University Senate Executive Committee
Monday February 25, 2013
2:45 PM
UNH 306
Andi Lyons, Senate Chair
Minutes
Present:
Marc Cohen, Susanna Fessler, Richard Fogarty, Elizabeth Gaffney, Vincent LaBella, Danielle
Leonard, Andi Lyons, Carolyn MacDonald, Adrian Masters, John Monfasani, Susan Phillips,
Sanjay Putrevu, Christine Wagner
The meeting convened at 2:47 pm.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of January 28 were approved with some minor corrections.
PROVOST’S REPORT – SUSAN PHILLIPS
Provost Phillips reported that enrollment is on track for this semester and is slightly higher than anticipated. The
number of undergraduates who did not return, about 60, was higher than anticipated.
The provost discussed the next steps of the 2020 initiative. A group is working on the various elements of the
plan, including communicating the plan to the campus. She hopes to have a presentation for the next SEC
meeting.
Provost Phillips provided information on two budget issues that will impact the campus. Federal budget cuts are
expected to take place later in the week and would affect our research and student aid program. The other issue
involves the raising of the minimum wage. Possible changes under either are now being considered. In the event
that there is an increase in the minimum wage, there could be implications since our total money for work study
would not increase, and students would reach their award with fewer work hours. She said the value of work
study hours for students is more than just a monetary one as they can also provide valuable work experience.
The results of a survey that addresses faculty and student experiences for online teaching and learning (OTL) are
being reviewed. This has been part of the UAlbany Strategic Plan, and has been also seen in Chancellor
Zimpher’s “State of the University” address last year and this year. While the Chancellor’s agenda is broader
than that of UAlbany, our strategic plan implementation has included a working group to evaluate what OTL
would look like for our campus, and what it would require in terms of support for faculty and students. A full
report of recommendations for the next steps for UAlbany is expected at the end of March.
At the request of President Jones, Provost Phillips will organize an academic retreat to discuss academic programs
and opportunities for undergraduates. Content would include study of who comes to the university and why, and
who leaves and why. The retreat will be held after commencement.
CAA Chair Master addressed an enrollment issue and asked what should be done to increase PhD candidates
versus master students. Provost Phillips responded that a pilot program for the fall will be offered to units wishing
to increase their masters programs. Certain units will be able to keep a percentage of generated tuition.
UNIVERSITY SENATE CHAIR’S REPORT – Andi Lyons, Chair
Women’s Studies is requesting a change of name. As it has neither programmatic nor resource implications, the request has been
submitted directly to the Senate Chair. It will be discussed in the SEC before the proposal is brought before the full Senate in March.
The Campus Committee on University Community-Engagement is sponsoring a two-day program on April 2 and 3. Several of the
sessions will focus on areas of particular concern to several Senate Councils, and the Senate’s involvement is anticipated.
Jim Collins, UUP Chapter President, has informed me that he believes some part of our CPCA membership may be in conflict with the
UUP contract. As soon as more information is available, it will be forwarded to the SEC; but the Chair anticipates the need for some
discussion during our next meeting.
Josh Ringel, the Student Association President’s Designee during the fall term, resigned from the Senate. For the remainder of this
academic year, Marc Cohen will be the SA President’s Designee to the full Senate and Executive Committee.
Chair Lyons referred to the UUP/CPCA issue in her report which appears to be whether professional members of
CPCA can vote on a promotion and tenure case. The votes of student council members are at issue as well. The
issue was addressed in the UUP minutes from November 2012. Chair Lyons is waiting for further information
from UUP Chapter President Jim Collins. SEC members discussed the implications of the conflict with UUP’s
contract. Violation of the contract could subject the university to having a grievance filed against it. Since the
Senate is a university senate and not a faculty senate, it is constituted of students, teaching faculty and
professional staff. If UUP were to disenfranchise any of those members of the Senate councils, matters could
become very complex. UPPC Chair Fessler suggested inviting Jim Collins to the next SEC meeting for a
discussion. CPCA Chair Putrevu said the council would continue to operate under its current constitution.
Chair Lyons welcomed Marc Cohen to the SEC as the designated Student Association representative.
OTHER REPORTS
UFS (University Faculty Senator’s Report) –Danielle Leonard, J. Philippe Abraham & Shadi ShahedipourSandvik, SUNY Senators
At the winter plenary meeting the UFS Committee on Diversity and Cultural Competence submitted the first page (a teaser) of what is a
multiple-page report that includes recommendations to make diversity a more meaningful element of our campus cultures.
The full report (attached) comes with a request that it be widely distributed across campuses and discussed, either by a governance group
or by the Executive Committee of your governance groups. UFS needs to have UAlbany’s comments returned to the committee chair
(Phillip.Ortiz@esc.edu) by March 15. This will give the committee the time needed to examine our suggestions for a final revision of its
report, which will be submitted to the UFS at the May plenary.
Senator Leonard encouraged everyone to attend the Power of SUNY Poster Presentations that would be held tomorrow from
noon to 2:00 pm. UAlbany will have 2-3 students representing the campus.
GSO (Graduate Student Organization) – Thomas Devlin, GSO President
Nothing to report
SA (Student Association) – Marc Cohen, Student Association, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
Mr. Cohen reported that student groups have organized a relief effort for victims of Hurricane Sandy. A bus trip to Long
Island has been planned for March 2 and donations are being collected. Elections will be held on March 11-12 for SA
senators and at-large senators. Students will also be voting on the student activity fee. Parkfest will be held on April 11.
Student leaders will meet with state legislators to discuss the capital investment plant. The meetings are intended to inform
legislators of the importance of renewing the plan and to urge the governor to support funding of the plan.
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
CAA (Council on Academic Assessment) – Adrian Masters, Chair
Chair Masters reported the council will meet on February 27. The council has been very busy and the chair will summarize
their work in his report to the Senate.
CAFFECoR (Committee on Academic Freedom, Freedom of Expression, and Community Responsibility) –
Leslie Saint-Vil, Chair
Nothing to report
CERS (Committee on Ethics in Research and Scholarship) – Carolyn MacDonald, Chair
Nothing to report
COR (Council on Research) – John Monfasani, Chair
Since my last report to the SEC, COR has taken several actions which I reported to the Senate on February 11 th. I have nothing new to
report beyond what was reported to the Senate. That report ran as follows:
The FRAP-A subcommittee of COR has awarded 16 grants totaling $118,856. The awards went to applicants in Biology,
Chemistry, Criminal Justice, Informatics, Physics, Political Science, and Public Health. The Excellence in Research
subcommittee of COR has voted to make three faculty members recipients of the 2013 Excellence in Research award: Shawn
Bushway of Criminal Justice, Cristian Lenart of Mathematics, and Marina Petrukhina of Chemistry.
Chair Monfasani reported that in the past there have been approximately four recipients of the Excellence in
Research Award. This year there were only three recipients.
CPCA (Council on Promotions and Continuing Appointments) – Sanjay Putrevu, Chair
The next CPCA meeting is on Feb. 22.
Chair Putrevu reported there are two pending cases and the council would meet tomorrow. The deadline for submitting
cases was earlier this month and an additional 18-20 cases are expected to be submitted. Chair Putrevu has concerns about
being able to handle the cases if they are submitted too late. Provost Phillips is urging the deans to have the files submitted
in a timely manner.
GAC (Graduate Academic Council) – Tim Groves, Chair
The GAC has no business to bring before the Senate at this time.
GOV (Governance Council) – Christine Wagner, Chair
GOV met on 2/4/13. Updates were provided by the subcommittee formed to address the status of Section XI: IRCUAP of the Senate
Charter and by the Committee on Administrative Evaluations to create a Council on Assessment and Institutional Review (CAIR). The
processes for nomination and election of Senators for the 2013-2014 academic year have begun. At the request of the provost, GOV
provided recommendations for members of a Course Assessment Advisory Committee and for an advisory committee for the upcoming
transition in undergraduate education and the process of selecting a new Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education. GOV is
currently creating a slate of nominations for Senator-at-large positions for next year.
LISC (Council on Libraries, Information Systems, and Computing) – Elizabeth Gaffney, Chair
Next meeting scheduled for March 4th
UAC (Undergraduate Academic Council) – Richard Fogarty, Chair
Chair Fogarty reported that UAC has held discussions about which council matters need to go before the Senate. The
process is not specifically articulated. Senator Leonard asked if there had been any conversation with GAC and if such
procedures would impact them. Chair Fogarty said any proposal that would intersect both councils would be discussed
appropriately between the two councils. He said GAC would need to decide what to do when such matters arise that
concern only GAC.
ULC (University Life Council) – Vincent LaBella, Chair
ULC met on January 17th and reviewed the feedback from the fall faculty forums. We also had a conference call with Francis Kendal to
discuss the feedback and plan for her visit to UAlbany on March 6,7,8 th. We are currently planning another set of forums for the faculty
during her visit.
Chair LaBella asked members to encourage their colleagues to attend the upcoming diversity forums. The Chair reported
on discussions concerning the family leave policy. The council met with Steve Beditz and discussed the benefits we have
with family leave in New York which compare very well with the private sector and the federal government. The current
Senate bill is out of date although the new UUP contract has some updated changes. Chair LaBella said the council has
been advised by Mr. Beditz that the current senate bill cannot be implemented. Mr. Beditz further advised holding an
information session in the fall about what is offered and is willing to support the event. Chair LaBella said some of the
issues would be handled through collective bargaining so the Senate has no power in those matters. He asked SEC members
if they were of aware of family leave issues that had necessitated someone leaving the university and asked what changes, if
any are required. Members discussed issues for junior faculty to be aware of and information that department chairs need
to know on how to deal with matters that affect leave and covering classes. UAC Chair Fogarty recommended looking at
what other campuses are doing since it also ties into recruitment issues. UPPC Chair Fessler recommended that ULC reach
out to statewide representatives of UUP to obtain information about what chairs have done in the past. Chair Lyons said
the issue is one that ties into the diversity council which is attempting to address actions step. She said it also ties into the
SUNY-wide diversity initiative. Chair Lyons suggested that the Senate may be able to adopt a resolution. Chair LaBella
said Mr. Beditz would like to a web page to make information available but he was not sure what could be legislated by the
Senate.
UPPC (University Planning and Policy Council) – Susanna Fessler, Chair
Having no pressing business, UPPC postponed its meeting scheduled for Friday, February 15th until a later date.
Chair Fessler reported the council would meet next on March 8. She said the general education advisory board has been
receiving questions on how departments will deal with general education. Chair Fessler expects that guidelines will be
available by the end of the semester.
NEW BUSINESS
Position Paper on Diversity and Cultural Competence—UFS Senators:
UFS Senator Leonard led the discussion about the document that was presented at the last plenary meeting.
Although she was unable to attend, she received an e-mail with the attachment from the SUNY–wide Senate
asking that the document be distributed across campus for discussion with governance groups and to solicit
comments by March 15. The SEC provided comments on the content of the document. UAC Chair Fogarty
commented that UAlbany already does much of what is being recommended and that the UFS recommendations
concerning faculty evaluations were unclear. LISC Chair Gaffney said the document was not explicit and could
be misinterpreted if not used as intended. She had further concerns about it being distributed widely to the
campus. Senator Leonard felt that similar feedback would be received if it were distributed further. Chair Lyons
suggested that our SUNY senators who attended the plenary meeting have a discussion with our Chief Diversity
Officer, Tamra Minor since it concerns the work she has been engaged with on the President’s Diversity Council.
A debate ensued concerning who should advance the document to Dr. Minor. A motion was made that the SEC
felt the document was incomplete and it should be forwarded to the Diversity Council by the Senate Chair. The
motion was seconded and approved by a vote. Chair Lyons agreed to forward the document as stated in the
motion.
Name Change for Women’s Studies Department
Chair Lyons said the change was fairly straight forward. The department would like to change its name to the
Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The name change has received support from the
Registrar’s Office as well as the Dean Wulfert from CAS. Dean Wulfert would like it to be forwarded for full
Senate approval. Chair Lyons supported the Dean’s request since there is a precedent for doing so and it is stated
in the Rights and Responsibilities of the Faculty in the Bylaws. LISC Chair Gaffney made a motion to forward
the bill to the Senate. The motion was seconded and approved by a vote.
Update on Campus Committee on University-Community Engagement (CCUCE)
Chair Lyons discussed a two-day event on April 2 and 3 being sponsored by CCUCE. The event’s featured
speaker will be Dr. Andrew Furco from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Furco will present a session on
Teaching with Impact that will relate to the work of UAC and GAC. Miriam Trementozzi, Associate Vice
President for Community Engagement, would like to see sponsorship from the Senate councils for portions of the
program series that impacts Senate councils. Chair Lyons would like to confirm the councils’ support with Ms.
Trementozzi. There were no objections for doing so. Chair Lyons suggested the council chairs send an email to
their members for approval. The SEC then engaged in a discussion about specific actions that may be required of
the councils as an outcome of their sponsorship. UAC Chair Fogarty said he did not see that the councils would
be committed to anything beyond supporting the event. He suggested that the SEC co-sponsor the event and
introduced a motion to have the SEC sponsor the event and for council chairs to encourage their members to
attend. The motion was seconded. SEC members debated whether the intention is to have full participation of all
the Senate councils and committees. Chair Lyons said she believed the intent was for broad participation and
involvement. The SEC voted to approve Chair Fogarty’s motion.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 4:42 pm.
Respectfully submitted by
Gail Cameron, Recorder