Steering Committee Chairperson Dr. Steven Dahlke called the fourth regularly scheduled meeting of the Academic Senate to order at 3:13 PM. The meeting was held through the Zoom platform.

I.             Attendance

60 votes were recorded at the time attendance was taken; 73 members of the Academic Senate were present during the meeting.

II.           Approval of the agenda

Chairperson Dahlke used unanimous consent to approve the agenda. There were no objections.

III.         Consideration of the minutes from the November 10, 2020 meeting

Chairperson Dahlke used unanimous consent to approve the minutes (Attachment A). There were no objections.

IV.         Communications from:

A.           President Christine Mangino

The Senate received President Mangino’s December 2020 report.

President Mangino announced that the college received $30,000 for giving Tuesday. She wished the Senate happy holidays and encouraged using the break for self-care and to enjoy time with family.

B.           University Faculty Senate

Senator Tai reported to the Senate about a resolution adopted by the student senate that asked for the C/NC from the Spring 20 semester to be reinstated for the Fall 20 semester. CUNY will be adopting the policy as discussed in agenda item VIII. 

Senator Pecorino acknowledged Senator Villani (who President Mangino also thanked) for her dedicated service to the Senate as a senator, member of the Steering Committee, and Department Chair. Senator Tai echoed the sentiment, thanking Senator Villani for her mentorship as secretary of the Steering Committee.

C.           Steering Committee

The Senate received the Steering Committee’s report for December 2020.

Chairperson Dahlke thanked Senate attendees and offered a special thank you to President Mangino for her first semester of compassionate and empathetic leadership. Chairperson Dahlke also thanked the members of the Cabinet for the State of the College address and the transparency with which they offered important information to the college community. Steering Committee also thanked Senator Leslie Francis, Senate Parliamentarian, for his service.

V.          Elections

Nomination for Parliamentarian: Hayes Peter Mauro (Art and Design). Since Dr. Mauro ran unopposed, a motion was made and accepted to elect Hayes Peter Mauro as Parliamentarian by a single vote cast by the Secretary of the Steering Committee on behalf of the Academic Senate

VI.         Monthly Reports of the Committees of the Academic Senate

A.           Committee on Curriculum

There were four votes taken on the materials from the Committee on Curriculum (Attachments B and C). The Committee on Curriculum also introduced its updated Protocol for All Matters Submitted to the Committee on Curriculum.

1.            A motion was made, seconded, and adopted 68-0-1 to approve two new courses (NU110 and NU111) (Attachment B).

2.            A motion was made, seconded, and adopted 71-0-1 to approve one course revision (NU102) (Attachment B).

3.            A motion was made, seconded, and adopted 70-0-0 to approve five program revisions [Liberal Arts and Sciences – Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree; Nursing A.A.S.; A.A.S. in Nursing (QCC) leading to the B.S. in Nursing (Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing); A.A.S. in Nursing (QCC) leading to the B.S. in Nursing (York College); A.A.S. in Nursing (QCC) leading to the B.S. in Nursing (CUNY School of Professional Studies)] (Attachment B).

4.            There was some discussion about the protocol regarding the development of new programs at the college, in this case the role of physics in the new Movement Science degree. Senate discussion raised the issue of how and why certain courses are included in which programs and why and who is part of the discussions when new programs are developed. A motion was made, seconded, and adopted 62-1-5 to approve one new program (Program in Movement Science Leading to the Associate in Science Degree) (Attachment C).

5.            The Committee on Curriculum presented its updated Protocol for All Matters Submitted to the Committee on Curriculum. The Senate discussed the protocol (which was posted to the Committee’s site prior to the meeting) and Senator Wallach noted that the new protocol requires department to seek out approval from other departments that may be impacted by their proposed academic matters before those items go to the Committee. This protocol will be distributed to Department Chairs.

VII.       Old Business

A.           Chairperson Dahlke reviewed the materials from the Special Committee on Campus Bullying (Report and Survey Data). He noted that Human Resources is offering regular communications about who to contact regarding matters of possible bullying (Martha Aspromatis is a key contact person). The Committee also discussed the pros and cons of an ombudsperson and recommended that HR continue to make regular announcements regarding the procedure process for complaints. He noted that HR should work with the FEC and PSC-CUNY to put language on their website for who someone may reach out to outside of HR. HR should also communicate when complaints are received and resolved while maintaining confidentiality. The Committee on Equality, Quality, of Life, and Disability should monitor and report the number of complaints and if resolutions have been reached. This process can be reviewed again later. Chairperson Dahlke also briefly reviewed the survey data and Clara Wajngurt’s statement that had been emailed out separately from the Senate documents. 

B.           Responding to a question about the Proposal on a College Policy on Upper Seat Limits for Fully Online Classes, Chairperson Dahlke reminded that the issue would be revisited in February. He also shared the Statement of the Council of CUNY Faculty Governance Leaders that addresses the issue of class size. Senator Villani confirmed that discussions between the Chairs and Administration have begun.   

VIII.     New Business

The Senate considered CUNY’s request that each campus decide how to extend its flexible grading policy through the Fall 20 semester. The Senate considered whether to apply the extension to all courses or to exclude a subsection of courses that the college will determine later (presumably those courses that require a C or better to continue to the next sequential course). The vote asked Senators to choose between Option 1 (allow the use of CR/NC grades for all Fall 2020 courses as in the Spring 2020 term) or Option 2 (allow the use of CR/NC grades for all Fall 2020 courses except those the college designates to be excluded). The discussion included student input and emphasized a desire that students maintain as much flexibility as possible. A motion was made, seconded, and adopted to approve Option 2.

Option 1: 11 votes

Option 2: 60 votes

 The meeting was adjourned at 4:42 PM.

Zivah Perel Katz, Secretary

Academic Senate Steering Committee