Faculty Senate Minutes November 7, 2019

November 7, 2019
Charter Room

Present: T. Moretti (Chair), D. DeFino (Secretary), M. Bard, A. Bishop, M. Draeger, A. Howerton-Fox, H. He, M. Hughes, L. Ivanov, R. Jantzen, J. Kaalund, A. Kelso, E. Mariola, C. Martins, M. Nadel, S. Petrovic, A. Rosenfeld, O. Soluade, A. Spiegel, M. Veyvoda
Excused: H Park
Invited: S. Carey, D. Wheeler

T. Moretti called the meeting to order at 3:35pm. Quorum was met.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes for the 10/3/19 Faculty Senate meeting were approved via e-mail on 10/15/19

Announcements

• A Faculty Development Town Hall will be held at noon on 11/21 in Romita Auditorium
• Nominations for Faculty Speaker of the Year are due to the Provost Office by no later than 11/11

Information Item: President’s and Provost’s Visit

• S. Carey discussed strategies for growth moving forward, highlighting three themes:
  • Building upon, rather than disrupting Iona’s legacy, identity, and resources
  • Showcasing and supporting faculty work
  • Supporting innovation at all levels

Information Item: Middle States

In the coming months, the Middle States Steering Group will be requesting self-nominations for 8 or 9 working groups, who will help to research and draft specific elements of the Middle States Report

Action Item: Compensation Plan and Performance Review Proposals

• The Senate reviewed faculty comments posted on the Senate portal.  From these, the Senate identified several pervasive areas of concern:
  • The Compensation Plan and Performance Review are two separate proposals, yet the adjustment of faculty salaries to 25% and 50% has been presented as contingent on faculty committing to a new system for annual performance review.  Given the Board’s commitment to justice and equity in its Compensation Philosophy, such a contingency seems inconsistent and unduly coercive.
  • Given Iona’s history of sub-COLA faculty raises, there are significant doubts that the College would be able to reach, much less maintain 25%, then 50% salaries
  • COLA should be separate from any merit award system
  • The proposed performance review model would place an undue time and resource burden on faculty and administrators
  • The proposed performance review model would encourage points accrual over quality scholarship, teaching, and service
  • The proposed performance review model would likely exacerbate morale issues (by creating salary competition) and compromise talent acquisition and retention
• The Senate will continue to collect comments until 11/11, then vote on the proposals, and issue an executive summary of comments and Senate deliberations to all faculty.
• Item remains open.

There being no other business, T. Moretti adjourned the Faculty Senate meeting at 5:31 p.m. The next Senate meeting will be held on 11/21/19 at 3:30 p.m. in the Charter Room.