Steering Committee Report April 2023
At the April Senate meeting we will consider nominees for the CUNY Common Core Curriculum Review Committee (CCCRC). We thank Department Chairs C. Julien Jiménez (Communication, Theatre, and Media Production) and Margot Edlin (English) for forwarding nominees’ names to Sandra Palmer. We acknowledge and thank the nominees who have stepped up: Dr. Leah Anderst, Associate Professor; Dr. Melissa Dennihy, Associate Professor; and Dr. Robert McAlear, Associate Professor; all from the English Department; and Professor Arthur Adair, Associate Professor and Dr. Franca Ferrari-Bridgers, Associate Professor, both from the Communication, Theatre, and Media Production Department; and Dr. Rezan Akpinar, Associate Professor from Health, Physical, Education, and Dance. QCC must send names of three nominees to CUNY Central, from which CUNY will select one person to serve on the committee. As senators consider their three preferred candidates, bear in mind that CUNY’s decision rests partially on representing a variety of disciplines on the committee.
In addition to this election, there are other important proposals to consider at the April meeting. Faculty Executive Committee will bring to the floor three proposals regarding issues involved in online teaching. Curriculum Committee will present two new courses in Spanish in the Foreign Languages Department; and Communication, Theatre, and Media Production will propose a program revision. Pre-College will propose Credit-for Prior Learning provisions for three courses in Engineering Technology. Finally, Bylaws Committee will propose a temporary suspension of Bylaws Rules so that Julian Stark, Secretary of Committee on Committees may serve another year following the end of his three-year term this Spring. Julian has been training to take over as Chair of the committee during his entire term. Because of the complexity of Committee on Committee’s charge, and in view of recent necessary changes to committee operations, Steering Committee supports this proposal.
The Senate will vote to approve a ballot of Senate Standing Committee members at the April meeting. The ballot will include members in the second or third year of their committee service, as well as new committee members, who will be beginning their three-year terms next month. The many variables at play as Committee on Committees prepares this ballot each year is the primary challenge of serving on this committee and we thank again Danny Sexton, Chair; Julian Stark, Secretary; and all committee members. At the May Senate meeting, senators will vote on nominees to fill seats vacated by those members who are finishing their three-year terms. The committee has nine members, three vacancies must be filled in May, and no department may have more than one member on the Committee. Art and Design, Business, Chemistry, Nursing, Physical Education and Dance, and Social Sciences will already be represented on the committee, so Chairs of all other departments, please encourage your faculty members to run for a seat on this crucial committee.
Several senators are concluding their Senate service at the April meeting. Thank you, Azadeh Aalai, Georgina Colalillo, Carlene Byfield, Clarence Jefferson Hall, Jr, Anthony Kolios, and Leslie Ward for your service.
We thank all 20 nominees who are running for the fourteen vacant Faculty-Member-at-Large seats. The election is underway now and 64% of the electorate of full-time instructional faculty has already voted. The poll will close just before midnight on Saturday, April 16th. Reminder emails from Danny Sexton, Chair, Committee on Committees will be sent on April 12th and 15th to those who haven’t voted yet. Let’s achieve 100% voter turn out. The fourteen top vote-getters will assume the fourteen vacancies (allowing for any exclusions for any departments who may be at limit after the election), and the fifteenth top vote-getter will serve out the remainder of Senator Phil Pecorino’s (who is resigning his Senate seat) term.
Dr. Phil Pecorino has served the Senate, shared governance at QCC, and shared governance at the CUNY level with distinction for at least 35 years. Phil cannot be replaced and his contribution to shared governance has been invaluable. We’d retire his jersey if we used them. Phil, It was an honor and a pleasure to serve with you and to learn from you. Mille grazie.
Academic Senate Steering Committee ([email protected])
Dr. Steven Dahlke, Chair [email protected]
Dr. Zivah Perel Katz, Vice-Chair [email protected]
Dr. Scott Litroff, Secretary [email protected]
