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University Council Minutes, November 29, 2023

November 29, 2023, 3:30 p.m., via Zoom 

Present:  A. Rosenfeld, B. Gaines, C. Carlson, S. Curko, J. DeMelis, A. Howerton-Fox, Y. Kang, A. Kelso, A. Qayyim, C. DelliCarpini, S. Silverberg, M. Callaghan, T. Mulligan, N. Kane, J. Stabile, K. Dhanwada, E. Procario-Foley, C. Smith, J. Carroll, O. Soluade, A. Saccoman, C. Winkler

Excused: S. Carey, D. Gunn, B. Sanner, M. Volza, C. Andruk, T. Pope, T. Pichardo, J. Breslin, O. Huk, N. Naqvi

A. Rosenfeld called the meeting to order at 3:32. Quorum was met.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the 11/15/23 University Council meeting were approved via e-mail on 11/27/23

Announcements

  • Revisit scheduling of University Council meeting in the future.

Information Item: President’s Report

  • The Iona community came together to provide a Thanksgiving meal to 136 families through our community partners: HOPE Community Services, The Big Viv Foundation in New Rochelle, Greyston Foundation Child & Youth Services in Yonkers, and Thrive for Life in the Bronx. The Office of Mission and Ministry leads this effort each year and what is particularly impactful is the number of student leaders and athletes who come together to make this happen – from providing donations to helping to load the vans to deliver the baskets to families in need.
  • Enrollment remains a top priority. This fall we welcomed 803 new freshman and 91 transfer students. Already this year, the Undergraduate Admissions has increased the number of executed high school visits, instant decision days, college fairs, high school panels, and call campaigns compared to last year’s efforts. As of now, these efforts have resulted in an 29% increase in freshmen applications over this same time last year. Additionally, more students have acted and begun their Common Application compared to last year at this time.
  • We have also increased the number of prospective students and families visiting campus over this time last year, highlighted by a 15% increase in overall campus visits, including Open House a record 500 families at the November Open House. These events take tremendous collaboration across divisions and are critical to our ability to draw prospective students to our campus.
  • I am continuing my visits across campus to talk about the strategic direction for the year. Tomorrow Shakinah has invited me to meet with SGA, which I’m really looking forward to.
  • Earlier this month we celebrated the installation of the inaugural Mario J. Gabelli Endowed Professorship in Finance, Dr. Arif Qayyum. Gabelli is not an Iona alum, but he is a Bronx native and does have a philanthropic commitment to strengthening high-quality education. Drawing donors like Gabelli and launching endowed professorships helps us raise the academic profile of the University.
  • The Faculty and Staff Christmas party is in just a couple of weeks, on December 19th – I look forward to closing out the fall semester and celebrating the holiday season with all of you.

Information Item: Provost’s Report

  • Follett has reported an increase in students with course materials.
  • Thanksgiving Breakfast held on Iona’s campus was attended by religious and political leaders from around the state and the region. 
  • In the spring there will be a focus on 2 new faculty development initiatives: One focused on AI and how to best utilize it, and a second on distance and hybrid learning.

Information Item: Core Curriculum Report

  • Since the last CCC report to the UC on Nov 15, the CCC has continued its work to recruit fulltime faculty for the learning community program for Fall 2024, work on the different dimensions of core curriculum assessment, and respond to a variety of inquiries about curriculum requirements from students and faculty advisors. We are scheduled to meet on December 4 to review course requests and syllabi

Information Item: Reports from Constituent Assemblies 

Faculty Senate

  • Will staff committees to select faculty speaker and valedictorian, and the faculty award winners.
  • Will take up question of enrollment committee meeting.

Staff and Administrative Council

  • Welcomed our first guest to our recent SAC meeting and would like to remind everyone that SAC meetings are open to staff and administrative employees. Information about attending the meetings is found in the Tuesday campus announcement email- next meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 14.
  • Iona employees have free access to the NYT, Barron’s, Chronicle of Higher Ed, and also approximately 25 journals/magazines via Flipster - all can be found on our website under Libraries.
  • Last, anyone visiting the Bronxville campus is reminded there is no parking allowed in the half circle driveway, but there is an additional parking lot in the back behind Brunn-Maier.

Student Government Association

  • Austin Stellato will serve as SGA advisor for remainder of semester.
  • Dr. Carey visiting SGA meeting tomorrow.
  • Students should submit recognition packet by tomorrow.

Information item: Reports from the Standing Committee 

Committee on Rank, Tenure and Awards

  • RTA been meeting in person.  3rd and 4th/5th year completed, clinical faculty renewals in progress. Will look at sabbatical applications soon.

Committee on Academic Affairs

  • Has not met since last University Council meeting.

Committee on Budget

  • Has not met since the last University Council meeting.

Committee on Human Resources and Compensation

  • Has not met since the last University Council meeting.

Committee on Libraries and Information Technology

  • Has not met since the last University Council meeting.

Committee on Institutional Advancement

  • Has not met since the last University Council meeting.

Committee on Student Life (J. Quintong)

  • There is no new update since we last met.
  • However, we would invite the entire Iona community to the Lighting of the Creche event on Wednesday 12/6 at 4:30p on Murphy Green, followed immediately by the Gael Gate which will then roll into the Men’s Basketball game against Hofstra at 7pm.
  • The next Committee on Student Life meeting will be 12/8.

Committee for Athletics

  • Has not met since the last University Council meeting

Committee on Diversity

  • No report.

Committee on Enrollment Management

  • Has not yet met this academic year.

Committee on Environmental Sustainability

  • Has not met since the last University Council meeting. 

Old Business: None

New Business

Masters of Social Work: This is a new program that requires the approval of University Council.

Dean Dhanwada presented on the need for the program, and how it is a good time for us to move into this space, for our current undergraduate students.  Opportunity to put forward a program focused on anti-racism and inter-professional education, which will be unique.  Students typically start clinical placements immediately, in 60 credit program, but in this program students begin clinical rotations in second semester and have intense clinical experience in second year.  Students who earned their Bachelor’s in Social Work can enter with “advanced standing” and finish the program in 1 additional year.

Will be requesting a vote on this item over email in the near future, please respond when it goes out.

Committee Composition:  The changes approved by the University Council last year need to be red-lined, given to board committee on governance.  This has still not happened. Aaron and Mary Ellen will communicate on next steps to get these through. 

There being no other business, A. Rosenfeld adjourned the University Council meeting at 4:15 pm. The next meeting of the Council will be held on 1/31/24.