Steering Committee Report September 2023
Welcome back to another year of shared governance.
There are some changes in our Faculty-Member-at-Large Senate roster to announce – two election runners-up will fill FMAL seats vacated by newly elected department chairs: Sharon Reeves, Associate Professor, Foreign Languages will fill the seat vacated by new Library chair Mi Seon (Christine) Kim; Ali Ragoub, Lecturer, Engineering Techology will fill new Business chair Christina Manzo’s term. Welcome, Sharon and Ali and thank you for stepping up to serve, and congratulations new chairs Christine and Christina.
We welcome new and returning Student Government Association senators: Andrea Alfaro, Student-Senator-at-Large; Nadia Baquaei, Vice President for Evening Students; Emily Diana, Executive Vice President; Jonathan T. Janeke, Vice President for Part Time Students; Ranaediaz Miller, Treasurer; Nickolas Pirovolikos, Programming Vice President; Abdul Wahab, Administrative Vice-President; and Davia Willis, President.
We welcome Mark Chropufka of the Academic Computing Center for assuming the role of Senate Technology Officer. Thank you for your service to the Senate, Mark!
At the September meeting we will welcome new Provost, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Social Sciences Dr. Phyllis Curtis-Tweed, and new Vice President of Finance and Administration Dr. Gissette Forte. Welcome aboard, Gissette and Phyllis!
Steering Committee thanks President Mangino for the Administration’s continued support of shared governance in the form of Reassigned Time for selected officers of selected committees. The level of Reassigned Time is unchanged from 2022-23, and hours are distributed by Steering Committee. A listing of officers’ duties may be seen here and at the Monthly Reports tab at the Steering Committee webpage.
We continue our Senate and Senate Standing Committee meetings this year under the regulations of NY Open Meetings Law, which requires an in-person quorum for business to proceed. As it was last year, provision by Governor Hochul allows for remote participation and voting under extraordinary circumstances, provided three business days’ advance notice is given. The remote participation policy is in place through Academic Year 2023-2024. We ask all committee members and senators to regard shared governance as an in-person activity.
We thank these committees for their prompt submission of their Annual Reports: Assessment, Urszula Golebiewska, chair: Awards and Scholarships, Timothy Keogh, chair; Budget Advisement, Phil Pecorino, chair; Bylaws, Raymond Lam, chair; Committee on Committees, Danny Sexton, chair; Continuing Education, Rex Taibu, chair; Cultural and Archival resources, Franca Ferrai-Bridgers, chair; eLearning, Tony Monahan, chair; Environment Quality of Life and Disability Services, Tanya Zhelezcheva and Noelia Diaz, co-chairs; Library, Emily Pelletier, chair; Pre-college, Benjamin Miller, chair; Publications, Patrick Byers, chair; Steering Committee, Steven Dahlke, chair; Vendor Services, Karan Mohan Puri, chair; and Wid/Wac, Christi Saindon, chair. Fifteen reports submitted, six remaining – not too bad, and an improvement from last year. Thank you, chairs and secretaries!
This year the Senate will consider a pro-active response to Artificial Intelligence and authentic student writing, and possible policy regarding any infractions among other important issues. We will also continue Assessment of Governance per Middle States suggestion. We remind all senators to write to Steering Committee with any issues you would like to see addressed in the Senate.
Steering Committee continues its Zoom hours this year for any senator or committee member who seek guidance. Zoom hours will be Mondays from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM and Fridays 1:00 – 2:00 PM when classes are in session.
Steering Committee looks forward to working with all senators and Standing Committee members – as a college, we have reason to be optimistic. Here’s to a great year ahead.
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]
