Academic Senate Meeting Minutes
May 14, 2024
Steering Committee Chairperson Dr. Steven Dahlke called the seventh regularly scheduled meeting of the Academic Senate to order at 3:30 PM due to technical issues. The meeting was held in a hybrid format, with attendees both in M136 and ZOOM. Chairperson Dahlke chaired the meeting from M-136.
I. Attendance
Forty-five votes were recorded when attendance was taken, and 61 members of the Academic Senate were present during the meeting.
Absent: Andrea Alfaro, Raul Armendariz,Alisa Cercone, Katherine Chen, Renaediaz Miller, Jose Osorio, Sean Persaud, Laura Rachiele, Fatima Saleem, LaKersha Smith, Jaskaran Singh, James Timbilla, Patrick Wallach, Benjamin Wade, and Abdul Wahab
II. Approval of the Agenda
Chairperson Dahlke used unanimous consent to approve the agenda. There were no objections.
III: Consideration of the minutes from April 9, 2024 (Attachment A)
Chairperson Dahlke used unanimous consent to approve the minutes. There were no objections.
IV: Communications from:
Please remind students to register before they leave for the semester. CUNY offers Cybersecurity training, and everyone can learn things to protect themselves on campus and at home. President Mangino discussed security around campus, and many protests were going on around other colleges. QCC Public Safety has been meeting with other campus public safety officers. If people wish to protest, there can be discussion. There are no signs that issues are pending. Bring a friend to campus is continuing. President Mangino works collaboratively with FVC and PSC when anything happens on campus and informs them as soon as possible.
This afternoon, there is a roller rink for the end-of-the-year celebration. We have graduation next week and Lavender graduation. Plans are underway and planning for the next semester. QCC is still waiting for a budget for Fall 2024. QCC is doing well.
- B. Communication from the Liaison to the University Faculty Senate - Dr. Emily Tai
Dr. Tai discussed UFS at the May meeting. John Verzani was reelected as University Senate Chair, and some members from community colleges means there will be University College representation—Bylaw changes proposed by VP Wendy Hensel. Dr. Verzani created an ad hoc committee going through the proposals line by line. The University Faculty Committee on Academic Freedom worked on a resolution passed with few negative votes for CUNY to work with the UFS to adopt a meaningful freedom of expression policy that safeguards the freedom of expression guaranteed by the US Constitution to all members of the CUNY community. Dr. Tai serves on the Committee of Student Affairs and teaches students to speak thoughtfully, responsibly, and forcefully in whatever position they have.
The Student Affairs Committee proposed a resolution for financial support for using the MTA transit system for metro card provisions for all students who passed. Students will need to complete a form. Dr. Ned Bentley created a white paper, Best Practices for Budget Consultations. Dr. Tai will make this paper available to anyone who wishes a copy.
Dr. Dahlke welcomed the newly elected senators and student senators, who have been very active, to the meeting—and invited all to Partners for Progress, as Scott Liftoff has put together a group alumni and faculty musicians, who will provide music at the event.
V: Elections - Julian Stark
- Steering Committee – Chair - Scott Liftoff - no other nominations - 1 vote on behalf of the Senate and vote seconded.
- Steering Committee – Vice Chair – Daniel Garbin – no other nominations – 1 vote on behalf of the Senate and vote seconded.
- Steering Committee - Secretary - Philip Nelan - no other nominations - 1 vote on behalf of the Senate and vote seconded.
- Steering Committee - Parliamentarian- Rezan Akpinar -1 voted on behalf of the Senate and voted seconded.
- Senate Technology Officer - Philip Nelan - no other nominations - 1 vote on behalf of the Senate and vote seconded. Rationale -The Steering Committee filled the position last year and this semester.
- Committee on Committees – The following departments are not eligible to have members as they already have members on the committees – Art and Design, Business, English, Health and Physical Education, and Dance and Social Science.
- Kevin Kolack – Chemistry
- Steven Dahlke - Music
- Barbara Rome - Nursing
- One seat remains open and will be discussed at the September meeting.
VI: May 2024 Graduates List (Attachment B) -
Vote to be taken. Students were asked to leave the room or to sign off from the online platform.
Yes – 55
No – O
Abstain - 0
VII: Monthly Reports
- Committee on Committees Report
- Committee on Curriculum Report (Attachment C) - Vote to be taken
4 program revisions
Yes - 60
No - 0
Abstain - 0
1 department name change
Yes- 56
No – 1 – Julian Stark
Abstain – 1- Patrick Byers
26-course revisions
Yes – 27
No – 19- Marvin G, Lorraine Cuppelli, Jeff Jankowski, James Nichols, Jennifer Gliere, David Lieberman, Bjorn Berkhout. Isabella Lizzul, Jannette Urciuoli, Jeffrey Ballerini, Andrew Nguyen, Alisa Cercone, Margot Edlin, Arthur Adair, Christina Saindon, Stephen Di Dio, Julian Stark, Kathleen Wentrack, Daniel Garbin, Emily Tai, Steven Dahkle, Philip Nelan, Scott Litroff, and Gil Visoni
Abstain: 15 - Larisa Honey, Mark Scheibe, Amaris Matos, Gisette Forte, Miguel Long, Jonathan Cornick, Leslie Ward, Emil Parrinello, John Talbird, Rezan Akpina.
This motion did not pass.
- Committee on Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness Report
Only 30% completed the survey.
- Committee on Pre-College Report and Presentation
VIII: Unfinished Business-No unfinished business for this meeting.
IX: New Business:Mission Review Committee Report(Attachment D) - Vote to be taken
Yes – 51
No – 1- Christina Saindon
Abstain - 0
- Library Sub-Committee on OER - Informational
Meeting Adjourned at 4:45 PM
Philip Nelan, Secretary
