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SAC Meeting Minutes, October 13, 2022

Staff & Administrative Council Committee
FINAL Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 13, 2022, Noon

Present: Alvia, Manuel; Arndt, Daniel; Barone, Regina; Barrios, Rodrigo; Connolly, Jennifer; DelliCarpini, Casey; Demorin, Danielle; Derenzis, Lewis; Franco, Jorge; Grant, Mary; Kelly, David; LoPresti, Anthony; Palladino, Rick; Saccoman, Ana; Scaccia, Antonio; Thomas, Darelle.

Excused: Aiello-Gray, Mary; Dominguez, Leandra; Pace, Marie; Rosenberg, Jessica; Stewart, Mark.

Absent: Davis, Bryan; White, Verick; Zuckerman, Harvey.

  • Call to Order
    • 12:02 October 13, 2022 (Attendance- A. Scaccia)
  • University Council Standing Committee Updates
    • Lewis reminded everyone to kindly provide highlights…  bullet points during our meeting when giving the committee updates, which should be shared with Regina to include in our minutes.  Any full committee reports can also be sent to Regina so they can be sent out with our meeting minutes.
  • University Council
    • Mary Ellen Callaghan discussed Spirituality Day October 20th, principals across the Archdiocese coming to campus as well as the Cardinal.  No in person morning classes that day only via Zoom. Two action items discussed 1. Action Item:  Proposal to Remove IRB Chair as Ex Officio Member of the Committee on Academic Affairs- The motion carried unanimously. Item closed.  2. Action Item: Revisions to BS in Nursing- The motion carried unanimously. Item closed. (Reported by A. Saccoman)
  • Academic Affairs * See full report attached via email.
    • Several meeting to go over what they want to accomplish.  The decision was made to table the 5-year Review’s for the year 23/24 – for all areas.  Discussed that is it a lot of work and not work what comes of it. (Reported by R. Palladino; Attached full report provided by M. Gray.)
  • Athletics * See full report attached via email.
    • Two new sports added and expected to start 2025, men’s lacrosse, and women’s acrobatics and tumbling.  Both have coach searches underway with high interest from qualified applicants. Athletic spaces at Bronxville campus being renovated and prepared for Iona use; Soccer field, gym floor, baseball field.  (Reported by D. Kelly)
  • Budget
    • Kevin O’Sullivan of Admissions reported Iona’s enrollment is up among other private schools.  Retention rate showed an increase when students were part of a club or sport.  Business School numbers fell short as well as A&S graduate school numbers.  Committee will soon start discussions on Tuition rates as well as room and board. (Reported by A. Scaccia)
  • Diversity
    • The Committee on Diversity met on September 26. Alison Munsch attended the meeting they discussed and provided feedback on the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) mission statement and framework. They talked about goals such as increased coordination with DEIB-related organizations on campus. They also discussed addressing harassment reporting procedures to see if they need optimizations (Reported by A. LoPresti)
  • Enrollment Management
    • Committee meet and elected their new chair Jeff Haber (Reported by R. Palladino)
  • Environmental Sustainability
    • SAC representatives on this committee have not yet been notified. (Reported by D. Demorin/ R. Barrios) 
  • Human Resources and Compensation
    • Committee was given Policies on Phone usage, email, and uniforms to review and approve.  Discussion about things being returned to the University when someone leaves, and clarification was asked as is relates to Security and facilities having to return things such as uniforms. Committed asked for clarification on raises, with regard to start and end nothing back yet.  Committee is looking into TIAF contracts to allow more flexibility with investments.  The university will hold a wellness fair in November. (Reported by L. Derenzis)
  • Institutional Advancement * See full report attached to email.
    • Fundraising is happening. Committee members trying to resolve conflicts with meeting times. Please see attached reports from both 9/15 and 10/13 meetings. (Reported by C. DelliCarpini)
  • Libraries and Information Technology
    • Edits done to Data Privacy Policy. GLBA compliance adding provisions- things to do.  Discussed need to report on lost, or stolen devices. Discussion of 5 new databases available through the Library.  Library offering workshops through November. (Reported by D. Arndt)
  • Student Life  (See full report attached via email.)
    • Student Life Committee Meeting was held on Friday, September 16, 2022.
      • 16% increase in freshmen enrollment from Fall 2021.
      • 813 freshman and 101 new transfer students enrolled for Fall 2022.
      • 12.8% increase in residential freshmen population.
      • The department of club sports has launched three new sports for this Fall – women’s volleyball, women’s softball and mixed martial arts.
      • Career Development will be hosting two signature programs – the Career and Internship Fair on October 6th as well as the Gael-to-Gael Networking Night on November 9th.
      • SGA will be holding Town Hall meetings for better communications.
      • SGA is re-writing the constitution with all the changes being made going from a college to university. (reported by M. Grant).
  • Old Business
    • Brother Bray Committee Update- Survey was updated.  Committee will meet again on 11/8. Nominations are scheduled to be due on April 14th. 
    • Lewis will follow-up with HR to see if someone can attend to discuss different types of Leave.
    • Volunteers for the Committee to update the SAC Constitution are David Kelly, Rick Palladino, Casey DelliCarpini, and Mary Grant.  Group will work to update the term from 3 years to 5 years. Thank you all!
  • New Business
    • Question regarding Spam came up and the group was reminded not to use your Iona email for personal business.  If you receive and email and suspect it bad, please do not click on anything delete it or if not sure send to Lewis. Internally they are putting tighter screws.  If you not getting email thought that you should let IT- Networking know who those vendors are.
    • Pulse of the University
      • Great to see the campus busy again.
      • Esports has outgrown its space.
      • Enrollment management is working of job assessment forms for HR
      • Suggestion was made any extra (unused) FSA benefits can also be used to purchase items (health/wellness) items for donations.
  • Announcements 
    • Homecoming this weekend October 14-16th.
    • The Institute for Earth and Spirit makes a special gift to Ionians now and for future generations, of sacred icons created by the late Father John Battista Giuliani. These icons will reside in Ryan Library and will live on as witnesses to the inviolate integrity of a great communion of peoples who work together to save our Mother, this wondrous Earth.  Please see these icons on display in the entrance atrium of Ryan Library.   
  • Adjourn
    • 12:36 pm.  (M. Grant/ D. Arndt)

Please provide any updates and corrections.  If no updates provided in 3 days, these minutes will be considered approved. 

Next meeting ** Note room location** November 17, Noon – ** Faculty Reception Room- Spellman.