizing committee to acknowledge both the result of the election and to emphasize the college’s commitment to bargaining in good faith with the union.  He stated that the College stands ready to begin that process, which it anticipates will begin shortly.  As was stated several times during the election process, and as the Faculty Forward organizing committee acknowledges on their website, first contracts usually require a lengthy period of time to negotiate, with a year to 18 months being typical, though some institutions take longer.  DOF/VPAA Orr stressed that during the period between the election and the conclusion of the collective bargaining process, it is important that we maintain the status quo with regard policies and procedures that affect non-tenure-track faculty that were in place prior to the election.  While those policies and procedures continue to apply during this interim period, the College is constrained from making any changes to policies and practices that affect non-tenure-track faculty without first bargaining with the union. For example, any changes the faculty might wish to make to the Faculty Handbook this year would not apply to non-tenure-track faculty, pending the outcome of collective bargaining.  At the same time, the college is able to continue to conduct business provided it follows existing policies and practices, So, it intends to move forward with items such as open enrollment for health benefits and making general salary adjustments, following the established procedures, subject to negotiation as needed, until a collective bargaining agreement is reached.  DOF/VPAA Orr then again reiterated the College’s commitment to working with the non-tenure-track union to negotiate mutually agreeable contract terms.

Thereafter, DOF/VPAA Orr called upon Teaching Professor Ruth McAdams, one of the members of the Skidmore Faculty Forward Organizing Committee, to make some remarks. Professor McAdams thanked everyone who had helped the committee to establish the union – students, staff, tenure-line allies and especially all the non-tenure-track faculty who came together collectively with the goal of improving non-tenure-track working conditions. She noted that an announcement will be made early next week via email about upcoming sessions for non-tenure-track faculty to discuss bargaining priorities. These sessions will be open to all non-tenure-track faculty, including those colleagues who did not initially support unionization.  For those that are unable to attend any of the sessions, a survey will be circulated.  Professor McAdams acknowledged that not all non-tenure-track faculty were in favor of unionization; however, now that a vote in favor of unionization has occurred, she stated that all non-tenure-track faculty need to work together to establish bargaining priorities.  She encouraged everyone to make their voices heard so that the fairest, the most equitable, and the most transparent conditions of employment can be shared for all Skidmore’s non-tenure-track faculty. Professor McAdams concluded by reiterating the organizing committee’s commitment to an amicable and productive collective bargaining process with the administration to resolve some of the issues that led to the formation of the union.  Further information can be found on the Faculty Forward website: https://skidmorefacultyfwd.com.

Concluding his report, DOF/VPAA Orr announced a project being launched with the support of a major grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence Initiative.  A team of faculty, led by Professor Kim Frederick, has been working since 2019 on a grant proposal to HHMI as part of a larger 15-institution learning community.  The learning community, of which Skidmore is a member, has been awarded an $8.7 million grant, of which Skidmore will receive a little over $500,000. The focus of the HHMI Inclusive Excellence Initiative is for institutions to develop a better understanding of the barriers preventing them from becoming fully inclusive higher education communities.  It’s timely and a very good fit for us, as it aligns with the Racial Justice Initiative and the Values and Visions project we will be engaging in this upcoming year.  DOF/VPAA Orr reminded everyone that, as an institution, our mission commits us to educating a diverse population of students; yet, we know from recent campus climate surveys as well as other forms of feedback, not all groups of students experience “the challenging, yet supportive environment” that our mission statement promises. 

DOF/VPAA Orr stated that the HHMI grant will provide support for us to engage in two particular projects in this area.  The first project will focus on how we gather and make meaning of data, both qualitative and quantitative, to help foster inclusion and accessibility in the classroom and beyond.  This project will be coordinated by Associate Professor Kelly Sheppard, Faculty Director of Assessment, in collaboration with Amy Tweedy, Institutional Effectiveness Specialist, and the IPPC Subcommittee on Institutional Effectiveness.  The project will engage in a number of topics concerning how we gather, interpret, and understand qualitative and quantitative data.  For example, this project will support collaborations with departments who wish to use disaggregated data better to better understand student experiences in introductory courses. We are hopeful that this project will improve how we collect data and use it to better understand who is succeeding in our classes and to identify the barriers for those that do not. 

DOF/VPAA Orr further stated that the second part of this project builds on recent discussions between the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning, the Appointments and Tenure Committee, and the Promotions Committee about what it means to teach and learn in an inclusive and accessible way. With the assistance of FEC, we will be creating a working group on inclusive and accessible teaching and learning. The working group will take as its charge understanding and supporting inclusive and accessible teaching, and will examine our current practices and policies to develop proposals about how we might better support and evaluate inclusive and accessible teaching. DOF/VPA Orr announced that FEC will be sending out a willingness to serve soon and indicated his hope that many faculty will consider putting themselves forward to help support the project.

Thereupon, the floor was opened for questions and comments.  One faculty member inquired as to whether there currently is an acting director of Wykoff Center and whether the College will be searching for a permanent director this year.  Joshua Woodfork, Vice President for Strategic Planning and Institutional Diversity, confirmed that we do not currently have a Director of Wykoff Center and that we anticipate searching for a permanent director.  He further indicated that, in the meantime, he would be happy to connect anyone to the person that is helping to coordinate reservations of the space.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:56 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,