Steering Committee Report March 2024
As we knew it would, the semester is racing by. We pause to take a breath and express gratitude for wonderful colleagues to work with.
The Office of Academic Affairs gave all faculty an opportunity to come together and grow professionally in its 10th annual Faculty Development Retreat on AI and the Academy. There was inspiring and helpful information shared. Thanks to Nidhi Gadura for her leadership; Sara Danzi-Engoron for organizing in collaboration with QC and LGCC; and Guozhen An, Yusuf Danisman, Scott Litroff, Rob McAlea, and Esma Yildirin for serving as panelists.
Though coming to work may sometimes feel like a chore, when we as a community of educators and students come together we lift up and motivate one another. Take advantage of opportunities like these to help keep a spring in your step. Next up on Friday March 8th is Spotlight on Student Success -- a chance for faculty to learn about effective methods of helping students reach their goals. The event begins with breakfast at 9:00 AM and continues until noon. There will be time for faculty to discuss their needs and concerns.
By now you will have received or will soon receive from Committee on Committees emails that give information about running for vacant Senate and Senate Standing Committee seats. Current senators, see the Senate Roster to determine whether you are up for re-election. To those not currently a senator – consider performing important college service by running for a Senate seat. Not on a Senate Standing Committee? Reply to the Committee Selection email to step up to serve. If you are now on a committee only those whose three-year terms end after Summer 2024 are eligible to seek a seat on another committee, for three-year service beginning Fall 2024. Consult your committee chair or see the current committee rosters to determine whether your term is ending after this academic year. Thanks to Julian Stark, chair and Paul Sideris, secretary of Committee on Committees and committee members Aliza Atik, Shannon Kincaid, Jasper Lin, Isabella Lizzul, Ben Murolo, Jessica Prepetit, and Sharon Reeves – this committee has a flurry of work to handle in a short amount of time. Under Julian’s leadership, the committee is using the power of teamwork to get the job done. As always, Raj Vaswani is owed everyone’s thanks for overseeing the election and committee selection process and giving technical support.
Two other committees doing notable work this semester are Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness, Urszula Golebiewska and Mark Ulrich, co-chairs and Library, Elizabeth Sutton, chair. Assessment Committee is analyzing data from the recent COACHE survey and will provide its recommendation to the Senate, and Library Committee is working on advocacy for Open Education Resources in an effort to lessen student textbook costs.
In the absence of Annual Reports from Admissions Committee, Committee on Course and Standing, and Curriculum Committee from academic year 2022-2023, Steering Committee will request from those committee chairs reports that document processes from both 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, to be submitted in Summer, 2024.
We thank again all our colleagues for coming together to serve our students and to grow, even in uncertain times. We are near the halfway point of the semester and wish everyone the best as we carry on.
Academic Senate Steering Committee ([email protected])
Dr. Steven Dahlke, Chair [email protected]
Dr. Scott Litroff, Vice Chair [email protected]
Prof. Philip Nelan, Secretary [email protected]
