October 2019
The Faculty Executive Committee is resubmitting to the Senate for its consideration a Proposal on Faculty Access to College email Lists. The effect of the proposal would be to give faculty governance leaders direct email access to the electorate, provide all faculty access to an All Faculty List from which faculty could opt out, and allow all faculty access to all department email lists (to be kept current by the college). If passed the resolution would commence a six-month trial period from November, 2019 though March, 2020. During this period FEC would monitor email usage and communicate with any user who appears to violate University/College standards regarding electronic communication. Further Senate action would be needed to alter college policy to institute the system permanently. The Steering Committee encourages senators to review aspects of the policy, which is attached to this month’s agenda email, so that all viewpoints may be heard efficiently on the Senate floor.
In September, the Steering Committee conducted meetings of chairs and secretaries of Standing Committees of the Academic Senate. Every committee was represented in the meetings, and involvement and interest is high. Thanks go to Stephen Hammel and Shenaz Georgilis (Committee on Committees), Rezan Akpinar and Ilse Schrynemakers (Academic Development Committee), Kenneth Pearl (Admissions Committee), Manuel Martinez (Assessment Committee), Ewa Stelmach and Sujun Wei (Awards Committee), Phil Pecorino (Budget Advisement Committee), Ben Murolo and Urszula Golebiewska (Bylaws Committee), Tim Keogh (Computer Resources Committee), Philip Nelan (Continuing Education and Pre-College Committee), Fei Ye and Neera Mohess (Committee on Course and Standing), Wenli Guo and Adam Luedtke (Cultural Resources Committee), Todd Holden and Patrick Wallach (Curriculum Committee), Zeynep Akcay (eLearning Committee), Sara Danzi-Engoron (Environment and Quality of Life Committee), Peter Mauro (Library Committee), Vazgen Shekoyan (Publications Committee), Kimberly Riegel and Jennifer Klein (Student Activities Committee), Janet Franzese and Melissa Dennihy (Vendor Services Committee), and John Talbird (Wid/Wac Committee). Special thanks go to Emily Tai who, though unable to go to the scheduled meetings, took the initiative to take an individual meeting with Dave Moretti to review important technological information from the meeting. As always, Steering Committee thanks Dave Moretti for his ongoing availability to help committee chairs and secretaries in using the college’s content management system.
The Senate will vote this month on the Religious Observance Proposal that was sent back to committee in May 2019. The Steering Committee particularly thanks Student Government Association president Ankush Gaba for his input and representation of student viewpoints, which assisted in the revision process. The revised proposal is attached to this month’s agenda email, and should address Senate concerns about clarity and faculty requirements, and makes readily available the letter of NYS Education Law 224a.
In September, Steering Committee members represented the Senate at a College Advisory Planning Committee meeting. Discussion centered on development of an Academic Master Plan (AMP) for the college. Senators are encouraged to take the survey sent in an email from the Office of Academic Affairs on October 4th for AMP theme input, and Steering Committee will contribute to outreach efforts to maximize and make most efficient faculty engagement in the AMP process. Senators are asked to encourage any faculty members who they believe to be dedicated to creative and highly valued college service to participate in an AMP working group.
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]
