Monthly Report of the Committee on Committees for March 2020

Stephen Hammel, Chair; Bryn Mader; Kebedech Tekleab; Shenaz Georgilis; Julia Rothenberg; Clara Wajngurt; Vikki Terrile

Liaisons

Liza Larios, Dean, Human Resources and Labor Relations

1. Academic Senate Roster

   There were no changes to the membership of the Academic Senate in March 2020.

2. Standing Committees of the Academic Senate

   No changes to membership of Academic Senate Committees for the month of March 2020.

3. III. Senate Elections

   Nominating petitions were distributed to faculty for the election of new Faculty as no CLT Members-at-Large were eligible for reelection. The Senate consists of 41 Faculty Members-at-Large and 2 CLT Members-at-Large. Nomination reminders were sent out to faculty. 16 Faculty were nominated for 14 positions which all run through April 2023; however, one nominee withdrawn her petition the day before the polls opened. This withdrawal resulted in a short fall of needed applicants due to the Senate rules limiting department representation to a total of five (5) members of the Senate. The next day, the remaining 15 nominations were opened for faculty voting for the available 14 positions. The election was conducted online for two weeks in March. The polls were opened on Monday March 9^th and closed on Monday, March 23^rd. During this period, the College was closed for the remainder of the Spring Semester for all on campus physical classes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. However, faculty were able to access the polls remotely. The online system was managed by David Moretti (Senate Technology Officer) with assistance from Raj Vaswani (Information Technology). The results of the Senate elections (Faculty at Large) are tabulated below.

   Rank	Candidate	Votes	%	Action
   1	Steven Dahlke, Music	94	68.12	reelected
   2	Jannette Urciuoli, Student Affairs	85	61.59	reelected
   3	Andrew Nguyen, Biological Sciences & Geology	79	57.25	newly elected
   4	Larisa Honey, Social Sciences	76	55.07	reelected
   5	Belle Birchfield, Engineering Technology	73	52.90	reelected
   6	Georgina Colalillo, Nursing	71	51.45	reelected
   7	Joan Petersen, Biological Sciences & Geology	70	50.72	need runoff election
   7	Julian Stark, Biological Sciences & Geology	70	50.72	need runoff election
   9	Sebastian (Ben) Murolo, Business	66	47.83	reelected
   10	Marvin Gayle, Engineering Technology	61	44.20	newly elected
   10	Clarence Jefferson Hall, Jr., History	61	44.20	newly elected
   12	Mary Ann Rosa, Nursing	59	42.75	newly elected
   13	Azadeh Aalai, Social Sciences	57	41.30	not elected, dept. at maximum
   14	Laura Sabani, Foreign Languages & Literatures	56	40.58	newly elected as faculty member
   15	Alfred McDonald, Business	46	33.33	newly elected

   
   * No CLT candidates eligible for election this year

   Note: Laura Sabani, Foreign Languages, will be stepping down from her position as Chair of her Department at the end of this semester. Therefore, her election to the Senate is as a regular faculty member, the new Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages will take over her prior position in the Senate.

   Pursuant to Senate Bylaws, Article I, Section 2; Senate membership is limited to five faculty members from each department. Based on the above, we had two candidates from Social Sciences, and only one available slot available for that department. Larisa Honey carried as she had more votes than Azadeh, Aalai.

   Additionally, there were three applicants from Biological Sciences and Geology, with only two available slots. Andrew Nguyen carried for the first open position having received the most votes of the three. Therefore, one position was left. The other two remaining candidates from Biological Sciences and Geology, Joan Petersen and Julian Stark, had exactly the same number of votes. Therefore, they both must now be referred to the Senate for action pursuant to Senate Bylaws Article I, Section 2, (paragraph 4).

   THEREFORE, while it is ultimately the choice of the Senate as to how to resolve this matter, I recommend a Senate runoff vote be held between Joan Petersen and Julian Stark, both from Biological Science & Geology, in order to determine who will be appointed from their department in the absence of one of the two candidates removing themselves from consideration.

   Additionally, we are short one new Senator as a result of the withdrawal of one faculty member from the ballot the day before the election.

   THEREFORE, the Senate will need to appoint one (1) more faculty member to complete the full slate of 14 new members for this upcoming year.

4. Nominations to QCC Standing Committees of the Academic Senate

   Faculty and HEOs were invited to select the committees on which they would prefer to serve via an online system. The database was supervised by David Moretti, Senate Technology Officer and managed by Raj Vaswani. The list of eligible instructional staff was assembled by Debra DiBattista (Human Resources and Labor Relations). At least two reminder emails were sent out during the selection period.

   This semester 85 members of the instructional staff indicated their committee preferences for 46 available positions. Additionally, the total number of senate committee seats is 138.

   Following the online selection period, the database was compiled by faculty preferences for each committee. The committee assignment requests were examined by the CoC Chair and a master spread sheet table was prepared. Candidates had indicated their committee preferences, provided their position titles and department affiliations. Thereafter, they were evaluated and selected for, or eliminated from, committees based on their preferences and current department representation on that particular committee.

   The CoC had at least two meetings each month since January and had planned to make final approvals of appointments in early March. However, due to an unanticipated database issue we were delated by two weeks. Unfortunately, our scheduled meeting was preempted by the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the closing of the school and the emergency shift to online learning by all faculty thus resulting in additional delays.  Nonetheless, the list of appointments was compiled by the Chair of the CoC and then circulated by email to members of the CoC for consideration and approval.  Members were asked to evaluate and comment on the appointments as listed. The Committee looked at the various candidates’ qualifications, as well as the need for College service with respect to tenure and promotion. Adjustments to the ballot were made via email. Every effort was made to balance the distribution of candidates across departments.  All CoC members had the opportunity for comments and ultimately all members of the CoC approved the appointments by email vote.  

   Committee nomination notices must be sent with at least two weeks’ notice, in compliance with Article VII, section 4a of the Bylaws, the ballot must be circulated to the instructional staff at least two weeks before the election.

   NOTE: Although all College Senate mandated deadlines, meetings and election requirements were fulfilled, prior to the closure of the College, any new requests or requirements relating to notice or distribution by the CoC to the entire faculty body is not possible. Currently, as a result of the College shut down due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the CoC Chair cannot access his official CoC faculty email distribution list as access was only granted for use on his own campus computer. Therefore, the Chair lacks the ability to remotely distribute any information to the entire faculty body. It is the belief of the Chair, that under these circumstances, the Senate’s circulation of the meeting minutes and the agenda material sent prior to the next meeting will be sufficient notice to all faculty. However, this decision rests solely with the Senate body.

   Following the election, the CoC will maintain a list of instructional staff not placed on a committee assignment. This list will be consulted to fill vacancies as they arise during the year. The CoC will also make suggestions to the Steering Committee regarding suitable Steering Committee Designees. The ballot and petition form are found at the end of this report.

5. Committee on Committees Election at the May Academic Senate Meeting

   The terms of three members of the CoC will expire in May 2020: Stephen Hammel, (Chair), Bryn Mader and Elizabeth Toohey (resigned, Spring 2020). Additionally, the unexpired term of Dominic Hull (2021) must be filled at the May meeting of the Academic Senate, nominations for new members will be presented, followed by a vote.

   Current Members of the Committee on Committees:
   Bryn Mader (2020)
   Stephen Hammel, Chair (2020)
   Elizabeth Toohey (2020 - Resigned Spring 2020)
   Dominic Hull (2021 - Resigned/Inactive)
   Kebedech Tekleab (2021)
   Shenaz Georgilis, Secretary (2021)
   Julia Rothenberg (2022)
   Vikki Terrile (2022)
   Clara Wajnguet (2022)

Respectfully submitted,
Stephen W. Hammel, JD,
Chairperson, Committee on Committees

Academic Senate Meeting April 2020
Presented by the Committee on Committees

Members

• Bryn Mader
• Stephen Hammel (Chair)
• Julia Rothenberg
• Kebedech Tekleab
• Shenaz Georgilis (Secretary)
• Clara Wajngurt
• Vikki Terrile

President's Designee

• Liza Larios

2020-2023: Committee on Academic Development & Elective Programs (9 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Admissions (6 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Assessment & Institutional Effectiveness (9 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Awards & Scholarship (6 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Bylaws (6 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Cultural & Archival Resources (9 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Computer Resources (9 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Pre-College, Continuing Education and Workforce Development (6 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Course and Standing (9 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Curriculum (9 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on eLearning (9 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Environmental, Quality of Life & Disability Issues (9 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Food Insecurity (9 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Library (6 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Publications (6 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Student Activities (6 Members)

2020-2023: Committee on Vendor Services (6 Members)

2020-2023: WID WAC Committee (9 Members)

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