April 16, 2024FA 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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March 20, 2024FA Minutes 02/21/24

Faculty Assembly Meeting Minutes
February 21, 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 (1/24/2024)

Faculty Assembly President’s Report:

• Scholars’ Day moved to April 15, 4-7:30 pm, Friends Hall. Online applications due March 1.
• Several upcoming events of interest to faculty:
  • Diversity Convocation, Feb. 21, 3-4:00
  • Responding to Student Writing Workshop (WAC/CRW/FRC), Feb. 28, 3-4:30
  • Faculty Development Day: TechFest 2024, March 6, noon
  • Thomases Award Ceremony (Professor Naseem Choudhury), March 13, 3-4:00
• Encouraged participation in the 3-part series, On the Ground in Israel and Gaza (2/19, 2/29, 3/12)
• Reminder to sign-up for Commencement activities
• Announced dates for FSSE and NSSE surveys of student engagement
• FAEC Updated Membership
  • Monika Giacoppe has replaced Dean Chen as HGS Unit Representative.
  • Jeff Ellsworth has been elected as the new Vice President.
  • Secretary and Councilor-At-Large (adjuncts) positions are currently open.

College President’s Report:
President Jebb was unable to attend the meeting.

Provost’s Report:
Provost Middleton was unable to attend the meeting.

Presentations/Discussion Items:

GECCo (Chris Reali, Sarah Carberry, Mike Unger)

• Discussed issues related to GECCo and the Gen Ed Program.
• Announced GECCo Workshop on March 13, 12-1 pm, SC 157.
• Slides available here.

Voting Items:

The following two proposals were brought to FA by ARC for approval. Both were approved by FA. (Vote tallies included for each individual proposal.) Proposal documents will be archived on the FA website under Archived Reports and Documents.

• Master of Public Policy (new program); 60 approve, 0 not approve, 5 abstain
• Supervisor Certificate in Educational Leadership (new program); 57 approve, 4 not approve, 4 abstain

FA President Election:
Ken McMurdy was reelected to serve a second term as FA President by a vote of 60 approve, 3 do not approve and 1 abstain.

*Formal meeting adjourned at 2:15. Voting members of FA invited to remain for a Faculty Forum discussion of faculty concerns over classroom safety.

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February 11, 2024FA Minutes 01/24/24

Faculty Assembly Meeting Minutes
January 24, 2024
1:00 pm
Trustees Pavilion

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 (12/6/2023)

Faculty Assembly President’s Report:

• Board of Trustees is in need of an Alternate Student Trustee and accepting applications through February 28. Faculty encouraged to identify and refer candidates to Student Trustee Gloria Jeong at gjeong@ramapo.edu. (Time yielded to Gloria Jeong for this brief announcement.)
• Discussion of specific changes and events added to the spring meeting calendar, as well as the challenge of scheduling events with a limited numbers of slots. Faculty are encouraged to add the FA Google calendar (directions posted on the FA Meeting Calendar website).
• Deadline for FA President self-nominations extended to Friday, January 26. FA President election still to be held at the next FA meeting on February 21.
• Catalin Martin is the new ARC Chair. ARC is continuing to work on bringing recommendations to FA for revising/improving our curriculum development and review process.

College President’s Report:

• Cited positive momentum in enrollment, prestigious scholarships, grants, development of new academic programs, NJAC Volleyball champions.
• Stressed the importance of:
  • building on what we have learned
  • fostering a culture of trust and extending grace
  • entrepreneurial mindset (ex. Accelerated Nursing Program, grants)
  • partnership and collaborations.
• Talked about ensuring a great senior year and graduation experience for the special Class of 2024.

Provost’s Report:

• Acknowledged members of the CAP Implementation Team. Stressed the importance of faculty engagement. The Team will direct the implementation effort but reach out to faculty for participation on specific Tasks.
• Encouraged participation in Spring ’24 series of events specifically designed to foster conversation and civil discourse in the campus community.
• Search for the Vice Provost is in process.

Presentations/Discussion Items:

WAC Update (Paula Straile-Costa, Vittoria Rubino)

• Discussion of results and takeaways from Spring ’23 WAC survey.
• Responding to Student Writing workshop to take place from 3-4:30 on February 28.
• Discussion of services available at the Center for Reading and Writing.
• Faculty encouraged to discuss student writing with their Convening Groups and Units, bringing ideas/concerns to their WAC representative.
• Sharon Leathers also provided details on the upcoming Faculty Development Day:TechFest 2024 event from 12-3:30 on March 6.

Voting Items:

The following proposals were brought to FA by ARC for approval. All seven were approved by FA. (Vote tallies included for each individual proposal.) Proposal documents will be archived on the FA website under Archived Reports and Documents.

• BA in Filmmaking (new program); 88 approve, 1 not approve, 2 abstain
• BA in Theater and Film (new program); 85 approve, 3 not approve, 3 abstain
• MA in Creative Writing (new program); 88 approve, 1 not approve, 2 abstain
• BS in Healthcare Administration (new program); 75 approve, 5 not approve, 11 abstain
• BS in Cybersecurity (new program); 83 approve, 2 not approve, 6 abstain
• BA in Law and Society (new concentrations); 88 approve, 0 not approve, 3 abstain
• Minor in Jewish Studies (name change); 88 approve, 0 not approve, 3 abstain

Meeting adjourned at 2:40.

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January 17, 2024FA Minutes 12/06/23

Faculty Assembly Meeting Minutes
December 6, 2023
1:00 pm
Trustees Pavilion

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 Dean Chen.

Agenda

Approval of Minutes (11/8/2023)

College President’s Report:

• Addressed academic freedom in light of recent campus events. Reaffirmed importance of following due process and fact finding.
• Reaffirmed importance of civil discourse with empathy, mutual respect and understanding.

Faculty Assembly President’s Report:

• Provided an update on the curriculum development/review revision process. Plan to use time at the next FA meeting for an ARC-led discussion to further this process.
• Special thanks to Judy Green for successful training workshop, Promoting the Mental Health of Students of Color: Considerations and Strategies for the Classroom and Beyond, held on Nov. 15. A sequel event will be held in Spring 2024.
• Plan to hold the FA President election at the 2/21 FA meeting, so that a newly elected President would have time to gain experience. Interested candidates should inform FAEC by 1/17 so they can make their candidate statements at the 1/24 FA meeting.

Provost’s Report:

• Expressed appreciation for the CAP Implementation Team and faculty scholars committee. Special thanks to Jeneen Kelly (Registrar) for reviewing various Catalog/Curriculum Management tools that will help with curriculum development/review process.

Presentations/Discussion Items:

• Mackin/Bischoff Parking (Sharon McLaurin, Director of Public Safety; Nicole Morgan Agard, Chief Equity and Diversity Officer/VP for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Compliance)
  Presented data on number of available spots, housing units, and student parking permits. (slide)
  Trial period beginning in Spring 2024 will allocate 100 spots for employees/faculty (approximately 25% of available spots). Policy to be reevaluated at the end of the spring semester.
• Campus Facilities Master Plan (Mike Yankovich, Interim VP for Operational and Administrative Integration)
  • Highlights of plan were presented.
  • Full draft of plan to be shared in follow-up email.
  • Anticipated date of BOT approval in January ’24.
  • Suggestions considered through December 22.

Meeting adjourned at 2:30.

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December 4, 2023FA Minutes 11/08/23

Faculty Assembly Meeting Minutes
November 8, 2023
1:00 pm
Friends Hall (SC-219)

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 Dean Chen.

Agenda

Approval of Minutes (10/4/2023)

Faculty Assembly President’s Report:

• Campus Facilities Master Plan (CFMP): Target date for Board of Trustees approval remains January 2024. There will be three opportunities to engage on the plan, led by Mike Yankovich (Interim VP for Operational and Administrative Integration):
  • CFMP Open Forum, Nov. 15, 1-3pm, Alumni Lounges
  • Communications Meeting, Nov. 16, 1-2:15pm, Alumni Lounges
  • Faculty Assembly Meeting, Dec. 6, 1-2:30pm, Trustees Pavilion
• Special training from 1-2pm on Nov. 15 (virtual):
  Promoting the Mental Health of Students of Color: Considerations and Strategies for the Classroom and Beyond
  Registration required. Contact Judy Green (Director, Center for Health and Counseling Services) for more details.
• Rededication of Holocaust Statue: Today (11/8), 4:30pm, Friends Hall/Grove
  Sponsored by Gross Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies (Jacob Labendz, Director)
• FA/AFT/RSA Joint Social Event: Today (11/8), 5-7pm, Padovano Commons
• Diwali Celebration: Nov. 13, 1:15-2:15pm, Friends Hall

Provost’s Report:

• Offered congratulations and appreciation for several successful events hosted at Ramapo College:
  • Northeast Regional COPLAC Conference, Oct. 27-28
    Congratulations to the organizers as well as all faculty who supervised student research presentations
  • 2023 Taiwan & Asia Program (TAP) Conference, Nov. 4-5, organized by Dean Chen (HGS)
  • Archaeological Society of New Jersey, Oct. 21, organized by Steve Rice and Susan Hangen (HGS)
• Announced Spring ’24 Arching and Commencement dates
  Arching on Thursday, May 23; UG Commencement on Wednesday, May 29, at Prudential Center

College President’s Report:

• Echoed Provost Middleton’s congratulations and appreciation for successful recent campus events
• Addressed concerns regarding later commencement date
• Announced that further information would be forthcoming about holiday/wellness time for Staff

Voting Items:

1. The following new program proposals were brought to FA by ARC for approval. All five were approved by FA. (Vote tallies included for each individual proposal.) Proposal documents will be archived on the FA website under Archived Reports and Documents.
   • Graduate Certificate in Business Foundations (80 approve, 8 do not approve, 6 abstain)
   • Graduate Certificate in Data Science: Data Modeler (88 approve, 4 do not approve, 2 abstain)
   • Graduate Certificate in Data Science: Data Analyst (87 approve, 5 do not approve, 2 abstain)
   • Graduate Certificate in Data Science: Machine Learning Engineer (86 approve, 5 do not approve, 3 abstain)
   • (Undergraduate) Certificate in Applied Ethics (88 approve, 3 do not approve, 3 abstain)
2. The following revision to the ARC Manual was also brought to FA for approval and passed with a vote of 80 approve, 4 do not approve, 2 abstain.

   For each academic year (AY) there will be two deadline dates for all submissions – new courses, course revisions, new programs and program revisions. One deadline will be October 15 (Fall semester of any AY) and the other February 15 (Spring semester of the same AY), again, for all submissions.

   Note: Due to the large number of proposals already submitted for this year, ARC is requesting that for the February 15, 2024 deadline, submissions be limited to new program proposals or program revisions, and those new courses and course revisions specifically pertaining to the new or revised programs.

FA meeting adjourned at 2:00, followed by Faculty Forum for full-time, untenured faculty, led by FAEC Councilor-at-Large Jeff Ellsworth (jellswor@ramapo.edu).

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October 31, 2023FA Minutes 10/04/23

Faculty Assembly Meeting
October 4, 2023
1:00 pm
Friends Hall

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 Dean Chen.

Agenda

Approval of Minutes (9/6/2023)

Faculty Assembly President’s Report:

• Family Day is on Saturday, Oct. 14. Faculty invited to contribute student research posters for display at LLC.
• Rebecca Root (Director of Prestigious Fellowships and Scholarships) calls for faculty to recruit, mentor, and nominate students in applying for these awards and opportunities.
• Reminder to fill out Classroom Technology Survey by 10/31.
• Save the date for various events:
  • First Gen Town Hall, Oct. 10, 1-2 pm, Alumni Lounges
  • Promoting the Mental Health of Students of Color, Nov. 15, 1-2:30 pm (virtual)
  • Faculty Development Day, Oct. 18, 1-4:30 pm
  • State of the College, Oct. 18, noon
  • Joint FA/AFT/RSA Fall Social, Nov. 8, 5-7 pm, Padovano Commons
• Faculty Handbook: This year, FAEC is compiling a list of issues and will coordinate with Employee Relations and AFT to determine how these issues will be addressed in the updated Faculty Handbook for 2024-2025.

College President’s Report:

• Expressed appreciation for faculty/staff involvement in various campus events.
  • Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (9/29)
  • Admissions Open House (10/1)
  • Queer and Trans History Month Proclamation (10/2)
• Announced that Ramapo College has been awarded the prestigious Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The $1.3 million in federal funding, distributed over five years, will go toward readying 25 academically talented low-income, first-generation and underrepresented minority STEM students in pursuit of a doctoral degree. Congratulations to Sandra Suarez (TAS), Joe Connell (CSS) and Eddie Saiff (TAS).
• Accolades and Honors: Ramapo improved its US News and World Report ranking as a top Regional University with strong rankings in several categories (Best Value, Best School for Veterans, Top Performer on Social Mobility, etc.) Also ranked #1 public college in New Jersey by College Choice.

Provost’s Report:

• Expressed appreciation for faculty’s continued support for and advising our students. October is Academic Advising Month. Winter and Spring ’24 Registration set to begin on October 30.
• Reaffirmed the importance of shared governance.
• Echoed President Jebb’s congratulations on the McNair grant awarded to Ramapo.

Announcements:

RCNJ Roadrunner Collegiate Recovery Program: Judy Green (Director, Center for Health and Counseling Services)
Promote greater campus awareness and enlist faculty partnership and support for student recovery from substance abuse and mental health illnesses. For more information, see presentation document or reach out to Cory Rosenkranz (Coordinator, Substance Use Disorder Prev/Recovery Programs) at crosenkr@ramapo.edu.

GECCo Updates: Chris Reali, Sarah Carberry (GECCo co-chairs)

• Updated GECCo Manual (link)
• Upcoming GECCo Category Workshops
  • October 11, SSS, 11 am, room TBA
  • October 11, SR, during TAS Unit Council or after
  • October 18, HP, 11 am, room TBA

Voting Items:

FA voted to endorse the Comprehensive Academic Plan (CAP). (85 yes, 6 abstain, 1 no)

Elections:

The following faculty were elected as GECCo Category Coordinators:

• Scientific Reasoning: Emer McGuire-Pool
• Global Awareness: Tae Kwak
• Historical Perspectives: Cris Reali
• Culture and Creativity: Rebecca Leung

FA meeting adjourned at 2:00, followed by Faculty Forum on possible revisions to the curriculum review process and ARC Manual.

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October 17, 2023FAEC MINUTES 9/27/2023

FAEC MINUTES 9/27/2023

Present: Ken McMurdy (President, TAS), Amruth Kumar (TAS), Marc Gidal (CA), John McTighe (SSHS), Dean Chen (Vice President, HGS), Jeffrey Ellsworth (Councilor-at-Large), Stephen Larson (ASB), and Elizabeth Siecke (Library)

Excused Absence: Monika Giacoppe (Councilor-at-Large)

*FA secretary position is currently open. Meeting minutes taken by Dean Chen.

Vote to bring the meeting to order at 10:00 am.

Approval of Minutes (9/20)

FA President’s Report:

• Went over proposed agenda for 10/4 FA meeting
• Went over minutes from 9/6 FA meeting
• TAS Research Symposium is scheduled for 4/24/2024, conflicting with AFT/FA/Unit Council. Sarah Carberry (TAS) requests that FAEC explore the possibility of rescheduling (perhaps to 4/17 or 5/1).
• AFT and RSA have agreed to co-sponsor the 11/8 social event along with FA.
• Shared governance meeting scheduled for 10/20 with representatives from FA, RSA, SGA, and College Administration. FAEC members suggested issues for possible discussion (detrimental effects of cut in hours and budget for student aids, improvements in college marketing, etc.)

Discussion:

• Discussed the BOT Resources Committee report from FA representative Prof. Rikki Abzug. FAEC will request a future visit from Prof. Abzug, VP O’Keefe, or both, for more details and perspective on College financials.
• Discussed setting up a FA-charged committee this year, in accordance with Section 2.0 of the (new) Faculty Handbook, to review the Faculty Handbook “within the context of new policies enacted at the College and/or new agreements made between the College and AFT.” The committee is tasked with determining if any modifications are needed to the Faculty Handbook.

Visitors to FAEC: Prof. Ashwani Vasishth (SSHS)

Discussed Prof. Vasishth’s proposal for having a Sustainability major with a required Environmental Studies minor.

Subsequent to the meeting with Prof. Vasishth, FAEC determined that in the absence of any policy language in either the ARC Manual or Academic Policies that would address this type of program requirement, this will require more discussion and would fall within ARC’s purview to make a determination.

Meeting adjourned at 12:00.

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October 10, 2023FAEC MINUTES 09/20/2023

FAEC MINUTES 09/20/2023

Present: Ken McMurdy (President, TAS), Amruth Kumar (TAS), Marc Gidal (CA), John McTighe (SSHS), Dean Chen (Vice President, HGS), Monika Giacoppe (Councilor-at-Large), Jeffrey Ellsworth (Councilor-at-Large), Stephen Larson (ASB), Elizabeth Siecke (Library)

*FAEC secretary position is currently open. Meeting minutes taken by Dean Chen.

Vote to bring meeting to order at 10:00 am.

Approval of Minutes (9/13)

FA President’s Report:

• Met with SGA president, Shannon DeCicco. SGA this academic year to focus on deepening student engagement and community building. Possible joint activities with faculty in Spring 2024.
• Met with Michael Yankovich (VP for Operational and Administrative Integration). Discussed improving the voting system for upcoming FA meetings, more effective use of parking spaces for faculty and students at Mackin-Bischoff. Updated the status of the Campus Facilities Master Plan.
• Reported four new graduate certificate programs moving forward for ARC and FA approval: Business Foundations, Data Analyst, Data Modeler, and Machine Learning. All are contingent on the approval of the minimum credit policy by Provost’s Council.
• Updated the status of the Podium Program.

Discussion:

• Faculty Handbook: FAEC will continue to work with AFT and ER on resolving issues, and also keep track of issues that need to be addressed next year.
• Bylaws Revisions: Tentative plan to have a faculty forum in November to get faculty input and suggestions.

Visitors to FAEC: Rob Doster (ITS)

• Discussed network issues and solutions.
• Survey will be sent out to assess faculty and students’ technology experience.
• Discussed concerns regarding cuts to Help Desk student-aid budget.
• ITS Help Desk station in E-Wing will relocate to ASB in October.
• Raised concerns that Banner now doesn’t have class email lists. ITS to look into how to repopulate it back to Banner.
• Discussed and explored options of voting system for FA.
• ITS to continue checking classrooms to ensure technologies are functioning well. For any issues, contact the ITS Help Desk.

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September 26, 2023FA Minutes 09/06/23

Faculty Assembly Meeting
September 6, 2023
1:00 pm
H-129

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 Dean Chen.

Agenda

Approval of Minutes (4/26/2023)

Faculty Assembly President’s Report:

• Integrated Calendar Task Force: FA representatives, Lysandra Perez-Strumolo and Debbie Yuster, would like to hear from faculty any concerns and/or suggestions regarding the current academic calendar at Ramapo. A survey has been sent and will remain open until 9/13.
• Stephen Larson is the new ASB rep to the FAEC.
• FA Secretary position remains open. Faculty who are interested should talk to FA President Ken McMurdy or their FAEC rep.
• Ramapo’s Annual Family Day will be held on Saturday, October 14. Faculty will again be asked to contribute student research posters for display.
• Faculty Development Day: Held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. Theme of Artificial Intelligence. See Tammi Redd and Michael Bitz for details.
• Enrollment Update: VP Chris Romano’s report will be included in the follow-up email.

College President’s Report:

• Welcomed Provost Middleton to Ramapo College.
• Expressed appreciation to FYS Director Yvette Kisor for inviting guest speaker Grace Cho to this year’s Convocation. Cho is the author of Tastes Like War: A Memoir, the 2023 First Year Seminar summer reading selection.
• Expressed appreciation to FA President Ken McMurdy and FAEC members for work over the summer.
• Class of 2027, our second largest and most diverse class ever, continues the trend of outstanding academic achievement.
• The College earned grants that support academic research, mental health, and hunger relief.
• Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center hosted a highly successful international conference this summer.
• Our students returned to studying abroad and are more fully engaged in community service, internships, and leader development opportunities.
• The College secured state resources that included $31.7 million to repurpose Linden Hall, $1 million in support of our Nursing Program, and $1.8 million in support of our strong student outcomes.
• Ramapo was home to some great summer programs including Upward Bound, Educational Opportunity Fund, and First-Generation Student Legacies. We also hosted a summer concert series and myriad camps and activities.
• The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce is now headquartered on our campus, and we are creating spaces and gathering opportunities through our new E-Sports lab, Berrie Center Student Gallery and Performance Space, Multicultural Center, micro-markets, and Student Wellness Room.
• Celebrate faculty achievements (David Coleman, Jacob Labendz, David Gurney, Catalin Martin) and conferences coming to Ramapo this fall (COPLAC, International Conference on Taiwan and China).

Provost’s Report:

• Over the summer, the provost has met with people across the TLC to understand how he might better support their work. He also met regularly with deans and FA leaders to plan together. In the new semester he will be visiting Unit Council meetings and hopes to visit classes as well. All of these efforts will help him better partner with faculty to advance the College’s core mission of teaching and learning.
• An area of concern that has emerged among faculty is the need for clarity and transparency in identifying and distributing funding to faculty for travel, professional development, and special projects. The Provost’s Office has compiled a list of funding opportunities for faculty, which was sent out in the provost’s welcome letter on August 30, 2023. The resource guide should be helpful and informative in planning requests for support.
• Recently updated Ramapo’s Academic Integrity policy with particular attention to artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology tools and websites that have raised questions and concerns. Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, necessitating an on-going conversation and shifts in policies and practices to keep up with those changes.
• For faculty, pragmatic implications for technology evolution include continual attention to learning about new tech tools that impact teaching and learning, updating syllabi and assignments to adjust to those changes, and more focused conversations with students to set expectations for appropriate use of technology tools in your classes, including clarity in your syllabi. On Wed, October 18, Tammi Redd and Michael Bitz will be holding a Faculty Development Day to focus on AI, with an exploration of how AI tools may be implemented in our curriculum to enhance learning and ways our faculty can establish clear expectations for students.
• Comprehensive Academic Plan reflects Ramapo College’s liberal arts traditions and values, underscoring faculty-student relationships that serve as the central focus of our work on campus – nurturing student growth, understanding, and aspirations.
• Faculty achievements (David Coleman, Jacob Labendz, David Gurney, Catalin Martin) and conferences coming to Ramapo this fall (COPLAC, International Conference on Taiwan and China).

Introduction:

Bernadette Connors, the new Assistant Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs, will work on comprehensive policies for research grant submissions to better support faculty in their efforts for scholarship funding. Her office is in Mansion Room 213.

Presentations/Discussion Items:

Comprehensive Academic Plan (formerly Academic Master Plan)
Ken Goldstein, Stephanie Sarabia (CAP co-chairs)

• Reviewed progress since Spring 2023 and previewed next steps.
• Town Hall/Reflections session for CAP to be held on Wednesday 9/20 in ASB-136 from 2:45-4:00. Faculty may also provide feedback through a qualtrics survey sent out by the CAP Task Force co-chairs.
• Final CAP to be sent out to faculty on 9/27.
• Faculty Assembly will vote to endorse the plan at the 10/4 FA meeting.

Curriculum Review Process
Ken McMurdy, David Oh (ARC chair)

• Would like to refocus curriculum development and review process at the local (Convening Group, Unit) levels, thereby gaining meaningful content review without sacrificing accountability.
• Removing technical syllabus policing duties from the ARC would enable it to play more of an All-College consultative role and concentrate more on new programs.
• ARC will bring forward proposed revisions to the ARC manual for a vote at the FA meeting on 10/4. (The revised manual will be shared with all faculty a week in advance of the FA meeting.)
  Note/Correction: After the meeting and based on faculty feedback, it was decided that a Faculty Forum on this topic was warranted. The Forum will take place after FA at 2pm on 10/4, and any proposed revisions to the ARC Manual will be brought to FA for a vote on 11/8. In the meantime, faculty are to follow the existing process.

GECCo Updates
Chris Reali, Sarah Carberry (GECCo co-chairs)

• New course submission pause for AY 2023-24, with the exception of the Systems, Sustainability, and Society Distribution Category.
• GE workshop to be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, either before or after the AI workshop.
• GECCo encourages faculty to participate and serve on the Curriculum Assessment Teams (CATS).
• GECCo is looking for new members to join and coordinate the committee’s Global Awareness, Historical Perspectives, and Scientific Reasoning categories.

Proposal for In-Meeting Voting Method:
Ken McMurdy, Alexia Mavros (ITS)

FA meeting adjourned at 2:45.

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September 24, 2023FAEC MINUTES 09/13/2023

FAEC MINUTES 09/13/2023

Present: Ken McMurdy (President, TAS), Amruth Kumar (TAS), Marc Gidal (CA), John McTighe (SSHS), Dean Chen (Vice President, HGS), Monika Giacoppe (Councilor-at-Large), Jeffrey Ellsworth (Councilor-at-Large), Stephen Larson (ASB), Elizabeth Siecke (Library)

*FAEC secretary position is currently open. Meeting minutes taken by Dean Chen.

Vote to bring meeting to order at 10:00 am.

Meeting with Jenn Hicks McGowan, Janelle Evans (POER):

• Explained faculty personnel processes and clarified which processes fall under old handbook vs. new handbook for this academic year.
• Highlighted some key changes made to the Faculty Handbook
  • Common application form for career development, FSF, and sabbatical is now fillable and writable.
  • Common application form requires the applicant to initial the pledge statement. (Renewed emphasis on follow-up reporting.)
• Key dates reminder: career development training on 9/18; promotions info session on 9/21; and Faculty Handbook concerns will be discussed on 10/18.

Approval of FAEC Minutes (9/6)

FA President’s Report:

• Planned FAEC visitors: Rob Doster (ITS), Shannon DeCicco (President, SGA), Eric Wiener and Lisa Lutter (Campus Facilties Master Plan TF)
• AFT will co-sponsor FA social event on 11/8.
• Cory Rosenkranz will make a short presentation at FA on RCNJ Roadrunner Collegiate Recovery Program.
• Student textbook concern: if not available at bookstore, students may not be able to use financial aid to cover the expense.

FAEC Discussion:

• CAP Town Hall: Will take place on 9/20 from 2:45-4:00 in ASB-136. Last forum prior to FA endorsement vote on 10/4. Survey is also open until 9/21 (midnight).
• ARC Manual Revisions: Open forum at 2pm on 10/4 (after FA) to discuss possible changes to curriculum review process, as introduced at last FA. Vote on revisions would take place at 11/8 FA. In the meantime, we are following the existing process.
• Voting Methods: Will coordinate with Mike Yankovich and Alexia Mavros to make the swipe-in process more efficient. Otherwise, the piloted method appears to be the best way to facilitate in-meeting/real-time voting while adhering to the restrictions of the bylaws.

Meeting adjourned at 12:00 pm.

Categories: Uncategorized

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