Faculty Senate Minutes August 20, 2020

August 20, 2020
Via Zoom

Present: T. Moretti (Chair), D. DeFino (Secretary), M. Bard, A. Bishop, D. Brophy, A. Howerton-Fox, M. Hughes, L. Ivanov, J. Kaalund, A. Kelso, J. Klein, R. Lacey, E. Mariola, C. Martins, H. Park, S. Petrovic, A. Rosenfeld, O. Soluade, M. Veyvoda

T. Moretti called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m.  Quorum was met.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes for the 5/7/20 meeting of the Faculty Senate were approved via e-mail on 9/15/20

Announcements

Dates for meetings of the Faculty Senate and College Council have been distributed. 

Information Item: Provost’s Update on COVID-19 Testing

• D. Wheeler visited the Senate to describe randomized testing procedures for the student body, and responded to faculty questions

Information Item: Open Committee Seats

• Faculty openings remain in the following three committees: Board of Trustees Facilities Committee (1 member of either school); Rank, Tenure and Awards (1 A&S member); Honors Council (2 members of BUS).  Positions will be filled through a process of self-nomination and balloting

Information Item: Mixed-Mode Teaching

• Senators reflected on their first week teaching in mixed mode, focusing on remaining technical issues, managing safety protocols, and concerns about engaging both in-class and online students effectively

Information Item: Teaching and Learning Committee and Anti-Racism Pedagogy

• Senate members of TLC discussed the work of the group, and the suggestion that a subgroup of the committee focus exclusively on anti-racist pedagogy, while the rest of the group focused more generally on mixed-mode and online learning strategies.  The Senate agreed that this separation would lead to more effective outcomes, and would give anti-racist pedagogy the level of priority and focus it deserves

Action Item: Adjuncts and the Faculty Handbook

• The Senate unanimously approved D. Brophy’s request to inform the administration that no Adjunct Faculty Handbook or Adjunct Faculty Guidebook currently exists, and that adjunct faculty are subject to the general Faculty Handbook
• Item closed

Action Item: Middle States Working Group Open Seat

• The Senate unanimously approved D. Thiery to replace D. Gunn on the Standard III (Design and Delivery of the Student Experience) Middle States Working Group
• Item closed

Action Item: RTA Tenure Clock Proposal

• The Senate discussed the current progress of a proposal by RTA to extend the tenure clock for all faculty up for tenure or contract renewal this year (faculty would have the option to opt out of this extension, should they wish).  There remain questions about the administration’s position on it, and whether the proposal will achieve its stated aim: to acknowledge the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on faculty scholarship.  After a lengthy discussion the Senate determined that, while it supports the spirit and intent of the proposal, the Executive Committee would raise it as a point of discussion rather than a voting item at next week’s College Council meeting, to see if consensus, and/or amendments could be found that satisfy all parties, before proceeding to a vote.
• Item remains open

Action Item: Letters to Facilities, Security, and Libraries and Information Technology

• The Senate unanimously agreed to draft letters of thanks for the extraordinary work of our staff colleagues through the current crisis.  Those drafts will be circulated for editing and comment prior to delivery
• Item closed

There being no other business, T. Moretti adjourned the Faculty Senate meeting at 5:26 p.m.  The next Senate meeting will be held via Zoom on 9/17/20 at 3:30 p.m.