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College Council Minutes February 12, 2020

Wednesday, 2/12/20, 3:30 p.m.
Faculty Reception Room

Present: T. Moretti, D. DeFino, A. Howerton-Fox, A. Kelso, E. Mariola, M. Nadel, H. Park, M. Saint-Louis, M. Wyden, S. Carey, D. Wheeler, R. Highfield, J. Stabile, Z. Altinay, A. Camara, T. Delgado, J. Haber, E. Hamerman, E. Procario-Foley, A. Stackhouse, C. Winkler, M. Varner, M. Callaghan, D. Hopkins, M. Reilley, A. Schettini-Lynch, J. Steele
Excused: J. Meyer, I. Stabell

T. Moretti called the meeting to order at 3:34. Quorum was met.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes for the 12/4/19 meeting of the College Council were approved via e-mail on 2/7/20

Announcements:

  • Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin (Baltimore Orchard Project) and Sr. Kathleen Deignan (Iona University) will discuss “Stewardship of the Environment from Catholic and Jewish Perspectives” as part of the Shared Roots, Divergent Paths Series on 2/24 at 7:30pm in Burke Lounge

Information Item: President’s Report

  • The Board of Trustees met on 2/11
    • Sr. K. Deignan discussed the Sister Kathleen Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit at Iona University
    • S. Carey reported on ongoing projects and future prospects
    • M. Reilley updated the Board on the College’s branding initiative
    • Several students presented on recent service/mission trips
  • At the 1/28 faculty Town Hall, the President and Provost announced new faculty development resources aimed at curricular innovation and distinction
  • The 2/13 student Town Hall will be an opportunity for the President and Provost to hear student concerns
  • The College continues to actively pursue opportunities for partnership and collaboration with the City of New Rochelle and local businesses

Information Item: Provost’s Report

  • On 3/2, the Provost’s Office will be sending out a faculty development RFP, seeking innovative pedagogy and curriculum proposals.  A Q&A on the RFP will be held on 3/10.  Proposals will be due by 4/1
  • Please encourage students and colleagues to participate in this year’s Iona Scholars Day, which will be held on 4/21
  • Middle States Updates: Iona will host a Middle States visitor on 3/31; our major site visit will occur in Fall 2021; a vote to re-accredit will be held in Spring 2022
  • The Provost’s Office is currently reviewing its final edit suggestions for the Faculty Handbook, and should have them to present to the Faculty Senate by end of term
  • Honors theses will be presented on 2/13: faculty, students and staff are strongly encouraged to attend
  • The Investiture of President Carey will take place on 4/24

Information Item: Core Curriculum Committee Report

  • CCC met on 12/5, 1/23 and 2/6
  • Following extensive review, a Core Town Hall (2/4), and a survey of faculty, CCC recommends that COL 150 move from 4 to 3 credits; the change was approved by A&S, LaPenta and Hynes academic committees, and will be presented to CAA on 3/10
  • CCC launched brief student survey on Core, and is currently working to secure students for a Core focus group
  • CCC conducted a survey of the Cornerstone Learning Community faculty
  • CCC has processed 6 courses in A&S for OI core curriculum credit and 3 courses in A&S for WI credit and 2 other A&S courses for other areas of the core
  • Recruiting Fall 2020 faculty for Cornerstone Learning Communities continues
  • CCC is working with IT to conduct assessment of FS19 student work, and to launch eportfolio for SS20.

Information Item: Hynes Institute Report

  • 12 representatives from Iona University (Hynes Institute faculty/staff and faculty fellows) attended the 2020 USASBE Conference. 7 faculty members also presented their work as part of the program
  • The Institute launched the third iteration of the Hynes Faculty Fellowship Program
  • The Iona Innovation Challenge (IIC) kicks off on 2/7
  • Danny Potocki ’06 has joined the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation as its inaugural entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR)
  • The Hynes Curriculum Committee approved a total of 8 new courses, which will be important building blocks for our planned undergraduate majors

Information Item: Reports from Constituent Assemblies

Faculty Senate

  • The Senate met on 1/23
  • The Senate seated 24 self-nominated faculty on the 8 Middle States working groups
  • The Senate noted that Convocation overlaps with certain final exam periods and will seek clarification
  • The Senate set up an ad hoc committee to investigate ways of addressing rising textbook costs
  • The Senate discussed faculty concerns about the future of Study Abroad and Service Learning
  • On 2/6, senators T. Moretti, D. DeFino and E. Mariola attended SGA to discuss ways of strengthening student-faculty engagement and communication moving forward

Staff and Administrative Council

  • No report

Student Government Association

  • SGA meets weekly
  • The discussion with faculty at the 2/6 SGA meeting was very productive
  • SGA plans several Spring 20 initiatives around civic engagement, including voter registration drives (in collaboration with the League of Women Voters), census information sessions, and Respect Week events
  • SGA is currently engaged in by-law revisions

Information item: Reports from the Standing Committees

Committee on Academic Affairs

  • CAA met on 2/4
  • CAA approved a name change for the Chemistry Department to the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
  • CAA received the following points of Information from the School of Arts & Science: CRJ course updates; EDU course update; PHL new courses (PHL 300, 323, 362); SCS  department name change (from Speech Communications Department to Communication Sciences and Disorders Department)
  • CAA received the following points of information from the School of Business: MBA credit reduction from 39 to 36; MS in Finance credit reduction from 36 to 30; CS requirement for the BBA can be achieved with any of the following: CS 140, 142, 144, 146, 201
  • CAA received a list of new courses as points of information from the Hynes Institute: ENT 303, 304, 306, 307, 308, 309, 350
  • CAA has asked the Deans and Senate to constitute a subcommittee to propose criteria for departmental viability
  • CAA approved a policy to allow double majors between schools, not just within them

Committee on Budget

  • Budget met on 2/5
  • J. Haber provided a brief update on the HRC Committee, including data on numbers of faculty and staff who accepted the early retirement package
  • K. O’Sullivan provided an enrollment update as of 2/5, including encouraging numbers for campus visitation, website traffic, and early acceptance

Committee on Human Resources and Compensation

  • HR&C met on 1/20
  • The committee heard a presentation and recommendations by Cammack Retirement, who recently undertook a comprehensive review of Iona’s retirement program. Changes are expected to be implemented by April/May 2020
  • A. Schettini-Lynch reported on an RFP that is being developed to outsource certain HR and Payroll functions

Committee on Rank, Tenure, and Awards

  • No report

Committee on Libraries and Information Technology

  • The committee met on 12/17 and discussed the following
  • Upcoming network maintenance
  • Upcoming LibQual survey to assess library services
  • IT preparations for the opening of LaPenta School of Business
  • Information Security and Data Privacy Policy
  • IT Strategic Plan: investigate ideas to support digital Humanities, identify examples of IT strategic plans at other colleges to review

Committee on Institutional Advancement

  • Advancement met on 12/5
  • The Advancement Team updated the committee on the work of their affinity programs and alumni chapters, and their plan to raise awareness of these groups among current students

Committee on Student Life

  • No report

Committee on Athletics

  • Athletics met on 12/30.
  • The committee discussed collecting and using data to identify scheduling challenges student athletes are having with the Core
  • M. Glovaski reported on fall sports and progress of spring sports
  • M. Glovaski reported on Athletic Department’s involvement with Celebrating 50 Years of Women
  • IonaTHON raised money to fund research for childhood cancer.

Committee on Diversity

  • COD met on 2/12
  • COD discussed engaging Faculty Senate in a conversation about faculty involvement in Diversity and Inclusion efforts and policies
  • Diversity Spotlight event with Yusef Salaam has been finalized thanks to contributions from Dean Stabile (A&S), Dean Highfield (LaPenta) and Dr. Winkler (Hynes Institute)
  • Department of Media & Strategic Communication and Black Student Union will be co-hosting screenings of the Netflix series When They See Us, based on the story of Yusef Salaam and the rest of the Central Park Five. Screenings will be on 2/24 and 3/2 from 6:30-9 pm in Romita Auditorium

Committee on Enrollment Management

  • No report

Committee for Environmental Sustainability

  • CES met on 1/23
  • Updates from the Kathleen Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit were shared
  • The Cenergistic representative reported progress, including an energy reduction of 11% on campus
  • Five priorities for the Committee were identified and accepted.
  • The committee discussed a number of concerns about Chartwells food services and water quality. Committee members were invited to and will attend Dining Advisory Group meetings
  • The committee discussed various tools for communicating environmental issues across campus

There being no other business, T. Moretti adjourned the College Council meeting at 4:34pm.  The next Council meeting will be held on 3/11/20 at 3:30pm in the Faculty Reception Room