University at Albany, State University of New York
Governance Council
Friday, February 5, 2010
Eric Lifshin, Chair
Minutes
Present: Ray Bromley, Nan Carroll, Richard Collier, Jane Domaracki, Eric Lifshin, John Pipkin, John
Schmidt, Daniel White
The meeting convened at 10:31 am.
MINUTES:
The minutes of December 11, 2009 were not available.
NEW BUSINESS:
Gen Ed Task Force Development:
Chair Lifshin provided an overview of the changes resulting from the recently passed resolution concerning
General Education requirements. The resolution was passed by the SUNY Board of Trustees last month.
Individual campuses are not required to make any changes although the resolution encourages campuses to use
this as an opportunity to make changes. At the last meeting of the Senate Executive Committee, a vote was
taken approving the formation of a gen ed task force and GOV was charged with providing recommendations to
serve on the task force.
Members of GOV discussed current local requirements and those for transfers from community colleges. While
there is some disagreement about whether or not gen ed requirements need to be changed at UAlbany, GOV
recognized the need for an immediate response to the resolution that will allow incoming freshman and transfers
to make appropriate course selections for fall 2010. GOV members also discussed the need to create an ad hoc
committee outside of the existing governance structure already in place to address such issues. The majority of
GOV members strongly agreed that this issue should be addressed by UAC and its sub-committee, the
Committee on General Education. Chair Lifshin suggested moving the responsibility to UAC and providing the
list of names that would assist UAC in achieving that objective. A list of names was drawn for the task force
that will function under UAC’s Committee on General Education. Chair Lifshin will forward the names in a
memo to Senate Chair Range later today.
ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS:
Meeting schedule:
Due to conflicts in schedules, Chair Lifshin suggested that meetings occur every two weeks with the schedule
alternating between Thursdays and Fridays. This will allow broader participation for all members of the
Council.
Additional SUNY Senator:
Senate Secretary Collier informed GOV members that UAlbany has sufficient professional staff making it
eligible to be represented by three senators on the SUNY-wide Senate. Secretary Collier will be making a call
for an additional senator when the call for volunteers is sent later this spring.
OLD BUSINESS:
Status of request from CAFFECoR re: Policy on Freedom of Expression:
Chair Lifshin reported that the bill, 0304-25 was delayed because of confusion about whether it needed to be
reviewed by the University Council. The bill is now with the University Legal Counsel but it still needs to go to
the University Council since it is part of the Community Rights and Responsibilities. Chair Lifshin has
concerns about the long delay and will speak with Chair Range in an attempt expedite the process.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 11:42 am.
Respectfully submitted by
Gail Cameron, Recorder
