Faculty Assembly Minutes, November 3, 2021

Faculty Assembly Minutes 

November 3, 2021

Guests:  President Cindy Jebb, Provost Susan Gaulden, Angela Cristini (Interim Vice President Institutional Advancement and Executive Director Ramapo College Foundation), Elizabeth Brand: Jack Richardson Award

Presenters: Naseem Choudhury (President, SSHS), Katie Cohen (Library), Mihaela Serban (SSHS), Ed Shannon (HGS), Christina Connor (Library)

Meeting began at 1:05pm

Assembly Minutes: October minutes will be approved via Qualtrics. 

Faculty Assembly President’s Report.
Moment of Silence in Memory of Bernard Roy, our recently deceased colleague.
Food Services: Dining hall services are being explored; an email will come regarding decisions made.
Course Delivery Working Group:  This is being coordinated and charged by Provost Gaulden; this will be a fast-working committee.
Dean Searches: Two dean searchers are in process. Thanks to Dean Peter Campbell for his service to CA. The Library/Learning Commons Dean is being searched for as well.
FAEC: FAEC is working to establish better communication with SGA and RGA via regular meetings, etc.

College President’s Report

Student Appreciation: Dr. Jebb wanted to share students’ feedback of gratitude for what we do and our caring.
Moment of Silence: Dr. Jebb thanked this body for the moment of silence for Dr. Bernard Roy this week and also the great Mahwah and campus support of Asha Mehta and her family at the ceremony for her husband.   In those moments when we come together, we are stronger; these unhurried moments are important.
Remembrance Day: This is today.
Founders Day: Founders, pioneers, veterans, and alumni will be coming next week.
State Funding: In the 1990s funding was 75% and now we receive 25% from New Jersey. While Dr. Jebb continues to make the case with the State we need to take matters into our own hands to use all of our talents and passions for the Needs Statement Process to be presented by Angela Cristini.
NJASCU Report: The report shares how the 7 state schools, and Ramapo, specifically, contribute to the community. Look at the report. The 7 schools annually give back to the state $6.1 billion. Every billion invested by the state comes back as $16 billion. There are many important facts available about how the state colleges contribute, and, Ramapo, particularly. These details provide a strong case as to why the state should support us.

Provost’s Report

Thank you: Provost Gaulden wanted to thank us for all we do and much good news received this semester. The nursing graduation rates were the highest in the state despite working during a global pandemic. IS THIS THE correct award
COPLAC: Students attended this and also attended the NDAC (SP??) conference in Florida.
Founders Day: There will be another opening event at the Learning Commons. It will be a CRW Scavenger Hunt. In addition, faculty scholarship will be on display.
Thanksgiving for International Students: Many will remain on campus and they will receive meals while the cafeteria is closed.
Searches: Three searches are ongoing: the Dean of CA, the Dean of the Library/Learning Commons (a position that was re-elevated to the dean level), and the Director of the Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. These positions are posted on the HR jobs website. Based on the Strategic Plan, there will be two dean searches for permanent deans for HGS and TAS next year.
Pre-Strategic Plan Process: There will be many opportunities next semester to participate in strategic plan meeting forums to provide input. Come prepared and bring your opinions and feedback. The first will be 11/15. This will be announced shortly.
Spring 2022: This will be taught as we did pre-pandemic.. Fewer than 10% of our courses will be online. Vaccines are required to attend in person. Students have to be compliant with our policy.. There is a Leave of Absence policy for one semester; they can come right back the following semester; if a longer leave is needed, students will need to reapply.
Course Delivery Task Force: This will be charged; recommendations will be received soon as we will be developing the Fall 2022 schedule soon so it can be visible by March and ready for registration in Fall 2022. Members of the task force will be responsible for bringing bi-directional information, sharing what is happening in the task force with us and bringing our questions back.

FAEC DISCUSSION
Faculty Assembly Elections: Nominate yourself or someone else. Send names by 11/17 and presentations will be at our last faculty assembly of the semester; voting will happen via Qualtrics after. We need an interim secretary for Spring 2022 as Kim Lorber is stepping down. This is a non-voting and non-tenure required position.
Faculty Assembly Bylaws: Ed Shannon (Vice President of FAEC, HGS) gave a slide presentation of a variety of general and minor changes to the Faculty Assembly bylaws.
For revisions please see the updated By laws document on the FA website: https://www.ramapo.edu/fa/

NEEDS STATEMENT PROCESS, Angela Cristini (Interim Vice President Institutional Advancement and Executive Director Ramapo College Foundation) and Claudia Esker (Assistant Director, Grants & Sponsored Programs)
Needs Statement Process: Fundraising has long been the responsibility of the College’s President and some others seek funding and donations. Dr. Jebb would like us to change the way we raise money at Ramapo so we can involve, faculty, deans, and staff. We can explain our projects better than anyone else.  We need to work across divisions, faculty with staff, for integrated proposals for centers or programs. That is what this is about. Funding can be sought for an existing center or program and to create proposals if there are needs. Priorities will need to be developed. Research, students, and course work might all be needed to be involved. Ex: Establish a center to address health care and wellness. How do we take this to donors?  These proposals will be evaluated and the final decisions will be made by President Jebb as to which to do first. This will not cost the College anything. Faculty asked about the additional time expected of them to participate in this process and remuneration.
Jack Richardson Memorial Award,  Elizabeth Brand: This is a faculty award; nominations can be made by someone else or oneselfThere will be a link in the Daily Digest.

Meeting Adjourned at 2:17pm.

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