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SAC Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 4, 2021

11 a.m. via Zoom

Present: Barghout, Jennifer; Brechtel, Emily; Connolly, Jennifer; Cookie, Shannon; DelliCarpini, Casey; Derenzis, Lewis; Derosa, Sam; Ferrick, Courtney; Ford, Jason; Grant, Mary; Katz, Andrew; Procario-Foley, Carl; Rosenberg, Jessica; Sannella, Marissa; Stanko, Jonathan; Tascio, Peter; Wenchell, Laurie

Excused: Alvia, Manuel; Beyrer, Brian; Carruth, Martise; Girardi, Angela; Jaccino, Helena; Johnson, Gary; Pace, Marie

1. Call to Order

November 12, 2020 minutes unanimously approved (Grant/Derenzis)

2. College Council Standing Committee Updates

  1. College Council.  Report from President Carey and Provost Wheeler, who both expressed how grateful they are for everyone’s efforts, and provided COVID testing updates. Discussion of the P/U grading concerns, shared information regarding Hynes Lunch & Learn. Reported from C. Procario-Foley.
  2. Committee on Academic Affairs.  Met February 3; P/U grading addressed and will be reconsidered again for spring; discussed student GPAs and long-term implications of P/U grading, trying to avoid “grade shopping;” discussion of course changes, no new programs, and students being able to take secondary major rather than double major. Reported from L. Wenchell.
  3. Committee on Athletics.  No meeting since last SAC meeting but of note, cardio/weight room opened for students as of February 3.
  4. Committee on Budget.  No report.
  5. Committee on Diversity. No report.
  6. Committee on Enrollment Management. No meetings are scheduled.
  7. Committee on Environmental Sustainability.  Discussion regarding solar panels; they cannot be put on parking garage, but perhaps near McSpedon.
  8. Committee on Human Resources & Compensation.  Met January 22; in July 2021, employees will be able to put performance management sheets into PayCom (we were able to for 2020, but in 2021 will be required). A Zoom meeting will be scheduled to discuss. Provost Wheeler gave a COVID update, bi-weekly testing for all students, quarantine guideline is now 10 days (not 14). Question of percentage of students who want virtual vs in-person learning, but there is no real data to report. J. Connolly noted that if a student worker is COVID positive, the supervisor should let Human Resources know.
  9. Committee on Institutional Advancement.  No report.
  10. Committee on Libraries.  No report.
  11. Committee on Student Life. No report.

Discussion: For P/U grading, is there effort to really make students understand? A student cannot see three years from now what a grad school will consider; we may be an outlier of colleges making that choice. Reality is students can lose federal aid because they’re not maintaining grade status. Students don’t fully understand what they’re signing up for with the P/U grading. How do we build accountability for students – need to put that into the conversation.

3. Old Business

Brother Bray Awards. Still not addressed completely, faculty are in the same position; attempting to take over existing Friday gatherings to use for distribution of awards; TJ Moretti is looking at dates. Winners were not yet notified; Br. Ford will touch base with TJ for status.

4. New Business

  1. PayCom.  Issue with W2s regarding gross pay being reported different from the pay rate; L. Derenzis will speak with Sunil in Finance and get back to us. Others feel that PayCom is more work.
  2. Start of spring semester . Regarding testing among staff, question of will we have access to testing. Preference given to students – but will test staff in certain instances. Used only PCR tests in past, switched to rapid test for now. COVID task force meets today, Sam will ask to disseminate info. Question re vaccine – only faculty right now? If you are in person, then you are eligible. Not just “faculty.” Just “on campus as college employee.”
  3. Upcoming elections. L. Derenzis will request nominations be sent out for SAC for new members.
  4. Concordia newsAny thought or plan for how to assist their students? Will they be transfer students? There is a town hall at 4:30 for families of students of Concordia; it’s a transfer opportunity and we’re making pathways for them – possible teach-out of students in programs we don’t have. Only about 800 grad students this (number not confirmed). Considering the financial and athletics aspects, we cannot underestimate the opportunity this will bring: physical space, opportunity for students, fields, theatre, etc. Will be no athletic money. Village of Bronxville put out a very nice statement welcoming Iona. Great access to campus, similar population of students, diversity will be about the same. Will be a different ball game from the Seton merger.

    May make exceptions for Concordia students to “accept” them. Possibly contract with faculty to teach out at Iona. Facilitate degree completion. Still a lot of moving parts. Br. Ford will update as well as he learns anything.

    Discussion of phone call from someone looking for military coordinator at Iona. Stated that Concordia has a strong veteran services program.

  5. Member updatesReminder that anyone can participate in SAC meetings, could format it the same way as for College Council (via Zoom).

    Discussion of late notice of snow days - could we find out earlier if it will be a snow day? Has always been day of, not night before (reasoned that this helps to “control behavior” for students). Could employees get an earlier notice?

    Reminder of faculty/staff interfaith retreat afternoon: will be in person, outside, in late May, will have interfaith prayer, yoga, art, etc., will end around a wine and cheese event; volunteers would be appreciated. Date not confirmed but possibly in the week following graduation.

Meeting adjourned. (L. Wenchell/M. Grant)