2016-2017 University Senate
Monday, May 8, 2017
2:45 pm, Assembly Hall
James Collins, Chair
MINUTES
Present: Adams, Marcus; Almahamid, Ilham; Atrey, Pradeep; Chan, Keith; Chen, Mei-Hwa; Collins, James;
Cruz, Jose; Durio, Saben; Earle, Keith; Fontaine, Jerlisa; Fossett, James; Fox, Cynthia; Frelin, Adam;
Galusha, Jaime; Giboney, Justin; Hamilton, Diane; Hartman, Charles; Jerison, Michael;
Keenan, Donald; Kessler, Jane; King, Chad; Kiorpes, Karen; Lawrence, Zina; Little, Walter;
Lizotte, Alan; Mallia, Mary Ellen; Mamorella, David; Marler, Janet; Martinez, Maritza;
McKenna, Holly; McNutt, Louise-Anne; Moore, Chris; Nowell, Greg; Pastore, Christopher;
Petry, Greta; Poehlmann, Christian; Prelow, Hazel; Pyles, Loretta; Reinhold, Karin;
Rosenswig, Robert; Sergay, Timothy D.; Smith, Christy; Spencer, Latonia; Tchernev, Alexandre;
Vergari, Sandra; Wharram, Dawn; Williams, Oscar; Zhou, Liming; Wheeler, Darrell; Williams, Kevin
Guests:
Datri, Angela; Hyde, James; Jewell, Carol; Fogarty, Richard; Gelinas, Debra; Lane, Jason; Vero, Ron
Fessler, Susanna; LaValley, Celine; Winchester, Kathie; Ananou, Simeon; Weaver, Ben;
Murray, Ann Marie; Stewart, Caro-Beth; Hedberg, William; Richie, Annette
The meeting convened at 2:46 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Once quorum was reached, the minutes of April 24, 2017 were approved, with the following
voting results: Approved 42, Opposed 0, Abstained 1
INTERIM PROVOST’S REPORT – DARRELL WHEELER
Interim Provost Wheeler reviewed his written report, submitted as follows:
Thank you for your support and considerations this semester!
Strategic Planning
o
Presentations for each of the three campuses May 3, 2017.
o
We will continue to keep you updated and as always, you can find information on
the website
http://www.albany.edu/strategicplan/strategic.planning.documents.shtml
Looking forward to 2017 commencement and thanks to everyone who has worked so
hard to make the events so special for the graduates and their guests.
Dean’s Searches
o
SoB – met with faculty and staff and will be initiating a search this fall.
o
SPH – vendor process has moved through procurement and will be selecting the
committee and setting an initial meeting shortly.
The Planning, Enrollment and Budgeting reviews with the units in progress – working
with each School/College and the process thus far appears to be working well.
UNIVERSITY SENATE CHAIR’S REPORT – James Collins, Chair
I.
Informational
1.
On April 26, the SEC met and discussed ways to store, maintain, and transmit Council and Committee
procedures to incoming Chairs of Councils and Committees. Chair Collins will work with the Karin
Reinhold, Chair of Governance, and Christian Poehlmann, Chair of the Liaison Subcommittee, in planning
the archives in relation to the Senate Handbook.
2.
On April 28, Chair Collins received information from UAC that the Council had approved a proposal for a
Minor in Educational Leadership.
II.
Actions taken
a.
Sent to President Stellar Senate Bill 1617-03: PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH B.A. / M.I.A.
PROGRAMS
b.
Referred the following legislation from SEC to the Senate for May 8:
i.
Senate Bill 1617-04: PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH AN M.S. IN DATA SCIENCE
ii.
Senate Bill 1617-05: PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERSHIP
iii.
Senate Bill 1617-06: PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERSHIP
III.
Recommendations for actions
a.
That the Senate ask for a report in the Fall of the status of the Senate study, endorsed by the GAC
and SEC, of the size and contributions of international faculty, staff and students at the University
of Albany, following upon the requests for such information from the University Administration.
Given recent travel bans on international visitors, and the reported decline in international student
enrollments in the US, it is important that the University have and disseminate information on the
significance of international students, faculty, and staff at the University.
Chair Collins added that there would be an additional meeting of the SEC on Thursday, May 11. The
Chair also highlighted that he had attended a recent UUP meeting, and noted that some topics
discussed were the inclusion of part time and contingent faculty in Senate work and the state-wide
resolution in favor of paid family leave.
Chair Collins requested a motion, which was approved by acclamation, to amend the agenda to
move business to be voted upon in front of the reports.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
The following Charter amendments had been presented at the previous Senate meeting.
Charter Amendment 1617-01A: AMENDMENT RE SECTION IX OF THE CHARTER
Vice Chair/GOV Chair Reinhold gave a brief review of the proposal and rationale, which would
allow quorum to be based on the number of voting Senators present.
A motion was made to support the above amendment, with the following voting results:
Approved 39, Opposed 0, Abstained 1
Charter Amendment 1617-02A: AMENDMENT RE CPCA
CPCA Chair McNutt provided a brief review of the proposal and its goal to make the CPCA
member workload more sustainable.
A motion was made to support the above amendment, with the following voting results:
Approved 42, Opposed 1, Abstained 2
NEW BUSINESS
Senate Bill 1617-04: PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH AN M.S. IN DATA SCIENCE
Professor Michael Stessin of Economics provided an overview and responded to questions
regarding the proposal, which had been approved by GAC and UPPC.
A motion was made to support the above proposal, with the following voting results:
Approved 37, Opposed 2, Abstained 4
Senate Bill 1617-05: PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERSHIP
Jason Lane, Chair of the Department of Educational Policy & Leadership, provided an overview
and responded to questions regarding the proposal, which had been endorsed by GAC and
UPPC.
A motion was made to support the above proposal, with the following voting results:
Approved 39, Opposed 3, Abstained 2
Senate Bill 1617-06: PROPOSAL TO CREATE MINOR IN LEADERSHIP (SOE)
Professor Lane also provided an overview on the above proposal. He and Christy Smith,
Assistant Dean for Academics and Assessment and GAC Co-chair, fielded questions and
concerns. A discussion ensued regarding the timing of the proposal, the SEC having
unanimously approved and circulated the proposal less than the ten days required prior to the
proposal’s presentation on the Senate floor. Chair Collins explained his decision to place the
item on the agenda. He proposed that either a vote could be tabled until the October meeting or a
motion could be made that the Senate rules of timing be suspended on the proposal.
A motion was made to suspend Senate rules of timing on this bill. After continued discussion,
the motion was approved with the following voting results:
Approved 33, Opposed 10, Abstained 2
A motion was then made to support the above proposal. After further consideration and
clarification regarding the review and approval process, the motion was approved with the
following voting results: Approved 30, Opposed 9, Abstained 5
OTHER REPORTS
UFS (University Faculty Senate) – Diane Hamilton, Walter Little & Latonia Spencer,
SUNY Senators
Nothing to report
GSA (Graduate Student Association) – Saben Durio, GSA President
Nothing to report
SA (Student Association) – Felix Abreu, Student Association President
Nothing reported
Chair Collins announced that Jerlisa Fontaine was the incoming Undergraduate Student President,
adding that he would be working with GSA and SA student representatives on coordinating student
involvement in the Senate
COUNCIL/COMMITTEE CHAIRS’ REPORTS
CAA (Council on Academic Assessment) – Alifair Skebe, Chair
Nothing to report
CAFFECoR (Committee on Academic Freedom, Freedom of Expression, and Community
Responsibility) –Carol Jewell, Chair
Nothing to report
CERS (Committee on Ethics in Research and Scholarship) – Michael Jerison, Chair
Nothing to report
COR (Council on Research) – Daniele Fabris, Chair
Review of minutes from March meeting
Old Business
1.
Follow up on the 2016 FRAP-A review process: Associate Vice President for Research, Satyen Kumar
New Business
1.
Presentation by Dr. Theresa Pardo: proposal for the reclassification of the Center for Technology in
Government
2.
CoR Subcommittee Reports
a.
Benevolent Association Graduate Fellowship Research Award: Yu-Hui Chen
b.
Conference and Journal Support Awards: Justin Minder
3.
Review amendments to award guidelines
4.
Summary of the March Research Retreat and recommendations
5.
Electing the 2017-18 CoR Chair
Due to time constraints, we covered the Old Business and item 1 of New Business. We decided to cover items 2-3
by email and postpone item 4-5 to the next meeting, which will be held on May 17.
CPCA (Council on Promotions and Continuing Appointments) – Louise-Anne McNutt,
Chair
Nothing to report
GAC (Graduate Academic Council) – James Fossett, Chair
Nothing reported
Chair Fossett expressed the council’s concern, in light of recent developments in Washington and
anti-immigrant incidents widely reported here and internationally, that there would be a significant
decline in international student enrollments in the fall. The Chair sited statistics supporting this
concern. He suggested that the Senate urge the administration to coordinate efforts to assure
international students that the University at Albany is a welcoming place. After further discussion,
Senate Chair Collins stated that the Senate officers together with the SEC and other councils would
continue efforts and discussion regarding these concerns.
GOV (Governance Council) – Karin Reinhold, Chair
Nothing to report
Chair Reinhold added that GOV was working with the Offices of the Provost and President on
the Senate website to improve communication and reports on council work. She explained that
GOV asked counsels to consider the election of Vice Chairs to assist and perhaps serve as
Chairs in the subsequent year.
LISC (Council on Libraries, Information Systems, and Computing) – David Mamorella,
Chair
Nothing to report
UAC (Undergraduate Academic Council) –Karen Kiorpes and Christy Smith, Co-Chairs
UAC convened a special meeting on April 19 to continue discussion on the Department of Leadership and Policy’s
(EPL) proposal for a new minor in Leadership. There was general support for the proposal but members had
additional concerns about the administration and oversight of the program.
UAC met again on April 27, 2017. Jason Lane, EPL Chair, School of Education, met with the Council to provide
further background on the proposal. Listed support courses are vetted by the Curriculum Committee made up of
EPL faculty in consultation with hosting departments as needed; their expertise in the field determines what is
approved, as leadership varies when contextualized in the major. EPL expects 25-40 students to start and hope to
grow the program over time. Advisement will be housed in EPL. Students would not be able to double-count
between the minors; the CAF needs to be updated to reflect this. UAC approved the proposal.
CEHC submitted a program proposal, Semester in Washington Internship, one that piggybacks on a very successful
Rockefeller College program that has been in place for over twenty years. One Council member expressed concern
that CEHC was relatively new and may have difficulty managing this type of program, but it will also expand
opportunities for their students beyond State to Federal positions. UAC approved the course with one opposed.
Karen Chico Hurst, representing the Registrar’s Office and Kathie Winchester, representing Undergraduate
Education, have drafted a proposal to expand the language for the undergraduate grading policy in order to comply
with SUNY’s 2013 guidelines for grade changes and procedures; incorporate current business practices into the
policies; set a time limit on when grades can be changed. The proposal is also in response to a campus internal audit
on the grade change process. The deadline will be for grade changes and not grade grievances as those can take
more time to resolve. UAC aske that language be added to clarify that the deadlines reflect when the student initiates
a grade change request as there are elements that could affect actual time to change (such as faculty on leave etc.).
The proposal strengthens the University’s sense of ethics and supports faculty under difficult circumstances, i.e.,
when under pressure to change grades for inappropriate reasons. Members of the Committee on Admission and
Academic Standing (CAAS) that were present at the meeting strongly supported this draft. Kathie will continue to
work with members of CAAS/CAS, the Registrar’s and UAC to finalize the policy and proceed with the appropriate
approval procedures.
ULC (University Life Council) – Ekow King, Chair
The next University Life Council Meeting is scheduled for 11am on Wednesday, May 3rd in UNH 200. We
will send a written report from the May 3rd meeting to be shared at the SEC meeting on May 8th.
UPPC (University Planning and Policy Council) – Cynthia Fox, Chair
UPPC will hold its final meeting on Wednesday, May 11.
Chair Fox added that UPPC would hold its last meeting of the semester that coming Thursday. She
listed agenda items including review of subcommittee reports, the Strategic Planning Draft and
Campus Impact Form, assessment of administrative units, and suggestions for the coming year. She
explained that new 2017-18 members had been invited to attend.
Report from Faculty Representative to Athletics – Richard Fogarty
The report would be made available on the Senate website.
ADJOURNMENT
The Senate adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Elisa Lopez, Recorder
