Baruch College Faculty Senate Special Meeting
Minutes of September 23, 2014
MINUTES
Senators Attending: M. Carew (Eco/Fin), A. Croker (S/CIS), S. Dishart (COMM), B. Ferns (S/CIS), K. Frank
(ENG), R. Freedman (ZSB), M. Goodman (COMM), S. Korenman (SPA), T. Main (SPA), J. O'Keefe Bazzoni
(COMM), A. Pearlman (PSY), G. Petersen (Soc/Anth), L. Rath (LIB), M. Seltzer (SPA).
Senators Absent: E. Axelrod (Law), C. Bellamy (Soc/Anth), C. Christoforatou (ENG), W. Finke (ModLang), C.
Gengler (Mkt/Int’lBus ), A. Grein (Mkt/Int’lBus), K. Guest (Soc/Anth), C. Hessel (Eco/Fin), R. Jain (S/CIS), S.
Johnson (PSY), D. Jones (PolSci), G. Jurkevich (ModLang), C. Kulatilleke (NatSci), A. Levitus (CNSLNG/PSY),
W. McClellan (ENG), T. Martell (Eco/Fin), B. Murphy (HIS), R. Ormsby (LIB), M. Ozbilgin (ACC), P. Sethi
(MGT), M. Stark (SPA), A. Vora (Eco/Fin), J. Weiser (Law), S. Wine (S/CIS), S. Wong (MTH), J. Ye (ACC) X.
Yin (MGT), R. Yue (S/CIS).
The meeting was convened at 12:57 p.m. in VC 14-250 by Professor Michael Goodman, Vice Chair of
the Faculty Senate.
I.
Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved by assent.
II.
Approval of the Minutes: Minutes of September 4, 2014 were approved by assent.
III.
Report from the Chair (M Goodman) described the conduct of this Special Meeting as an “open
meeting,” without a structured agenda.
Professor Michael Goodman spoke to his objectives for faculty only for the purpose to identify and
discuss issues of specific interest of the faculty main focus of today’s meeting.
Professor M. Seltzer explained the concept of the meeting set by the Faculty Senate Executive committee
being an opportunity for a “grounds up” setting of the agenda of Faculty Senate deliberations.
Several Faculty mentioned the lack of information of the Pathways initiative and its progress. Specifically
whether the enrollment in courses at Baruch been impacted by the Initiative, and a more “holistic” view
of what the repercussions of the Initiative. The Chair suggested in response that a request be made of the
provost to report on the impact of the Initiative.
Professor McGlynn noted some of the enrollment impacts in the English Department. Further what can be
done to respond to the Initiative and its impacts. Professor Goodman suggested that a request to Vice
president Ben Corpus on the data of transfers.
Professor Angela Anselmo emphasized the effect on the College’s diversity of the Initiative. In term she
volunteered to join the Enrollment Management Committee. She then explained the role of the advisory
council on diversity. Professor Seltzer inquired as to what Unpacking” the diversity issue would imply.
Professor Anselmo provide some approximations of the effect on diversity based upon the SEEK
numbers. She was asked whether she was concerned whether the Initiative was undermining our diversity
achievement.
Professor McGlynn amplified her concern noting that the faculty should be apprised and be aware of how
well prepared our new transferred students are.
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Professor Anselmo noted that her experience with SEEK, that the transfer students are unable to gain
entry into the Zicklin because they are unprepared for the prerequisites. The transfer students arrive
wanting to become Business majors and are unable to come to Baruch and have to spend another four
years.
Professor Glenn Peterson expressed his concern that we have a persistent emphasis on GPA scores and
not on providing for student needs. The question comes down to the difference between the access to
Baruch and the quality of what we do is emphasis on excellence. As a Senate we must resolve our
position on education, access or excellence.
Professor Goodman gave recognition to the evaluation of Baruch this and next year regarding our process
of self-assessment in the development of teaching skills and expertise.
Professor William Ferns noted three points regarding the Pathways Initiative. First the failure of CUNYFirst and therefore our inability to know what is happening. Secondly we need to do something to assure
that H.R. need to get adjuncts getting paid on time. Specifically Katherine Cobb must be asked to clarify
her policy to promptly pay adjunct. Third, the transfer issue: as it bears upon the College’s revenues as it
is aggravate by the decline in graduate enrollment. He then explained some of the anomalies of the GPA
computation and the measurement differences between transfers and “native” freshman. This results in
bi-modal distribution of capacity in our classrooms. With the 2,100 transfers in August, we only know in
August what our student need.
Professor Seltzer noted that the issues facing the adjuncts is more than merely payroll, is this a “big tent”
issue for the Faculty Senate.
Professor Goodman noted the graduate enrollment failure derives from the lack of marketing of the
Baruch Graduate programs, and the need therefore a robust budget allocation for marketing.
Professor Steve Dishart as an adjunct explained the mysteries of payroll deductions and the dysfunctions
faced by the adjunct faculty.
Professor Anselmo noted that the Baruch “cross border Teams” would report many of these same issue.
Professor Michael Williams, School of Public Affairs as a recent adjunct, now full time faculty recounted
many of the shortfalls of support for adjuncts. There a great deal of things that could be done to improve
service to adjuncts.
Professor Goodman suggested that a request be made to the administration that the same type of
orientation that is provided to full-time faculty be also provided to adjuncts.
Professor Peterson recounted the theory of “harmony of interests.” That the sentiment of divisiveness
among the schools sometimes operates to discriminates against individual departments and schools. The
Zicklin School seems to be happy as long as it continues to receive a larger portion of the available
resources. The Faculty Senate is the appropriate forum for the resolution of the available resources. The
administration has wrested the determination of curriculum from the faculty. Professor Good man sought
amplification and which committee should be responsible for the defining and recommendation on this
issue.
Professor Seltzer noted that the Executive Committee announced that he had spoken to the Chief
Diversity Officer requested a delay in her report until the Department heads had the opportunity to review
prior to publication. Therefore the report will be coming to the Senate.
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Professor Peterson requested that the available flyers concerning the Union’s negotiations be carried back
to Departments
Meeting Adjourned at 2:12 pm
Respectfully Submitted
Michael G. Carew, Faculty Senate Secretary
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