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College Council Minutes, October 13, 2021

Minutes
College Council
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 10/13/21, 3:30 p.m.
Via Zoom

Present:  T. Moretti, D. DeFino, M. Bard, A. Howerton-Fox, T. Kelso, E. Mariola, A. Rosenfeld, K. Geslak, C. Normil, J. Ford, A. Saccoman, D. Wheeler, L. Richardson, J. Stabile, T. Delgado, O. Huk, M. Malenbaum, N. Naqvi, M. Newell, I. Stabell, R. Weaver, S. Furlong, E. Procario-Foley, C. Winkler, M. Callaghan, D. Costello, M. Reilley, P. Tascio, A. Schettini-Lynch
Excused: A. Aggarwal, J. Gerometta, J. Haber, M. Hughes, T. Lyle, A. Stackhouse

T. Moretti called the meeting to order at 3:32. Quorum was met.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the 9/22/21 College Council meeting were approved via e-mail on 10/7/21

Announcements:

None

Information Item: President’s Report

  • M. Callaghan presented S. Carey’s report
  • Closing on the Bronxville campus is expected by mid-November; renovation and office relocation planning are already underway
  • The College hosted 360 families this past weekend: 300 as part of our Open House activities; last year 26% of students who visited campus ended up enrolling
  • Homecoming and Families Weekend will include celebrations of 1970 and 1971 Jubilarians, a Mission and Ministry alumni reception, multiple athletics events, a reunion awards ceremony celebration for 2020 and 2021 recipients, and an in-person recognition ceremony for the Class of 2020

Information Item: Chief Diversity Officer Report

  • The DEI Office held student leader training on 8/23
  • The DEI Office hosted a Student Town Hall on 9/16, a Staff Town Hall on 9/23, and will schedule a Faculty Town Hall once results of the Campus Climate Survey are collated
  • The Campus Climate Survey link will be distributed via campus e-mail, and remain open 10/18-11/12

Information Item: Provost’s Report

  • The Middle States review and virtual site visit will take place 10/25-10/28
  • The COVID task force continues to meet and review policies and procedures
  • The COVID dashboard will return to the College website
  • So far this term, the College has 11 reported positive cases; 85% of students have one or more shot, and 82% are fully vaccinated

Information Item: Core Curriculum Committee Report

  • CCC met on 9/30
  • Members have been engaged in various tasks related to syllabus review, website review, and implementing the new procedure for Core Signature Assignment uploads and assessment

Information Item: Hynes Institute Report

  • No report

Information Item: Report on MSCHE

  • The Self-Study report was submitted in September
  • The Self-Study evaluation team has requested additional evidence ahead of its site virtual visit
  • The virtual site visit is scheduled for 10/25-10/28
  • A Self-Study Town Hall was held on 10/1

Information Item: Reports from Constituent Assemblies

Faculty Senate

  • The Senate met on 10/7
  • T. Moretti provided updates on the Self-Study
  • D. DeFino shared preliminary recommendations regarding the sizes of college-wide committees, the procedures and purpose of the College Council, and ways to strengthen and streamline shared governance processes; these will now be shared with SGA and SAC for comment and amendment
  • T. Kelso provided an update on COVID policies
  • The Senate discussed the following: questions surrounding class cap sizes for non-Core classes (a topic that came up at a UGC meeting and during Dean Stabile’s 10/6 Q&A); questions related to RTA and the tenure process; items to include in the forthcoming Fall 2021 Faculty Survey; and the need to periodically recognize faculty accomplishments and to hold an annual faculty research day for faculty to present and share their research to the Iona community

Staff and Administrative Council

  • SAC met on 10/7
  • SAC is currently working to fill staff member seats on various governance committees

Student Government Association

  • SGA meets weekly
  • SGA continues to focus on its four main goals for the year: Civic Engagement, Health and Wellness, the Double Pell Initiative, and Streamlining SGA Internal Operations
  • SGA is proud to participate in Homecoming Kickoff
  • SGA is a co-sponsor Movie Night with the Office of Mission and Ministry
  • SGA elections are concluded: most slots have been filled

Discussion Item: General Assembly Q&A

  • In light of the proposed Land Acknowledge Statement (see below), R. Umashankar urged the Iona community to consider ways of engaging the history, culture, texts and concerns of Indigenous People in the curriculum and life of the College; several faculty responded that they would be eager to support and participate in such efforts
  • B. Gaines asked the administration to reconsider its decision not to include newly-tenured and newly-promoted faculty in the most recent round of across-the-board raises, given the extraordinary strain on teaching, scholarship and service through the pandemic; A. Schettini-Lynch said she would look into the matter
  • J. Ford asked about the current status of the School of Health Sciences: whether such an entity currently exists, and if so, how it is administered; D. Wheeler responded that, yes, it is operational, is currently administered by J. Stabile (Interim Dean) and K. Zaromatidis (Interim Associate Dean), and that the search for a new Dean is currently underway

Action Item: Land Acknowledgement Statement

  • A proposal was made by the Committee on Environmental Sustainability, that the College website, College correspondence, and official College events include language acknowledging that the land upon with Iona College rests previously served as a homeland for Indigenous People
  • A motion was made and seconded
  • The motion was unanimously approved
  • Item closed

Information item: Reports from the Standing Committees

Committee on Rank, Tenure and Awards

  • No report

Committee on Academic Affairs

  • No report

Committee on Budget

  • Budget met on 10/6 and 10/11
  • On 10/6: the committee heard and responded to a report on enrollment from K. O’Sullivan; reviewed the committee parameters set by the Board for FY2023; reviewed the 2021/2022 Final Budget, particularly to bring new committee members up to speed on last year’s process and recommendations to the Finance Committee of the Board; and began a preliminary discussion on the 2022/2023 "Work in Progress" Budget
  • On 10/11: the committee discussed the Senate Working Group recommendations on Committee sizing and shared governance; reviewed 2022/2023 Undergraduate Tuition and Fees Rates scenarios, as well as 2022/2023 Room and Board Rates scenarios; and following on that, had a robust discussion about retention, affordability, and % of budget allocated to instruction (as per the Middle States Self Study Report, which is 40% of budget v. peer median of 48% (p. 110-111)

Committee on Human Resources and Compensation

  • No report

Committee on Libraries and Information Technology

  • LIT met on 10/12
  • Repairs due to Hurricane Ida water damage continue in Ryan Library
  • The College switch over to One Login proceeded with relatively few issues

Committee on Institutional Advancement

  • No report

Committee on Student Life

  • No report

Committee on Athletics

  • No report

Committee on Diversity

  • No report

Committee on Enrollment Management

  • CEM met on 9/28
  • The committee heard reports from Admissions, Advising, and Financial Aid
  • The committee reviewed the numbers and make-up of the incoming class and transfer students, and discussed successful recruitment and retention strategies
  • The Committee discussed goals and projects for the AY, including getting more prospective students to campus events, recruiting a diverse student body, helping smaller majors communicate with prospective students, and organizing informational sessions on enrollment strategies and practices for faculty and staff

Committee for Environmental Sustainability

  • CoES met on 10/7
  • The committee discussed its involvement in the planning of the meditation garden through the Earth and Spirit Institute
  • In November, an energy conservation competition will be held in the residence halls
  • The NYSED application for an Environmental Studies major is pending
  • The committee is currently working on a proposal for the installation of EV charging stations on campus

There being no other business, T. Moretti adjourned the College Council meeting at 4:35pm. The next meeting of the Council will be held on 11/10.