President’s Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes
March 13, 2015
Attendees: E. Abbey, B. Barnett, L. Chakrin, N. Choudhury, J. Connell, C. Davey, C. DeKnight,
D. Echols Tobe, S. Eisner, D. Flynn, L. Fuhring M. Goldberg-Rugalev, B. Goldstein, S.
Hancock-Martin, Y. Kisor, P. Mercer, S. Perry, E. Rainforth, E. Saiff, E. Siecke, S. Suarez, M.
Tripodi, M. Van Der Wall
Guest Representatives: J. Atti, D. Bright-Formean, M. Horvath-Plyman, R. Keller
Excused: T. Barnes, M. Bautis, D. Cuniff, A. Darakjy, M. Ecker, A. Greenip, D. Janes, E. Joyce,
C. Merkel, B. Neill, S. Rice, C. Romano S. Rosenberg, G. Ruotolo, A. Vengerov
President Mercer welcomed the group.
Approval of Nov. 21, 2014 Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes was moved and seconded. The motion passed.
President’s Report
President Mercer delivered his report noting the following:
- The College is facing a $1.5M cut to its state appropriation. That cut, in addition to rising
benefit rates may mean up to a $2.7 total cut. The College anticipates presenting a modest
tuition increase and additional operating expense reductions.
-
Member Eisner inquired if resources from institutional fundraising could support the
budget cut. Dr. Mercer replied that such resources would be a one-time fix and would not
serve to address the structural deficit. He added that the College and Foundation have
placed a priority on raising unrestricted gifts and that category of philanthropic giving is
growing specifically with our alumni.
-
The Board of Trustees meeting for June has been rescheduled for June 30, 2015.
Presentation and Q & A
Diversity Action committee co-chair Sandra Suarez led a presentation regarding the role of DAC
at Ramapo College. She illuminated the Committee’s history and charge as well as highlighted
some of its many achievements. Discussion ensued regarding the apps Yik Yak and Burnbook.
Dr. Mercer added that DAC brings to the fore issues that merit ventilation and furthered that
there would be value in including a representative from DAC on the PAC.
A motion to approve adding a representative from DAC to the PAC membership was moved and
seconded. The motion passed.
Working Session Re: College Values
PAC members split into five groups of four. Groups were asked to review the mission, vision,
and brand promises of the College with an eye toward the arriving at some enduring
understandings relevant to a values statement. In addition, the group was asked, based on
member posts to Moodle, to consider values as “enduring beliefs that an organization holds in
common” and that “guide all members of the organization formally and informally.”
M. Horvath-Plyman, AVP of Marketing and Web, provided PAC with an overview of the
College’s brand promise, noting “The outstanding and devoted faculty of Ramapo College of
New Jersey excel at teaching, mentoring and preparing students to succeed personally and
professionally, all within the small, picturesque campus environment usually associated with an
elite college.” She furthered that our brand attributes include (1) faculty who teach and mentor,
(2) hands-on learning and professional development that prepares, (3) a strong foundation for a
lifetime of achievement, and (4) the advantages of a small elite college at an affordable price.
Groups brainstormed their responses to the following questions:
- What do you consider to be the College’s core values at this time?
- What personal values do you believe are held by a majority of stakeholders?
- What additional values do you think the College should adopt?
- What values do you look for when you interview/recruit potential faculty, staff, students,
and administrators?
Groups reported out on the key themes that emerged from their discussion of the four questions.
Some of the common themes that dominated the exercise included:
- Commitment to developing the whole student
- Mutual respect for others (collegiality, civility, and tolerance)
- Professional, Personal, Organizational Integrity
- Creativity and Innovation
Other less dominant, but shared themes included:
- Public Good
- Sustainability
- Engagement
- Competence
President Mercer as ked that PAC be prepared to (1) vote on the College’s values at its next
statement and (2) discuss the means by which the values will be integrated into campus culture.
Old Business
Measures of Effectiveness. Discussion of PAC’s measures of effectiveness was tabled until the
next meeting. Members were encouraged to engage further on the topic via Moodle.
New Business
None.
The meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting of the PAC is May 8, 2015 at 11:30am in Trustees Pavilion.