ITHACA COLLEGE
FACULTY COUNCIL MINUTES
September 5, 2000
Present: Jim Aguiar, Luanne Andersson, Jules Benjamin, Diana Birr, Randie
Blooding, Byron Caplan, Carole Dennis, Harold Emery, Michael Galván, Don Lifton,
Marian MacCurdy, Sabatino Maglione, Kinsuk Maitra, Winnie Mauser, Steve
Peterson, Fred Pritt, Rick Rainville, John Rosenthal, Diana Ryan, Stan Seltzer,
Jennifer Strickland, Robert Sullivan
Absent: Mara Alper, Lee Bailey, Joseph Cheng
Guests: Garry Brodhead, Jim Malek, Diane Schwartz, Ellen Stapleton
(Ithacan), Marissa DeVito (Ithacan photographer)
1. Welcome
S. Seltzer, Chair, extended a welcome to the newly-constituted Council. He noted that one of the
documents being discussed at the ANAC conference this summer was concerned with service
and governance. While they are different, what they identify and are connected with is
citizenship. One of the major items to be addressed this semester will be the proposed revision of
the Faculty Handbook. He expressed the hope that Council members would encourage their
colleagues to assume greater involvement in the process.
He stated a goal of adhering to the 9:30 conclusion of meetings.
2. Announcements
John Stanton was unable to attend the meeting and so the Registrar's report about on-line
registration will be postponed until the October meeting. S. Seltzer noted that according to J.
Stanton the plan is to go ahead with on-line registration later this semester for the spring 2001
semester. The advising period will basically be the eighth and ninth weeks, following break. The
system will open up Friday of the ninth week, instead of during the tenth week as in the past. J.
Rosenthal raised the question whether registration changes had been brought before the APC or
Faculty Council for comment and consideration before implementation. He stated that
registration should not be considered administrative policy, but academic policy. After
discussion by several members of Council, it was determined that once the new representative to
APC is elected, he or she should be directed to discuss with APC which aspects of on-line
registration are solely administrative actions and which represent academic policy, and to bring
academic policy matters before the appropriate faculty bodies for their consideration.
A list of Council members, which will be posted on the Faculty Council Web site, was circulated
to obtain e-mail addresses and verify other information.
Chris Pogorzala is soliciting volunteers to give talks at Longview. The schedule is currently set
through November.
The Faculty Benefits Committee needs a Chair; it could also use another member or two. S.
Seltzer will put out a call for volunteers.
3. Report from H&S
Diane Schwartz, president of H&S Faculty Senate, reported that they will be working on three
major issues this year:
(1) A position paper on faculty workload, a draft of which was developed last year.
(2) Merit pay: devising a system for distribution.
(3)On-line registration: examining how it will affect students and faculty workload.
4. Approval of Minutes of May 2, 2000
H. Emery made a motion, seconded by F. Pritt, to approve the minutes of May 2, 2000. The
minutes were accepted by unanimous vote. S. Seltzer noted that the minutes will be posted on the
Faculty Council Web site for ready access by all interested parties. D. Lifton requested that the
Chair send copies of the minutes to retired professors Paul McBride and Linda McBride whose
contributions are noted in the minutes.
5. Provost's Report
J. Malek distributed copies of a memorandum from Larry Metzger regarding admissions and
enrollment statistics for the Fall 2000 semester.
We are now in the twentieth month of the planning process, dating from the first meeting dealing
with institutional planning, and are in the last stages of putting together the strategic plan. Six of
the nine priority groups have submitted reports and the rest will be in by the end of this week.
We are on target to bring the strategic plan to the Board of Trustees in October. Following
acceptance, the planning process will continue as the priorities and implementation strategies are
revisited and assessments made of achievements. It is generally agreed that the strategic plan
should serve as the basis for budget decisions. One obvious way to achieve that is to have as
much overlap as possible between the Budget Committee and the Planning Committee. Little
change is seen for the present structure, but that is an ongoing conversation.
Regarding workload, there are a number of fronts in which the conversation should go on. One is
the continuation of the ANAC workload project currently under way. This is the first year of the
implementation of the project, from which we hope will emerge models that will be more widely
applicable. In addition, the Provost would like to open up the conversation as widely as possible
so that we are not just talking about teaching load, but are looking at the complexity of the
workload issue. What are all the various components of workload? What are the things that are
limitations on our discussions, both external and internal? What are the best practices at other
institutions, particularly at ANAC schools (although none of these is a specific peer school)? He
plans to get a widely-representative task force of all the stake-holders into operation and hold as
wide-ranging conversations as possible. Because of the varied nature of the schools, it is unlikely
that there will be any one model serving all units.
D. Lifton inquired whether Ellen Bonaguro, who is currently Interim Assistant Dean of H&S,
should be replaced as one of two faculty members on the Budget Committee. J. Malek said that
E. Bonaguro had been a valuable member of the Budget Committee and that he would like to see
her continue on the committee. He was amenable to having an additional faculty member added
to the committee. J. Rosenthal asked whether it was appropriate for Council to do so now; S.
Seltzer urged that Council consult with the Planning Committee first.
M. MacCurdy raised questions about institutional size. President Williams will be addressing the
Planning Committee for an hour on that subject on Wednesday, September 7. The conversation
will continue at a joint meeting of Deans Council and President's Council and will go on in the
course of this year. What should the size of the institution be? Should there be growth? If so,
where?
6. Associate Provost's Report
G. Brodhead advised that approval for the Education Program was received this summer and
students entering this fall are under the new regime. By the end of this year we must choose an
accreditation course from among several options.
The new faculty orientation this year included facilities tours, led by the deans. The Faculty
Development Committee has planned a mentoring program of six information sessions for new
faculty, the goal of which is to expand their sense of membership in the community at large.
Future programming for senior faculty is also under consideration.
AAHE Senior Scholar and Professor Jon Wergin from Virginia Commonwealth University will
be at Ithaca College on September 21 and 22 to make several presentations. Council members
are urged to attend at least the opening session on Thursday, September 21, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
at which he will be presenting an overview of assessment, and to encourage attendance of
colleagues, as well.
7. Motion Regarding Boy Scouts, United Way, and Ithaca College
S. Seltzer introduced a motion prepared by the Executive Committee:
MOTION: Faculty Council urges the Ithaca College administration (1) to announce publicly that
it is reviewing and reevaluating its current relationship with the United Way of Tompkins
County in light of United Way's continuing relationship with the Boy Scouts of America and (2)
to reach a publicly announced conclusion by December 15, 2000.
J. Malek conveyed three thoughts on this subject from President Williams. (1) She is very
interested in the subject. (2) So far as we know, the Tompkins County United Way hasn't said
anything one way or the other, and we are waiting to see what they will do. (3) As a reminder,
Ithaca College does not make an institutional financial contribution to United Way. All gifts are
individual gifts.
Discussion included issues of conflict of the policies of the Boy Scouts with the college's mission
statement and how the college facilitates and supports the United Way campaign on campus,
including payroll deduction. The intent of the motion was discussed ? whether it is designed to
blindside the agency and undermine this year's contributions, or rather to put the agency on
notice, in a timely fashion, of potential loss of institutional cooperation in subsequent years.
Strong concern was expressed for the college's support of a single fund-raising organization,
specifically one affiliated with a member organization whose principles are in variance with
those of the college.
J. Rosenthal moved to amend the motion by changing the wording from "announce publicly" to
"advise United Way." W. Mauser seconded the motion. The motion to amend passed.
MOTION (AMENDED): Faculty Council urges the Ithaca College administration (1) to advise
United Way that it is reviewing and reevaluating its current relationship with the United Way of
Tompkins County in light of United Way's continuing relationship with the Boy Scouts of
America and (2) to reach a publicly announced conclusion by December 15, 2000.
The motion passed without further discussion.
8. Elections/Approval of Appointments
H. Emery nominated Rick Rainville for Faculty Council representative to APC, where he would
serve on the Policy Subcommittee. R. Blooding seconded. With no further nominations, a vote
was taken to elect Rick Rainville as APC Representative.
Supplementing the furnished August 24, 2000, memorandum from Camille Scharf listing new
and returning Faculty Justices, S. Seltzer distributed a follow-up memorandum dated August 3,
listing seven additional appointments and reappointments. J. Aguiar moved to accept the
nominations and D. Birr seconded the motion. Approval of the motion was unanimous.
S. Seltzer sought to fill four seats on three committees. (1) D. Lifton nominated Chris Cecconi
for a position on the Traffic Policy Committee. J. Rosenthal seconded the nomination and she
was reappointed to the position. (2) There being no volunteers or nominations for the seat on the
Traffic Appeals Committee, the Chair will send out a call for volunteers from the faculty at large.
(3) Two positions are to be filled on the Campus Life Committee. J. Pritt nominated (J. Benjamin
seconded) Norm Johnson to another two-year term. The nomination was approved. With no
further nominations, the Chair will send out a call for volunteers to fill the other position.
F. Pritt nominated Harold Emery to serve as Parliamentarian for Faculty Council. R. Blooding
seconded the nomination. Harold Emery was elected unanimously.
9. Old Business
A.Revision of Bylaws
It was decided to devote ten minutes to begin approval of proposed revisions to the Faculty
Council Bylaws (attached to the September agenda). S. Seltzer noted that four of the proposed
revisions were non-substantive and urged the approval of the recommended changes:
(1) Article III, Section 5. Fix the typo.
... described in Article 1, Section 4 of these bylaws.
(2) Article III, Section 6. Omit.
(3) Article III, Section 7. Fix the wording.
To facilitate the cancellation of a meeting when necessary for lack of a quorum, all members of
Council are urged to notify the Chairperson of any anticipated absence at least 24 hours before a
meeting.
(4) Article V, Section 5. Delete.
A vote was taken and the four changes were approved.
Next to be considered was Article V, Section 1, giving the Chair the option not to serve on ad
hoc committees. H. Emery moved to accept the revision and was seconded by J. Rosenthal. After
some discussion J. Rosenthal moved to table the motion. The motion to table the vote for the
next meeting was passed.
The final article to be considered was Article V, Section 2. W. Mauser, seconded by R. Rainville,
moved to approve the new language: "Members of the Faculty Handbook Amendment
Committee must be tenured or have served more than five years as a full-time faculty member."
The motion passed.
10. Faculty Handbook Revision
As time was drawing to a close, the Chair asked that Council members come to the October
meeting prepared to discuss the recommended changes to the Faculty Handbook.
11. Next Time
Reports from John Stanton, Larry Metzger; Bylaws, Faculty Handbook
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30.