Faculty Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2024
Murray Aikins Dining Hall, 2nd Floor
Dorothy E. Mosby, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Dean Mosby asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held March 1, 2024. Hearing none, she called for a vote to approve the minutes which were then approved unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
On behalf of CEPP and the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program respectively, Associate Professor Nick Junkerman and Associate Professor AJ Schneller read the following Motion that was introduced at the last faculty meeting:
Motion: The Committee on Educational Policies and Planning moves to approve the proposal originating from the faculty of the Environmental studies and Sciences program to create an environmental studies and Sciences department.
There being no further clarifying questions, the motion was voted on and passed with majority vote.
NEW BUSINESS
Associate Professor Nick Junkerman returned to the podium to introduce the following motion:
Motion: The Committee on Educational Policies and Planning (CEPP) moves adoption of a policy governing recordings of class sessions.
Professor Junkerman explained the rationale for the motion and invited questions and concerns from the faculty. A member of the faculty asked to clarify some of the rationale, stating that it had been her understanding that all recordings, even if for an accommodation, must be consented to by the faculty teaching the class. Professor Junkerman noted that all accommodations processes should include a dialogue between the student, SAS, and the faculty member, and that this is not meant to further complicate or stigmatize accommodations. Another faculty member then asked if faculty can opt out of the accommodations process. Professor Junkerman stated that he did not know, and would need to check. A faculty member highlighted the potentially chilling effect of recordings on class discussions on sensitive topics. Professor Junkerman said that CEPP would take this into consideration. This faculty member also asked about the implications for intellectual property of recordings of class sessions, due to having been informed that the recorder owns the content per New York State copyright law. Professor Junkerman agreed that these are serious implications, and that CEPP will take it under advisement. He noted that the recordings are already happening, and that this policy is meant to create an adjudicatory pathway for resolving any issues surrounding recording. A faculty member on Zoom noted that his understanding was that faculty are required to adhere to accommodations. Professor Junkerman agreed that that was broadly correct, and stated his regrets at not having the details on the accommodations process. A faculty member asked if this policy will also include recordings in the form of photographs, pointing out that students will sometimes take photos of the board at the end of class as opposed to taking notes during class sessions. Professor Junkerman said that he thinks that this sort of policy should be included in the individual professors’ syllabi. A faculty member stated that the proposed solution of potentially lowering a students’ grade in response to their violating the recording policy is inappropriate. Professor Junkerman stated that it is similar to lowering a grade due to poor attendance, but made note of the concern for CEPP to discuss. There being no further questions, Dean Mosby returned to the podium.
DEAN OF FACULTY/VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS’ REPORT
Dean Mosby invited Vice President for Human Resources and General Counsel Sarah Vero and Director of Human Resources Julie Delay to the podium to update the faculty on the TIAA transition and performance reviews. Director Delay noted that we are in the process of transitioning to TIAA as the single platform for retirement benefits. She then outlined the support and ongoing educational opportunities for plan participants, and stated that the full transition guides were mailed on April 1 and additional resources are available on the HR website. Director Delay then highlighted some upcoming important dates: from April 28th to May 8th, there will be a quiet period when changes cannot be made and new participants cannot enroll. After May 8th, this administrative piece of the transition will be complete and changes can be made. The investment lineup will go live on May 9th by 4pm. The account balance transfers should be completed by May 15th if you previously were using Vanguard. TIAA advisors will be on campus to answer questions and offer guidance on a number of dates between April 15th and June 13th. On April 26th, TIAA advisors will be available in Murray Aikins between the Staff and Faculty Meetings. Director Delay reminded the faculty that HR is available to address any questions or concerns.
A faculty member asked if it was true that Vanguard users are going to have their same funds sponsored by TIAA CREFF, with the same expense ratios and fees. VP Vero stated that the fund maps in the transition guide can help clarify this, as can the advisors, but that of the funds that most Skidmore Vanguard users were invested in, some will actually have lower fees. She also noted that, due to overlap, some funds were dropped in favor of similar funds that were performing better. Additionally, Vanguard has fees as well, that are not transparent, and this transition will allow for greater transparency across the board.
Director Delay then reminded faculty who supervise staff that performance reviews are coming. The process has been streamlined, and there are new questions. The reviews must be completed by May 20th, per the email sent by HR.
Dean Mosby then invited Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions Jess Ricker to update the faculty about enrollment. VP Ricker said that Skidmore has received around 12,000 applications and admitted 20% of those applicants, making this our most selective year. She noted that the results of the affirmative action ruling will not be apparent until midsummer. VP Ricker went on to speak about the new FAFSA form and its effects on enrollment and admissions. The late rollout of the FAFSA as well as some difficulties with the actual system have meant that colleges are not receiving accurate financial data. While Skidmore released formal aid offers to all admitted students mid-March, other institutions to which students have been admitted may be reliant on the FAFSA and students may not have aid information from other institutions. Due to this, more accepted students than usual will probably be granted extensions to commit while aid is sorted out. VP Ricker closed by thanking faculty who participated in the recent accepted student days, which were a big success.
Dean Mosby returned to the podium and began her remarks by speaking about the upcoming presidential election. She said that she had recently reached out to chairs and program directors about their plans for election-related programming meant to inform, educate and provide space for open discussion. She encouraged faculty to share any related programming with the Dean’s Office so that they can offer support and direction for those interested, as well as sharing with the off-campus Skidmore community the ways in which we are enacting the school’s mission to support civil discourse and the exchange of ideas and preparing our students to be engaged citizens and leaders.
She then shared an update about the Middle States’ Reaffirmation of Reaccreditation process. Skidmore is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the reaccreditation process occurs every eight years. There are three primary components to this process: the standards, the self-study, and the peer review. Dean Mosby announced that this would be the kickoff for the self-study, which will focus on how Skidmore meets Middle States’ seven standards for accreditation. She said that the Steering Committee has been participating in a Self-Study Institute with Middle States this fall. This spring, self-study working groups have been formed, a draft of the self-study design has been completed and is under review, and there will be a visit from the Middle States Liaison on April 30th. Starting this fall, the working groups will convene and begin working through the standards, collecting evidence, and identifying both strengths and areas in need of improvement. In the fall of 2025, we will finalize the self-study and share it out to the working groups and the wider campus community, and receive a visit from our evaluation chair. In the spring of 2026, there will be a visit from the Middle States team, led by the president of a peer institution.
Dean Mosby said that each of the four working groups will be taking on two standards, and shared the working group members with the faculty (see attached). She then invited the faculty to attend the community session with the Middle States Liaison on April 30th, from 1pm-1:45pm on the second floor of Murray Aikins Dining Hall. Dean Mosby then took a moment to recognize some recent faculty achievements: Giuseppe Faustini’s presentation of the Moseley Lecture; the celebration of the Entrepreneurial Artists Initiative led by David Howson and Elizabeth Dubben, and endowed by Molly Haley; Kim Frederick’s receipt of the Giddings Excellence in Education Award from the Analytical Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society. Dean Mosby then shared the new recipients of endowed chairs, commenting on the excellent pool of nominees. Please find the complete list below.
· Mason Stokes: The Class of 1948 Chair for Excellence in Teaching
· Katie Hauser: The Charlotte Lamson Clarke ’53 Chair in Art History
· Heather Hurst: The Courtney and Steven Ross Chair in Interdisciplinary Studies
· Natalie Taylor: The Douglas Family Chair in American Culture, History, and Literary and Interdisciplinary Studies
· Sarah Sweeney: The Ella Van Dyke Tuthill ’32 Chair in Studio Art
· Matt Wilt: The Robert Davidson Chair in Art
· Bernie Possidente: The Susan Kettering Williamson ’59 Chair in Neuroscience
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Associate Professor Adrienne Zuerner, on behalf of Promotions Committee, reminded the faculty that PC is moving to a new calendar per the email sent after the Faculty Meeting. She also announced that there will be a new informational meeting held by PC for Chairs and Program Directors who have department members standing for promotion.
Associate Professor Jeremy Day-O’Connell announced, on behalf of the Faculty Executive Committee, that there will be a faculty-only governance meeting hosted by FEC at the Surrey-Williamson Inn on Friday, April 12th.
Professor Barbara Black and Associate Professor Jason Ohlberg announced the upcoming Humanistic Inquiry Symposium. The Symposium will feature a keynote speaker based on the democratically chosen theme, and the rest of the presenters will be Skidmore faculty and staff. The Symposium will take place in the spring of 2025.
Professor Pushkala Prasad announced, on behalf of the Faculty Development Committee, the 2025 Moseley Lectureship has been awarded to Professor Beau Breslin.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Dean Mosby then invited President Marc C. Conner to the podium for his report. President Conner opened his remarks by celebrating the accepted students visit, and thanking Bob Turner, Kris Covey, Eric Morser and Dan Curley and their students for their work on their panel. He then mentioned the Filene Competition; bringing music students to Skidmore to compete for four scholarships. The Adirondack Trust lecture in finance, which is relatively new, is another example of the breadth of Skidmore’s liberal arts offerings. President Conner took a moment to recognize Giuseppe Faustini’s presentation of the Moseley Lecture, calling it a very moving event. He then spotlighted two recent major gifts; the Valentine gift, supporting scholarships, the Skidmore Fund and the McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center, as well as a major gift from Oscar Tang to a new faculty line, in Asian Studies and Economics. The Asian Studies program will now be named in honor of the Tang family, who have endowed Asian Studies at Berkeley, Princeton and Columbia.
This, said President Conner, is why campus master planning, visions and values, and strategic planning are so important. When we know what we most value, then those connections can be made to donors in order for us to realize what we most want to accomplish. President Conner then spoke about the current context of higher education, drawing focus to issues such as; the Middle East crisis and its accompanying challenges for academic freedoms and free speech, the racial justice initiative which continues to be a major focus, the approaching election and, ultimately, educating our students for democratic citizenship. President Conner then reiterated his firm commitment to supporting these issues and helping students grapple with these concerns. He also commended the faculty for continuing to mentor, teach, and serve as a resource for students trying to make sense of our current climate. Receiving no questions, President Conner returned the floor to Dean Mosby.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nora E. Graubard
Senior Administrative Coordinator