FAEC Meeting Minutes, May 31, 2021

FAEC MINUTES
3/31/21

Present: Naseem Choudhury (President, SSHS), Bonnie Blake ((Councilor-at-Large over 11, CA), Katie Cohen (Library), Scott Frees (Vice President, TAS), Kim Lorber (Secretary), Lisa Lutter, (CA), Thierry Rakotobe-Joel (ASB), Mihaela Serban (SSHS), Ed Shannon (HGS)

Guests: Chris Romano (Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs)

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

Minutes Approval: The 3/24/21 approved with one abstention. 

 FA PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 CRW: Is returning to Academic Affairs. Discussions about how this will work without a director.

 Course Delivery/Budgets: Is Academic Affairs going to innovate or move forward? What is the vision? We do not have a strategic plan.

 Arching Day: This will be on May 12th. Activities will be: the Academic Achievement Ceremony, Nursing Pinning Ceremony, and Rites of Passage.  This will be held at the bandshell; family members will not be able to come. The rain date is that Friday. Regalia will not be available. 

 Leadership Survey: Naseem is preparing this for faculty completion in April.

FAEC DISCUSSION

 3’ or 6’ Distancing: Concerns were raised about distancing, which may influence student and faculty decisions about in-person classes. Are the distancing differences being considered?

 Student Delivery Mode Choices: Post pandemic, will students still be able to choose to remain remote for in-person courses indefinitely?

 Post-pandemic: Can we have fully in-person courses, without remote options, once the College is running normally. The legislation says we have to accommodate everyone.

 ARC & Hybrid Courses: ARC seems to be a key campus constituency to be involved with curriculum and delivery changes once we return to normal.

 Transition Team: AFT was not included so FAEC will represent AFT. This group is organizing events for President Jebb to attend. Should she be invited to attend Unit Councils? She should be told about the The Fred and Florence Thomases Faculty Award and Bischoff awards? Naseem will meet with the team on 4/7 and will submit her suggestions from faculty. A survey will be sent to everyone in April by a consulting firm.

  Marketing of Ramapo Faculty Accomplishments: Rowan is very successful in promoting publications, scholarships, achievements, grants, etc. Ramapo College is not doing this, or as effectively. It may be an effective tool with which to bring in students.

 Ramapo Social Media: A very small group makes decisions about what can be posted and it does not allow convening groups and others to promote what they are doing. Some had Facebook pages for their majors but were told to remove them.

 Course Delivery/Budgets: Is Academic Affairs going to innovate or move forward? What is the vision? We do not have a strategic plan.

 Incoming President Jebb: Dr. Jebb has agreed to have a meet and greet with Academic Affairs, including faculty, in May. 

 FA Bylaws: FAEC members should send feedback to Mia. The Governance Review Committee, comprised of Mia, Ed, and Christina O’Connor, will present information at the next Faculty Forum. This will allow faculty to give feedback throughout the month of April. There will be a survey. This can also be a Unit Council 4/21 item to remind their faculty.

 Distinguished Professor: This was awarded once to Anthony Padovano; Brittany Williams-Goldstein is researching this. 

 Faculty Distribution Lists: FA_ALL (includes adjuncts and full-time faculty). If FAEC members get it, let Naseem know

CHRIS ROMANO, (Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs)

Housing Portal: This was opened a week ago and continuing students have until 4/4 to commit to housing. The goal is to have 1,200 students living on campus; these would include 700 continuing and 500 new students. Sixty-one percent of the incoming class is committed to housing. Approximately, 300 deposits have been received so far.

Graduate Programs: Enrollment has been strong. Social Work’s MSW Program is driving graduate enrollment.

April Faculty Assembly: More will be known regarding housing commitments. College decision day has long been May 1st but, nationally, students are taking more time to make their selection.

Returning to Normal: Colleges are advertising as returning to normal in the fall. Chris will not say this as another NJ state college did this for the current semester and the week before had to return to the remote model.

Rutgers Plan for Vaccinated Students In-Person Courses: The vaccines are for emergency use so mandates may not be possible; their plan might change. We will follow guidance from Governor Murphy and the Department of Health.

Enrollment Growth: This will likely come from the graduate programs, especially those with distance options. There is marketability for Data Science and two other programs, which has international student interest.

Required Student Vaccines: Nursing and social work students in clinicals and internships may be required by the sponsoring hospital/agency. The College is working on figuring out how to assist students as needed.

In-person Classes: Students seem to enjoy in-person classes this semester but they do not necessarily come consistently. We will know more about which of the 6 models students prefer when enrollment begins. Many may be accustomed to coming to class virtually. Some may be open to changing the model of delivery to in-person, pending late decisions to become remote. Is this a 7th model?

Outdoor Activities: Two outdoor activities (movies, etc.) are being offered each week to provide more campus events to help bring back the feeling of normalcy.

Campus Offices: It is likely more offices will need to be open as there will be more students living on campus and studying in-person.

Wipes: The current version on campus dries out in the boxes once opened. Can a different type be used that can remain wet and more useful?

Meeting adjourned at 11:48am.

Categories: FAEC meeting Minutes 2021, RAMAPO FAEC