March 4, 2022
Minutes
The Academic Senate Committee on Committee on the Environment, Quality of Life, and Disability Issues met on Wednesday, March 4, 2022 Via Zoom, 12:30 pm-1:00 pm
Committee Members in Attendance:
M. Chantale Damas (Chair),
Noelia Diaz (Secretary),
Sujun Wei,
Neeraj Mehta,
Janet Franzese,
Mohammad Javdan,
Kelly Ford
Liaisons in Attendance:
William Faulkner,
Anthony Monahan,
Andrew Muller,
Isabel Hocevar,
Mel Rodriguez,
Business:
The meeting was called to order at 12:30 PM
- The minutes from the previous meeting (December 9, 2021) were reviewed and approved.
- William Faulkner provided a campus update.
- While most CUNY protocols and policies are proceeding smoothly many people are not responding to the mandatory randomized test messages from Clearview. QCC tests about 20% of its population every week and compliance with the testing is not optional. All CUNY campuses offer free COVID testing to accommodate this requirement since only a CUNY COVID test is accepted. On Tuesday February 22 about 50 people were denied entry to campus because they failed to comply with the testing. It might be the case that some students are not checking their email notifications and since CUNY guidelines are stricter than CDC guidelines there might be some confusion. Masks are still mandatory while on campus. If Governor Hochul modifies the mask policy prior to making any change within CUNY the Board of Trustees needs to approve it.
- The elevators across campus are over 40 years old on average and being inactive during almost two years of the pandemic, further deteriorated their functioning. Next week work will be conducted on the elevator in the Medical Building and a new company (CONE) has been hired to provide maintenance. It’s expected that the elevators in the Humanities’ buildings will be replaced by Fall 2022, along with the boiler. Capital projects were on hold until now but are starting to resume activities.
- Clara Wajngurt was absent but raised the following concerns:
- The PSC Health and Safety has formed a ventilation committee to research whether classrooms on CUNY campuses are fully ventilated. Air purifiers do not ventilate the air.
- Also important is that the wearer receive the right mask-with the following factors-correct fit, filter efficiency and filter resistance. The best mask is the Respiration N95.
- Vaccination is being mandated by April 1st for all CUNY staff and faculty. How will this be implemented is being discussed.
- In the monthly request for health and safety concerns at QCC, one note expressed extreme mold in Technology-19. Was this taken care of?
- One other concern was that Secretaries are wondering if the ventilating machines in their offices are if they are truly ventilating and whether they have clean filters-as no one has come to change these filters.
William Faulkner stated that each department has been provided with about 40/50 KN95 masks. There is no date, as of yet, mandating when staff and faculty need to be vaccinated with a booster. The mold has been addressed but if new mold occurs building and grounds should be notified. A new roof will be installed, either in Summer or Fall, and that should alleviate any further mold issues. Filters on the ventilating machines will be replaced once a semester.
- EQLD Guide needs to completed this semester. The Chair, Chantale Damas will send a doodle to meet separately with Stephen Dahlke to seek guidance on completing this project.
- Other business. Given the complicated scheduling meetings on Wednesdays, Professor Damas suggested having cross campus Department meetings scheduled on specific Wednesdays to open the rest of the Wednesdays for non-Departmental meetings. William Faulkner will bring this suggestion up with the Administration but the Faculty Senate would need to approve this change.
Respectfully Submitted,
Noelia Diaz, Committee Secretary
Respectfully submitted,
Noelia Diaz
Committee on Committee on the Environment, Quality of Life, and Disability Issues, Secretary
Minutes typed on February 23rd, 2022
