College Wide Governance Meeting
March 19, 2014, Gateway A&B
12:45-1:40PM
Agenda
• Minutes/Opening Remarks/Announcements
(Donaghy)
• Research Committee (Vidon)
• CoC Actions (Daley)
• Webcam Usage in Classrooms (Rufo)
• Resolution on webcam use in classrooms and
meeting spaces (Donaghy)
Elections
Nominations being accepted for:
• Executive Chair
• University Faculty Senator
• SU Senator
Send nominations to Bob Meyer at
rwmeyer@esf.edu by tomorrow - March 20, 2014
Non-elected – Committee Chairs
Committee on Research Annual
Report
March 19, 2014
Committee Composition
• Lee Newman, Kevin Kapuscinski, Bandaru
Ramarao, Theresa Selfa, Chris Nowak, John
Wasiel, Jessica Clemons, Steve Shaw
• Neil Ringler
• USA and GSA representatives
• Philippe Vidon (Chair)
McIntire-Stennis and SEED Grant
Review process
McIntire-Stennis
• 16 pre-proposals were received
• 11 pre-proposals were invited for full
consideration
• 4 proposals were funded
• 2 proposals are still under consideration
• 5 proposals were rejected
Mcntire-Stennis
• Newman - Understanding the Role of Select Endophytic
Bacteria in Enhanced Growth and Disease Resistance
• Vidon-Volk - Impact of Commercial Shrub Willow Biomass Crop
Production in New York State on Water Related Ecosystem
Services
• Mountrakis-Stehman - Developing Advanced Accuracy Metrics
for Satellite-Derived Forestry Products
• Fierke – McGee - Nutrient Resources Associated with
Establishment and Long-Term Maintenance of Emerald Ash
Borer Parasitoid Populations
Under Consideration: Farrell – Germain, and Parry - Beier
SEED Grants
• Proposals were due yesterday.
• The COR members will meet on March 25 to
make their recommendation for funding
• We expect decisions to be made by April 11
Spotlight on Student Research
• 2 day event this year in Gateway Center
• Judging for grads on Tuesday April 15th
• Judging for undergrads during common hour
on the 16th
• Kick-off pizza party on the 15th at 3pm
• Keynote, awards, reception beginning on the
16th at 3pm in Nifkin Alumni Lunge
• Info sent out to campus earlier this week
Spotlight cont’d
• Soliciting faculty judges for graduate posters &
sponsors for prizes and supplies
• Proceedings will be available as PDF
• Voluntary poster design session on March 26th
• Only one to two posters per class project may
be selected
• Abstracts should be reviewed/approved by a
faculty advisor
Spotlight Info
• All of the information, including submission
guidelines, dates, and times can be found
here:
• http://www.esf.edu/spotlight/
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH UPDATES
Neil H. Ringler
 McIntire-Stennis Meeting, Washington, DC
 4E Network of Excellence
 “Green Sheet” Summary: Expenditures,
New Awards, Proposals
 RF Meeting this Morning
MCINTIRE-STENNIS ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNICAL
REPRESENTATIVE (ATR) MEETING
Held March 5, 2014 in Washington, DC
The McIntire-Stennis Program recently celebrated its 50th
Anniversary, signed by John F. Kennedy!
Anticipated outcomes from this meeting:
Improve understanding of the roles of NIFA and the institutions in
conducting reviews of M-S project proposals;
Clarify roles and responsibilities of the ATR, and make
modifications to ensure that the program is well-managed;
Improve approaches to reporting accomplishments to
demonstrate the importance of the M-S program;
Assist 1890 and insular area M-S institutions as they develop
their M-S programs;
Update the M-S Strategic Plan;
Determine the future direction of the McIntire-Stennis Program
SUNY 4E Network of Excellence
Energy, Environment, Education and Economics
The first round of funding was announced in February 2014. The RF
awarded $778,000 to 19 projects, involving 14 campuses.
From ESF:
Dr. Paul D. Hirsch
“Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Communication in Complex
Socio-ecological Systems: An Integrative Approach to Interdisciplinary
Research, Policy Translation, and Educational Application.”
SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY
Binghamton, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Albany
Dr. Karin Limburg
“Restoring Ecosystem Integrity and Ecosystem Services in Jamaica Bay, NY:
A Research Planning Workshop”
SUNY ESF, SUNY Stony Brook, Queens College CUNY
Dr. Douglas J. Daley
“Workshops to Develop Faculty Mentors and Sponsored Research
Experience for Undergraduates in Water Resources Science and
Engineering”
SUNY ESF, SUNY Oswego
Preston Gilbert Awarded Presidential Fellowship
The RF's Presidential Fellowship Program supports the SUNY Networks of
Excellence. Gilbert's fellowship, one of only six awarded by the RF, will
support designing and implementing the New Forest Economy initiative.
“GREEN SHEET” HANDOUT
CATHY KASZLUGA
Vice President for Strategy and Planning
The Research Foundation for SUNY
SUNY-ESF CAMPUS VISIT March 19, 2014
Purpose of visit is discussion:
Strategies for growing research and innovation at SUNY
Organization of SUNY-RF in support of research and innovation
Allocation of RF revenues
SUNY-RF’s priorities for 2015
How to work with us
• Do not hesitate to come see us if you or your
department has suggestions about how to
strengthen and enhance research
• As in the past, we will make every possible
effort to address your concerns.
Thank you
Curriculum Committee
Report to Faculty Governance
3/19/2014
Curriculum Committee Actions (March
5, 2014)
• Courses (new and revised) approved by Committee
action
– FCH 110 Survey of Chemical Principles: campus approval as
General Education
– EST 255 Research Methods for Environmental Studies
– EWP 407 Writing for Environmental and Science
Professionals
– EWP 444 Professional Writing for Paper & Bioprocess
Engineers
– FOR 232 Natural Resources Ecology
– FOR 740 Advanced Watershed Hydrology and
Biogeochemistry
Curriculum Committee Actions
(March 5, 2014)
• Approval to delete 10 inactive courses from EFB
– Policy reminder: a course that is not taught within a three
year period could be put on a one year “inactive” status by
the Dean of OIGS, with notice to programs, after which it
could be dropped by administrative action
• Committee recommends
– Adopt Marine Science minor administered by EFB
– Adopt Native Peoples and Environment minor
administered by EFB
• Reminder: proposal reviews, see the CoC website
• Next Meeting March 26, 12:45 p.m. 254 Baker
ITS CLASSROOM CAMERAS
Joe Rufo
College Wide Governance Meeting
March 19, 2014
What are the cameras for? What purpose do
they serve?
26
The cameras are used as visual aids to assist ITS in providing classroom
support and proactively perform troubleshooting.
When a classroom instructor is having a problem with the classroom
technology and calls ITS requesting help, ITS staff is able to look into
the classroom, view the podium and projection screen and in many
instances remotely assist in resolving the problem.
When the room is not being used, ITS can remotely turn off the
equipment to prolong the projector life and save energy.
Where are the cameras located?
27
There are a total of 11 cameras on the ESF main campus,
managed by ITS, that are used to facilitate classroom
support.
 Baker 141, 145, 146, 148
 Marshall Auditorium
 Nifkin lounge
 Gateway Conference Areas A, B and C
 Illick 5, 16
There are also 2 located at the Ranger School campus.
Are these cameras covered under ESF’s Video
Surveillance Policy?
28
Cameras are managed by ITS and are meant to
provide academic/classroom support and as such do
not fall under ESF’s Video Surveillance Policy.
A different set of cameras, providing video but
not audio, and managed by UPD are covered by
this Policy and exist to support public safety.
UPD Surveillance Cameras
29
Exterior

Pan tilt zoom on the quad

Fixed cameras (2) east side of Moon

Pan tilt zoom on the SE corner of Baker Shop Wing Roof

Pan tilt zoom on pole east side of Illick

Fixed camera viewing east Illick bike storage

Pan tilt zoom SW Gateway building

Pan tilt zoom NE Gateway

Pan tilt zoom on emergency help phone tower South West sidewalk of Illick which provides
views of Campus Drive
Gateway, fixed cameras

North concourse area

Trailhead area, common public area

Second floor main corridor

North end basement of Gateway

South end basement of Gateway
Are the cameras being used for the purpose
they are/were intended?
30
Yes, and have been a very useful aid for supporting
teaching faculty in real time.
Additionally, in spring 2008, an ITS staff person
individual noticed someone attempting to remove
some expensive A/V equipment in one of the
classrooms. He immediately reported it to UPD who
was able to catch the person in the act.
Who has access to the digital feed from the
cameras? Who is monitoring the feeds?
31
On duty ITS staff and student assistants.
UPD can also access through IP links.
Are there both audio and visual feeds?
32
Yes, however the audio quality is for the most part
very poor and is employed to help a user diagnose
and resolve a reported problem.
Can anyone request to monitor a class using
these digital and audio feeds?
33
No. The system is password protected; only ITS
staff has access. Other than providing the IP links to
UPD, requests for access are not granted.
Are the feeds from the cameras recorded?
What is done with the archived information?
34
No. The system is not set up to record and store video
feeds. Nothing has been recorded and there is no
archival footage.
What are the policies and procedures for those
who monitor the camera feeds?
35
No formal ESF policies exist.
Can the cameras be turned on and off remotely? Can
they be turned off from within the classroom? Why are
they on all the time?
36
Individual cameras cannot be turned on and off
remotely, nor can they be turned on and off from
within the classroom.
The system is set up for the cameras to be “always on”
type devices.
Each time the system is turned off and on it requires
some adjustment.
How is privacy ensured for rooms used for
both sensitive meetings and general classes?
37
In the context of the current set up, the best way to
safeguard privacy is ensure the campus community is
aware of the camera locations and functionality.
Are those who monitor the cameras (particularly
students) under any obligation of non-disclosure?
38
Presently monitors are not asked/required to sign
a formal non-disclosure agreement.
Why are there no signs indicating that the area is under
surveillance? Or in the very least, an easy to find listing of
classrooms with surveillance cameras on ESF’s website?
39
As noted these cameras are meant as visual
aids for supporting classroom AV systems and not for
surveillance purposes. However, signage placement
as well as website notification should be implemented.
40
Questions
Resolution on Webcams in the
Classroom and Meeting Rooms
• Unpublicized as to presence and purpose
• Audio and video feed being monitored by
professional staff and work study students
• Confidentiality of meetings
• No non-disclosure agreements or policy
statements
• Many question that the cameras are being
used solely for the purpose intended
Resolution
• Temporarily suspending the use of webcams
in the classrooms until policy and procedures
can be developed.
• Charging a taskforce with creating policy and
procedures that govern webcams in the
classrooms
• Report due by 4/30/14