Steering Committee Report December 2020
We are all finishing now our first complete semester of near-total distance learning in crisis conditions. We are all operating under extraordinary stress and yet we have continued to work together cheerfully and steadfastly in service to our students, and here in the Senate, for the cause of shared governance. A campus culture is nurtured from the top, and we want to gratefully acknowledge the outstanding example that President Mangino has set. She has hit the ground running and has never missed a beat (we hope that mixed metaphors may be excused under the circumstances) in leading us under a banner of empathy, courage, transparency, and cooperation. We are sure the whole campus joins us in saying thank you, and well done.
An outstanding example of our healthful campus culture is the State of the College Presentation given last week by the President and the Cabinet. The presentation was a complete survey of our current condition – budgetary, academic, and otherwise, and also laid out a vision and concrete plans for the future. Dr. Mangino and the Cabinet demonstrated candor and accessibility to the campus community and made clear that a culture of shared governance and teamwork is thriving at Queensborough. Thanks go, in addition to Dr. Mangino, to all the presenters: Belinda Delgado, Confidential Executive Officer; Stephen Di Dio, Vice President and Chief Communication and Marketing Officer; William Faulkner, Vice President of Finance and Administration; Lois Florman, Executive Counsel and Labor Designee; Brian Kerr, Vice President for Student Affairs; Liza Larios, Dean for Human Resources and Labor Relations; Tim Lynch, Provost and Senior Vice President; Amaris Matos, Executive Advisor for Equity; Sherri Newcomb, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President; Jo Pantaleo, Chief Diversity Officer; and Rosemary Zins, Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
The Senate Special Committee on Bullying will present its report to the Senate at the December meeting. The Special Committee has been thorough in its work, has respected multiple points of view, and has been a good example of confronting a problem head on and mutually looking for solutions. Special thanks go to committee member Liza Larios for highlighting possible solutions to the problem of bullying at the State of the College Presentation. Thank you to the rest of the committee: Asia Khan, Student Government Association; Susan Manel, DC 37; Vickie O’Shea, ASAP; Sandra Palmer, Academic Affairs; Phil Pecorino, Faculty Executive Committee; and Clara Wajngurt, Professional Staff Congress.
This Senate meeting will be the last for our Parliamentarian, Leslie Francis. We have put out a call for nominations to all senators who would like to stand for election to fill Leslie’s considerable shoes. Nominations will be taken from the floor and the election will take place during the meeting. We will miss working with Leslie – he has been a wonderful colleague and friend, and we wish him the very best as he goes on leave.
May it be helpful to you to hear that in an uncertain time you are not alone; there is a community of friends standing by to help. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we will do what we can. Take time to recharge before we reconvene in the Spring and know that we will all be together soon to continue to move forward.
Academic Senate Steering Committee ([email protected])
Dr. Steven Dahlke, Chair [email protected]
Dr. Jannette Urciuoli, Vice-Chair [email protected]
Dr. Zivah Perel Katz, Secretary [email protected]
