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College Council Minutes, February 9, 2022

Minutes
College Council
Wednesday, 2/9/22, 3:30 p.m.
Via Zoom

Present:  T. Moretti, D. DeFino, M. Bard, A. Howerton-Fox, M. Hughes, E. Mariola, A. Rosenfeld, M. Veyvoda, A. Connolly, M. Wydan, L. Derenzis, A. Saccoman, D. Wheeler, L. Richardson, J. Stabile, C. Andruk, J. Gerometta, T. Delgado, J. Haber, M. Newell, I. Stabell, R. Weaver, E. Procario-Foley, C. Winkler, M. Callaghan, N. Cosby, J. Quintong, A. Schettini-Lynch
Excused: A. Aggarwal, S. Carey, O. Huk, T. Lyle, M. Malenbaum, A. Stackhouse

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

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the 12/1/21 College Council meeting were approved via e-mail on 12/6/21

Announcements:

None

Information Item: President’s Report

  • S. Carey was traveling on college business; M. Callaghan read the report in his stead
  • The College closed on the Bronxville Campus transaction, and phased planning is underway, including permits to turf the multi-purpose field, and working with the architectural team on the design of the New-York Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences Building
  • Varsity Athletics and Club sports are already very active on the new campus, and there has been great interest in conference services rentals for the fields and buildings
  • The Murphy Green project is on schedule for completion by mid-April
  • New hires to Iona include: Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs, Laura Doherty; director of nursing and inaugural associate dean of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, Sherylyn Watson; Marc Fernandez as clinical director of the Iona Family Therapy Center (IFTC); Director of Mission and Ministry, Dr. Sean D’Alfonso; and Director of Career Services, Jennifer Friary; we’re close to announcing the Founding Dean for the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences
  • The New York State Department of Regents has revised the definition of “university” in New York; Iona is now eligible, and a proposal to apply for that designation will be considered following this report

Action Item: University Designation

  • A motion was called and seconded for the College to seek NYS Board of Regents approval to amend the College charter to use the word “university,” thereby establishing Iona University
  • Questions were raised about the effects of this change: in particular, it’s potential impact on institutional investment in faculty scholarship and professional development; D. Wheeler responded that the change would only immediately impact Iona branding
  • The motion passed, with 10 votes in favor and 1 abstention
  • Item closed

Information Item: Provost’s Report

  • The first Spring Friday Faculty Gathering is planned for 3:30pm on 2/25 
  • Commencement is scheduled for 5/21 on Mazzella Field; undergraduate candidates will process at 10am, and graduate candidates at 3pm
  • The Provost will recommend to the Council: that the Director of Hynes be made an ex officio member of RTA; that the Dean of SHS be added to each committee where the A&S and LSB deans are currently ex officio; and that amendments to the distribution of standing committee members in light of the new school wait until the new dean is in place
  • The change of designation from Iona College to Iona University, if approved, would not impact the process and procedures for tenure and promotion
  • To date, Iona has administered a total of 1,261 on-campus COVID-19 tests this semester; the positivity rate has dropped from 14% in the week of 1/24 to 9% this week, with a semester average rate of 4.2%; the College will continue its mask mandate, despite NYS relaxing rules, and reassess after Spring Break  
  • The Provost’s response to a letter from the Faculty Senate regarding inclement weather policies and procedures will highlight the following: the College’s commitment to better communication and information; details of the inclement weather decision-making process; support for the Senate’s suggestion that the language of the Faculty Handbook be refined where these policies are concerned; and support for faculty continuing to develop creative alternatives to in-person learning when disruptions occur
  • The Provost’s Office will host a faculty development workshop on Inclusive Curriculum and Pedagogy at 12:30 on 2/16

Information Item: Core Curriculum Committee Report

  • CCC met five times since the last Council meeting
  • CCC reviewed SCD Core syllabi
  • Five COL 150 sections are running this term for transfer students
  • Nine remaining sections of COL 150 require staffing for Fall 22
  • The Fall 21 Core survey received 64 FT and 10 PT faculty responses; results were shared at a 1/28 Town Hall; potential Core adjustments based on these responses will be presented at a 2/11 Town Hall

Information Item: Reports from Constituent Assemblies

Faculty Senate

  • The Senate met on 1/27
  • The Senate welcomed C. Awosan to discuss the work of the Anti-Racist Teaching Learning Circle (ARTLC), the process of forming college-wide committees, and communicating and collaborating with the Chief Diversity Officer, S. Furlong, to avoid duplication of efforts
  • The Senate reviewed the results of the Fall Faculty survey; an executive summary has since been disseminated to all Iona faculty
  • The Senate discussed data on cancelled classes that Dean Stabile shared with chairs during the Undergraduate Council Meeting on 1/25
  • The Senate discussed ways to that the Committee on Environmental Sustainability might work with other offices at the college to map out and realize its sustainability goals
  • The Senate discussed Core cap overrides based on concerns shared by a number of chairs, and asked for further information
  • The Senate discussed ways to strengthen transitioning procedures when a new Senate chair is elected

Staff and Administrative Council

  • SAC elected L. Derenzis chair to replace J. Ford; the election of vice-chair is forthcoming

Student Government Association

  • M. Wydan and A. Connolly will represent SGA on College Council this semester
  •  SGA meets weekly for the remainder of the semester in person; we look forward to welcoming S. Furlong to discuss DEI initiatives, E. Procario-Foley to discuss potential changes to the Core,  and K. Byrne to speak about his new role as LSB Coordinator for Student and Alumni Engagement
  • SGA Executive Board Elections and class senator elections are in planning stages; we expect to have our new Executive Board elected by the end of March and new class senators by the end of April
  •  Clubs and organizations are continuing their leadership series and community service requirements
  • SGA updates to our constitution and bylaws will go to the SGA Constitutions and Elections committee for review, then be presented to the SGA legislature, then go through the governance process
  • Fraternity and Sorority recruitment is happening this week; the new member education process will begin next week
  • Through its new Student Senior Events Committee,  SGA is working in collaboration with the Center for Student Engagement to spread the word about applying for graduation, senior photos, senior class gift and all the senior events coming up this semester

Information item: Reports from the Standing Committees

Committee on Rank, Tenure and Awards

  • RTA met on 2/7
  • RTA reviewed 2 clinical faculty cases, 1 sabbatical case, and 1 sabbatical report

Committee on Academic Affairs

  • No report

Committee on Budget

  • No report

Committee on Human Resources and Compensation

  • HR&C met on 12/3 and 1/14
  • On 12/3, the committee discussed non-compliance with Iona’s adopted version of the HERO Act; asked why unvaccinated students pay for testing, but employees do not; reviewed several employee policies; and endorsed the policies on Bone Marrow Leave and the Bookstore
  • On 1/14, the committee discussed the College vaccination policy in light of the Supreme Court ruling that large employers are not mandated to require vaccinations or weekly testing; reviewed policies on the Beverage Meal Plan, FERPA, Personal Time, Smoking, Blood Donation, FMLA, Family Allowance, Admission to College Events, and Vacation; and discussed the need to address circumstances of both virtual and in-person employees when drafting announcements about school closures and disruptions

Committee on Libraries and Information Technology

  • LIT met of 12/6 and 1/31
  • Library and Instructional Design Studio workshops are planned for the Spring term
  • Library repairs continue
  • Issues with attendance rosters and erroneous excessive absence warnings were discussed
  • All employees are required to undergo data security training
  • The new WIFI network name is IonaWifi; IonaStudentWireless is being phased out

Committee on Institutional Advancement

  • No report

Committee on Student Life

  • No report

Committee on Athletics

  • No report

Committee on Diversity

  • CoD met on 2/9
  • The committee discussed the relaunch of the Diversity Spotlight Event (tentatively planned for mid-April, with dissemination via Zoom), which this year will center Indigenous peoples, communities, and concerns; potential speakers were considered

Committee on Enrollment Management

  • No report

Committee for Environmental Sustainability

  • CoES met on 1/27
  • The St. Catherine of Siena Environmental Summit will take place on 4/24
  • The committee discussed the need for a sustainability office to advance its proposals and recommendations; K. Curnin said that a formal proposal would need to be made, with a business rationale
  • The committee discussed a recommendation to consider the services of “Grad Bag”—an organization that collects students’ discarded items at the end of the school year

There being no other business, T. Moretti adjourned the College Council meeting at 4:42pm. The next meeting of the Council will be held on 3/9/22.