Faculty Assembly Minutes 9/4/2019

Ramapo College of New Jersey
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Faculty Assembly

Faculty Assembly Minutes Approved

FA President’s Report

Introduction of New Faculty

• Beth Barnett, Psychology, SSHS
• Timmesha Butler, Social Work, SSHS
• Tufan Ekici, Economics, ASB
• Jeffrey Ellsworth, LAWS, SSHS
• David Gurney, LAWS, SSHS
• William Jones, Marketing, ASB
• Lillian (Sharon) Leathers, Literacy, SSHS
• Emily Leskinen, Social Science, SSHS
• Fariba Nosrati, Information Tech Management, ASB
• Kaneez Odgers, NURS, TAS
• Aaron van Klyton, International Business, ASB

FA President Elections 
Online ballots will be distributed after December FA.  Nominations are due at least one week prior to Dec. 4 FA.  

Faculty Meetings and Committees

• AFT will meet before rather than after Faculty Assembly
• Faculty Forum will happen after Faculty assembly
• All College over 10 volunteers needed

African American Literature Line
FA President urges the faculty to support new faculty assuming the African American literature line, as well as the discipline and any related activities.

President Mercer’s Report
Governor Phil Murphy sequestered the additional $1million that his office appropriated for RCNJ and there is no indication of when RCNJ will receive the funds that the governor has allocated.  There is a need to ensure that the state revenues would cover the Colleges forthcoming years.  RCNJ undergraduate enrollment is at 99% and graduate enrollment is at 12%.  RCNJ is currently in talks with with New Jersey two-year colleges to embark on three-plus-one programs which result in students earning a four-year degree at RCNJ. Students hailing from two-year institutions will complete a third year via hybrid enrollment between their home institution and RCNJ.  It is intended that they will complete their fourth year of enrollment with RCNJ to earn their Bachelor’s degree.

Faculty raised concerns that any attempt to build RCNJ revenues from tuition garnered from potential three-plus-one programs are not a sustainable model. President Mercer affirmed that such programs are not the only model under consideration and that the College needs to explore ways to increase revenues.  It was explained that RCNJ tuition will not increase by more than two percent, although the rate of inflation is two percent.  Since RCNJ does not provide or connect to public transportation from the various areas where potential three-plus-one agreements are being developed faculty expressed skepticism about the efficacy of establishing the program with institutions where students rely on public transportation for their commute to and from the respective two-year institutions.

Provost Becker’s Report
The College is heading toward a $3 million, rather than $6 million dollar deficit.  However, RCNJ expenditures are $128 million and $63 million is allocated to Academic Affairs.  The other divisions exhaust the remaining funds. Academic affairs saved $1.2 million and made no employee cuts.  There is currently a hiring freeze for all non-faculty positions and there will be seven new faculty lines. Faculty travel funds are available but travel funding for staff has  ceased until further notice.

The Provost expressed excitement about preparations for Middle States as Middle States year has arrived, as well as the prospect of developing three-plus-one programs with New Jersey community colleges.  RCNJ has seen a decrease in transfer enrollment which is reflective of trends around us. An enrollment decrease was expected.  

Karl Johnson has been named the Faculty Fellow for Instructional Design.

The Canvas Learning Management System is being developed for RCNJ and will be up and available by Spring 2020 and faculty CV’s have been entered into the Spol platform 

The College budget is balanced for this year.  Provost Becker formally introduced Vice Provost, Susan Gaulden to the faculty and announced the following administrative changes:

• Fernanda Papalia has assumed the role of Registrar
• Leigh Keller has been appointed the Director of the Learning Commons
• Tammi Redd is the new Faculty Resource Director 

David Nast, OSS Testing and online interface
OSS Online has been launched via an accessible information management interface.  The benefits include:

• Less deception from students
• Automated reminders, the system will remind you/inform you of students’ needs and testing accommodations.  
• There is no need to forward multiple exams for the same course
• Students can indicate their accommodations and alternative Testing
• Secure exam/test uploading 
• The process is simplified as instructors will be asked three questions: date, time, and specific accommodations.
• A testing agreement is immediately initiated.

Middle States Update, Stephanie Sarabia
Middle States feedback has been included in the ARC report and reviewed by the Cabinet The document is Document is 126 pages and needs to be minimized to 100 pages.  The final self-study will be prepared over winter break and ready for the Middle States team visit from February 23 to February 26.

Tammi Redd, Faculty Resource Director

Faculty Development Day
– This year six different sessions will be offered during the afternoon in B wing 227-228  from 1pm to 4 pm 
– Forward teaching circle ideas, as well as any suggestions for mid-career faculty and full professors to Tammi Redd.

ARC Deadlines

Monday, Oct 1st. 
Submission of syllabi to Unit ARC Representative 

Tuesday, Oct 15  
– ARC Submission Deadline 
– WAC and GeCCO submission deadline

Mid-November Deadline
– Anything that faculty seeks to include in the college catalog for Fall 2020 must be completed by mid-November
– See Jacqueline immediately if you seek to develop a new program 

Announcements:

• 2:00pm Faculty Forum
• 3:00pm 50th Anniversary Launch (Arch)
• 4:00pm Learning Commons Groundbreaking (A-Wing)

Meeting Adjourned at 3 pm

Categories: FACULTY ASSEMBLY MINUTES, RAMAPO FAEC