FAEC 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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