Academic Senate Meeting Minutes

Steering Committee Chairperson Dr. Steven Dahlke called the fourth regularly scheduled meeting of the Academic Senate to order at 3:10 PM.

 I. Attendance:

55 votes were recorded at the time attendance was taken; 64 members of the Academic Senate were              present during the meeting.

II. Approval of the Agenda: 

A motion was made, seconded, and adopted 52-0-0 to approve the agenda.

III. Consideration of minutes of the November 12, 2019 meeting of the Academic Senate (Attachment A):

A motion was made, seconded, and adopted 55-0-0 to approve the November 12, 2019 minutes (Attachment A).

1. Interim President Lynch 

The Senate received Interim President Lynch's December 2019 Report. 

Interim President Lynch reported about the Council of Presidents and its budget request requests to Albany (see the CUNY and the Board of Trustees websites for more information). Interim President Lynch expressed optimism that CUNY would get the support it needs from the city and state because of declining enrollment. On a positive note, enrollment is currently 10-15% ahead of where it was this time last year for the spring semester. Interim President Lynch asks that faculty encourage students to seek out their advisors and register. He also noted that QCC had a student recognized at the Asian Institute for work in the Chemistry Department with Professors Karimi and Svoronos. There is no new information about the search for a new president, but there is a reason to expect that there will be town halls for faculty and staff to share the characteristics campus members want in a new president. Lastly, Interim President Lynch thanked the senate for all its members have done for students and urged senators to take time over the holidays for restoration and relaxation.

2. University Faculty Senate Liaison to the College

Dr. Emily Tai reported on the University Faculty Senate, including a reorganization at the top levels of CUNY administration. She also shared that CUNY would be requesting funds from the state budget to support 500 new faculty lines.

3. Senate Steering Committee Report

The Senate received the Steering Committee Report. 

Chairperson Dahlke reminded senators that the new email system was made operative on November 4, 2019. Faculty access to every department list is not yet available as administration is seeking legal counsel on this matter. Chairperson Dahlke announced that the Steering Committee has begun its assessment of governance, which will occur in three-year cycles. This year the focus of the assessment is on the effectiveness of the standing committees of the senate. Future assessments will include the website and senate effectiveness. The Steering Committee may utilize interviews and surveys in this assessment and welcomes any feedback from senators. The Steering Committee hosted a successful mixer of committee chairs and secretaries, who shared ideas and feedback about the concerns and workings of the committees. The Steering Committee regrets that there were some errors in course numbers in the October Curriculum Committee report and thanks Professor Karimi and Ms. Olga Salamanca for their help in finding these errors. The Committee working on the bullying is moving forward. Chairperson Dahlke thanked senators for an excellent semester.

V. Annual Reports of the Committees of the Academic Senate

The Committee on Admissions submitted its annual report. Senators should note there were updates to the report after it was initially linked to on the agenda email.

VI. Monthly Reports of the Committees of the Academic Senate

There were two votes taken on the report from the Committee on Curriculum:

1. A motion was made, seconded, and adopted 61-0-3 to adopt minor revisions to six chemistry courses.
2. A motion was made, seconded, and adopted 63-1-0 to adopt a program revision to the chemistry program.
3. The Committee provided updates about a revised experimental course in Mathematics and Computer Science, a new experimental course in Mathematics and Computer Science and an informational item correcting typos from the November report. These were informational only.

VII. New Business

Interim President Lynch reminded senators that they should be receiving an invitation to the holiday luncheon and hopes that all can attend.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 PM.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Zivah Perel Katz, Secretary
Academic Senate Steering Committee