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College Council Minutes September 2, 2020

Wednesday, 9/2/20, 3:30 p.m.
Via Zoom

Present:  T. Moretti, D. DeFino, D. Brophy, A. Howerton-Fox, M. Hughes, A. Kelso, E. Mariola, H. Park, A. Rosenfeld, A. Liles, M. Wyden, B. Beyrer, J. Ford, D. Wheeler, R. Highfield, J. Stabile, N. Cosby, T. Delgado, C. Dougherty, J. Haber, E. Hamerman, T. Lyle, M. Malenbaum, J. Meyer, N. Naqvi, E. Procario-Foley, A. Stackhouse, C. Winkler, M. Callaghan, M, M. Reilley, A. Schettini-Lynch, D. Smith, J. Steele, P. Sutera
Excused: S. Carey

T. Moretti called the meeting to order at 3:33. Quorum was met.
T. Moretti welcomed new and returning members, and described of the role and structure of the College Council

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the 4/29/20 College Council meeting were approved via e-mail on 9/2/20

Announcements:

  • The first event in Iona’s Data Science for Future Presidents virtual series will be held on 9/8 at noon via Zoom: “What is it really and how do we do it? Exploring Data Science, Data Analytics, Data Feminism” (Valerie Barr, Mt. Holyoke College)
  • The Iona University Tutors Online will continue working with area students in grades K-12 over the fall semester, and will be hosting a get-together next week to thank volunteers
  • This year’s Cornelia Lecture will be held on 9/17: “What Christian Institutions Need to Learn from the Black Lives Matter Movement” (Tamara Henry, NY Theological Seminary)

Information Item: President’s Report

  • Dr. Carey is teaching “Introduction to Moral Philosophy” this term during the time scheduled for College Council meetings; M. Callaghan will deliver reports in his stead
  • The response of the College community to safety protocols and the Gaels Take Care of Gaels Campaign have been truly impressive. The campaign includes scholarships for students who exemplify this commitment. Continued thanks to everyone who has worked so hard for a successful and safe reopening of campus, and for continuing to deliver high quality academic instruction and experiences to our students 
  • Our COVID-19 testing partnership with Montefiore moved on-site this week
  • In this time of pandemic, Iona redoubles its commitment to strategic investment in academic and student experience initiatives; ideas generated by the Strategic Innovation Committee will be shared with the wider community soon 
  • Iona University is currently conducting a search for a Chief Diversity Officer, who will report directly to the President and serve on the President’s Cabinet.  S. Toliver will serve as Advisor to the President on Race, Inclusion and Diversity in the interim
  • Iona was able to recruit almost 750 new freshmen and 90 transfers to Iona this fall: an increase of over 100 from last year.  There was an expected shortfall in housing, but the Budget Committee and a special committee of the Board engaged all summer identifying ways to close the gap
  • Over the summer the MarCom team launched the new Iona Brand; branding changes can be seen throughout campus and will be even more evident with the launch of the new iona.edu website this month

Information Item: Provost’s Report

  • Thanks to each of you for your efforts to make this the semester the best possible student experience, under extraordinary circumstances
  • Since being approved by NYSED in May, the Nursing Program has enrolled 18 students: more than double the required number
  • With M. Jordan’s retirement yesterday, the Provost’s Office will be backfilling many of his duties internally; please forward requests previously directed to Mike to the attention of M. Littleton or I. Reece
  • The College is working to address many ceremonial recognitions interrupted by COVID-19
  •  On-site COVID-19 testing began this week at Arrigoni; our goal is 50 tests per day (using both PCR and rapid testing) via random selection, with all students being tested at least twice over the term, and student athletes tested at least once a month
  • Since 8/10, more than 3000 tests have been conducted of Iona students and staff, with only one positive case on campus (that person was subsequently quarantined according to protocols)

Information Item: Core Curriculum Committee Report

  • CCC has met three times since the last Council meeting, and worked throughout the summer via e-mail
  • CCC created a special Task Force that worked intensively in May and June to curate materials that would help the Cornerstone Learning communities navigate the variety of teaching modalities during the pandemic
  • CCC and the Task Force conducted annual training for Cornerstone Learning Community members on 6/29; a separate training was conducted on 6/2 for faculty teaching COL 150 for the first time
  • CCC switched the usual practice of having one-common read per theme to one common read that crossed all themes: Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me

Information Item: Hynes Institute Report

  • Thanks to all who helped to launch the new undergraduate programs in Entrepreneurship
  • Hynes has begun its planned series of e-talks for the academic year with “Enabling Change: The Power of Mindset” (Denise D’Agostino) on 9/1 and “Unapologetically Me: Art and the Story of Alvin Clayton at a Moment of Civil Unrest” (Alvin Clayton) on 9/2
  • Hynes sponsored a talk entitled “Fostering Community and Student Engagement in the Online Class” (Alison Lehr Samuels) this afternoon as part of its regular “Lunch and Learn” series

Information Item: Report on MSCHE

  • The Middle States Steering Committee and Working Groups continue their work on schedule for a projected Spring 2022 re-accreditation vote
  • The Self-Study Design Document was approved by Middle States on 6/29

Information Item: Reports from Constituent Assemblies

Faculty Senate

  • The Senate met on 8/20
  • D. Wheeler apprised the Senate of plans to bring COVID-19 testing on-site
  • Several committee vacancies were identified; procedures for filling them were initiated
  • The Senate discussed experiences with mixed-mode teaching
  • The Senate discussed the work of the College—and TLC in particular—to support anti-racist culture and pedagogies

Staff and Administrative Council

  • No report

Student Government Association

  • SGA met on 8/20 and 8/27
  • At the annual Changing of the Guards, new members of the SGA eBoard were welcomed
  • COVID-19 conduct policies were reviewed
  • Procedures for filling several vacant Senate seats were discussed; positions are expected to be filled by 9/17
  • SGA is urging greater participation in the Fall Term Student Experience Survey
  • SGA will be sponsoring regular programming around its focus on the themes of Civic Engagement, Diversity and Anti-Racism, including two events with the New Rochelle chapter of the League of Women Voters

Information item: Reports from the Standing Committees

Committee on Academic Affairs

  • CAA met on 8/25
  • This year, five-year reviews will be conducted for: Education, Mathematics and Physics, Marriage and Family Therapy, Criminal Justice and Sociology, Media and Strategic Communication, Speech Communication Studies, and Libraries
  • CAA elected Amy Stackhouse ACBoT Liaison
  • CAA approved an RTA proposal to implement a voluntary one-year pause in the tenure clock (see below)

Committee on Budget

  • HR&C met on 6/26 and 8/28
  • The HRM System vendor selection process was reviewed; the final selection was Paycom
  • The holiday schedule was discussed, including the addition of Juneteenth, and procedures related to COVID-19 reopening
  • Time-off policies were reviewed, and suggested changes presented to the President’s Cabinet, which approved said changes
  • Updates to the TIAA retirement plan are scheduled to take place in the fourth financial quarter

Committee on Rank, Tenure, and Awards

  • No report

Committee on Libraries and Information Technology

  • No report

Committee on Institutional Advancement

  • The committee has not yet met, but C. Dougherty was elected faculty liaison to ADVBoT

Committee on Student Life        

  • Student Life met on 8/28
  • Discussion revolved around COVID-19 and accessibility

Committee on Athletics

  • Athletics met on 9/1
  • M. Malenbaum was elected chair
  • J. Fogarty reviewed student athlete academic performance in Spring 2020 and transition into the Fall 2020 term
  • The MAAC decision to cancel fall sports was discussed, as well as potential plans for shifting some fall sports to spring; NCAA guidance is expected in mid-September
  • Approximately 90 student athletes are tested for COVID-19 per week, with the goal of testing all at least once per month; student athletes are encouraged to be role models in the Gaels Take Care of Gaels Campaign
  • The committee heard updates on renovations to the Hynes Athletic Center, and tentative plans for reopening in conjunction with NYS and NCAA COVID-19 guidelines
  • Though community service projects have been temporarily suspended, student athletes are encouraged to lend support and leadership on social justice issues

Committee on Diversity

  • COD met on 8/26
  • N. Cosby and T. Lyle were elected co-chairs
  • The committee discussed anti-racism and anti-bias policies
  • The committee discussed shifting from a single annual “diversity speaker” event to multiple, smaller events

Committee on Enrollment Management

  • No report

Committee for Environmental Sustainability

  • The committee met on 8/27, and focused discussion on the following
  • Iona’s Indigenous Land Statement
  • The Thomas Berry Forum (10/12) in celebration of indigenous people
  • Energy Use policies
  • The Week of the Peacemaker, which will focus on racism and the pandemic

Discussion Item: RTA Tenure Clock Proposal

  • RTA proposed a voluntary one-year pause on the tenure clock for all faculty currently in a contract year, or applying for tenure
  • A lengthy discussion ensued, focused around the impetus for the proposal (to take pressure off faculty whose scholarship has been disrupted by the pandemic), and potential benefits and limitations (including concerns about future financial constraints)
  • When no consensus could be reached, the discussion was tabled

There being no other business, T. Moretti adjourned the College Council meeting at 5:30pm.  The next College Council meeting will be held on 9/30 at 3:30 via Zoom.