SAC Meeting Minutes September 20, 2018

LaPenta Student Union Building – End Zone – 2p.m.

Present: Andrew Albrecht, Tim Albrecht, Patti Besen, Barbara Carlucci, Jennifer Connolly, Donna Crisp, Danielle Demorin, Lewis Derenzis, Sam DeRosa, Courtney Ferrick, Jorge Franco, Mary Grant, Patricia Idelowitz, Carol Ann Kenny, Anthony Mastantuoni, Bing Morris, Carl Procario-Foley, Michele Sampson-Nelson, Antonio Scaccia, Lisa Tufariello, Charlotte Wray

Excused: Casey DelliCarpini, Michele Sampson-Nelson
Guests: Laurie Wenchell-Strategic Planning Committee

I. SAC meeting called to order. Attendance taken by Anthony Scaccia

II. College Council Standing Committee updates or reports: (Please see complete minutes for each of the standing committees online)

• College Council – Meeting on Sept. 5th
  • Preliminary enrollment numbers: 855 Fall Freshmen, 103 transfers, 1,987 Continuing Education
  • The comprehensive campaign has raised and pledged $103 million. The Endowment is at $153 million.
  • The Strategic Planning Steering Group was scheduled to have its first meeting on September 13.
  • Kathleen McElroy reported that her office continues to work on Iona’s revised sexual harassment policy and procedures. Once complete, the College will be required to train all mandated faculty, staff and administrators by 1/1/19.
• Committee on Academic Affairs – Meeting on August 28th.
  • Ad Hoc committee meeting on the use of the Activity hour for meetings
  • Evaluation of Study Abroad Programs
  • Speech Communications Department undergoing Accreditation review
  • Looking at an Arts & Leadership program
• Committee on Athletics – no meeting.
• Committee on the Budget.
  • Freshman enrollment was 107% of Budget.
  • Looking at differential pricing for room and board for 2020
  • Reviewing parameters for tuition and fees increases
• Committee on Diversity – Meeting on Sept. 4th
  • Looking at diversifying images on the IC marketing – working closely with Marcom
  • Jen Connolly volunteered to be on the Diversity Committee
• Committee on Human Resources & Compensation – meeting on Sept. 21st.
• Committee on Institutional Advancement – no meeting
• Committee on Libraries
  • Students want the Libraries open until midnight – currently close at 10:00 p.m. except for during exams
  • Library Staffing is short two part-time employees
• Committee on Student Life – no meeting
• Committee on Enrollment Management – no meeting
• Committee on Environmental Sustainability
  • From Pope Francis’ encyclical – signed by Dr. Nyre
  • Looking at sustainability plans of peer institutions

III. Strategic Planning

• New Strategic Plan
• Aspirational – Who can we be now that we have a foundation?
• Mission statement is strong and representative of Iona. Dr. Portch is looking at the Vision Statement – may need tweaking.
• Laurie asked SAC to think about words and ideas that make us think of Iona or are representative of Iona.

IV. Old Business

• SAC Membership Review – Anthony M
  • Major issue that employees no longer want to serve on governance
  • Everyone is now Staff – no more staff and administration. Just exempt or non-exempt
  • Tried to balance the ad hoc committees so that there were exempt and non-exempt participants
  • Mary Grant volunteered to be on the review committee

V. New Business – Pulse of the College

• May not bring up something in College Council unless it was introduced at the pre-College Council meeting
• Would be helpful if the College would send out a Communique when they are closing a parking lot
• Believe that HR should look at Bereavement Time – there is no allocation for a Brother-in-law or Sister-in-law
• Should take another look at sick leave

VI. New Business - Evaluations

• Training sessions for the Evaluation preparation were rushed and not very helpful –mostly team building and a few minutes of the actual evaluation completion training
• Most of the SAC members completed the initial step of the evaluation, but not all
• If the College is no longer giving institutional raises, then all employees are actually making less money – not keeping up with cost of living or medical care expenses.
• Feel that there should be an across the board raise and then merit, but how are they assessing the merit raises?

Meeting adjourned at 3 p.m.
Next meeting: