OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
BARUCH COLLEGE
PRESIDENT’S CABINET
MINUTES
September 2, 2014
Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Implementation of Custodial Restructuring Plan (Guest: Lisa Edwards)
President’s Remarks
Provost Matters
Enrollment Management (B. Corpus)
Transfer Students
Discussion of Draft Communication from Provost and VPAF on the Budget
Old Business
New Business
Attendance:
Mitchel B. Wallerstein, President
David Birdsell, Dean, School of Public Affairs & Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Effectiveness
David Christy, Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Katharine Cobb, Vice President for Administration and Finance
Ben Corpus, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Strategic Academic Initiatives
Arthur Downing, Vice President for Information Services and Dean of the Library
Mary Gorman, Chief of Staff
Christopher Hessel, Chair, Faculty Senate
Fenwick Huss, Dean, Zicklin School of Business
Art King, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Christina Latouf, Vice President for Communications, External Relations & Economic Development
Jeffrey Peck, Dean, Weissman School of Arts and Sciences & Vice Provost for Global Strategies
David Shanton, Acting Vice President for College Advancement
Stephanie Vullo, Executive Legal Counsel
Absent:
John Choonoo, Director of the Office of Institutional Research
Guest:
Lisa Edwards, Assistant Vice President for Campus Operations
Implementation of Custodial Restructuring Plan
Ms. Edwards shared the reasoning behind and the subsequent implementation of a restructuring of the
custodial staff shifts. She noted sixteen shifts were consolidated to seven shifts, ensuring custodial
supervisors are assigned to all shifts, allowing for greater accountability. She noted the challenging task was
implemented with the assistance of the Office of Human Resources and the Executive Legal Counsel and
vetted by CUNY Central and the union. A brief discussion followed.
Ms. Edwards noted that proficiency in the English language was a challenge for some members of the
custodial staff and the College is working to identify ways to assist the custodial staff regarding this matter.
A brief discussion followed.
Dr. Hessel inquired how faculty complaints regarding facilities are fielded. Ms. Edwards noted complaints
are often received by her office, as well as the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance.
President’s Remarks
President Wallerstein welcomed Dean Art King to his first Cabinet meeting in the capacity of Assistant Vice
President for Student Affairs.
President Wallerstein thanked Ms. Vullo for her three years of service and hard work, as she will be leaving
Baruch College as of September 12th.
The President stressed the need for the budget to be in alignment with enrollment numbers.
The President provided a brief update on a possible residence space still being pursued.
President Wallerstein noted Dean Art King and Kieran Morrow, the new Chief Diversity Officer, will be
introduced at the September 4th faculty senate meeting.
Provost Matters
Provost Christy reported a meeting of the academic chairs will be held on September 16th and will cover:
strategic planning, work place violence, evaluations, search and hiring procedures, and workload.
The Provost noted the use of CUNYFirst for the faculty hiring process will be an adjustment for the faculty.
He stressed the need for diversity representatives on faculty search committees. President Wallerstein
requested the deans to take an active role in encouraging faculty to be Chief Diversity Officer representatives.
It was noted that ideally each school should have four to five equity advocates.
A discussion followed.
Ms. Vullo noted that faculty can continue to talk to individuals at various conferences and encourage them to
apply for positions; however, preliminary interviews should not be held at conferences.
Dean Birdsell stressed the need to deepen and broaden the candidate pool. Provost Christy reiterated the goal
is to aggregate a diverse pool.
Enrollment Management
Vice President Corpus provided an enrollment update. He noted the current enrollment is 17,700; freshmen
and transfer headcounts are up comparatively to last year’s numbers; undergraduate minority enrolled is up;
and new international freshmen is up.
Vice President Corpus noted the average SAT is up. He stressed the SAT is not a predictor for student
success and high school GPA is the biggest indicator of student success.
A discussion followed.
Dean Huss noted access to credit hours per department is needed in order to effectively plan adjunct hours.
Provost Christy noted a budget message will go out to the faculty calling attention to graduate enrollment and
transfer curriculum articulation as transfer students need a successful path to graduate in accordance with a
curriculum map.
A discussion followed.
It was noted that the faculty must focus on how to renew and refresh graduate enrollment.
Ms. Gorman noted transfer student admissions assist the College in fulfilling its access mission.
Dr. Hessel noted that transfer evaluations are not are not being processed in a timely fashion and are done 6 –
8 months into a student’s first semester.
It was noted that hybrid courses will be on the October Faculty Senate agenda.
Dr. Hessel inquired if a separate budget could be created for advertising graduate programs rather than using
the academic excellence fee. A discussed followed. It was noted that marketing is part of recruitment
outreach and focuses on the goals of the respective program. Vice President Cobb noted marketing funds are
in all budgets through OTPS (Other Than Personnel Services).
Transfer Students
A brief update regarding transfer students was provided. It was noted that underrepresented minorities are up
16% in the undergraduate population and 42% in the transfer population.
It was strongly noted that transfer students perform just as well as native freshmen and transfer students have
a higher graduation rate.
Discussion of Draft Communication from Provost and VPAF on the Budget
Provost Christy reported the budget communication will go out before the September 4 th faculty senate
meeting.
President Wallerstein asked Dr. Hessel to encourage the faculty senators to bring information back to the
general faculty population.
A confidential discussion was held regarding the budget.
It was noted there is a sense of urgency to educate the College community on the bottom-line of the financial
situation.
Old Business
None
New Business
None