FAEC Minutes October 7, 2020

FAEC MINUTES 10/7/2020

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

Guests: Pinar Kayaalp (Sabbatical/Tenure Promotions), Peter Mercer (President), Susan Gaulden (Provost)

Vote to bring meeting to order at 10:02am.

Minutes Approval: The 9/30/20 minutes were approved with one abstention.

FA PRESIDENT’S REPORT

SGA Report: FAEC representative, Ed Shannon, attended the last meeting. FAEC attendance was well received. Concerns were raised about not having a spring break. Students also requested courses addressing the current political circumstances in our nation.

Spring Break Discussion: The College is working to identify the best course of action in order to keep the campus safe from possible new exposure risks due to traveling.

EOF/CRW: Was discussed and we hope to have more information, soon. Todd Barnes is now the CRW faculty liaison.

3/1: SSHS has the most programs involved. HGS is also part of this first round of this new model. We understood we would have some assessment of the first semester at Passaic County Community College before other community colleges would be added. Course/program preparation at Sussex County Community College has already begun for the spring and discussions are in process with Hudson County Community College.

2/2: Social work is the first program to offer the 2/2 model. First it will be at Passaic County Community College (PCCC) in spring 2021.

FA Representation on Administrative Committees: Openings will be made available to all full-time faculty and a vote implemented as needed.

Virtual Classroom Concerns: Concerns about non-registered individuals having access to course content and being “present” in virtual classrooms was discussed. FERPA issues, safety concerns and intellectual/academic rigour concerns were discussed.

REPORT FROM PINAR KAYAALP

Sabbatical/Tenure/Promotions: FAEC received MFSA report asking FAEC to review and consult with faculty on issues of Sabbaticals, Tenure Clock, and how these procedures may or may not provide equity. FAEC agrees that this is an important part of the faculty handbook revisions.

Handbook Committee: No new information is available.

Spring Break: We will need an MOA.

PROVOST’S REPORT

Spring 2021 Planning: Most faculty completed the course Census and most courses have been added to Banner. Advisement week will be starting on Monday (Oct 12). The deans will send an email regarding the course listings. A document will also be issued explaining all of the codes/course types. Registration begins November 16th. Students will also be notified if changes are still possible.

Fall 2021/Spring 2022: Six sabbatical semesters will be offered for the next academic year. We await the MOA numbers for promotions.

Spring Break Spring 2021: Many colleges are posing the same question as we are regarding canceling spring break and possibly adding that week to winter break.

In-person Classes & Sick students: The faculty are responsible to accommodate the student’s learning needs.

Student Survey: Will be distributed upon request and when completed.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Promotion/Tenure/Sabbatical Concerns for the President: Faculty is eager to see the revised handbook. The committee has not been reconvened. There are many current issues, which are not answered in the current version of the handbook. The Provost will make the ultimate handbook approval. We have asked for a final draft in February so it can be discussed in the remaining two Faculty Assembly meetings.

AAACSB Site Visitors: President Mercer and Provost Gaulden met with this group, which accredits the Anisfield School of Business (ASB). Their observations found the ASB faculty and students interactions are very positive. “We have a vibrant learning community happening in ASB”. Another positive accreditation experience!

Spring break: It is hard to know which model will be safer: changing spring break to something else or not, possibly inviting a cluster of COVID-19 cases as cases and deaths are currently increasing in NJ. Yesterday, there were 700 new cases in New Jersey and 9 deaths.

Meeting adjourned at 12:04pm.

Categories: Faculty Assembly Minutes 2020, FAEC MEETING MINUTES 2020, RAMAPO FAEC