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College Council Minutes October 10, 2018

Wednesday, 10/10/18, 3:30 p.m.
Faculty Reception Room

Present: T. Moretti, D. DeFino, D. Brophy, G. DeFeis, A. Howerton-Fox, M. Nadel, H. Park, L. Derenzis, A. Mastantuoni, H. McGowan, S. Caruselle, J. Nyre, D. Wheeler, W. Lamb, J. Stabile, A. AlAbbad, J. Haber, E. Hamerman, C. Procario-Foley, E. Procario-Foley, L. Pacheco-Jorge (for C. Winkler), H. Short (for A. Stackhouse), M. Varner, M. Callaghan, L. Mounty, A. Schettini-Lynch, J. Steele, P. Sutera
Excused: J. Breslin, J. Carroll

T. Moretti called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m.
He asked members of the Council to introduce themselves, given how many seats had been filled since the previous meeting.

Announcements

  • The Third International Conference on Thomas Paine Studies will be held at Iona 10/11-10/13
  • Fall Open House will take place on 10/13

President’s Report

J. Nyre reported the following:  

  • Since our last meeting in September, we’ve celebrated the naming of the LaPenta School of Business; announced that Fall tuition revenue reached 103% of budget (though there was a shortfall in freshman residence and grad A&S); seated the Strategic Plan Steering Group, which has begun to work on seating the Strategic Plan Sub-Groups; celebrated Make a Difference Week; and welcomed distinguished speakers to campus.
  • Fall 2019 recruitment is well underway. 10/13 is our Fall Open House for prospective Iona undergraduate students and their families. I would like to thank you all in advance for your work in making this a special day – particularly those members of the faculty and staff spending their Saturday highlighting all that makes Iona a special place. Of particular note, our SGA president, Hannah McGowan, will be speaking at the event.
  • As families visit our campus, I bring your attention to an article that appeared in last week’s Journal News entitled “Westchester College Grads: Here's Your Potential Salary in 10 Years,” in which Iona was listed with the highest 20-year net ROI in Westchester, and a national ranking of 168.
  • The Iona University Institute for Thomas Paine Studies is hosting an international conference, titled “Revolutionary Texts in a Digital Age: Thomas Paine’s Publishing Networks, Past and Present” from 10/11 to 10/13. More than 100 international scholars will exchange research and key findings on the Iona campus, in a multitude of Paine related areas.
  • A few events and speakers of note in the coming weeks include:
    • The Catholic Intellectual Tradition Series: "Edmund Rice International: Pursuing Rights-Based and Faith-Based Approaches to Global Justice" on 10/18, which will feature Br. Kevin Cawley, C.F.C, Dr. Tricia Mulligan, and Gabriella Suriel '19
    • The Advancing Ethical and Moral Leadership lecture series, sponsored by the Office of the President and LaPenta School of Business, will host Alfred F. Kelly, Jr '80, '81MBA (President of VISA) on 10/20 at noon in the Romita Auditorium
    • Dr. Ivy Linton Stabell will present the 2018 Junior Master Lecture, “Harry Potter and the Pedagogy of Children’s Literature,” on 10/23; and Dr. Teresa Delgado will present the 2018 Senior Master Teacher Lecture, “Swim Down: Finding Nemo, Reinhold Niebuhle and the Challenge of Christian Ethics,” on 11/1
    • The Hynes Institute, in collaboration with the Departments of Fine Arts and English, will welcome acclaimed filmmaker, Sean Baker (Tangerine; The Florida Project) on 11/14 to present the Fall 2018 Hynes Distinguished Lecture
  • In our continuing efforts to achieve fair and equitable compensation, Provost Wheeler and CFO Schettini-Lynch recently announced the beginning of Phase II of the Compensation Plan. I trust that we will learn more about the progress on this critical work in future College Council meetings.
  • We also look forward to hearing your thoughts on themes for the fall town hall meeting – it is important to hear from College governance on these items.
  • In conclusion, I wrote you recently about space utilization on campus – with renovations to the LaPenta School of Business, we’re looking ahead to how to best utilize the campus once the building is open. CFO Schettini-Lynch and Provost Wheeler will be leading the process of reviewing existing space and its best use.

Provost’s Report

D. Wheeler reported on the following:

  • A Communique on the Compensation Plan went out on Tuesday. The Provost also spoke on the subject at the 10/4 Faculty Senate meeting. The plan is to convene a working group comprised of members selected by HR&C, the Senate, and the Administrators to inform the next phase of the Compensation process. This group will be the official conduit for information to and from faculty on this process.
  • Candidates are being reviewed for the Director of Grants position
  • Special Sessions update: Winter classes have been identified and forwarded to the Registra, and should be ready for registration later this month. Summer 2019 courses have also been identified and will be finalized and forwarded to the Registrar to enable students and advisors to plan.
  • Undergraduate Academic Plan update: Revisions to the Charge are being finalized with the Board and will be sent to the Senate and CAA shortly, to begin process of identifying faculty candidates. The plan builds on the Graduate review last year.
  • Student Support Key Themes: Early identification of warning signs for student disengagement or poor performance; retention and advising supports. We continue to work to reduce attrition, and to build and coordinate support for student success and persistence.

E. Procario-Foley reported on the Core Curriculum Committee:

  • CCC met on 9/13 and 9/27. Items taken up during and between meetings included the following:
  • reviewing syllabi for inclusion in the core curriculum under different core categories
  • researching grants
  • developing tools for student evaluation of their experience of the core curriculum
  • developing new ICT training for faculty for the spring semester and discussing ways to have trainings emerge from the faculty
  • presenting the Cornerstone LC program to a meeting of the directors in Student Life
  • approved a policy that no course should appear in more than two ICTs moving forward
  • working with the deans and provosts on continual implementation of the many different facets of the core curriculum

In C. Winkler’s absence, L. Pacheco-Jorge reported on the Hynes Institute:

  • Projects from the 2018-2019 Hynes Faculty Fellowship Program executed and implemented over the fall term include: “Designing our Future: 3D Printers in the Hands of Multicultural Learners” (A. Howerton-Fox; L. Olson); “Community Sale Initiative for a Sustainable Future” (Z. Altinay; C. Andruk); “Bringing an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Suicide Prevention: From Fund Raising to Intervention Implementation “ (C. Jacobson)
  • As part of the Hynes Institute’s co-curricular programming, we have scheduled 6 E-Talks for the fall semester, with topics ranging from “Stress & Entrepreneurship” to “Using Technology to Better Understand, Predict and Prevent Suicidal Behavior.” All events and topics are geared to making the Hynes Institute as inclusive as possible
  • During Homecoming weekend, Hynes will be hosting an Idea Hackathon, and a Pop-up Makerspace. The Idea Hackathon is a 3-hour competition where students ideate to tackle a challenge while networking with fellow students and mentors. The pop-up makerspace invites students to experience the product design process through the use of sketches, playdoh, Legos and 3D printing
  • Coworking hours will continue on Tuesdays (12-2), Wednesdays (3:30-5) and Fridays (10-1). Coworking is a collaborative workspace at GaelVentures (748 North Ave), where Iona students can work with fellow students, mentors and faculty to develop ideas, work on projects, and discover their entrepreneurial potential. There is no set format, and students can come and go as they see fit!
  • The Hynes Distinguished Speaker Series is excited to partner with the departments of English and Fine and Performing arts to host Mr. Sean Baker (Tangerine, Florida Project) on 11/14 at 2:30pm. The title of Mr. Baker’s talk is “Art, Advocacy, and Innovation.”

Reports from Constituent Assemblies

Faculty Senate

  • The Senate met on 10/4.  The following business was taken up
  • D. Wheeler was invited to provide a brief update on the compensation plan
  • A. Griffith was invited to discuss current challenges facing IRB, including obstacles to expediting the application review process (increased volume, new mandated procedures)
  • The Senate discussed changes to certain elements of the Faculty Handbook that RTA has recommended to help Iona receive the Carnegie Designation for a civically engaged campus
  • The Senate appointed faculty members to committees on Budget (A. Alabbad), Core (M. Malenbaum), Hynes Curriculum (T. Ruggio), and Enrollment Management (A. Aggarwal)
  • The Senate also reviewed self-nominations for the Strategic Planning subgroups and worked to find names of faculty to serve on a Study Bbroad and Service Learning working group formed by the Provost’s office

Staff and Administrative Council

  • SAC met on 9/20.  The following matters were discussed
  • Reports from the various College Council Standing Committees
  • The Strategic Plan Committee Report, presented by L. Wenchell. As part of the discussion, Laurie distributed handouts describing the process and the vision of that Committee
  • The implications of SAC resignations prior to the first meeting
  • The replacement of a resigned member of the ad hoc committee for SAC Membership Review. Since SAC’s meeting, the Committee has received information from Louella Steverson on SAC’s constituency breakdown, reached out to Jason Diffenderfer and scheduled its first meeting for 10/11
  • Topics for the Chair to bring to the President in their pre-College Council meeting

Student Government Association

  • SGA had 11 students attend the JDRF walk in support of Juvenile Diabetes Research. Our Vice President for Finance, Andre, was the Rufus the mascot!  
  • SGA held 3 voter registration events on campus since the start of school, one of which was attended by Mayor Bramson
  • SGA sponsored an event for Constitution Day on 9/17 where we also registered voters. We use this opportunity to education people on the United States Constitution, as well as the newly approved SGA Constitution
  • SGA has been working on implementing the changes of the new Constitution. A representative for ICC was elected by the clubs to come to the SGA legislature meetings, they are a voting member. SGA meetings have been going smoothly had have been very productive
  • Senator elections closed 10/5 for the open seats in the legislature. 11 new senators were elected, all of whom are voting members

Reports from the Standing Committees

Committee on Academic Affairs

  • CAA met on 9/25
  • A. Stackhouse was elected Chair
  • The five-year review schedule was distributed, and the date for review of Social Work and Family Therapy shifted from 18-19 to 19-20
  • Various POIs were introduced, including: the deactivation of FPA 208; course credit changes to several CS courses; title changes to MCO 305 and CSD 570 and CSD 603; introduction of “SP” grade to CSD 610, 611, 612, 613, 614 and 615; alterations to the BUS trimester calendar; the designation of BUS 470 as OI and BUS 410 as WI
  • CAA also discussed the FA grade and procedures for dismissal from a course, but arrived at no specific policy recommendation

Committee on Budget

  • Budget met on 9/26 to discuss undergraduate tuition and fees, and voted to approve a 4% increase
  • Budget met again on 10/1 to re-open the discussion.  A revised increase of 3.5% was approved

Committee on Human Resources and Compensation

  • HR&C met on 9/21 and discussed the following:              
    • Schedule of meetings for the AY
    • Title IX policy revisions
    • Compensation/Merit Pay
    • Benefits updates
    • Benefits Fair
    • Flu program
    • Upcoming training sessions
    • Diversity initiatives (reporting on results, and next steps)
    • Services
    • Performance-based pay increases for staff, and how they might be rolled out for faculty
  • HR&C met on 9/28 and discussed the following:
    • Harrassment and Discrimination Policy draft.  HR&C voted to endorse
    • Faculty performance-based salary increase system (process and timeline for new system; are adjuncts and Hynes Institute faculty included?)
    • Continued discussion of performance-based pay increase system for staff
      • Administrators on the committee will take up these last two items with the Provost and report back at the next HR&C meeting

Committee on Rank, Tenure, and Awards

  • RTA continues to work on contract renewals

Committee on Libraries and Information Technology

  • The Committee met on 9/18.  After reviewing its structure and charge, Mychel Varner was elected chair.  A discussion ensued on the following issues
  • Peoplesoft outage/maintenance from 10/12 to 10/15
  • Library hours
  • Digital Accessibility, including an update on the Corrective Action Plan, Blackboard Ally, traing and resources

Committee on Institutional Advancement

  • Advancement met on 9/25.  E. Hamerman was re-elected chair. Discussion focused on the following
  • The role of Advancement and External Affairs in the college. Specifically, clarity was given that alumni relations includes—but is not limited to—annual giving.
  • Updates on the Iona Forever campaign.

Committee on Student Affairs

  • The Committee met on 9/21.  The following items were discussed
  • The Strategic Plan and the parameters of the Student Success Committee
  • Leadership development and mentorship programs for students. Students feel there is a need for more leadership development and more less formal mentorship program
  • Faculty Fridays and what they should look like for the coming semesters. A “Ted Talk” style Faculty Friday was suggested. More discussion at next meeting
  • Maroon Mondays and different spirit initiatives for the coming year

Committee on Athletics

  • J. Fogarty discussed the Spring Semester student-athlete GPA and team rankings. The Spring Semester average of 3.34 was the same as the Fall 2107 average. She also updated the committee on the new NCAA transfer policy. E. Moscato stressed the need to have an Athletics Department representative on the new subcommittee on scheduling
  • New baseball and softball coaches were hired over the summer, along with a Senior Associate Athletic Director for Advancement and External Affairs and an Assistant Athletic Director for Development. The “Meet the Coaches” event on September 20 at the Yale Club in Manhattan attracted 110 guests
  • Teams are beginning service projects. Last year’s team community service hours totaled more than 7,000
  • The committee unanimously approved a motion for the Advisement Center Director to be added as an ex-officio member of the scheduling committee. The chair will seek the appropriate approvals
  • The Iona policy regarding “explained absences” for athletic events and privacy issues regarding doctor’s notes were discussed

Committee on Diversity

  • COD met on 10/2.  The following were discussed
  • Recommendations to improve diversity-related communications.  A. AlAbbad and T. Lyle will meet with MarCom to discuss these suggestions on 10/18
  • Identifying the diversification of Iona faculty and staff as a top agenda item for the AY. COD is currently reviewing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement that appears on all job ads, and drafting an alternative. COD will also compile recommendations about the execution of the diversity-related hiring policy, and the onboarding and nurturing of key diverse talent. COD hopes to submit said recommendations to HR and to the Office of the Provost by the end of the fall term
  • Funding for the 2019 Diversity Lecture Series through a generous partnership with the Denise Hopkins and her team in Student Life. COD will begin collecting nominations and vetting potential speakers at the November meeting

Committee on Enrollment Management

  • The committee met on 10/1.  L. Mounty reviewed the following
  • The committee’s mission, and how it builds networks
  • The enrollment funnel
  • Census numbers

Committee on Environmental Sustainability

  • CES met on 9/27.  The following action steps were taken
  • The committee reviewed its mission statement and will confirm it in its November meeting
  • Members of the committee researched Sustainability plans/structures of peer institutions and others.   Plans of St. John’s, Fordham and Holy Cross were discussed
  • The committee identified a sub-committee (C. Andruk, N. Nilofer, F. Rudell) to consolidate into one web page, the efforts of the college towards sustainability; they will be following up with MarCom concerning this project
  • Members of the committee reported on campus events related to environmental sustainability, including:  Make a Difference Week and IC Green events; the Thomas Berry Forum Season of Creation series, and the Blessing of Animals for St. Francis Day

Old Business

  • Strategic Planning Updates: the Faculty Senate has forwarded names of faculty representatives from A&S to serve on the three working groups, and will reach out to W. Lamb to identify representatives from BUS
  • M. Nadel asked whether information about salary ranges within disciplines would be made available as part of the compensation review process. A. Schettini-Lynch indicated that no information would be shared that could be used to reveal individual salaries

New Business

  • P. Sutera reviewed policies concerning inviting elected officials and political candidates to campus, and offered updated point-of-contact information
  • J. Nyre solicited suggestions for topics to be discussed at the fall town hall meeting

T. Moretti adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m.