DRAFT Faculty Assembly Minutes 4-4

Faculty Assembly Minutes

April 4 2018 ASB 136 1 pm

Faculty Assembly President: Tae Kwak

Secretary: Hugh Sheehy

1. Minutes 1/31 Approved

2. President’s Report: Mercer talked about the new state budget and suggested expectations for increased $$ for public higher education should be tempered. With respect to new developments in higher education, Mercer discussed Rowan College’s adoption of a “3+1” model of degree pursuit, which would allow for students to attend a two-year college for three years and then complete their study in one year at a four year college. Mercer stated that he and the Administration are heading in a different direction: increasing access to Ramapo for students at two-year colleges. He stated his belief that the outlook for next year is good, with deposits and transfers up from this time last year. Regarding the Provost Search, Mercer stated his hope that negotiations will commence with the top candidate by next week and that he will be in touch with the Faculty with more information shortly. FA President Kwak asked about the search for a new Government Affairs Officer for the College. President Mercer replied that having a Government Affairs Officer in the state capitol is essential to staying abreast of developments in Trenton as well as continuing to represent the College’s particular interests, including lobbying for the College’s share of the budget appropriations. Mercer believes that Ramapo will benefit from these efforts. A faculty member made a statement on behalf of the Minority Faculty and Staff, which plans to make one of three recs: 1) failed search, 2) one candidate, 3) no recommendation—rec is forthcoming. A faculty member raised a question about offering more scholarship money for transfer students. Mercer replied that the College would like to offer more money, but doesn’t have it; he added that the College has invested in transfer students in the form of placing Ramapo staff at two year colleges in the interest of bringing more well-prepared students to the College. A faculty member stated that students are expressing their anxieties and fears about possible violence on campus and enumerated ways in which the College appears unprepared for unpredictable violence, such as a shooter on campus. Mercer replied that our security officers are unarmed and that he would like for them to remained that way; the record suggests that having more guns on campus—even only with security officers—leads to more shooting on campus. He also stated that there limits to how safe the campus could be made without altering the basic character of campus life. He stated that the College is hoping to take place in an active shooter exercise soon; the opportunity was presented recently, and there will be more information on that in the near future. However, he stated, the value of such an exercise will naturally be limited; he stated that the College will undertake adding certain safety measures (locks for doors, shades for windows) that have been under discussion for years. A faculty member asked when we might see some of the safety measures put into place, and Mercer replied that he would try to bring a time table to the 4/25 FA.
3.  Provost’s Report: Provost Barnett thanked Stephanie Sarabia (?) and Vice Provost Williams on their contributions to preparing the College for its Middle States visit. She reminded faculty that students are registering for classes this week and asked that faculty members do their best to assist their advisees. Barnett is preparing for an upcoming Board of Trustees meeting and will be taking forward a number of Faculty requests and recommendations. On Wednesday 4/18 there will be a Diversity Training program; Barnett urged all faculty to attend at their assigned times. CRW staff will decrease the teaching loads of full-time employees to free up staff resources for students in need of extra guidance or instruction. Barnett expressed her enthusiasm for the Roukema Center’s program for faculty conducting research abroad. A faculty member asked about the changes at the CRW. Barnett talked about logistical changes and also raised the issue of increasing CRW resources for graduate students. A faculty member recounted a story about an ITS problem she encountered while trying to advise a student and requested more advance warning in the future. Provost Barnett sympathized and stated that she would take this concern back to ITS.

4. Voting Items (92 Voting Faculty Present):

A. Museum and Exhibition Studies Minor

1. Yes 95%
2. No 5%
3. Abstain

B. Conversion of Business Administration Concentrations into their Respective Majors

1. Yes 97%
2. No
3. Abstain 3%

C. Course Evaluation Revision Task Force

1. Yes 91%
2. No 3%
3. Abstain 6%

D. Open Educational Resource Task Force

1. Yes 90%
2. No 6%
3. Abstain 5%

5. FA President’s Report: Tae Kwak discussed the changes that have taken place under his tenure as FA President. He underscored the newly implemented Shared Governance plan as a sign of things to come and stated his current concerns with existing difficulties the Faculty and the Administration have with communicating. Kwak promised to work on this issue going forward. He then raised the issue of the shortage of faculty interest in working on FAEC and announced that the Faculty have received the blessings of the Administration and AFT to award outgoing FA President’s with a semester of leave in the interest of establishing more incentive for faculty members to volunteer to take part in the broader endeavor of shared governance.

6. FAEC Candidates Introductions: Kwak introduced Donna Flynn, who was absent, and endorsed her candidacy for the position of All-College Representative (under eleven years). Sam Mustafa introduced his own candidacy for All-College Representative (over eleven years). Kwak also introduced two further amendments of the FA Bylaws. Kwak also invited untenured faculty members interested in becoming FAEC secretary to volunteer for the position.

7. Benjamin Fine talked his role as NCAA Division III Representative. He stated his interest in developing the position around the needs of the student-athlete population. He discussed the faculty mentoring program that assigns faculty members to different teams. Fine also stated that he is available to hear concerns and complaints about student-athletes; he added that he hopes to hear what Ramapo student-athletes are doing well.

8. FA adjourned 2:51 PM

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