FA Minutes 03/27/24

Faculty Assembly Meeting Minutes
March 27, 2024
1:00 pm
Alumni Lounges

Faculty Assembly is open to a general college audience, including administrators, but only FA members may vote. Faculty, including library faculty and all full-time employees contractually obligated to teach are FA members as defined by our bylaws.

*FA Secretary position is currently open. Meeting minutes taken by Jeff Ellsworth.

Agenda:

Approval of Minutes (2/21/2024)

Faculty Assembly President’s Report:

• Reminder about FSSE/NSSE surveys of student engagement
• Encouraged participation in several student research symposia/events
• Announced joint FA/RSA/SGA Game Night social event (April 24, 4pm)
• FA elections: In addition to unit representatives, FA is still in need of Councilor-At-Large and Secretary.
• Reminder about Communications Meeting on 3/28
• (Free, virtual) Summer ’24 Institute on Teaching Social Action, June 12-14. For more details, contact Ashwani Vasishth.

College President’s Report:

• Importance of public mission – equity, access, affordability
• Exploring partnerships and collaborations across organizations and institutions
• President’s external focus this semester (state representatives, NJASCU, etc.)
• ROI with respect to several metrics: enrollment/retention, 100% pass rate for 2023 Nursing class on the national boards, competitiveness for prestigious scholarships
• Responding to external challenges such as FAFSA issue

Provost’s Report:

• Thanks to faculty who served on various all-College committees
• Finalists for Vice Provost position to visit campus. Encouraged attendance and participation in open forums.
• CAP Implementation: Task Forces on Convener Position/Convening Groups and Academic Structures to be charged with reports due to Provost in the fall.

Note: The above reports were followed by extended Q & A with President Jebb and Provost Middleton on issues including public safety, College financials, faculty lines, and support for working parents.

Announcements:

• Introduction of Assistant Director/Interim Director of Public Safety, Arthur Abbott
  (Nicole Morgan Agard, Chief Equity & Diversity Officer/VP for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Compliance)

Presentations/Discussion Items:

• ARC (Catalin Martin, ARC Chair)
  • Discussed upcoming proposed changes to the ARC Manual
  • Gave rationale for changes, including robust engagement at all levels, alignment with state requirements, and integration with new Course Dog curriculum management system.
  • Slides available here.
• Revision to FA Bylaws (Jeff Ellsworth, FA Vice-President)
  • Plan to simplify FAEC Councilor elections and guarantee maximal continuity on FAEC by specifying positions to be filled in even/odd years.
  • Slides available here.

*Formal meeting adjourned at 2:15. Voting members of FA invited to remain for a Faculty Forum discussion of academic freedom. (Several relevant documents shared in advance for foundation and framing of the discussion.)

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