College of Arts and Sciences
Council of Chairs
March 10, 2010
2:30 p.m., AS 122
Meeting Minutes
Present: J. Berkowitz, J. Brière, A. DeBlasi, S. Fessler, E. Gaffney, K. Gersowitz (recorder), D. Goodwin, G.
Griffith, R. Hamm, T. Harrison, M. Hill, T. Kinal, R. Lachmann, A. Lyons, C. MacDonald, J. Mandle, M.
Messitt, G. Moore, J. Pipkin, C. Smith, G. Stevens, D. Strait (for Broadwell), M. Sutherland, C. Thorncroft, P.
Toscano, K. Williams, E. Wulfert, A. Zak, K. Zhu, R. Zitomer. Guests: C. McNeill, A. Mull, J. Murphy
Introductory Remarks: Dean Wulfert called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.
Minutes of February 17, 2010: A motion to approve the minutes was made by A. Zak, seconded by T. Harrison.
The meeting minutes for February 17, 2010 were unanimously approved.
Announcements:
 Gen Ed Taskforce (John Pipkin will serve as CAS representative) and UAC deliberations are ongoing regarding
gen ed requirements. R Zitomer reported that the taskforce will not recommend changes for the coming academic
year.
 Minors – The University at Albany is the only one of the four SUNY university centers that requires a minor. A
bill to make the minor optional is being drafted by UAC and will be sent to the University Senate where senators
will be asked to share with their home departments. Anyone with a vested interest in this topic should be present
for the Senate discussions of this issue.
 Strategic Planning Wiki (log on using MyUAlbany user name and
password):https://wiki.albany.edu/display/ustrat/Strategic+Planning+-+Campus+Community+Home. Dean
Wulfert reported that at the recent Strategic Planning Committee retreat six strategic themes were developed:
Undergraduate Education, The Undergraduate Experience, Graduate Education, Research, Infrastructure, Alumni
and Community Connections.
 Sabbatical reports for Fall 2009 are due 3/15/10 (faculty should send via email to Steve Galime at
sgalime@albany.edu with copy to Department Chair)
 Spring Tenure-track faculty renewals due to Dean's office 3/29/10 (to Steve Galime, AS-217)
 Nominations for flag bearers to carry the College gonfalon at the Undergraduate and Graduate ceremonies are due
4/5/10 (send one undergraduate and one graduate student name to Debernee Privott at dprivott@albany.edu)
 Distinguished Dissertation & MFA Project Awards nominations (2009-10) are due 4/15/10 (to Greg Stevens, AS217)
 Marching faculty participant names are due to the Dean’s Office: 4/15/10 (tentative date, send list of participant
names to Debernee Privott at dprivott@albany.edu)
Faculty Participation Requested at these Events:
 Second Academic Fair and Scholars Luncheons for admitted Presidential and Frederick Douglass Scholars is
3/11/10 at 10:00 a.m. (Academic Fair-UNH Atrium) and 11:45 a.m. (Luncheon-CC Ballroom)—contact Jaclyn
Napoleon, Undergraduate Admissions (jnapoleon@uamail.albany.edu or 6-8210)
 Closer Look Admitted Diversity Student Open House is 3/20/10, 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in the LC
Concourse/Campus Center—contact Hank Shuford, Undergraduate Admissions (Hshuford@uamail.albany.edu or
6-8204)
 Open Houses for Accepted Students are 4/17/10 and 4/18/10 (send name of department representative to
Cindy Endres at cendres@albany.edu by 3/26/10)
Old Business:
Graduate Syllabus – J. Pipkin has simplified the draft graduate syllabus based on suggestions made at the last
Council Chairs meeting and will distribute to the Chairs electronically. Any comments should be made directly
to J. Pipkin.
New Business
Classroom Decorum
As a follow-up to a previous Council of Chairs discussion, Dean Wulfert invited Clarence McNeill, Office of
Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility, Aran Mull, University Police Department, and John Murphy,
Office of Student Success, to speak on the topic of classroom decorum. The group provided a powerpoint
presentation, Dealing with Disruptive or Threatening Students, designed to assist the Chairs in recognizing and
understanding disruptive, threatening or violent behavior, as well as the signs of an Emotionally Disturbed Person
(EDP). Techniques to address disruptive, threatening or violent behaviors were also provided. Below is a
summary of this presentation.
In the classroom, disruptive behavior can include:
 monopolizing a discussion
 side conversations
 hostile remarks
 repeatedly arriving late or leaving early
 sleeping
 cell phone use
 other behaviors that interrupt the educational process.
Seven strategies to prevent and respond to disruptive behavior were provided:
1) Clarify standards in course syllabus and verbally. Resolve ambiguous policies and communicate
expectations with clarity and consistently. Faculty have the right to determine appropriate behavior in
their classroom.
2) Serve as a role model for the conduct you expect.
3) Consider a general word of caution rather than warning a particular student.
4) If behavior is irritating but not disruptive, speak to a student privately.
5) When confronting a student use a firm and friendly manner. Avoid public arguments or harsh words.
6) If a student’s disruptive behaviors persists the student may be directed to leave the classroom. Whenever
possible, prior consultation should take place with your supervisor and Clay McNeill, 442-5501. Be
clear, “I am directing you to leave the classroom.”
7) If disruption is serious, and other reasonable measures have failed, campus police should be called.
442-3131 – It is a good idea to have this number programmed into your cell phone.
911 from a campus phone
red phones in lecture centers
Staff must not use force or threats of force except in immediate self defense. It is important to
engage the support resources available on campus.
Threatening or violent behavior may occur if a student:
 violates your personal space and or raises his/her voice
 implies or makes a direct threat to harm themselves or others
 displays or possesses a firearm or weapon
 physically confronts/attacks or stalks another student or faculty
 sends threatening emails, letters or other correspondence
Stalking is defined as the act or crime of willfully and repeatedly following or harassing another person in
circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to fear injury or death especially because of express or
implied threats.
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is
thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as part of normal development of culture.
Protocols to consider when dealing with an Emotionally Disturbed Person:
DO
 Isolate the person from peers and other onlookers
 Focus – exclude distractions
 Listen – attend to the person
 Maintain a calm approach – if you appear out of control the situation may escalate. Other students will be
looking to the faculty member to set the tone. Remain in control and in charge.
 Be clear and direct
 Use paraphrasing and restatement
 Give the person an opportunity to vent – conversations may reveal need for accommodations
 Be respectful
 Use non-threatening posture
 Set firm limits
 Repeat direction/questions as often as needed
 Allow the person to save face
 Slow down
DON’T
 Make promises you can’t keep
 Argue, give order or disagree
 Placate
 Become sarcastic or condescending
 Attempt to reason with a person who is intoxicated
 Join with the person’s hallucinations or delusions
Helpful Hints for Conflict Resolution
 Stay clam in the face of adversity
 Be friendly, firm and fair when conveying a clear message about classroom policy
 Team up with a colleague if you prefer
 The use of cell phones and texting should be limited or restricted to breaks
 Talking in a group or on a cell phone is considered disruptive to the educational environment
Responding to Students in Crisis – The link below will take you to an online reporting mechanism.
http://www.albany.edu/studentaffairs/faculty/albany_only/. Written accounts of any incidents must be reported.
A sample incident report can be found at http://www.albany.edu/judicial/classroomsafety/samplereport.html.
In addition, you may also send an email directly to the Counseling Center consultation@uamail.albany.edu
Crisis Response Teams:
BRisk - Behavior Risk Assessment Committee
In the Spring of 2008, President George Phillip appointed a Behavior Risk Assessment Committee (called
BRisk); a critical decision-making and advisory group responsible for ensuring that the necessary risk assessment
policies and programs are in place for the campus community. The membership of this group extends across the
Divisions of Student Success and Academic Affairs and is chaired by Associate Vice President for Student
Success, John Murphy. The responsibilities of BRisk are critical to ensuring that our University community takes
every step possible to prevent violence on our campus and adequately prepares to handle emergency situations
effectively.
CUBIT - College/University Behavior Intervention Team
CUBIT (College/University Behavior Intervention Team) was developed in the Spring of 2008 as an ad-hoc
supplement to the BRisk Team. CUBIT is an early intervention team of six who meet regularly to “track” red flag
behaviors with the intent on providing skilled threat assessment and intervention. CUBIT and its membership
operate within the legal parameters of New York State law (HIPAA and FERPA) and University policy.
The Chairs were encouraged to contact either J. Murphy or C. McNeill before a situation escalates. Also, both
are available to speak with departmental faculty. C. McNeill has also visited classrooms to address persistent
disruptive behavior.
Faculty Phone A Thon for Group One, Presidential Scholars, Frederick Douglass Scholars (3/15-4/9/10)– G.
Stevens reported that the Admissions Office is asking faculty to call admitted Group One students to encourage
them to attend the University at Albany. Forms were distributed at the meeting and the Chairs were reminded
that if the calls could not be handled in the Department to please return to Heather Miller in admissions as soon as
possible.
Student Profiles: It was noted that this year’s student profile shows an increase in the number of Group One
students entering the University as freshman while the number of Group 3 students has dropped to zero.
Faculty Searches – Dean Wulfert reported that there are three ongoing tenure track searches in the College.
These three lines represent urgent needs within the College. The Math Department is searching for an assistant
professor which will be the first of 3 lines in 3 years paid for by the College of Nanoscale Science and
Engineering to support their newly launched undergraduate major. Communication is also searching for a tenure
track professor (either at the assistant or associate level) to meet the needs of an increasing number of
undergraduate majors and a newly launched doctoral program. Physics is also searching for an assistant
professor. We do not yet know what our hiring ability will be next year but Dean Wulfert is cautiously
optimistic. She noted that 30% of the money from turnover lines is kept by the Provost as a Centrally Allocated
Resource (CAR) for reinvestment based on the Provost’s priorities. The College has also authorized searches for
two lecturers in History, one in Communication, one in Spanish, and a VAP in Geography and Planning.
Approval is still pending on a lecturer line in Africana Studies.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00.
Handouts:
Minutes of February 17, 2010 meeting
Agenda
Draft Requirements for Syllabi of Graduate Courses
Student Profiles