Faculty Senate Minutes October 8, 2020
October 8, 2020
Via Zoom
Present: T. Moretti (Chair), M. Bard, A. Bishop, D. Brophy, H. He, 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
Excused: D. Defino
Guest: J. Gerometta
T. Moretti called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. Quorum was met.
Approval of Minutes
Minutes to 9/17 meeting of the Faculty Senate were approved via e-mail on 9/23
Announcements
Iona announced that there are 12 new COVID-19 cases involving athletes. No information has been shared regarding the number of people quarantining as a result. There was a discussion regarding how many cases would necessitate going totally virtual and how cases are recorded.
Discussion Item: La Penta School of Business Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
The Provost informed T. Moretti that the administration plans to announce the hire for this position. No search was conducted as it is an internal hire. Reasons for the internal hire include: stabilize the office after years of turnaround, have someone with institutional memory in place to assist the current interim dean and the future dean, and to avoid running two concurrent searches this year, since the current dean is interim.
Concerns were voiced regarding the absence of Senate participation in this hire and the need for information on the Associate Dean’s job description, responsibilities, and impact on accreditation. Senators also expressed that they understand the rationale for the internal hire, and there was general acquiescence to the internal hire. Nevertheless, T. Moretti will raise the Senate’s concerns with the Provost about the hiring academic deans and associate deans without a search.
Discussion Item: HR Policy on Remote Teaching Accommodations
The Senate expressed concerns that, given the 10/1 email communication to all full-time faculty, HR has not acknowledged that the pandemic is the cause for the shift away from in-person teaching, rather than faculty approaches to teaching, whether mixed-mode or remote.
Some senators expressed concern that mixed mode might prove unsustainable due to the migration of students online. Also, with few students attending class in-person, the effectiveness of teaching in-person has become an issue.
The Senate also discussed the impact on predominately female faculty in terms of accommodation for childcare and would like to know how many have requested to teach remotely for this reason. The Provost informed T. Moretti that he will ask Deans to reach out to faculty on this issue.
The Senate would like to know what our students want in terms of in-person vs. virtual learning. As HR stated, the administration is looking for the “appropriate student experience.”
Discussion also centered on the ways that faculty are using innovative strategies for mixed mode teaching and bonding with students.
One of the main concerns about HR asking for accommodations by October 31 is that it is impossible to make plans for February at the present time, especially in terms of childcare.
Action Item: MSCHE Update
T. Moretti asked Senate to recommend someone to fill a vacancy left by A. Griffith on the Standard VI Working Group. If no one steps forward by10/12, an open call will be sent to all faculty
Item remains open.
Action Item: Faculty Survey
Changes and additions recommended by the Senate sub-committee were tabled due to lack of time
Item remains open
T. Moretti adjourned the Faculty Senate meeting at 5:47 p.m. The next Senate meeting will be held via Zoom on 11/5/20 at 3:30 p.m.