University Council Minutes Wednesday, 9/3/25

3:30 p.m., Via Zoom

Present: A. Rosenfeld, D. DeFino, M. Bard, K. Bauce, C. Carlson, B. Gaines, M. Higgins, M. Hughes, Y. Kang, A. Encarnacion, L. Geer, L. Roca, T. Mulligan, J. DeMelis, K. Dhanwada, J. Stabile, J. Quintong, C. Winkler, E. Procario-Foley, M. Aldredge, M. Beckwith, N. Sawchuk, I. Stabell, M. Volza, M. Callaghan, M. Reilley

Excused: S. Carey, R. Richardson, J. Robinson, B. Sengupta

A. Rosenfeld called the meeting to order at 3:33pm. Quorum was met.

Council Charge:

A. Rosenfeld began the meeting by reading the Council charge

Announcements:

“The Revolution of Nostra Aetate, Vatican II, and Interreligious Dialogue” will take place at 7:30pm on 9/16 in Romita to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Vatican II

Information Item: President’s Report

M. Reilley presented the President’s report in S. Carey’s absence

Welcome Weekend and Move-In were a resounding success, with parents reporting that everything went smoothly

As national rankings roll out, Iona has once again been named among the top colleges and universities in the country, especially in the areas of student satisfaction, return on investment, and social mobility
The new dining hall is up and running, and, along with Murphy Green and the Upper Green, serves the goal of designing interactive, articulating campus spaces that foster a strong sense of community and connectivity
Bohm Hall has opened on the Bronxville campus, reflecting Iona’s growing presence in the Bronxville community
Construction of the Upper Green is underway
The Gabelli Center has emerged as a driving force in innovating the ways pedagogy integrates and leverages AI; this work is reflected in the Center’s inaugural conference on 9/26, “The Future of Teaching: Writing, Reading and Thinking in the AI Age.”

Thanks to all members of the community for your continued dedication and commitment to our mission; because of you, our future looks bright

Information Item: Provost’s Report

Faculty receiving tenure and promotion, and those recognized with Faculty Senate awards, were honored at the Faculty Convocation on 8/27

Congratulations to this year’s class of Gabelli Presidential Fellows (Senior and New) and Provost Fellows
The Gabelli Center conference to be held on 9/26 will feature a keynote address by Presidential Series Speaker, John Warner
The NYP-Iona School of Health Sciences will be hosting a speaker series over the course of the academic year
Over the summer, the Gabelli Center hosted several faculty development workshops on attention, AI, assessment, and pedagogy; over 60 faculty participated
Iona’s TRIO and BHWET grants have been renewed; this summer saw the largest cadre of students benefitting from McNair/TRIO funding

The Provost’s office and the Faculty Senate have been working together to populate two new working groups: one tasked with recommending way of making shared governance more effective, and the other with responding to the emerging higher education landscape; the work of these groups will begin shortly

Information Item: Core Curriculum Committee Report

Since the last CCC report to the Council, the Core Curriculum Committee:

Conducted the annual Columba Cornerstone training for faculty
Conducted assessment scoring training for faculty on May 27
Conducted assessment scoring for spring semester 2025 from May 27 through June 19
Prepared the annual assessment report
Encouraged Cornerstone faculty to attend one of the summer AI workshops

Information Item: Reports from Constituent Assemblies

Faculty Senate

The Senate met on 8/28

The Senate approved the distribution of 2024-25 Faculty Senate Survey results
The chair updated the Senate on membership to the Governance Working Group and Higher Education Landscape Working Group
The Senate discussed strategies for making itself more accessible to its constituents
The Senate will continue to monitor faculty feedback on the Minuteman photocopying system and Follett

Staff and Administrative Council

SAC met briefly over the summer to elect L. Geer as chair
L. Roca will serve as SAC co-representative on the Council

Student Government Association

SGA held a training day over the summer, as well as joint leadership training sessions
SGA was involved in many Welcome Week activities, including new student induction
SGA was also an active presence at the Fall Involvement Fair, and held a senator information session immediately after
SGA will meet bi-weekly
SGA will hold its first Town Hall next Thursday, 9/11
In its continued efforts to connect with the local community, SGA will be volunteering in several capacities during the New Rochelle Street Fair

Information item: Reports from the Standing Committees

Committee on Rank, Tenure and Awards

RTA met briefly at the end of the last academic year and re-elected M. Beckwith as chair
Committee on Academic Affairs
CAA met briefly on 4/1 and re-elected L. Stabell and M. Veyvoda as co-chairs

Committee on Budget

Budget met briefly over the summer and elected M. Aldredge as chair

Committee on Human Resources and Compensation

HR&C has not yet met, nor elected a chair

Committee on Libraries and Information Technology

LIT has not yet met, nor elected a chair
Arrigoni Library is currently closed

Committee on Institutional Advancement

ADV met briefly over the summer and elected B. Sengupta as chair

Committee on Student Life

STL has not yet met, nor elected a chair

Committee on Athletics

ATH met briefly at the end of the Spring term and re-elected R. Richardson as chair

Committee on Diversity

CoD met briefly over summer and elected M. Fanelli as chair

Committee on Enrollment Management

EM met briefly over summer and elected M. Aldredge as chair

Committee for Environmental Sustainability

The committee met briefly over summer and elected C. Andruk and J. Robinson as co-chairs

There being no other business, A. Rosenfeld adjourned the Univer