{"id":3958,"date":"2018-12-10T08:20:16","date_gmt":"2018-12-10T13:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/fa\/?p=3958"},"modified":"2019-01-30T08:45:05","modified_gmt":"2019-01-30T13:45:05","slug":"minutes-faculty-assembly-10-31-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/fa\/2018\/12\/10\/minutes-faculty-assembly-10-31-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes 10\/31\/18"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/code><\/p>\n

DRAFT<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Ramapo College of New Jersey<\/strong><\/span>
\nWednesday, October 31, 2018<\/strong><\/span>
\nFaculty Assembly<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

1.\u00a0 Faculty Assembly Minutes Approved<\/b><\/h3>\n

2.\u00a0 FA President<\/b><\/h3>\n

Snow Day <\/b><\/h4>\n

Snow day has been changed to a Sunday December 23, 2018. Since make-up classes are on a Sunday shuttle-bus hours need to be expanded as shuttle bus service currently does not begin until 1pm on Sundays.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paper Evaluations as the Default<\/b><\/h4>\n

It is premature to switch to electronic evaluations for the Spring 2019 semester as response rates are low. There needs to be an increase in the the online response rate to be statistically significant and useful for faculty. \u00a0Paper evaluations will remain the default for this semester. However, Faculty may elect to can elect to have online course evaluations. Once the roll-out of online course evaluations among tenured faculty evidences significant and reliable increase in response rates then we can switch to online. Additionally procedures for evaluating faculty must be negotiated with the AFT.<\/span><\/p>\n

The New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Visit to RCNJ<\/b><\/h4>\n

Zakiya Smith Ellis NJ Secretary of Higher Education visited RCNJ. \u00a0During Secretary Ellis\u2019 visit President Mercer requested that more funds and additional resources be allocated to RCNJ. \u00a0The Secretary was also asked to assist with – acquiring new Board of Trustees members. \u00a0RCNJ is scheduled to replace six BoT members. \u00a0Trustees are appointed to a 6-year term and may be reappointed to a second 6-year term. At present, we have five trustees awaiting reappointment to their second term, and one trustee who has served his two terms and is up for replacement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Promotion and Tenure<\/b><\/h4>\n

FAEC requested that President Mercer release the dates for promotion and tenure earlier. \u00a0He has agreed to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sabbaticals<\/b><\/h4>\n

A process is currently being developed to ensure that faculty are able to take sabbaticals when they are up for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 RCNJ PRESIDENT’s REPORT<\/b><\/h3>\n

Redistribution of Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Compliance Resources<\/b><\/h4>\n

Chief Equity and Diversity Officer, Nicole Morgan Agard distributed an e-mail to the RCNJ community which explained the redistribution and increase of resources toward the Enhancement of Diversity, Inclusion and Compliance. <\/span><\/p>\n

Library Task Force Meetings<\/b><\/h4>\n

On October 30th the Library Learning Commons Cabinet met for the first time. A meeting will be scheduled for the Library Renovation Task force. \u00a0The ribbon cutting for the Library Learning Commons is scheduled for for August 2021. Any concerns about the Library Renovation Task Force can be directed to <\/span>Roark Atkinson<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dissolution of the Diversity Action Committee (DAC)<\/b><\/h4>\n

Although DAC no longer exists Nicole Morgan Agard seeks to convene an advisory council comprising faculty, students, and staff. \u00a0President Mercer concurred with faculty members\u2019 sentiments that the DAC website needs to be updated or deactivated to reflect the fact that DAC is no longer a functioning committee at RCNJ.<\/span><\/p>\n

New Strategic Plan for Higher Education<\/b><\/h4>\n

After meeting with The New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, Zakiya Smith Ellis, the president report that a new strategic plan for higher education will address the lack of a funding formula. \u00a0Smith-Ellis suggested that a new funding formula proposal will be at the base of the new strategic plan. The president affirmed that the budgetary process is akin to austerity measures marked by benign neglect during the Christie administration as there were no cuts or increases to the budget. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RCNJ Budget<\/b><\/h4>\n

President Mercer confirmed that the RCNJ budget will not see any increases. In response to a faculty member\u2019s question President Mercer stated that this is an austerity measure due to inflation. \u00a0President Mercer explained that it receives a lower amount of funds that The College of New Jersey and that this has had negative ramifications on the college. The president is meeting with local stakeholders on a weekly basis to address the funding challenges at the college.<\/span><\/p>\n

Padovano Commons [PC]<\/b><\/h4>\n

The President welcomes for use of PC and notes the need for a booking plan for use of the space. \u00a0He suggested that revisiting the idea can be a possibility so that faculty may be able to make use of the PD during this time and proposed that shorter classes may help furnish the time for a common hour.<\/span><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 RCNJ PROVOST’s REPORT<\/b><\/h3>\n

Student-faculty Relations<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Provost thanked the faculty for their dedication and explained that dedication to students\u2019 success is reflected through the nature of interaction among faculty and students inside and outside the classroom. \u00a0He suggests that and \u201copen college meeting\u201d is a selling point for RCNJ as it represents faculty dedication to students\u2019 educational experience. <\/span><\/p>\n

Course Evaluations<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Provost seeks a complete switch to online course evaluations in the near future. \u00a0He suggests that a best practices examination of the faculty exhibiting high response rates for online course evaluations be prioritized. \u00a0He welcomed input from faculty that enjoy high response rates for online course evaluations. He espoused the advantages of online evaluations to include: no paperwork processing; the immediate availability; and features within the software that enable faculty to monitor course evaluation responses in real-time. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Faculty Record-keeping for Promotion & Tenure Processes<\/b><\/h4>\n

Employee Relations wants to access to tenure and promotion documents via an electronic\/online interface. Spool is the software currently used within RCNJ for electronic record-keeping. The Provost explains that document for P&T processes can be submitted up until the deadline and once the deadline has been reached the uploading period will end but the P&T committee would be able to access the candidates\u2019 records. \u00a0He suggest that the contents of binders be scanned and uploaded to the Spool system by each program and unit. He also explained that online storage to such records facilitates ease of access to faculty materials for Middle States review.<\/span><\/p>\n

Textbook Costs and Open Education Resources<\/b><\/h4>\n

Faculty encouraged use open education resources the cost of textbooks can be exorbitant and cause burdens to students and their parents. \u00a0The provost stated that the, \u201c…cost for textbooks have grown four times faster that the rate of inflation since the last ten years.\u201d A survey will be disseminated among faculty to assess how much students are paying for course textbooks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Padovano Commons<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Provost will have lunch hours in Padovano Commons and welcomes all to have lunch with him to discuss any matters of interest of concern at RCNJ. The Provost made known that he is open to ideas and exchange.<\/span><\/p>\n

Library Learning Commons<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Library Learning commons is on schedule and several of its resources will be relocated to Linden Hall over the winter break. \u00a0Items can be retrieved from storage if interlibrary loan is not a viable option.<\/span><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 FA VOTING ITEM: Student Course Survey Revision Task Force<\/b><\/h3>\n

FA voted in favor of the revised instrument. \u00a0The motion passed with the following results:<\/span><\/p>\n

YES<\/strong>: 71% [58 respondents] \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NO<\/strong>: 16% \u00a0[13 respondents] \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ABSTAIN<\/strong>: 13% [10 respondents]<\/span><\/p>\n

TOTAL VOTES<\/strong>: 81<\/span><\/p>\n

The revised evaluation instrument omits questions about RCNJ\u2019s pillars, faculty availability, and student interests<\/span><\/p>\n