University Senate
Monday, February 4, 2019
2:45 PM – 4:45 PM
CC West Boardroom
James Mower, Senate Chair
AGENDA
Approval of Senate Minutes of December 10, 2018
Change to the minutes: Minutes instead of agenda
Add Debra’s comments
24 approved, 6 abstained – no quorum
President’s Report – President Havidán Rodríguez
Questions:
Q: 175th Anniversary – very little bookstore “swag”
A: Agree
Q: Critical maintenance funds. Is that on pace or are we under budget?
A: Under budget.
Q: Concern about the TAP gap.
A: Yes, this is a critical issue that we are addressing.
Q: Plan to gather feedback from faculty regarding online teaching and learning?
A: This is a major priority, and we have been having a lot of conversations about it. The deans
have been closely involved in the process of review and planning.
Q: Blue ribbon panel – what is the status of graduate funding?
A: We are in the process of fixing this; it is a critical issue and it has been discussed extensively.
Part of the one-year accelerators focus on graduate scholarships. We are taking a systematic
approach to resolve this. We are actually seeing an increase in the PhD students applying to and
attending UAlbany.
Q: Expand on initiatives for diversifying faculty and women in STEM
A: Mentoring program which we are doing on campus, PRODI-G program comes from the
Chancellor, expecting 1000 underrepresented faculty in the next decade. In the first year SUNY
will pay up to $90k of the faculty’s salary, and then decline from there until year 4 and beyond
when the campus is fully responsible.
Q: Is the accelerator money for recruitment or current students?
A: Recruitment.
Provost’s Report – Interim Provost Elga Wulfert
Provost Wulfert indicated that the President has been comprehensive in his report and offered to
respond to questions.
Q: What is the timeline for the Graduate School?
A: Kevin Williams will attend the Deans’ Council two meetings from now, and hope to be able
to move after that on the planning of a timeline.
Q: Diversity Council – how can we hear from that group?
A: Diversity is an area of the strategic plan, and so it is public information what the council is
working on and what has been funding. The council has been invited to participate in a forum to
the Senate, and has agreed to attend. The council wants to work with the Senate.
Senate Chair’s Report – James Mower
Chancellor’s report is available online. There are some academic initiatives that we should
consider moving forward, including artificial intelligence.
New Business
a.
Approval of new Council members – deferred due to lack of quorum
b. Resolution on December Commencement Ceremonies—Deborah LaFond, ULC --
deferred due to lack of quorum
c.
Resolution on Department Commencement Ceremonies—Deborah LaFond, ULC
-- deferred due to lack of quorum
Graduation ceremonies have a big impact on the relationship between the alumni and the
University for the rest of those individual’s lives. Many students live far away and cannot come
to the May
The Council is saying that there is should be financial support for departmental ceremonies.
There was some discussion about how quorum should be handled. It was argued that votes can
be made without the correct number of people so long as quorum is not “called”. The
Parliamentarian claimed that in fact votes can be made in an emergency fashion but they would
have to be re-voted on at the next meeting.
Other Reports
1. SUNY Senators’ Report – Diane Hamilton, Latonia Spencer, Sam Axley
2. Graduate Student Organization Report – Kaylynn Enright, Lead Senator
Passed a resolution in the assembly about parking on campus. Graduate students who stay late
or come early as commuters are getting tickets. Graduation is during finals and although no one
has specifically brought up the issue, it is still a concern. A member shared that for students who
have a conflict, the recommendation is that professors will give them an alternative date.
3. Student Association Report – Langie Cadesca, President
4. Council/Committee Chair Reports:
i.
CAA – Istvan Kecskes/Mary Ellen Mallia, Co- Chairs
ii.
CAFFECoR – Malcolm Sherman, Chair
iii.
CERS – Youqin Huang, Chair
iv.
COR –Robert Rosenswig, Chair
In the last meeting the FRAP A award recommendations have been approved and passed along
to the VPR. CoR is in the process of setting up a meeting about how ICR gets distributed
throughout the University.
v.
CPCA – James Hargett, Chair
vi.
GAC – Sean Rafferty, Chair
vii.
GOV – Zina Lawrence, Chair
Feb 20th meeting GOV will give response on the protocol.
viii.
LISC – Billie Franchini, Chair
ix.
UAC – Christy Smith/Karen Kiorpes, Co-Chairs
x.
ULC – Deborah LaFond, Chair
Smoking policy – the date has been moved because there was not consultation of the Union.
A number of campuses have an issue with the conflation between sexual harassment /
discrimination and consensual relationships.
xi.
UPPC – Karin Reinhold, Chair
We are finalizing dates for the Forum on "Inequalities in Academia" with panelist Dr. Elga
Wulfert (former CAS Dean), Dr. Lynn Warner (Dean of SSW), Dr. Jamie Dangler (UUP) and
Dr. Tamra Minor (ODI). Dr. Minor will address the diversity composition of the university and
the diversity plan, Dr. Wulfert and Warner will talk about their experiences as deans, and Dr.
Dangler will talk about the negotiated Salary Study between UUP and the state.
Today was the first meeting of the Academic Program Process Review Committee. The number
of Senate meetings is limited and the impact of cancellations due to weather may delay the
approval process. Therefore it was suggested to consider working into the Senate schedule
alternative dates for such emergencies and considering adding an option meeting in May for
years in which the number of proposals deem it necessary.
Announcements -- none
Adjournment
