Report by the 2015-2016 Chair of the University Senate
Cynthia A. Fox
Associate Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Strengthening shared governance
During the 2015-16 year, Campus Governance Leaders (CGLs) and the administration continued
to work to strengthen and institutionalize shared governance and “formal consultation” as
defined by the Faculty Bylaws of the University at Albany, Article I. Section 2—Rights and
Responsibilities of the Faculty. After several years of negotiations on the issue, consensus was
reached on the nature of Senate involvement in administrative review, Joette Stefl-Mabry,
Associate Professor of Information Studies (CEAS), was appointed to a two-year term as Senate
representative on the Review Committee that will begin its work in the 2016-2017 academic
year. Significant progress was also made in defining the Senate’s consultative role in the
creation, renaming, major re-organization, or dissolution of academic units and programs, and in
the Senate’s role in the budget (i.e., Compact Planning) process. In recognition of the amount
and consequence of work expected of CGLs and to encourage widespread faculty involvement in
shared governance, the university administration also agreed to provide, in addition to the course
releases already granted the Senate Chair, a course release each year for the Senate Vice-Chair
and for the Immediate Past Chair.
Fostering open communication
In an effort to keep the campus informed of the myriad of campus initiatives, Senate meetings
included the several reports on special task forces and panels, and from administrators appointed
to newly-created positions:
Report of the Graduate Stipend Committee (K. Williams, Graduate Studies)
Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Part-time and Contingent Faculty and Staff (B.
Hedberg, Academic Affairs)
“Woven Into Its Very Fabric: A Report on Contingent Labor at the University at Albany,
Survey Data” (Bret Benjamin, UUP)
Health Sciences and Biological Initiatives (L. Schweitzer, Vice President)
Public Engagement Initiatives (D. Wheeler, Vice Provost for Student Engagement)
Report from the Applied Learning Steering Committee (L. Krzykowski and D. Gelinas)
Report from the Faculty Athletics Representative (R. Fogarty)
Promoting campus wide dialogue
In addition, the Senate organized and/or co-sponsored activities that worked to promote campus
wide dialogue on matters of common, critical concern:
a forum on Academic Freedom sponsored by the Committee on Academic Freedom,
Freedom of Expression, and Community Responsibility (CAFFECoR) of the University
Senate and the Albany Chapter of United University Professions (UUP);
a forum on Contingent Faculty Concerns sponsored by the Governance Council of the
University Senate and the Albany Chapter of United University Professions;
an academic forum on Sustainability, co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability,
Office of the Provost, Graduate Student Association, Student Association, and the
Governance Council of the University Senate
Improving Senate capacity for and knowledge of shared governance
In accordance with Senate Charter X.1.3.3, the second bi-annual Surveys of Shared
Governance to evaluate the effectiveness of governance in representing its
constituencies, in addressing issues and concerns, and in affecting institutional decisions,
were developed by the Committee on Assessment of Governance and Consultation of the
University Senate Governance Council and were administered in spring 2016. A total of
557 faculty, professional staff and librarians responded to the survey of faculty and
professional staff, representing a response rate of 23%, a substantial increase from the
2014 survey to which 311 faculty, professional staff, and management confidential responded,
representing only 12.4% of the estimated constituency (N = 2,500). Of those responding in
2016, 463 were full-time and 96 were part-time employees at the University. A total of
625 students responded to the Student Survey, representing a response rate of 12.3%.
As a result of the on-going evaluation of Senate effectiveness, it was agreed that two sub-
committees of the University Policy and Planning Council (UPPC) should be re-
activated. The Resource Analysis and Planning Committee (RAPC) and the Facilities
Committee, are now fully populated and meeting regularly.
Legislation
The Senate approved proposals for five new academic programs or certificates, three
amendments to the Senate Charter, and a resolution to encourage participation in the University
Senate by Emeriti faculty.
Bill 1516-01
MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.) PROGRAM IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
Approved by the Senate, November 16, 2015;
Approved by President Jones, November 19, 2015
Bill 1516-02
PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A B.A. ENGLISH / M.A. LIBERAL STUDIES PROGRAM
Approved by the Senate, December 7, 2015;
Approved by President Jones, December 11, 2015
Bill 1516-03
PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN TESOL ONLINE
Approved by the Senate, March 7, 2016;
Approved by President Jones, March 28, 2016
Bill 1516-04
PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A BACHELOR OF ARTS AND A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND CYBERSECURITY
Approved by the Senate, April 25, 2016;
Approved by President Jones, April 27, 2016
Bill 1516-05
PROPOSAL TO AMEND POLICY PERTAINING TO CERTIFIABLE
FULL-TIME GRADUATE ENROLLMENT STATUS
Approved by the Senate, May 9, 2016;
Approved by President Jones, May 11, 2016
Bill 1516-06
PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN COMPUTING
EDUCATION
Approved by the Senate, May 9, 2016;
Approved by President Jones, May 11, 2016
Charter Amendment 1516-01A
Asymmetry in LISC Standing Committees
Approved by the Senate, October 19, 2015
Charter Amendment 1516-02A
Updates to Section X.4 (GAC)
Approved by the Senate, October 19, 2015
Charter Amendment 1516-03A
Clarification of Responsibilities of CAA
Approved by the Senate, October 13, 2016
Resolution 1516-01R
RESOLUTION ON EMERITI PARTICIPATION IN THE UNIVERSITY SENATE
Approved by the Senate, April 25, 2016
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to the dedicated individuals who served as Senators and as volunteers on Senate
Councils, Committees and sub-committees, and to the members of the Senate Executive
Committee: J. Philippe Abraham, John Schmidt, Walter Little, SUNY Senators, Katerine
Slye, President of the Graduate Student Association, Jarius Jemmott, President of Student
Association, and Council and Committee Chairs James Mower (CAA), Carol Jewell
(CAFFECoR), Michael Jerison (CERS), Daniel Fabris (COR), Lynn Warner (CPCA),
Ronald Toseland (GAC), James Collins (GOV), David Mamorella (LISC), Karen Kiorpes
and Christy Smith, (UAC), Michael Jaromin (ULC) and Joette Stefl-Mabry (UPPC).
Additional thanks to James Collins and to Joette Stefl-Mabry in their additional respective
leadership roles as Senate Vice-Chair and Immediate Past Chair, and especially to Senate
Secretary Yenisel Gulatee who has stepped down after two terms of exceptional Senate service,
and to Elisa Lopez who serves as Senate Support in the very best sense of the word.
The complete record of Senate activities for the 2015-16 year is reported on the Senate website:
http://www.albany.edu/senate/.
