March 15, 2024
Minutes
The Academic Senate Committee on Committee on the Environment, Quality of Life, and Disability Issues met on Friday, March 15, 2024
Committee Members in Attendance:
Attendance: Committee members: Parisa Assassi, Jillian Bellovary, Noelia Diaz, Edward Diller, Yusuf Gurtas (absent), Elizabeth Mauro, Tanya,Zhelezcheva , Changiz Alizadeh (absent), Dorith Brodbar, Sub-Committee Accessibility Committee: Angela Ridinger-Dotterdam
Liaisons in Attendance:
Liaisons: Dr. Gissette Forte, Andrew Muller, Mr. Mel Rodriguez, Anthony Monahan (absent), Isabel Hocevar,Clara Wajngurt, Ben-Ami Freier, John Triolo
Business:
The meeting was called to order at 12:00 PM
Updates:
1- Dr. Gissette Forte provided updates regarding:
- Childcare Center progress:
CUNY has approved the design for the childcare center. The original budget for the childcare center was $3.8 million. However, due to rising costs, the current budget requirement has increased to $5.8 million, resulting in a funding gap of $2 million. To cover the additional $2 million, funding sources must be identified. To avoid delays in starting construction, QCC plans to break the project into smaller portions. This phased approach may help manage costs more effectively and allow work to proceed as funding becomes available.
- ACC building ramp update:
The existing ramp at the ACC building will be replaced with ADA-compliant ramps to improve accessibility, costing $15,000. The project is set to start before the end of the current semester.
C: Dr. Forte provided an update on the hiring process for replacing Joe Cartolano.
2- Clara Wajngurt: PSC Health & Safety
Science Building:
Room 315: The heater cabinet is stuck open, exposing electrical wires. A window above the heater cabinet is leaking. The cabinet and leak need to be fixed.
Room 118: The lights in this room are flickering; this needs to be fixed.
There is excessive heat in H309 and M130.
There are issues with the swipe key system in rooms M213 and MC30.
A coffee spill in this room requires cleaning in room MC41.
Dr. Forte mentioned that the issues will be addressed, and one vendor is working on the swiping key system.
Robert F. Kennedy Building: The ventilation problem in the main office, Room 216, at the Robert F. Kennedy Building. It was explained that these ventilation problems are affecting the air quality of small offices located in Room 216. Another issue brought up was the malfunctioning of the handicap push plates near the handicap entrance in the Robert F. Kennedy Building.
3- Renaming the Committee: A proposal to rename the committee was put to a vote. All seven out of seven committee members approved the renaming.
4- An update was provided regarding the recent work accomplished by the Accessibility Committee. Angela Ridinger-Dotterman explained that the committee has developed a plan to improve accessibility throughout the campus, with modifications to be implemented. These changes and related information should be communicated to the faculty by the fall of 2024 to ensure they are informed and prepared to support accessibility efforts. She also noted a significant issue with the lack of braille signage in classrooms in the Humanities Building. This has impacted students with visual impairments, making navigating and accessing educational resources difficult.
5- Another concern discussed was the need for a transparent protocol for elevator use, mainly when all elevators in a building are out of order. This situation has created significant accessibility issues for students and staff with mobility impairments. The committee highlighted the importance of having clear evacuation protocols in such instances.
Dr. Forte explained the current protocols and the role of fire departments when elevators are out of order.
6-The feasibility of 3D-printed braille signs was discussed.
7- The committee discussed the allocation of classrooms for students with disabilities. The idea of designating a specific room on the ground floor to accommodate students with physical disabilities was discussed; however, the committee found it impractical for several reasons, including students' privacy issues, flexibility in scheduling, and the unique requirements of different classes, particularly science labs.
8-COVID-19 protocol updates were discussed. Ms. Hocevar provided an update regarding the CDC's new COVID-19 protocol.
9-It was mentioned during the meeting that faculty can report instances of smoking in the bathrooms to the Public Safety Office. This procedure is in place to ensure a smoke-free environment on campus.
10- An update was provided on the Project Reach program, which supports students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The program aims to create a supportive and inclusive environment for students who are not qualified for a degree program but want to have a college experience.
Respectfully,
Parisa Assassi
Respectfully submitted,
Parissa Assassi
Committee on Committee on the Environment, Quality of Life, and Disability Issues, Secretary
Minutes typed on March 2024
