University Senate Executive Committee
Monday, November 30, 2015
2:45 PM
UNH 306
Cynthia Fox, Senate Chair
Minutes
Present:
Collins, Jim; Fabris, Daniele; Fox, Cynthia; Gulatee, Yenisel; Little, Walter; Mamorella, David;
Mower, James; Sly, Kat; Smith, Christy; Stefl-Mabry, Joette; Warner, Lynn
Guests:
Boyer, Kim; Hedberg, Bill
The meeting convened at 2:00 p.m.
Chair Fox summarized communications that had transpired leading to the SEC's vote to hold the special meeting
for Dean Boyer to provide an update on plans for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Update on the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Kim Boyer, Dean
Dean Boyer noted that this was part 2 of his report which he was prepared to give at the last visit but timing did not
allow. Since then there have been updates.
In April 2015 he was not here, and there was no Dean of the College. Provost Stellar was working to the best of his
ability with the information he had at the time. When I came in July, Dean Boyer explained, I was given the tasks
outlined last time, which included generating research revenue, bringing in more and very strong students,
increasing prestige and bringing in substantial tuition revenue. The President's goal to get 20,000 students will
depend heavily on what happens with the College of Engineering. To make a significant jump, it probably has to
come from new programs.
I shared with you, he added, the blueprint that we are working from. As part of that process, I looked at what I had
inherited and evaluated the programs that were there. Much of the last 5 1/2 months has been spent thinking about
where programs and people are best placed so that they can be successful. There were a couple of personnel moves
which were made at the request of the individuals involved, since some felt they were academically out of position.
Without access to the right students it is hard to build an effective program and train graduate students. At the same
time, I looked at all the programs, which include Computer Science, the Informatics bachelor's program, the
Information Studies Department MSIS program, and the inter-disciplinary Information Science doctoral program.
Applied Sciences are context dependent. In a College of Engineering, they typically include things like Genetic
Science and applied Physics and Mathematics, but you do not ever find Information Studies or Social Science
doctoral programs. Neither of those programs thrived well in the legacy CCI. My primary motivation is not to have
these programs out of position, and my great concern is that those programs will in effect be lost in the College
with little mutual support from other areas. It is not my decision to determine what would be a better solution, but
it is necessary for me to call attention to the situation that I am not the right Dean those programs. Meanwhile, I
have to build the College - a very heavy load which will require all my time.
I have tried pretty hard to assist others to find a way to make a smooth transition and soft landing. After reading
Phil's report, it is my conclusion that these folks have been have been bounced around. I have no wish to add to
that; on the other hand, it is not a particularly healthy situation for them. The current thinking is that the PhD
program as an interdisciplinary program need not be in a particular department or college and could be
administrated out of Kevin Williams' Office. I met with faculty on the 13th and with students on the 3rd and asked
if anybody has another idea. The Provost has told me he would be willing to put out some resources to buy out part
of a faculty member's time to lead the program and to communicate with Kevin about it. This this would thereby
eliminate two stages to get to resources, so that the Program Director would talk directly to the Dean of Graduate
Studies. As for Information Studies, I floated a number of proposals to try to find the right solution which, due to
resource limitations and other things, are still under discussion. I really tried to work out something else back in
October. I meet with department Chairs at least once and with the Provost numerous times a month as he tries to
solve this.
Dean Boyer and Senior Vice Provost Bill Hedberg, representing the Provost’s Office, then opened the topic for
discussion. Chair Fox and SEC members voiced concerns about procedures last year that led up to the name
change as having come in bits and pieces, with pressure to move through the name change quickly, as the President
wanted the change and the SUNY process is slow. It was stressed that Senate efforts to slow down the process were
not meant as “road blocks” but rather to allow time for meaningful consultation. Thinking has changed since last
year and is still in formation, with Dean Boyer’s leadership as an Engineer and expert in the field, and with further
campus and Senate consultation and dialogue. It was noted that Information Science was thriving 14 years ago
when it had its own school; the culture of the time, where there was little consultation during the formation of CCI,
is not the culture now. It is understandable that numbers are down without more opportunities to advertise. The I-
School concept was discussed, as a lot of them are ALA accredited. It was agreed there is a need for more
conversation and consultation regarding this and any new engineering programs. Senior Vice Provost Hedberg
would communicate with the Provost to try to arrange a departmental meeting.
Chair Fox thanked Dean Boyer and Senior Vice Provost Hedberg for the very useful conversation.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Elisa Lopez, Recorder
