March 1, 2023

The Academic Senate Committee on Committee on the Environment, Quality of Life, and Disability Issues met on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 via Zoom

Committee Members in Attendance:

Noelia Diaz, Kelly Ford, Yusuf Gurtas, Changiz Alizadeh, Tanya Zhelezcheva 

Liaisons in Attendance:

John Triolo, Anthony Monahan, Mel Rodriguez, William Faulkner, Andrew Muller

Business:

The meeting was called to order at 12:15 PM

 

1. Approval of Minutes for Wednesday, November 9, 2022 meeting

• The minutes were approved.

2. Updates:

• Kelly Ford, from the first Group, updated the committee regarding the difficulties of setting the charges specifying charge No. 4 Review and report on College Master Plan regarding facilities and the campus environment and charge No. 5 Review the assessment of the campus with regard to services for students with disabilities and disability issues as the assessment relates and pertains to the campus environment and campus facilities and make appropriate recommendations to the Academic Senate. Kelly Ford reported that her group discussed difficulties in understanding these two charges and were considering eliminating them.
• William Faulkner clarified that we have not had a College Master Plan for several years.

Noelia Diaz suggested that there is an urgency to complete the Addendum and to move it quickly to the Academic Senate after review by the internal committee.

• Janet Franzese, from the Operations Group, stated that she and Yusuf decided to keep the Accessibility Committee on the list, and she brought up to discussion the day care center.
• William Faulkner updated the committee regarding the day care center which would break ground in the Summer of 2023 and would be completed by 2024. The search for a director and teachers will need to begin.
• The Accessibility Committee title was modified to the Accessibility Subcommittee.
• Janet Franzese wondered whether the Committee was responsible for proposals related to naming and renaming of campus facilities.
• Faulkner said he would look into this.
• Janet Frazese also had a question regarding how the committee would “conduct regular review of the current use of space with particular attention to classrooms and faculty offices.”
• William Faulkner concurred that he believes that regular reviews of the current use of space would be a huge burden on this committee.
• Yusuf Z. brought up that there are wireless connectivity issues in parts of the Science Building. The difficulty arises in connecting laptops wirelessly for instructional purposes.
• William Faulkner explained that there is an ongoing discussion regarding the wireless problem and that there is a cost issue to resolve this. He suggested the best solution is to bring it up to IT Department.

 

Childcare Center:

• Diaz was wondering whether other institutions with child care centers had committees to oversee them and whether a separate committee should be formed to oversee it since it appears that this committee is overwhelmed with tasks already.
• Faulkner wondered “What would be the charge of the committee.”
• The committee agreed that a separate Childcare Center committee would be more efficient.

 

Humanities:

• Noelia Diaz introduced the discussion regarding the elevator issues in the Humanities Building.
• It was reported that the elevators were serviced and reset and have been working without further complaints for the past two weeks.
• Faulkner reported that the college received three million with a matching amount to be received from the State of NY for a total of six million to help with the elevator issue.

 

Campus Entrance

• Tanya Z. brought to the discussion the fact that one entrance to the campus which is located next to the main parking lot is not yet operational.
• William Faulkner suggested there is a manpower issue that is involved and the demand for parking is low do to lower enrollment. Additionally, there have been changes to the alternate side of the street parking regulations which is helping with congestion.
• Faulkner reported that a part of the discussed parking lot adjacent to Cloverdale would be used for the construction of a new cafeteria with an atrium, to begin next fall.

 

Miscellaneous

• Signage for the classrooms - Nothing happening yet. (Faulkner)
• Removal of broken or outdated equipment. (Faulkner)
• Diaz brought up that voting procedures- voting would be in person effective immediately for committee members staying on.

 

Motion to adjourn brought up by Tanya Z. Noelia Diaz seconded.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Changiz Alizadeh

Respectfully submitted,

Changiz Alizadeh
Committee on Committee on the Environment, Quality of Life, and Disability Issues, Secretary

Minutes typed on February 28, 2022