FA Minutes 10/04/23

Faculty Assembly Meeting
October 4, 2023
1:00 pm
Friends Hall

Faculty Assembly is open to a general college audience, including administrators, but only FA members may vote. Faculty, including library faculty and all full-time employees contractually obligated to teach are FA members as defined by our bylaws.

* FA Secretary position is currently open. Meeting minutes taken by Dean Chen.

Agenda

Approval of Minutes (9/6/2023)

Faculty Assembly President’s Report:

• Family Day is on Saturday, Oct. 14. Faculty invited to contribute student research posters for display at LLC.
• Rebecca Root (Director of Prestigious Fellowships and Scholarships) calls for faculty to recruit, mentor, and nominate students in applying for these awards and opportunities.
• Reminder to fill out Classroom Technology Survey by 10/31.
• Save the date for various events:
  • First Gen Town Hall, Oct. 10, 1-2 pm, Alumni Lounges
  • Promoting the Mental Health of Students of Color, Nov. 15, 1-2:30 pm (virtual)
  • Faculty Development Day, Oct. 18, 1-4:30 pm
  • State of the College, Oct. 18, noon
  • Joint FA/AFT/RSA Fall Social, Nov. 8, 5-7 pm, Padovano Commons
• Faculty Handbook: This year, FAEC is compiling a list of issues and will coordinate with Employee Relations and AFT to determine how these issues will be addressed in the updated Faculty Handbook for 2024-2025.

College President’s Report:

• Expressed appreciation for faculty/staff involvement in various campus events.
  • Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (9/29)
  • Admissions Open House (10/1)
  • Queer and Trans History Month Proclamation (10/2)
• Announced that Ramapo College has been awarded the prestigious Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The $1.3 million in federal funding, distributed over five years, will go toward readying 25 academically talented low-income, first-generation and underrepresented minority STEM students in pursuit of a doctoral degree. Congratulations to Sandra Suarez (TAS), Joe Connell (CSS) and Eddie Saiff (TAS).
• Accolades and Honors: Ramapo improved its US News and World Report ranking as a top Regional University with strong rankings in several categories (Best Value, Best School for Veterans, Top Performer on Social Mobility, etc.) Also ranked #1 public college in New Jersey by College Choice.

Provost’s Report:

• Expressed appreciation for faculty’s continued support for and advising our students. October is Academic Advising Month. Winter and Spring ’24 Registration set to begin on October 30.
• Reaffirmed the importance of shared governance.
• Echoed President Jebb’s congratulations on the McNair grant awarded to Ramapo.

Announcements:

RCNJ Roadrunner Collegiate Recovery Program: Judy Green (Director, Center for Health and Counseling Services)
Promote greater campus awareness and enlist faculty partnership and support for student recovery from substance abuse and mental health illnesses. For more information, see presentation document or reach out to Cory Rosenkranz (Coordinator, Substance Use Disorder Prev/Recovery Programs) at crosenkr@ramapo.edu.

GECCo Updates: Chris Reali, Sarah Carberry (GECCo co-chairs)

• Updated GECCo Manual (link)
• Upcoming GECCo Category Workshops
  • October 11, SSS, 11 am, room TBA
  • October 11, SR, during TAS Unit Council or after
  • October 18, HP, 11 am, room TBA

Voting Items:

FA voted to endorse the Comprehensive Academic Plan (CAP). (85 yes, 6 abstain, 1 no)

Elections:

The following faculty were elected as GECCo Category Coordinators:

• Scientific Reasoning: Emer McGuire-Pool
• Global Awareness: Tae Kwak
• Historical Perspectives: Cris Reali
• Culture and Creativity: Rebecca Leung

FA meeting adjourned at 2:00, followed by Faculty Forum on possible revisions to the curriculum review process and ARC Manual.

Categories: Uncategorized