Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes 4/3/19

DRAFT

Ramapo College of New Jersey

FACULTY ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

1 pm, Alumni Lounges

I.  Faculty Assembly Minutes Approved

II.  Counseling Services, Judy Green

The Faculty Assembly was informed of the 20 minute suicide gatekeeper training that is available through counseling services. It is available for faculty to take in order to learn about advising and recognizing depression and suicidal students.  Counseling services, in conjunction with the FRC will offers a three hour campus connect in-person suicide prevention training for faculty. There is a nationwide uptick in suicides and counseling services on college campuses are overwhelmed. At RCNJ there is a 91% increase in students seeking services from the counseling center.  Counseling services is currently seeing students for up to 8 sessions for but exceptions are made on a case by case basis.

III.   Faculty Assembly President’s Report

Middle States self study Town hall April 17 2:30 pm in the Pavillion.  RCNJ’s mission and budget will be discussed.

Small class sizes, advisement,  and individualized attention are important for graduation and retention.  It should be noted that class caps are not the recommended class size but relates to classroom seat capacity and not quality or teaching and learning needs.  

RCNJ is home to the proportionately largest administrations of all New Jersey colleges. Considerations of the college community as a whole need to be at the fore when determining how to address budgetary demands.

The traditional undergraduate population is on the decline, especially in New Jersey.  RCNJ has seen an increase in the Asian-American and Hispanic-American student populations. The college also possesses the  lowest rate of African American students in the state of New Jersey. Overall, RCNJ’s l student graduation rate has increased.

The closing of programs that focus on minority and diverse groups sends a negative signal to the student population about who and what is valued.

IV.   The Provost’s Report

A.  Online Course Management System

RCNJ is making a move from the Moodle to Cavnas course management systems in the near future.   Although Moodle costs less than Canvas it requires support services. For Canvas support is built in and cost benefits have been considered.

B.  Online Course Evaluations

The current system allows student to see what students wrote on evaluations therefore a move must be made to online evaluations as student’s handwriting is detectable.   

Tae stated that in the October 31, 2019 the Provost’s assured that there will not be a move to online evaluations without some period of assessment.  Eliminating paper evaluations this semester is problematic as the response rate is very important for evaluation in promotion and reappointment considerations.

The system in place allows students to do the evaluations in the classroom.  Provost argues that using the software selected to facilitate online course evaluations the response rate can be seen by  faculty who can urge students to complete the evaluations.

It was suggested that some evidence or a plan is needed to introduce the course evaluations in first year seminar or General Education courses.   It is assumed that this would create a culture among students to complete them online. Data needs to be provided about students’ response rate.

C.  Cost Cutting

Academic Affairs is only part of the efforts if creating greater efficiencies, therefore cost-cutting and saving are necessary. The Provost stated that profitability of programs needs to be determined and that the 4 credit system does not provide for creativity and work beyond the classroom.  He argued that popular majors are credit intensive and changes need to be made to allow students to take courses beyond their concentration. The Provost also mentioned that small classes and low teaching loads are no longer sustainable.  The Provost stated “ No, I don’t want us to be on a 4/4 teaching load” and that the decision should be driven by pedagogy rather than a stiff system.

In pursuit of cost-cutting and greater efficiencies each unit  must report how they will cut expenses in the following ways:

• Increase class enrollments and optimize schedules so that classes fill
• Lower level courses should maintain 35 cap courses
• Upper level courses should maintain 30 cap courses
• Better management of available classroom space  is required since class size is dictated by room/space dimensions.

V.  Jason Hecht’s Presentation on Cost Cutting

The conclusion and recommendations of a 2003 FA Budget Committee presentation recommend that RCNJ’s culture should be one that prizes assessment and accountability where the colleges finances can be clearly presented and understood.  Budget reviews should be conducted to provide a thorough understanding of this.

VI.  Kristin Kenneavy

RCNJ is not ending the fiscal year in “the red”.  The #6 million in cuts is a projection for what needs to happen over time versus immediately.

VII.  Faculty Sentiments in Response to Cost Cutting and Greater Efficiencies Proposals

With the provost’s proposals to move to a three credit system students would need to take a total of five three credit hour courses to graduate on time.

As student success is an overarching goal RCNJ should avoid putting students at a disadvantage with a required 4/4 teaching load.   Teaching load should be tied to service and scholarship. There should not be a summary decision. A mixed system is possible but issues of equity and fairness would be problematic for faculty, especially junior faculty as seen inthe past.  The flex unit system was not equitable for everyone but our work was recognized and th schedule was conducive to campus activities.

At present RCNJ has a a higher graduation rate than most New Jersey state colleges and perhaps this is because the college maintains a 4 credit system and a 3/3 course load.  Additionally, RCNJ, TCNJ, and Stockton all have the highest graduation rates in New Jersey with a 4 credit model.

A move to a 4/4 course load would negatively impact faculty workload for most.  Faculty would be forced to cut back on quality and would have less time available outside of class.  

RCNJ’s students express that they are overwhelmed and overextended, student effort has declined, and many students work to pay for education.  Increasing the number of courses that they would need to graduate will not be helpful.

Rather than a blanketed approach we could limit the size of certain majors.  Chemistry, biochemistry, and nursing are the largest programs. Certification for many programs would not be possible if courses are cut.  

Suggestions were offered that a general survey needs be conducted rather than focusing on inputs for a self-selected group of SGA students in focus group regarding credit hour issues.

Some faculty expressed concern over the fact that five years have been spent on the new general education program and thus the suggestion that a shift to three credit system should be prioritized is problematic.  Retroactively justifying the three credit system without having it in effect is also problematic.

It is necessary for the administration to achieve political effectiveness.  What and who is the current financial situation an indictment of? What and who are the waning student enrollment numbers an indictment of?  These factors are all indicative that someone is not as effective as they should be politically.

VIII.  VOTING ITEMS: African American Literature (MFSA)

The proposed vote is about maintaining the line for the Tenure Track African American Literature position.  The voting Item was tabled in order to ensure that it can be registered electronically for the record, rather than take a hand count. Discontinuing this line sends a bad signal to current and prospective students, as well as prospective faculty. It is also noted that the temporary line cannot be converted to a tenure track line.  

Meeting Adjourned at 3 pm

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