May 1, 2019Faculty Assembly Minutes, 5/1/2019

Wed. May 1, 2019

Faculty Assembly

Minutes

Recorder: Hugh Sheehy

 

 

 

• Approve Minutes
  • March 13 Minutes Approved
  • April 3 Minutes Approved
• Report: FA President

The FA President reminded the Assembly that core function of the College is stated in the mission and that it should be preserved above other elements sacrificed in the name of increasing efficiencies.

 

 

 

• Report: College President

No report.

 

 

• Report: Provost

The Provost remined faculty to be proactive in pursuing a high response in online course evaluations.

 

Faculty CVs have put uploaded to SPOL. Faculty will receive messages linked to the webpage where they can correct any errors or address any omissions. Contact Gurvinder Khaneja if you need assistance.

 

The Provost characterized the looming structural deficit as a natural state of affairs resulting from increasing salaries and expenses and steady revenue streams. All divisions will be affected by cross-College cuts. The Provost encouraged faculty to develop new, attractive programs to bring students into under-enrolled courses. He urged faculty to imagine new programs that might attract new students to Ramapo, including Ramapo Online. He wishes to build Ramapo’s brand recognition outside the usual advertising and student-culling areas and believes that the new data science initiative will attract students from across the world. The Provost wants faculty doing exciting creative work and scholarship to think about how their scholarship might be used to promote the College. He invites faculty to reach out to him with any new ideas.

A faculty member pointed out that it is not in a faculty member’s job description to find new ways to market the College. He argued that more support, not less, for faculty scholarship is the best way to attract more students with better programming. The Provost replied that he hopes to restore and add to faculty support funds in the future, once revenues have been increased.

 

Stephanie Sarabia and Michael Unger introduced the Self-Study Draft and encouraged the faculty to review it. Faculty can report any errors or dead links using the Spring Cleaning Initiative.

 

• VOTING ITEMS(FAEC)

 

 

Discussion: The FA President opened the discussion by briefly explaining the history and rationale for each of the following resolutions. Faculty indicated they were prepared to vote.

 

• Data Driven Decision Making: Prior to making or suggesting substantial changes, the Faculty Assembly urges the Provost to provide the cost-benefit rationale and relevant data to support such changes.

 

Results: 98% Yes (115 Voting), 1% No, 1% Abstain

 

• Shared Governance: The Faculty Assembly urges the Provost to observe Shared Governance as prescribed by the Shared Governance Task Force report, and that appropriate constituent groups (e.g. FA, ARC, etc.) be consulted and/or informed of relevant proposals or changes.

 

Results: 97% Yes (115 Voting), 2, 1

 

• Mission:It is the Mission and Vision of RCNJ to be “the region’s premier public liberal arts college.”  The faculty cannot be solely responsible for furthering the Liberal Arts mission.  Beyond following enrollment trends and downsizing programs based on popularity alone, the Faculty Assembly strongly urges the College administration to identify specific ways to sustainably promote the core
  liberal arts.

 

Results: 91% Yes (113 Voting), 4, 5

 

• VOTING ITEM (MFSA)
  • African American Literature Line: If Ramapo College is to uphold its commitments to promote diversity, as stated in the Mission and core Values of the college, and in the objectives of Goal 2 of the Strategic Plan, then resources need to be allocated to preserving this position. The Faculty Assembly urges the Provost and President to reinstate African American literature as a tenure-track position at Ramapo College.

 

Results: Yes 86%, 11, 4

 

Endorsement of Solidarity Statement against Bias and Hate

 

Results: Yes 96%, 2, 2

 

 

• VOTING ITEMS(ARC)
  • New Minor in Public Health

Results: Yes 96%, 4

• New BS in Data Science

Results: Yes 51%, 36,13

• New MS in Data Science

Results: Yes 55%, 31, 14

 

GECCo Reps

Results: Yes 98%, 0, 2

Categories: Uncategorized

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April 25, 2019Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes | 4/17/19

Faculty Assembly Executive Council [FAEC] Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | Location: A220  | Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Attendees: Kathryn Zeno, Tae Kwak, Donna Flynn, Sam Mustafa, Renata Gangemi, Christina Connor, Hugh Sheehy, Eva Ogens, Catalin Martin

Secretary: Nakia Matthias

Guests: TAS Student

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I.  FAEC Minutes Approved

Voting items for May 1st FA meeting must be decided by next week 4/24/19.  

Graduate Student Council was last Thursday.  

II.  Data Science Program Tenure Track Positions

5 tenure-track lines were approved for the forthcoming Data Science Program (2 in Data Science, 2 in Computer Science, and 1 in Math) that the Provost has been endorsing and promoting.  TAS faculty from Computer and Math submitted an ARC application for a BS program and an MS program in Data Science which has been approved by the Graduate Council. The 5 faculty lines will support the curriculum for the program.  

III.  SGA Forum [attended by FA member]

The Provost explained that his desire to shift to a three credit system will enable students to obtain certificates and enroll in elective courses, allowing students more breadth of education that a four-credit system cannot provide for.  However, several students stated that they were minoring or double-majoring. Additionally, the implications of the three course load shift was not fully explained. Based on their responses during the event, Some students did not understand these implications and  there was no education in helping them understand. It appears that the Provost is interested in a move to a 3 credit system rather than restructuring.

During the SGA Forum Students from TAS mentioned that they were  informed by their dean that they would need a total of twenty three-credit courses or more classes versus their current course load should a shift to a three-credit system occur.

Currently the requirements for schools’ programmatic needs dictate students’ ability to enroll in certificates and take on additional electives rather.   Some programs such as nursing or business programs have accreditation requirements that bear structured course loads which may not prevent extraneous courses.

Many RCNJ students currently double major, enroll in certificate programs, and take elective courses toward these ends.  Limitations to students’ uptake of electives may be based upon the program’s needs or accreditation requirements that constrict extraneous courses.  This is not a college-wide issue but rather a matter of the needs-based structure of some programs.

For example many ASB students enter RCNJ as transfer students. These students may not have certain prerequisite courses which would allow them to pursue certificate or to have a minor.  

However, Freshman students in ASB have a different experience and can enroll in two to three electives.  Some courses could double count in business and other certificate programs. Such is the care whereby many ASB marketing students are also minoring in psychology.  The four to three credit shift could add classes while reducing the number of courses that students can take. The purview of the convening group should be made to assess prior performance with three versus four credit courses.  For programs such as Nursing this model simply adds credits but does not improve the major.

The number of core courses for some majors has not changed since RCNJ’s move from three to four credits.  There is concern that a switch to a three credit system will result in an increase in core courses. Too many classes were converted on a 1 to 1 many were three credits but became four credits without proper auditing or adjustments.  

The potential for shifting to a three credit system also raises concerns over what will happen with the General Education curriculum work that has been done.  Since the State’s exemption is indefinite for 128 credits but the move to a 120 credit model may only be important for community college cohesion and transfer student ease.  However RCNJ should not prioritize compatibility at the cost of the quality of education and the structure of curriculum.

During the student forum assumptions were made about faculty regarding class contact time. It was mentioned by some students that faculty do not use the full class time for teaching.  Faculty must be sure to take full advantage of class contact time and ensure that final exam time is used accordingly,

IV.  Teaching loads,  Course Capacity, and Cost Savings

The AFT informed the FAEC that even if faculty are on a 4/4 teaching load three preps is the maximum that faculty contracts provides for.  Lab courses constitute a 4th course for some full time faculty.

Class capacity sizes relate to the nature of classroom size that a course is assigned to and is not the ideal or recommended number of student enrollment for teaching effectiveness. Pushing caps up for first year seminar may jeopardize the very purpose for the seminar as a retention tool.  Making theses classes larger will not enable students to receive individualized support and attention. Cost savings in support of maximizing efficiency has been presented as the need for increasing class caps. At present o save one million dollars RCNJ would need to close 167 classes taught by adjuncts.  To save three million dollars RCNJ would need to close 500 courses.

V.  Shared Governance

President Mercer requested that the FAEC affirm the task force to promote diversity as defined within the strategic plan.

VI.  Special Faculty Forum, 2:30-4:00 pm, Padovano Commons

Meeting Adjourned at 12:00 pm

 

Categories: Uncategorized

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April 25, 2019Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes 4/3/19

DRAFT

Ramapo College of New Jersey

FACULTY ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

1 pm, Alumni Lounges

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I.  Faculty Assembly Minutes Approved

II.  Counseling Services, Judy Green

The Faculty Assembly was informed of the 20 minute suicide gatekeeper training that is available through counseling services. It is available for faculty to take in order to learn about advising and recognizing depression and suicidal students.  Counseling services, in conjunction with the FRC will offers a three hour campus connect in-person suicide prevention training for faculty. There is a nationwide uptick in suicides and counseling services on college campuses are overwhelmed. At RCNJ there is a 91% increase in students seeking services from the counseling center.  Counseling services is currently seeing students for up to 8 sessions for but exceptions are made on a case by case basis.

III.   Faculty Assembly President’s Report

Middle States self study Town hall April 17 2:30 pm in the Pavillion.  RCNJ’s mission and budget will be discussed.

Small class sizes, advisement,  and individualized attention are important for graduation and retention.  It should be noted that class caps are not the recommended class size but relates to classroom seat capacity and not quality or teaching and learning needs.  

RCNJ is home to the proportionately largest administrations of all New Jersey colleges. Considerations of the college community as a whole need to be at the fore when determining how to address budgetary demands.

The traditional undergraduate population is on the decline, especially in New Jersey.  RCNJ has seen an increase in the Asian-American and Hispanic-American student populations. The college also possesses the  lowest rate of African American students in the state of New Jersey. Overall, RCNJ’s l student graduation rate has increased.

The closing of programs that focus on minority and diverse groups sends a negative signal to the student population about who and what is valued.

IV.   The Provost’s Report

A.  Online Course Management System

RCNJ is making a move from the Moodle to Cavnas course management systems in the near future.   Although Moodle costs less than Canvas it requires support services. For Canvas support is built in and cost benefits have been considered.

B.  Online Course Evaluations

The current system allows student to see what students wrote on evaluations therefore a move must be made to online evaluations as student’s handwriting is detectable.   

Tae stated that in the October 31, 2019 the Provost’s assured that there will not be a move to online evaluations without some period of assessment.  Eliminating paper evaluations this semester is problematic as the response rate is very important for evaluation in promotion and reappointment considerations.

The system in place allows students to do the evaluations in the classroom.  Provost argues that using the software selected to facilitate online course evaluations the response rate can be seen by  faculty who can urge students to complete the evaluations.

It was suggested that some evidence or a plan is needed to introduce the course evaluations in first year seminar or General Education courses.   It is assumed that this would create a culture among students to complete them online. Data needs to be provided about students’ response rate.

C.  Cost Cutting

Academic Affairs is only part of the efforts if creating greater efficiencies, therefore cost-cutting and saving are necessary. The Provost stated that profitability of programs needs to be determined and that the 4 credit system does not provide for creativity and work beyond the classroom.  He argued that popular majors are credit intensive and changes need to be made to allow students to take courses beyond their concentration. The Provost also mentioned that small classes and low teaching loads are no longer sustainable.  The Provost stated “ No, I don’t want us to be on a 4/4 teaching load” and that the decision should be driven by pedagogy rather than a stiff system.

In pursuit of cost-cutting and greater efficiencies each unit  must report how they will cut expenses in the following ways:

• Increase class enrollments and optimize schedules so that classes fill
• Lower level courses should maintain 35 cap courses
• Upper level courses should maintain 30 cap courses
• Better management of available classroom space  is required since class size is dictated by room/space dimensions.

V.  Jason Hecht’s Presentation on Cost Cutting

The conclusion and recommendations of a 2003 FA Budget Committee presentation recommend that RCNJ’s culture should be one that prizes assessment and accountability where the colleges finances can be clearly presented and understood.  Budget reviews should be conducted to provide a thorough understanding of this.

VI.  Kristin Kenneavy

RCNJ is not ending the fiscal year in “the red”.  The #6 million in cuts is a projection for what needs to happen over time versus immediately.

VII.  Faculty Sentiments in Response to Cost Cutting and Greater Efficiencies Proposals

With the provost’s proposals to move to a three credit system students would need to take a total of five three credit hour courses to graduate on time.

As student success is an overarching goal RCNJ should avoid putting students at a disadvantage with a required 4/4 teaching load.   Teaching load should be tied to service and scholarship. There should not be a summary decision. A mixed system is possible but issues of equity and fairness would be problematic for faculty, especially junior faculty as seen inthe past.  The flex unit system was not equitable for everyone but our work was recognized and th schedule was conducive to campus activities.

At present RCNJ has a a higher graduation rate than most New Jersey state colleges and perhaps this is because the college maintains a 4 credit system and a 3/3 course load.  Additionally, RCNJ, TCNJ, and Stockton all have the highest graduation rates in New Jersey with a 4 credit model.

A move to a 4/4 course load would negatively impact faculty workload for most.  Faculty would be forced to cut back on quality and would have less time available outside of class.  

RCNJ’s students express that they are overwhelmed and overextended, student effort has declined, and many students work to pay for education.  Increasing the number of courses that they would need to graduate will not be helpful.

Rather than a blanketed approach we could limit the size of certain majors.  Chemistry, biochemistry, and nursing are the largest programs. Certification for many programs would not be possible if courses are cut.  

Suggestions were offered that a general survey needs be conducted rather than focusing on inputs for a self-selected group of SGA students in focus group regarding credit hour issues.

Some faculty expressed concern over the fact that five years have been spent on the new general education program and thus the suggestion that a shift to three credit system should be prioritized is problematic.  Retroactively justifying the three credit system without having it in effect is also problematic.

It is necessary for the administration to achieve political effectiveness.  What and who is the current financial situation an indictment of? What and who are the waning student enrollment numbers an indictment of?  These factors are all indicative that someone is not as effective as they should be politically.

VIII.  VOTING ITEMS: African American Literature (MFSA)

The proposed vote is about maintaining the line for the Tenure Track African American Literature position.  The voting Item was tabled in order to ensure that it can be registered electronically for the record, rather than take a hand count. Discontinuing this line sends a bad signal to current and prospective students, as well as prospective faculty. It is also noted that the temporary line cannot be converted to a tenure track line.  

Meeting Adjourned at 3 pm

 

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April 18, 2019Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes | 4/3/19

Faculty Assembly Executive Council [FAEC] Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, April  3, 2019 | Location: A220  | Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Attendees: Kathryn Zeno, Tae Kwak, Donna Flynn, Sam Mustafa, Renata Gangemi, Christina Connor, Hugh Sheehy, Eva Ogens, Catalin Martin

Secretary: Nakia Matthias

Guests:  Provost Becker

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I.  Two Previous FAEC Minutes Approved

II.  Cost savings at RCNJ

Based on Provost Becker’s remarks, FAEC discussed possible ways that cost savings could be achieved.   

FAEC considered the possibilities associated with reducing adjuncts, moving from paper to online course evaluations,  generally reducing paper for various administrative tasks, and potentially reducing the number of employees within the Ramapo Foundation. It was discussed that there is uncertainty about whether these measures would truly alleviate any debts that RCNJ bears.

Dramatically increasing student enrollment was mentioned, however any drastic uptick in enrollment  would require RCNJ to reduce admissions standards. The caliber of students will be transformed and cause for increased remediation.

III.  Student Enrollment and Revenue Increases

RCNJ is trying to increase its undergraduate population from 946 new admits to 1000.  It is also understood that graduate programs help to offset increased expenses. At RCNJ the African American demographic is shrinking each year while the Asian American and Hispanic American demographic is growing.  It is suggested that the transportation link to areas of New Jersey such as Patterson are essential and be expedited to garner more African American students.

Feeder colleges, such as Bergen Community College (BCC) are considering the development of an RN to BSN program.  However, this would be detrimental to RCNJ’s ability to enroll students in its nursing programs. BCC’s proposal has thus far been turned down by the state.

IV.  Administrative Bloat at RCNJ

Ramapo is the least efficient college in the state of New Jersey as 24.4% of employees are office and administrative support.  FAEC suggests that reducing non-essential administrative employees could help satisfy cost savings. Additionally, is necessary to examine how administrative bloat impacts RCNJ’s budget through spending and allocation assessment.  FAEC suggest that before cuts to faculty and teaching are considered reducing administrative bloat should be prioritized.

Provost Becker mentioned that his goal is planning for and implementing greater efficiencies at RCNJ. He stated that revenue growth will come form online courses, partnered satellite programs, and graduate programs.

Meeting Adjourned at 12:00 pm

 

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April 8, 2019Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes 3/27/19

Faculty Assembly Executive Council [FAEC] Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, March  27, 2019 | Location: A220  | Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Attendees: Kathryn Zeno, Tae Kwak, Donna Flynn, Sam Mustafa, Kathy Zeno, Renata Gangemi, Christina Connor, Hugh Sheehy, Eva Ogens, Catalin Martin

Secretary: Nakia Matthias

Guests:  Martha Ecker, AFT;  Michael Unger and Sarah Carberry

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I.  FAEC Minutes Approved

II.  Online Course Evaluations [Martha Ecker, AFT]   

Martha informed the FAEC of the Provost’s intention to proceed with implementing online-only course evaluations (eliminating paper forms) for Spring 2019.  Martha maintained that a threshold would need to be established on an aggregate, rather than individual basis. She also expressed that faculty should not be penalized if they do not meet this threshold due to missing/few online course evaluations.

It was discussed that when online evaluations were the default format and faculty needed to opt in for paper course evaluations a record of faculty that opted in for paper evaluations was established to demonstrate course evaluation format preferences.

Martha noted that the move to online course evaluations is proceeding without faculty negotiation toward an agreement or faculty buy-in.  She indicated that during a Communications meeting on 3/27/19 the Provost explained that online evaluations will save money.

The FAEC noted that the provost originally agreed that online course evaluations would not be implemented until there was a plan to ensure response rates.  There for the current decision to move forward with online course evaluation is occurring without a plan to understand and improve response rates.

The following Faculty Assembly and FAEC minutes document discussion of course evaluations:

• FAEC Minutes – October 17, 2018
• FAEC Minutes  – October 10, 2018
• FAEC Minutes – March 13, 2019
• October 31, 2018  – Faculty Assembly
• September 5, 2018 – Faculty Assembly

III.  Follow-up to Provost’s Faculty Assembly report

The next Faculty Assembly on April 3rd. should include discussion of the move to online evaluations.  

The faculty should vote on whether online evaluations should be immediately implemented  for Spring 2019, as well as whether the roll out for online evaluations should be conducted among tenured full professors until an adequate response rate is achieved.  The response rate for the previous online evaluations that were conducted for full professors were never assessed to determine the nature of the response rates.

IV.  Increasing the number of Faculty at RCNJ through the Implementation of Instructor Lines

President Mercer seeks to increase faculty to teach courses through the use of the instructor line.  Also, Martha from AFT is interested at capping the number of instructor lines. If faculty at the instructor line make up 5 to 15% of faculty this will create a two-tier system.  Any decision to employ more faculty should be driven by the curriculum. If RCNJ employs more faculty at the instructor line that receive benefits this would be a better than an adjunct system.  

V. Michael Unger and Sarah Carberry, GECCo  [General Education and FAEC Assessment]

It was discussed that the Provost may be concerned that the General Education course categories will become bloated and he may be under the Impression that we GECCo and faculty have lifted restrictions.  The process for removing restrictions includes a chain of approval that must be followed before the Provost can approve changes to the Gen.Ed courses.

Currently, General  Education classes must run once each year per an agreement that was endorsed by FA during came former Provost, Beth Foster’s tenure.  Additionally, deans and convening groups have historically handled scheduling rather than GECCo. Deans also perform syllabi audits. Michael and Sarah suggest that this should continue to be the case.   Furthermore, narrowing or expanding sections is up to deans. There will be more effort by deans to populate courses by increasing their capacity. A percentage of courses can be determined for General Education courses that can be allowed to run under the established capacity threshold [10% etc.].  Sarah will attend Dean’s Counsel to discuss the scheduling matters that the Provost mentioned via e-mail with deans.

At present GECCo has no policies but will be creating a manual over the Summer 2019 term.  The document will include written procedures for assessing course content in conjunction with outcome categories, as well as other processes that GECCo undertakes.

VI.  FAEC Assessment

By end of the semester FA and FAEC must  conduct a self-evaluation survey patterned on what has been done in the past for the provost and president. The general role of the FA and FAEC, as well as FAEC representatives can be evaluated.  The results of the evaluation are not the primary concern but rather the ability to demonstrate that the faculty had the opportunity to assess the role and functions of the FA and FAEC. FAEC discussed that evaluations instruments can be disseminated via a secured Qualtrics survey.  

Meeting Adjourned at 12:00 pm

 

Categories: Uncategorized

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February 20, 2019Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes | 2/13/19

Faculty Assembly Executive Council [FAEC] Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, Feb  13, 2019 | Location: A220  | Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Attendees: Kathryn Zeno, Tae Kwak, Donna Flynn, Sam Mustafa, Kathy Zeno, Renata Gangemi, Christina Connor, Hugh Sheehy, Eva Ogens, Catalin Martin

Secretary: Nakia Matthias

Guests:  President Mercer

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FAEC Minutes Approved

1.  RCNJ AFT contract and faculty teaching load

The current AFT contract establishes that faculty teach twenty-four credit hours per academic year.  Most faculty teach twelve credits per semester with a 3/3 course load.

Although Ramapo maintains a 3/3 course load this is inflexible as does not generally permit other options for teaching distributions such as a 4/2 or 2/4 course load. Furthermore, if faculty currently teach overload in the Fall semester, compensation for the overload is not made until the Spring semester (in cases of teaching 4/3).

Enabling faculty to teach a 4/2 or 2/4 course load is allowed in our AFT contract.  The AFT specifies the number of credits but not the number of classes taught. Therefore, the contracts do not specify that Ramapo faculty must teach a 3/3 course load.  This is an interpretation issue and there is no need to change policy. RCNJ’s programmatic needs may be driving the practice of the 3/3 course load. If faculty desire to make the system more flexible it will require greater complexity.

Having the option to teach a 4/2 or 2/4 course load should be an possible for faculty outside of the scope of overload teaching.  Additionally, the Provost was under the impression that the teaching distribution policy allows for flexibility and that this should be the case under normal circumstances.  Summer teaching does not count as overload as it falls under a separate contract. The business school does facilitate 4/2 or 2/4 overload teaching to meet its needs.

(The provost is determining the financial feasibility of people teaching a 4/3 course load with 3 credit courses.) Faculty with demonstrated scholarship may be able to maintain a 3/3 course load. In the past this system was in place at RCNJ through flex time and resulted in disadvantages for non-tenure track faculty who were made to teach overload courses. One criticism was that senior faculty monopolized four credit classes and junior faculty were stuck with a greater course load. It can be proposed to allow three credit online courses that offer  faculty get four credit teaching compensation. This would be attractive to students and also help faculty accrue a four credit courses.

2.  Class enrollments and the credit hour system

Deans may allow up to ten percent of the classes in their unit run under the minimum student enrollment requirement if the class is critical to the programmatic need(s).   

One and two credit classes are being restructured which can be the groundwork for shifting to a 3/4 credit hour mixed model. Courses with a great number of major requirements can be impacted by any changes.

Winter and Summer online are going to converted to three credit  courses in order to be marketable. Summer classes can also be introduced with a reduced term.   

It would not matter whether faculty or adjuncts teach these some of these courses as paying a full time faculty member bearing an Assistant Professorship for overload and paying an adjunct falls within the same pay range.  

3.  Satellite programs at Sussex Comm. College

Faculty would like clarity about the nature of the satellite program and how it translates at the RCNJ campus.  The e-mail that was distributed does not provide for enough detail and context. Furthermore, the provost has reached out to convening groups about the program and this has placed faculty in an awkward position. There is a need for communication about the program that provide thorough clarification of its functionality and objectives.

The satellite program poses logistical issues for the library and its fulfillment of subscriptions.  It also poses logistical issues for who will be hired to teach and when courses will be taught. It also bears implications for math and writing courses. It is understood that satellite programs are not restricted to majors.  It is maintained that it is easier to teach advance courses online rather than introductory or remedial courses and that tjis is a consideration that must be made within satellite program offerings.

Student Success has devised a list of courses that can be expanded online within the various disciplines and concentrations.

4.  New course and programs

A Faculty Assembly vote on the placement of new ASB minors in the catalog is postponed to March 13th, the first meeting in the Spring semester.  This can be advanced as an information item and even if the vote is postponed to the Faculty Assembly’s April makeup meeting this poses no problem as it is an information item and minor.  The minor is already in the RCNJ catalog as a hidden item that will be activated by the registrar once it is approved by the BoT.

The ARC Chair, Jacqueline Braun has two items to vote on for the next Faculty Assembly meeting.  One of her concerns for the next meeting is that faculty that are hearing about the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program for the first time will object to it.

5.  The FAEC addressed the following issues with President Mercer:

The Spanish for Healthcare and Human Services Certificate Program

Since introduced, this program has been orphaned since Continuing Education (CIPL) was dissolved and coordinating the certificate has been an issue.  Natalia Santamaria-Laorden is the only contact person for the program as well as the program coordinator.   Currently there is no way for students to declare this certificate so the registrar has to do this manually.

6.  RCNJ and its position as a Military-Friendly school

Accommodations should be made to students in the reserves or in other areas of the military on an as-needed basis.  This relates to testing and the fulfillment of coursework, and course activities.

7.  Healthcare and Pensions

Any pension changes impact health care benefits would be negotiated through the AFT.  Under the Governmental Accounting Standards Board(GASB) rules the pension issue would put RCNJ in the red if the college had to cover it.  President Mercer is unsure of how the state will balance the issue of funding pensions and health benefits

8.  The state of annual STEP and COLA increases

Not receiving step or cost of living increases takes much needed income from faculty salaries for each year of faculty members careers.  The Governor is opposed to such measures but the Senate democrats are in support of it.

9. New Jersey Secretary of State and Vocational Training

The Dr. Zakiya Smith-Ellis, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education’s remarks on the ramping focus on promoting and funding for vocational and training centric educational programs is concerning.  Such direction does not provide for the support liberal arts programs. The secretary is committed to producing a plan for higher educations in the next few weeks.

Meeting Adjourned at 12:00 pm

Categories: Uncategorized

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February 20, 2019Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes | 2/6/19

Faculty Assembly Executive Council [FAEC] Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, Feb  6, 2019 | Location: A220  | Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Attendees: Kathryn Zeno, Tae Kwak, Donna Flynn, Sam Mustafa, Kathy Zeno, Renata Gangemi, Christina Connor, Hugh Sheehy, Eva Ogens, Catalin Martin

Secretary: Nakia Matthias

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1.  FAEC Minutes Approved

2. Distribution of laminated ‘Hostile intruder/lockdown situations quick reference card’

Several faculty have not received the laminated yellow ‘Hostile intruder/lockdown situations quick reference card’ that was composed by Public Safety to inform the faculty of the recommended safety procedures for campus emergencies relative to such hostile intruder and lockdown situations.  

Furthermore, the document makes suggestions that some faculty and staff will not be able to follow due to the absence of window coverings [blinds or shades] at classroom doors. [Item #2: CLOSE THE SHADE/BLINDS ON THE DOOR AND WINDOWS TO DARKEN THE ROOM.]

In order to follow the recommendations accordingly the necessary materials/apparatus should be installed in classrooms.  This matter should be addressed to ensure that the safety procedures can be followed in the best interest of the campus community.

3.  Doctor of Nursing Practice [DNP] Program Nursing

The proposed Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a clinical doctorate program proposed by the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence. The program will undergo several review processes before it is approved.  FAEC acknowledges that the faculty would like to have the opportunity to discuss and learn more about the DNP offering. Although, ARC, the BoT, the provost, and respective offices in Trenton must review and approve the DNP program this process does not have occur in sequence.  

The FA scheduled for March 13, 2019 presents an opportunity for faculty to discuss and vote on the proposed DNP program.  The April 3, 2019 FA would likely be very late for this discussion and the progression of the review process. One of the issue to be addressed is the DNP’s classification as a clinical rather than research doctorate.  Upon approval the DNP program would be entered into catalog beyond 2019.A request will be made to ARC Chair, Jacquelin Braun to circulate information about the DNP program among the faculty prior to the next FA.

4.  Faculty Development Day

Three simultaneous panels scheduled for Faculty Development Day. FAEC encourages faculty to attend the events scheduled for Faculty Development Day.  

5.  Late Submission of Final Grades

Six hundred grades were outstanding and not submitted by the due date. Most late submissions were made by adjunct professors.  FAEC suggested better communication with and support of adjuncts to ensure they are meeting the deadlines final grade submission deadlines.  

6.  Five Year Career Development

FAEC discussed the procedure whereby tenured faculty submit requests for career development every five-years. It was noted that there is no real standard for selecting how career development committees are formed nor a clear understanding of how the provision of career development resources are determined.  Thus, when requests for career development are honored it is at the discretion of the committee’s members. Furthermore, there is no follow-up in the process to assess whether resources have been used for their intended purpose. The process was once suspended when faculty contracts lapsed but has since been reinstated.  Some faculty are not informed when they must submit packets for career development. The process is viewed as a means to encourage professional and academic development but bears no gatekeeping function. The career development process is distinct from faculty development.

7.  Economic Education Forum at the Meadowlands |  Chamber of College Economic Education Forum

President Mercer invited New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, Dr. Zakiya Ellis-Smith to attend the Economic Education Forum where she discussed the connection between employment and education with an accent on experiential learning; making community college free as a priority of her office; advancing all forms of post-secondary education; as well as the state budget and funding formula.

Meeting Adjourned at 11:38 am

Categories: Uncategorized

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February 20, 2019Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes | 1/30/19

Faculty Assembly Executive Council [FAEC] Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, Jan  30, 2019 | Location: A220  | Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Attendees: Kathryn Zeno, Tae Kwak, Donna Flynn, Sam Mustafa, Kathy Zeno, Renata Gangemi, Christina Connor, Hugh Sheehy, Eva Ogens, Catalin Martin

Secretary: Nakia Matthias

Guests: President Mercer

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1.  FAEC Minutes Approved

2.  Tenure and Promotion

The FAEC discussed the policies and rationale for promotion as the new criteria for promotion present differences in their implementation.  These criteria will not impact existing promotion applications. The faculty handbook will be updated to reflect the new criteria.

The former provost converted full professorships to associate professorships to clear an apparent  bottleneck that existed. This has now caused a bottleneck with full professorships. Provost Becker aims to transform the culture that views promotion to full professor as the ultimate end of an academic career at Ramapo College of New Jersey.   President Mercer agrees that there is nothing wrong with retiring as an associate professor. He expressed concern that numerical indicators my prohibit faculty from being promoted and is considering to require tenure and associate professorship decisions be determined simultaneously. President Mercer has not divulged the formula or guidelines for the process of determining slots for full professorship. He has stated that retiring professors are taken into consideration in the creation of slots for full professorships.  

The merger of these decisions would require a contractual revision.  He acknowledges that the criteria for tenure and associate professorship are slightly different and not clearly understood.  Therefore, there are challenges to employing a combined committee for this review process but faculty do already have the option to request this.  As cost savings is an issue in full professorship considerations a reduced number of full professors warrants an decrease in salaries and benefits for full professorships.  

Should qualifications for tenure and full professorship be changed or elevated then faculty would like these measures to be communicated and documented formally with clear guidelines for the process.

President Mercer also affirmed that sabbatical should not be a contest and that money should not be a factor in determining when sabbaticals are granted and whom receives them.

3.  Faculty Handbook

There is a commitment from Human Resources Director and AFT to prioritize the revision of the faculty handbook. The revisions have been underway for five years to date.  

4.  FAEC Term Limits  and Faculty Assembly

FAEC term limitations are ambiguously worded.  There is a two-term limit for unit representatives but it remains unclear as to how long representatives must be away from duties in order to be re-elected or reinstated in a new term.

In the past it was also unclear as to whom should and should not participate in FA voting. Thus the FA unintentionally and routinely excluded faculty with membership voting rights.

Furthermore, based on the FA bylaws  there is a lack of clarity regarding the FA President’s involvement with the President’s “Cabinet” and the Provost’s “Cabinet.”  This is the case as the FA President is not allowed to serve on the President’s Cabinet and the Provost’s Cabinet does not exist.  (The FA President serves on the President’s Advisory Council and the Provost’s Council, both very large groups.)

5.  State of the College

The State of the College address was announced relatively late and there was some initial confusion about its start time.  

6.  Start date of Academic Year

A Provost’s working group examined the feasibility of starting the academic year before Labor Day.  A contingency in the local AFT agreement stipulates that Ramapo can start up to one week earlier then it has ordinarily started.

The Registrar is waiting for the BoT to approve the dates for the academic calendar and has submitted future academic calendars for up to October 2025.  From 2020 -2025 the Registrar proposes that we start on September 1st or 2nd. Faculty may start after September 1st but are under contract at the start of this date.  Convocation is normally on the first day of September in the past. Additionally, In-service Day/Faculty development day is contractually stipulated.

7.  Late grade submissions   

The provost office seeks to address the repeated instances of late grade submission.  Suggested measure include sanctioning faculty for professional conduct violations. Other options will be considered for ensuring that faculty submit grades by the published deadlines.  

8.   Ramapo College Parking Lots

Parking in lots has become problematic as there needs to be greater enforcement of designated spaces for faculty, staff and students.  The safety of the parking lots during icy weather conditions is an issue as the ice is not adequately cleared. Anticipated weather conditions should warrant greater attention to managing the accumulation of ice in the parking lot.  Furthermore, there needs to be enhances regulation of driving speed throughout campus.

9.  Economic Education Summit and the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education

The New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, Zakiya Ellis Smith  has accepted an invitation made by President Mercer to attend the Economic Education Summit which will take place at The Meadowlands on February 5, 2019.

To date, Secretary Ellis-Smith has in attendance at the President’s Council meetings more times than her predecessor.  The Secretary also has a new strategic plan for higher education but will only make its contents known after the Governor releases his budget.

Meeting Adjourned at 12:00 pm

 

Categories: Uncategorized

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January 27, 2019Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes12/12/18

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Faculty Assembly

 1.  Faculty Assembly Minutes Approved

 2.  FA President’s Report

• Exam Make-up day is Sunday December 23rd which presents a calendar crunch with Christmas and winter break.
• There is a possibility of starting the academic year earlier.  This would require adjustment to the AFT contract to start last week in August and to end the academic year earlier in June. The AFT will work with Provost’s office to determine the possibilities.
• The New Jersey state legislature’s 120 credit cap is non-applicable to RCNJ and does not impact the College’s credit-hour system.  Public liberal arts colleges are exempt.
• Consequently,  RCNJ avoids having to redesign its programs in a very short period of time. The College’s consideration of a hybrid ¾ credit hour model in the future is independent of the pressure of the legislation.
• The faculty handbook will be revising the by human resources.  RCNJ is the only New Jersey college with separate human resources and employee relations departments.  The function of these offices will be consolidated under human resources.
• Starting January 15, 2019 Nicole Morgan Agard will primarily and solely serve as RCNJ’s  Chief Diversity Officer.
• One and two credit courses are not rigorous.  They require assessment and revision. Students  (namely transfer students) take up to 16 credits in in order to meet the 128 credit hour requirement.  
• Every other meeting for Faculty Assembly will be in the Pavillon

3.  College President’s Report

• President Mercer is traveling to Trenton along with the presidents of other New Jersey public colleges to meet with the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education. They will work on a strategic plan for Higher Education.  RCNJ’s appropriations are lowest per capita than any other public liberal arts college. The challenge for RCNJ resides in how the College manages to get things into a budget that is flatlining. Some broad themes of the new strategic plan include: Workplace training and reducing tuition.   We will also examine the possibilities for the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education’s design of a funding formula.
• RCNJ receive 2k less per student than TCNJ.  The only schools receiving less per capita are Montclair State University and Stockton University.
• RCNJ had received more admissions applications than in any other  time in the College’s history. The application rate is up by 5%.
• The College’s graduate programs doing well with 600 graduate students on campus
• The Learning Commons will shift to Linden Hall which is being reconfigured to serve as swing space for the library’s collections.  The Library facility will be completely demolished before it is reconstructed. The project is on budget at 42 million dollars and on time with drawings and specifications.  It is likely to completed based on the established timeline.
• Patrick O’Connor, RCNJ’s Government Relations Officer,  attended a briefing given by the Director of New Jersey Transit.  The Director suggested that he will try to help devise a plan for developing public transportation options for access to RCNJ.  Pat O’Connor will work with New Jersey Transit to hopefully implement a plan in two to three months.
• There is nothing to preventing RCNJ from  offering Associates degrees. This comprises the primary initiative taken up by which are cannibalizing some two year colleges.  

4.  Provost’s Report

• Introduction of the Provost’s Special Assistant, Diane Couzens
• The Provost invites faculty to contribute to his discussion board   
• During a speech the Provost suggested that RCNJ needs to be innovative as success  is defined by defined by increasing impact, providing more opportunities and student success. The Provost proposed three cornerstones:
  • Curricular Innovation characterized by signature graduate programs that feature Data Science,  RCNJ online [an online course offerings that are not in competition with existing programs], and Programmatic reviews that entail self-studies.  
  • International Orientation:  Attracting new students and expand RCNJ activities abroad.  An innovation taskforce will be established to address this.
  • Scholarly Excellence:  Enlarging and supporting faculty-student research

5.  Voting Item: GECCo (Experiential Component)

• Vote Results: [Abstain = 5  No= 1 Yes = 90]
• The Language of the Voting Item:: The Experiential Component in the General Education Program will be moved from a Category to an Objective that states: Participate in an engaged, experiential activity that connects the course to real world settings.
• Issue with New General Education program relative to the experiential component. All objectives overlap with experiential objectives and  ⅔ do not encompass the experiential component at all. The experiential should be an objective and listed as a category with other categories.  The proposed solution is to make the experiential component an objective.
• Gecco will devise a manual and have standing committees like ARC
• The ambiguity of the language “Experiential” and “engaged” ambiguity will be addressed to determine what the metrics and qualifiers for these terms.  There needs to be clarity on how ”engaged” is operationalized.

6.  Middle States Report (Stephanie Sarabia)

• The Middle States self study Oct 15th first draft were submitted by the working groups.  
• During December 2018 the steering committee reviewed the chapters and provided feedback.  The process was advised after the committee attended the Middle States conference.  The report will be published on the self study website. Google groups will be used to enable feedback on the report
• The Middle States working group co-chairs are seeking to establish Middle states office hours  to be available to discuss the chapters of the report.
• David Nast and Stephanie Arabia are taking suggestions on the process

7.  Report: Student Athletes (Dr. Ben Fine)

• Student Athletes/Faculty:  Ben Fine is the faculty member contact that serves to bridge gaps between student athletes and their classroom performance by keeping coaches informed of and student athletes’ progress.  Dr. Fine reports to Chris Romano about these relations. He affirmed that student athletes should not be afforded an unfair advantage in their courses.

8.  FA Q & A

• How can RCNJ facilitate an International Orientation and more more study abroad?
  • The Innovation Taskforce can determine how can we accomplish this to support travel funds. Ramapo Online would increase revenues to fund study abroad and academic affairs needs.
• Concern expressed about the language of the OSS statement that is circulated among faculty and students.   It indicates that students must meet with OSS advisor at the end of the first week but does does not specify anything about meeting with the instructors to discuss OSS accommodations.
• Concerns expressed about expectations for service and faculty scholarship.  Faculty that are and wish to produce scholarship cannot be engaged in the level of service that we are currently expected to maintain.

9.  Information Items

Chief Diversity Officer (Nicole Morgan Agard)

• Communications Meeting Overview
• Change at the College Since the EDIC ‘s Establishment
• Drafting a College Wide Diversity Plan
• Creation of an anonymous Online Bias reporting system
• Diversity Committee + Bias Response Team
• Diversity Convocation Feb 13 2019 John Quinones from ABC “What Would You Do” will be in attendance
• Call for Search Advocates to sit on search committees – receives training. Not a voting member on a committee

SGA President (Stephan Lally): Food Pantry and Student Relief Fund (SRF)

• Tiffany Miniweather and Stefan Lally: We Care Program  [MSW internship program] Help with non-Tuition related expenses
• Given out over $2500 for student expenses
• CCSE, CSI,EDIC  -good academic + financial standing, in need, appropriate behavior
• Homelessness, books.
• Student Relief Fund https://www.ramapo.edu/give/ To donate to the Student Relief Fund, scroll down to “Other,” and please write in “Student Relief Fund” in the text box for Other Gift Designation.)

Library Update

• No access to phone from 7th to 18th of January
• Closed Jan 2nd to 21st

Fair Trade (Neriko Doerr)

Visit https://www.ramapo.edu/fair-trade/ for more information

• Adjunct Professor Service Awards – 3:00pm AFT (Alumni Lounges):
  • All members of the College Community are invited to stay for the  Adjunct Professor
  • Service Awards at the beginning of the AFT meeting.

Faculty Assembly Adjourned 3 pm

 

Categories: FACULTY ASSEMBLY MINUTES, Uncategorized

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December 5, 2018Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes | 11/28/18

Faculty Assembly Executive Council [FAEC] Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2018  | Location: A218  | Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Attendees: Tae Kwak, Donna Flynn, Sam Mustafa, Cristina Perez, Hugh Sheehy, Renata Gangemi, Christina Connor

Secretary: Nakia Matthias

Guest:  Provost Becker

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1. FAEC Minutes Approved

 

 

2. Three-credit system and school restructuring

 

If applied universally, a three-credit  credit system would have a tremendous impact on the curriculum and its delivery, particularly in terms of faculty teaching workload.  A mixed three/four credit model also has its pitfalls and we should avoid the same inequities that had existed before. Any potential move for School restructures should be predicated on sound rationale and objectives (it was not in the past).

 

3. GECCo and ARC

 

The FAEC president suggests that the General Education Governance Committee restore GECCo’s original charge rather than create another committee to address matters that must be resolved.

As GECCo’s  charges as they are broad and not limited it can function in a manner similar to ARC.  GECCo is composing a manual featuring guidelines, principles, and policies.

There are no GECCo or ARC voting items for the December 12 Faculty Assembly agenda.

 

4. In-Service Days and Faculty Development Day

 

Mandatory faculty In-service days scheduled at the beginning and end of academic year were discontinued by the previous FA President.  The most popular component of ISD, teaching and pedagogical workshops were incorporated into the FRC’s Faculty Development Day workshops that run once per semester.

The Provost suggests that the activities related to in-service and faculty development events include:

• Faculty presentations about their research to their unit during Unit Council meetings.  
• Each unit can present research and projects during a faculty research exhibition
• An interdisciplinary faculty colloquia that involves faculty presentations based on themes and  topics determined by the faculty.

 

5. Provost Becker and the Innovation Task Force

 

Provost Becker has requested that deans submit names for volunteers for the Innovation Task force that he is assembling.  The Innovation Task force will not function as a standing committee but it will focus on creativity. The Provost extends an invitation to faculty and staff that wish to participate in advising and creating opportunities around the Task force’s three cornerstones.   The three cornerstones are in support of scholarly excellence related to:

1. Curricular Innovation
2. Data Science
3. International Orientation for students and faculty

The Provost suggests that task force shall operate to address the three cornerstones while progressing RCNJ’s ability to respond to the following questions:

• What is the RCNJ structure?
• Who are we at RCNJ?  
• What do we stand for at RCNJ?  
• What is our passion at RCNJ?  
• What is our purpose at RCNJ?

Provost Becker expressed desire to have an initial Innovation Task Force Meeting before the end of the Fall 2018 semester on Wednesday. December 5th at 3:00 pm during the old Diversity Action Committee time slot

5. Miscellaneous Items

 

 

• Provost becker is considering to start the Fall semester one to two weeks earlier
• FAEC  meeting times for Spring 2019 semester is 10:30 am to 12:00pm in A-221

Padavano Commons

 

 

• Jim Morley requested that FAEC circulate the letter that he composed about Padavano Commons among the faculty.  FAEC determined that each unit representative can forward the letter to their respective unit secretary for distribution.
• Dunkin’ Donuts  in Adler Center and opened for business this week.

Meeting Adjourned at 12 p.m.

Categories: Uncategorized

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