Senate Secretary Christian Poehlmann
Reports Submitted for February 22, 2017 SEC meeting:
CHAIR’S REPORT – James Collins
I.
Informational
1.
On February 3, Chair Collins received texts of two resolutions on the Executive Order
travel ban and affirming support for an inclusive, diverse campus, from Gov Chair Karin
Reinhold and GAC Chair James Fossett, along with confirmation that the Liaisons and
Elections Committee of GOV voted to support both.
2.
On February 3, Chair Collins tallied an electronic vote from SEC endorsing the
Resolution, discussed at its January 30 meeting: “UAlbany’s Commitment to a Safe,
Diverse, and Inclusive Multicultural Campus.” The vote was 10 in favor, 1 opposed.
3.
On February 6, Chair Collins attended a meeting of the University Executive Committee
discussing SUNY Provost Cartwright’s response to the University’s presentation (on
January 18) about Performance Improvement Planning. At this meeting Harvey Charles,
Dean of International Studies, gave a report of the effects of the Executive Order/Travel
Ban on the University.
4.
On February 9, Chair Collins confirmed GSA President Saben Durio’s appointment of
Amanda Aykanian as the GSA representative to COR.
5.
On February 9, Chair Collins discussed with GOV Chair Karin Reinhold and GAC Chair
James Fossett the order of presentation of two resolutions for the Senate Meeting on
February 13.
6.
On February 9, Chair Collins clarified with Vice Chair Reinhold and Immediate Past Chair
Fox the non-existence of an Independent Review Committee for Undergraduate
Programs and confirmed the need to remove reference to it from the Senate Handbook.
7.
On February 10, Chair Collins accepted an invitation to participate in the February 21
Forum on Shared Governance.
8.
On February 11, Chair Collins issued invitations to participants for the March 21 Forum
on Contingent Concerns.
9.
On February 11, Chair Collins contacted the current Communications Director and
President of the Emeritus Center, following up on previous inquiries about the status of
a non-voting Senator from the Emeritus Center.
II.
Actions taken
a.
On February 6, 2017, Chair Collins referred to the Senate two resolutions:
i. UALBANY’S COMMITMENT TO A SAFE, DIVERSE AND
INCLUSIVE MULTICULTURAL CAMPUS
ii. CONDEMNATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER ON
IMMIGRANTS
b.
On February 10, Chair Collins confirmed the invitation of Vice President Joe
Brennan to attend the February 22 SEC Meeting.
III.
Recommendations for actions
In order to provide an accessible written record of important Council practices and
procedures, the SEC should encourage each Council Chair to develop written procedures
for their Councils and Committees, to be kept in a Council Handbook compiled and
curated by the Governance Council, as a supplement to the more general Senate
Handbook.
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
Graduate Student Assembly has created a Sanctuary Campus Task Force
o
Taskforce responsibilities involve: Postcard, letter writing campaign;
working through our Student Assembly at their bi-annual conference;
working with Interim President Stellar to learn of his commitment;
advocacy via social media, listserv, etc.
SA (Student Association) – Felix Abreu, Student Association President
Nothing reported
COUNCIL/COMMITTEE CHAIRS’ REPORTS:
CAA (Council on Academic Assessment) – James Mower, Chair
Nothing reported
CAFFECoR (Committee on Academic Freedom, Freedom of Expression, and
Community Responsibility) –Carol Jewell, Chair
I.
Informational
a)CAFFECoR had a very abbreviated meeting 2/13/2017, largely due to
inclement weather and a delayed start.
II.
Reports of Actions
b)N/A
III.
Recommendations for Actions
c)Jewell will reschedule the meeting.
CERS (Committee on Ethics in Research and Scholarship) – Michael Jerison, Chair
Nothing to report
COR (Council on Research) – Daniele Fabris, Chair
Nothing reported
CPCA (Council on Promotions and Continuing Appointments) – Louise-Anne
McNutt, Chair
Nothing to report
GAC (Graduate Academic Council) – James Fossett, Chair
Nothing reported
GOV (Governance Council) – Karin Reinhold, Chair
Governance voted on two resolutions as follows:
1) RESOLUTION: AFFIRMATION OF UALBANY’S COMMITMENT TO A
SAFE, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE MULTICULTURAL CAMPUS
6 Yes, 2 Abstain, 1 No
2) RESOLUTION: CONDEMNATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER ON
IMMIGRANTS.
7 Yes, 1 Abstain, 1 No
LISC (Council on Libraries, Information Systems, and Computing) – David
Mamorella, Chair
Educational Technology Center (ETC). Test Scanning services moved from
the Computer Center to LC 27. The call center portion of the Help Desk
relocated from LC 27 to MSC 209. The Help Desk will move to the library
with the students in a few months. LC 27/SB 31 plans to be turned into an
Educational Technology Center, a faculty-centered facility for ITS Teaching
and Learning services. FTR, Classroom Technology, Test Scanning, and the
Lecture Capture Room will offer one-stop shopping to bring customers and
services together.
Student Advisory Board. Many of the concerns that the Student Advisory
Board discussed this past fall had to do with the cost of printing. Many
transfer and graduate students come from institutions that don’t charge for
printing or give each student a certain amount of free printing every semester
(e.g., 200 sheets, or $30 worth). Some benchmarking was done with other
SUNY institutions, and most seem to have more liberal printing options than
UAlbany. The Libraries would like to work with ITS to consider and evaluate
other printing solutions.
Science Library. The proposed renovation of the 3rd floor of the University
Library will not happen. Instead, the Office of Campus Planning is looking to
renovate the 2nd floor of the Science Library. That space contains book stacks
filled with bound journals that are very lightly used. The Libraries are
working with the Office of Campus Planning to move the bound journals to
compact shelving on the basement level so the University can re-purpose the
2nd floor space to house other units (Advisement, the Writing Center, ITLAL,
and the Center for Achievement, Retention, and Student Success). Access to
the 16 group study rooms and offices on that floor will most likely be lost at
the end of the spring semester. The Libraries are going to appoint a task force
to review library space to provide alternate group study areas. The goal is to
not have a net loss of space dedicated to student use, especially group study
rooms which are very popular.
Combined circulation, reference, and IT help desk. Plans to re-build the
circulation desk so that it’s more welcoming as well as accessible to people in
wheelchairs in in development. It will be about 10-12 feet further back from
the door so the size of the lobby area will be increased and seating will be
provided. Circulation, reference, and IT support will be offered at one
consolidated desk. The current reference desk will be dismantled and replaced
with additional student workstations.
UAC (Undergraduate Academic Council) –Karen Kiorpes and Christy Smith, Co-
Chairs
•
Nothing reported
ULC (University Life Council) – Ekow King, Chair
•
Nothing reported
UPPC (University Planning and Policy Council) – Cynthia Fox, Chair
I.
Informational
a)The Council met on February 8. The agenda included several reports:
i) Interim Provost Wheeler provided updates on the Strategic Planning
process and various Dean searches, and announced that he had discussed
with the Deans changes in fiscal planning that will have move budget
planning into to the spring semester;
ii)VP Van Voorst updated us on the status of report on the assessment of the
Division of Finance and Administration that took place in December and
described the status of current budget negotiations in the NYS legislature.
iii)Director of Sustainability Mary Ellen Mallia presented an overview of the
history and current sustainability efforts on campus.
iv)Sandra Starke, Vice Provost and Associate Vice President for Enrollment
Management; -Kevin Williams, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate
Education, and Harvey Charles, Dean and Vice Provost for International
Education, presented information about current enrollments and future
trends.
b)The Council also considered a proposal to rename the Department of
Computer Engineering as the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering.
c)Consideration of proposals from Rockefeller College to couple undergraduate
majors in Political Science and in Public Policy with the Master’s in International
Affairs have been placed on the the agenda of our next meeting, March 8.
II.
Actions Taken
a)The Council approved proposal to rename the Department of Computer
Engineering as the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
III.
Recommendations.
a)None at this time.
