Faculty Senate Minutes, November 2, 2023

Present: A. Rosenfeld (Chair), B. Gaines (Secretary), D. Brophy, C. Carlson, K. Engemann, G. Grimaldi, J. Haber, M. Higgins, A. Howerton-Fox, L. Ivanov, Y. Kang, A. Kelso, J. Klein, H. Park, S. Petrovic, A. Qayyum

Excused: G. Barry, C. Dougherty, D. Gunn, N. Kyaw

A. Rosenfeld called the meeting to order at 3:35 pm. Quorum was met.

Announcements

N/A

Sub-committee Updates

Compensation: sub-committee gathering data and identifying information sources. Should have more to share at our next meeting.

Constitution: Preliminary changes were shared. Additional changes will be considered and voted on at next meeting.

Discussion Item: Robert’s Rules Workshop

After trying to schedule the meeting, we were told the provost’s office wants this to be required for committee chairs. There is some concern about the language of requirement, and the Senate generally agreed that people have already given up their time to chair committees, and should not have additional requirements opposed on them. Senate will no longer be a part of organizing this workshop.

Discussion Item: Fall Survey Discussion

Instead of a larger survey in the fall, just a very short survey, asking about a few big items in a “faculty engagement (or morale) poll”:

Subcommittee to look at this: Mike Higgins, Josh Klein, Jeffry Haber, Aaron Rosenfeld, Ben Gaines

Discussion Item: General Assembly Planning

No responses on possible topics from general community. 3 topics decided at agenda planning meeting:

TRIO and Student Services Presentation- Directors of relevant programs
DEIB – Alison Munsch (Chief DEIB Officer)
Talk about student concerns – Shakinah Silverberg (SGA President)

Discussion Item: Joanne Steele, CIO

Joanne Steele presented on IT issues and concerns, including security, Blackboard Ultra, and decision-making process. By Spring 2025 all courses will use the new Ultra Course View. Joanne stressed the importance of faculty leadership and participation via Information Technology and Libraries Committee with respect to tech adoptions, platforms, and decisions. The suggestion was made to use a Faculty Services webpage to facilitate going to classrooms before semester starts to walkthrough how to use technology in a new room. Senate agreed

to follow up on how we can facilitate ongoing collaboration between faculty and administration vis-à-vis tech issues.

New Business:

Seat the committee for fac speaker/valedictorian. Call will go out next week, respond by Tuesday 11/28.

Seat the committee for Faculty Awards selection. Call will go out next week, respond by Tuesday 11/28.

Send out call for nominees for Faculty Awards. Announcement provided by Provost’s office, need to be submitted by 12/15

Chairs’ gathering. Senate may try to organize, completely separate from the Robert’s Rules workshop

There being no other business, A. Rosenfeld adjourned the Faculty Senate meeting at 5:45 p.m. The next Senate meeting will be held in the Charter Room on 11/30/2023 at 3:30p.m.