Council and Committee Reports for SEC Meeting April 2, 2018
Christian Poehlmann, Senate Secretary
UNIVERSITY SENATE CHAIR’S REPORT – Karin Reinhold
On Mon Mar 12, Senate leaders met to discuss the role of the Senate in the strategic plan alignment within
each school & college. We talked about the importance of faculty and staff participating in the design of
the alignment plans within their departments/schools/units. Provost Stellar stated during the Senate
meeting of Mar 19, that if you don’t see an important item in the current version of the strategic plan, you
need to put it in the implementation plan. Therefore we strongly encourage active participation in the
alignment process, which will occur during April. The Budgeting process will follow shortly during the
early summer.
From the forum on gender equity and inclusion, a working group on pay equity was formed to analyze
the situation on our campus related to pay equity for women and minorities. The group, initially
composed by H. Larking, K. Hessler and K. Reinhold, met for a presentation by VP for Academics of
UUP Jamie Dangler on equity studies on Mar 13. Conducting a study on pay-equity is one of the items of
the strategic plan on diversity and inclusion initiative. We additionally discussed the need for a family-
leave policy, lactation space for faculty and students, and more accessible daycare.
On Mar 21, Chair Reinhold attended a meeting of Alianza Latina with the President. It saddened me to
hear reports of disrespect that members of this group have suffered on campus. Such situations are a
calling for better training of personnel and updating and enforcement of guidelines to deal with people in
authority that abuse their authority.
On Mar 22, Chair Reinhold attended the Online Summit to consider several options to increase online
offerings as a strategy for growth. Chair Reinhold also attended the President’s Council where President
Rodríguez talked about 9 key objectives:
1. Implementing the Strategic Plan
2. Increase undergraduate and graduate enrolment
3. Reviewing initiatives that impact the budget, being better stewards of our funds, increasing
resources. Improving retention of students.
4. Streamlining processes for more efficiency, through greater use of technology.
5. Diversity and inclusion at all levels.
6. Reducing the economic burden for our students. Engage our donors for scholarships. Better
graduate stipends. Increase research expenditure.
7. Professional development of faculty and staff.
8. Creating a sense of a more cohesive community.
9. Maintain focus. Build on what we have.
Dean of Graduate Studies K. Williams talked about how the university had lost about 14% in graduate
enrolment that translated in $8million in lost revenue, which would have covered the deficit we currently
have. To improve graduate enrolment he proposed a series of measures including the creating of a
Graduate School, which would help manage graduate enrolment, and marketing for the different
graduate programs.
Recommendations:
A working group on Contingent Concerns be formed to study the feasibility of establishing a mechanism
within the Senate to address on-going concerns of contingent faculty.
Actions Taken:
SEC approved a report on the implementation of Blue Ribbon panels to be presented to the Senate on
April 16th by Asc. VP and Sr. Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Bill
Hedberg.
Scheduled a special meeting of the SEC on Mar 26
th for a meeting with Chancellor Dr. Kristina Johnson.
Scheduled a special meeting of the SEC on Mar 28
th for a presentation of the Branding Project by Paul
Miller, Interim Director, Marketing and Content Strategy.
Requested assoc. Prof. Fogarty, Senate’s Faculty Athletics Representative, to present a report to the Senate
on April 16
th.
SAVE THE DATE:
Strategic Plan Round Tables:
o
Monday, March 26th 12:30-2:30 pm, EC GEC Auditorium (Health Sciences)
o
Friday, March 30
th 1:00-3:00 pm, CC Multi-purpose Room (Uptown)
Spring Faculty Address, April 3
rd at 1:00 pm in the CC Ballroom.
Senate Elections begin April 3
rd.
Senate Forum on The State of IT on Campus: April 10
th, 12pm to 2pm, Multi-Use Room.
April 13th : President’s Inauguration
Senate Forum on The State of Arts and Humanities: April 23
rd, 3:30-5:30pm, CC 375
Other Announcements:
March Madness Challenge: For every gift made in March, no matter the size, PepsiCo will
contribute $250 to the student scholarship fund, up to $100,000!
April 14: 4th Annual Mindful Mile and Fight Hunger 5k, UAlbany Campus.
April 20: SUNY Undergraduate Research Symposium 2018, Oneonta, and
Saturday, April 21 at Monroe County Community College.
April 27th: The 15th Annual University at Albany Undergraduate Research Conference will be
held on Friday, April 27th in the Lecture Center Concourse and Classrooms.
SUNY Senators – Diane Hamilton, Danielle Leonard, Latonia Spencer
The UFS senators report that Danielle Leonard will be serving as the alternate for Walt Little while he is
on sabbatical. Our next Plenary is April 19-21. Anyone who would like us to bring forward topics
should contact us before then
Graduate Student Organization – Dawn Wharram, Lead Senator
Nothing reported
Student Association Report –Jerlisa Fontaine, President
Nothing reported
Council/Committee Chair Reports:
CAA – Istvan Kecskes, Chair, Mary Ellen Mallia Co-Chair
Nothing reported
CAFFECoR – Carol Jewell, Chair
Nothing reported
CERS – David G. Wagner, Chair
Nothing to report
COR – Robert Rosenswig, Chair
Nothing reported
CPCA – Jim Hargett, Chair
Nothing reported
GAC – Sean Rafferty, Chair
Nothing to report
GOV – Jim Mower, Chair
Senate elections begin April 2, 2018
LISC – Billie Franchini, Chair
LISC Report for the Senate Executive Meeting, April 2, 2018
Submitted by Billie Franchini, Chair, March 22, 2018
The Council on Libraries, Information Services, and Computing (LISC) met on March 21, 2018. During the
meeting, Council members heard an informal report from Dr. Lenore Horowitz, Professor of Practice in
Information Science, describing the work of the UAlbany OER (Open Educational Resources) Fellows and
had an opportunity to ask questions. We also received the following updates from the Libraries.
Reports/Updates from Libraries (submitted by Rebecca Mugridge, Dean of Libraries)
I.
New hires and searches
A.User Experience Librarian. We hired for this position and I will be making an
announcement as soon as we notify the unsuccessful candidates.
B. Budget Officer. We have four interviews scheduled for this position.
C.Subject Librarian for Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, Cybersecurity, and
Criminal Justice. We are reviewing the job description for this position and hope to
launch the search soon.
D.Scholarly Communication Librarian. This position has been posted with a deadline of
April 15.
II.
Facilities update
We will be renovating the basement of the University Library over the summer. This will include
removing walls and the former periodicals service desk, re-carpeting, adding additional outlets, and
possibly replacing furniture. We are also creating four group study rooms in the University Library in
anticipation of eventually losing access to groups study rooms in the Science Library.
III.
Therapy dogs
The Libraries are hosting therapy dogs in the Science Library atrium today from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. in an
effort to help alleviate stress during midterms.
IV.
Campus Conversations in Standish
The Libraries are hosting three presentations this spring that highlight faculty research. The presentations
take place 12:35-1:30 in the Standish Room in the Science Library. Speakers include:
Ilka Kressner, Photographic Contact Zones – The Mexican Travel Photographs by Fritz Neugass.”
March 28, 2018
Kendra Smith-Howard, PhD, Department of History “Finding Nature in Unexpected Places: What
Cleaning Closets and Laundry Rooms Tell us About American Environmental History.” April 4, 2018
UAC – Karen Kiorpes, Christy Smith, Co-Chairs
SEC Report
Undergraduate Academic Council
April 2, 2018
UAC met on March 20
th, 2018
Ann Marie Murray, Associate Vice Provost for Program Development and a Service Professor in
the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, outlined the difficulties developing and
administering multi-disciplinary programs at the University at Albany. A proposal for a minor in
Legal Studies housed in Political Science was previously submitted to UAC for approval but has
been pulled back for the time being. Two other interdisciplinary proposals with a law theme (a
minor and a concentration) are in development in Arts and Sciences. Dr. Murray welcomes input
from UAC members and requested names to work with the Multidisciplinary Studies Task Force.
UAC recommends that Deans and the Provost’s Office further explore the “interdisciplinary
problem” and develop guidelines for program development before review of the three different
proposals commence.
Five new course proposals are under review by the General Education Committee.
Dana Newton, Academic and Administrative Coordinator/Educational Psychology and
Methodology, School of Education, met with UAC to answer questions regarding a proposal to
add a “Higher Education Concentration” within the Human Development B.S., effective Fall
2018. This is the 5
th concentration that would be available in this area of study, all of which
require a minimum of 45 credits for the degree, including 15 in the concentration. The proposal
was approved unanimously.
Public Health offers a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated
concentration in Public Health (FIC). As an FIC, Public Health is not a major registered with the
State Education Department. The School of Public Health provided a proposal to UAC to submit
the program to State Education in order to become a registered major in Public Health. This
proposed B.S. in Public Health is largely based on the existing Interdisciplinary Studies
concentration, with a few curricular revisions based both on external site visitor input and
recently updated accreditation criteria established by the Council on Education for Public Health
(CEPH), the accrediting body for Schools of Public Health. Current restrictions for declaring the
major will be lifted so enrollment is expected to increase. A faculty advisor will be hired as the
program grows. One new course was added. The proposal was approved unanimously. UAC
will submit the proposal to SEC as a bill to go to the Senate.
KK & KCW 3/23/2018
ULC – Ekow King, Chair
Nothing reported
UPPC – Jim Collins, Chair
Chair’s UPPC Report 032618
UPPC Report for SEC Meeting on 032618
Information:
The Council met on March 21.
Provost Stellar reported that the Strategic Plan’s ‘roundtables’ were underway and provided a timeline:
‘alignment’ or ‘action’ plans should be completed by July 1, and an ‘implementation team’ would
combine them into a general document, with implementation to begin in September.
Vice President for Financial Management Van Voorst made a brief report on the NYS Legislative
Executive Budget, noting that funding for EOP had been restored, Capital Funding had been raised from
the Executive Budget. He responded to three questions that Chair Collins had earlier sent to him: 1) that
Indirect Cost returns were determined by the SUNY and UAlbany Research Foundations, though
individual VPs determined the return to schools, colleges, departments, and PIs; 2) that recovered funds
from retirements, resignations, and other personal returns were sent to the general University budget
fund, then distributed to administrative and academic units. After they had been assigned to a given unit,
it was the unit Directors’ discretion to determine how the funds were allocated to sub-units (in plain
language, the Provost receives and allocates such funds to Colleges or Schools); 3) the current budgeting
for the ‘structural deficit’ is underway and is mindful of likely costs for the upcoming Strategic Plan.
UPPC Chair’s Report to Council on 03/21/18 [provided only in written form]
Information:
March 5 Chair Collins attended the SEC and it was agreed that he would work with Governance Chair
and two additional Senate volunteers, Virginia Yonkers and Dawn Wharram, to study the best way
establish a Senate Committee responsible for the Contingent Faculty issues.
March 16, attended a Strategic Planning Roundtable. Two observations:
Without faculty from UUP and the Senate, there would be no faculty attending these events
The process is not transparent, that is, it is not clear how or whether the “input”, suggestions, or
voices against a proposal are incorporated in the subsequent process. The event was in some
sense a mock alignment exercise.
February 23-March 15, Chair Collins confirmed the current four members of the working group on
student preparation and attainment: Kajal Lahiri, Louise-Anne McNutt, Cathy Parker, and Chair Collins.
He also requested additional data from IR, but was told politely “not now.”
On March 19 Chair Collins met with one other member of the working group to discuss intended work
and tentative schedule.
As of this point, the work is focused on different accounts of student preparation; different
strands of student attainment (EOP, LLC), and different causes for withdrawal or dismissal. It
will continue to gather quantitative data, identity university members who may have research
expertise in changing nature of learning in higher education, and UA departments who can
present cases of their grappling with the issues we identify.
For the schedule, it looks committee will spend some of the summer discussing existing data and
preparing a preliminary working report, and in the fall it will meet with representatives from
CAS departments with large undergraduate courses or programs and perceived problems with
student preparation. The departments include Economics, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Human
Biology (Anthropology).
On March 20, Chair Collins received a reply from Associate VP John Giarrusso of Office of Planning,
acknowledging the receipt of the Facilities Committee’s recommendation that faculty and staff be given
plenty of advance notice and opportunity to discuss planned moves or space reallocations. Mr. Giarrusso
agreed that the issue was important that consultation processes with faculty and staff were the
responsibility of unit directors – VPs and Deans. Chair Collins agreed to take up this matter with the
Provost.
(End of Chair’s report to Council)
Reports from Committees:
Facilities Committee: Committee Chair Ray Bromley reported that the committee would meet in April
with John Giarrusso and had submitted to him a list of planning topics they would like to have a report
on from his office.
Resource Analysis and Planning Committee: No report. .
Old business:
1. The proposal for program changes in the SB major in Digital Forensics was discussed and
approved by the Council
2. Minor changes to the Campus Information Form were discussed and approved by the Council.
New business
1. Proposal to establish an Electrical and Computer Engineering BS was discussed and approved;
2. Proposal to establish Public Health BS was discussed and returned to SPH for further
information regarding anticipated enrollments, TA allocations, and the CAS MOU expressing
concern with anticipated enrollments pressure on CAS departments, especially Mathematics,
which provided foundation courses for the major;
3. Discussion of proposal to establish a Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering
was tabled until the next Council meeting.
The Council next meets on April 18.
