Report from the Chair:
Jan 30: During the SEC meeting, Jim C. asked for a) Council Procedures to be
included in the Senate Handbook, b) recommendations for the different Councils
from the shared governance survey.
Feb 3: Interim Provost Wheeler announced that the structure of commencement
will change starting Spring 2017. We’ll no longer have small departmental
ceremonies. They will be clustered while still focusing on celebrating families and
students.
Feb 6: Meeting with Jen Carron, assistant VP for marketing, to plan the Identity
Forum. Jen and Joe Brennan will come to the March meeting of the Senate to present
the results of their exploratory survey. Forum on Identity will focus on messaging
and crafting ideas for who we are.
Feb 6: I checked with Finance & Administration about placing the budget on the
webpage.
Feb 9: Results of votes on the resolutions. Nine people voted 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
Feb 10: Convergence strategic planning event: Expedition Mapping.
http://www.albany.edu/strategicplan/expedition_mapping.shtml
was interesting to see the conversations. Description of Design Thinking:
http://www.albany.edu/strategicplan/design_thinking.shtml
Feb 13: Senate meeting. Dean Al ALS presentation mentioned that ALS offers a legal
clinic. We are wondering if this clinic can help people caught up in the travel ban
and ICE crackdown. Jim Collins is in the process of finding out details.
Feb 14: I received information from the Director of ISSS Mike Elliot for students in
need of help:
“In regard to resources, the materials we provide to international students are
available in our office so if you have any international students who need support or
additional information, please send them our way. The ISSS general email box is
isss
@albany.edu
and phone is 518-591-8172 We also provide updated information to
our international students via our weekly newsletter, future forums, and direct
emails.
Something helpful to you and for all immigrant/immigrant-intent and non-immigrant
students is the NYCLU Know-Your-Rights resources. These can be printed as pocket
size resources and referenced for dealing with specific cases.
1. What to Do if You are Stopped by an Immigration Officer http://www.nyclu.org/
publications/palm-card-what-do-if-youre-stopped-immigration-officers-2012
2. Immigrants’ Rights are Human Rights: Universal Guarantees of Rights to All
People
http://www.nyclu.org/publications/immigrants-rights-are-human-rights-universal-
guarantees-of-rights-all-people-2009
3. Your Rights to an Attorney if You are Arrested and Accused of a Crime
http://www.nyclu.org/publications/know-your-rights-your-right-attorney-if-youre-
arrested-and-accused-of-crime-2014
4. What to Do if You are Stopped by the Police
http://www.nyclu.org/publications/palm-card-what-do-if-youre-stopped-police-
english-and-spanish
Also helpful for following presidential policy changes, particularly through Executive
Orders, is to visit www.whitehouse.gov for briefings, including presidential actions
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions). Judicial action
updates on Executive Orders can be found on government websites such as the U.S.
9th Circuit Court of Appeals (https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/).
I hope this is helpful information and please do refer international students with
concerns to our office. Thanks so much- Mike
Michael Elliott, PhD
Director, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at the Center for
International Education and Global Strategy (CIEGS) Science Library G-40, University
at Albany, Albany, NY 12222
tel: 518-591-8189 fax: 518-591-8171”
Recommendations for actions from Governance:
1. Update of Senate Handbook
a) Student representation
b) Update of dated material
c) Inclusion of procedures for different Councils
2. Update of Faculty Bylaws to update the representation of contingent faculty
3. Nominations for At-Large Senators
4. Identity:
a) List of faculty that would be beneficial to talk to while developing the
UAlbany Identity
b) Names for panelists for Forum on Identity
