Chair Report March 29th
March 22st, 2017
Mar 13th Maritza Martinez was added to the list of nominees for Open At-Large
Senators after a successful petition to add her name with 29 signatures.
Mar 20th Meeting of SEC:
What should be in the Senate website?
We are proposing that the website should have calendar of Council meetings.
It turns out that many councils do not meet regularly.
SEC endorsed the councils’ reporting of agenda and minutes on the website.
Presidential search: there is still time to forward input to M. Castellana about
your concerns or suggestions. For example, you could send names of possible
candidates or sample questions to ask candidates. The search committee is
working on a common set of questions to ask all candidates. Since there is no
contingent faculty in the search committee, J. Collins suggested adding 2
questions about part time faculty.
There was a question about the role of the Senate on assessment of part time
faculty. SIRF scores are the only tool used for evaluation of part time teaching
faculty. Best practice in our own guidelines for hiring: peer review of
teaching every 3 semesters.
CPCA is considering changing it structure for more efficient review of cases
and reducing work overload of members. This will be discussed during the
meeting of April 6.
Gov’s procedures to be included in handbook:
Online procedure to add nominees for senators at-large.
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions
Orientation meeting of Councils and standing committees’ chairs at the
beginning of the academic year to inform about reporting procedures, and
general guidelines of council chairs responsibilities.
Meeting with SA and GSA presidents at the beginning of each semester to
update student senator rosters. There is a high turn-around of student
senators leaving councils and committees without appropriate student
representation.
GAC requested information about contribution of immigrants: number, countries of
origin, financial and intellectual contribution of international students, faculty and
staff to UAlbany. GSA’s chair suggested that the President should consider making a
statement regarding our support and acknowledging their contributions.
Mar 20th Announcement of Faculty Bylaws amendments.
Mar 21st Streamlining requests for volunteers for shared governance: google form.
Mar 21st: forum on contingent concerns: J. Collins, Professor of Anthropology & Chair
of the University Senate, was the moderator. William Hedberg, Senior Vice Provost for
Academic Affairs, Chair of Implementation Team of Provost’s Blue Ribbon Panel on
Contingent Concerns, talked about the gains achieved with the work of the Blue
Ribbon Panels, Bret Benjamin, Associate Professor of English, President of Albany
Chapter of United University Professions , talked about the work UUP has done
advancing the cause of UUP most vulnerable members, the contingent faculty; Holly
McKenna, Lecturer, Department of Communication, Member of University Senate and
Contingent Concerns Committee of Albany Chapter of United University Professions
(UUP), talked about the plea of contingent faculty, Caitlin Janiszewski added the
graduate students’ perspective and Karin Reinhold, Associate Professor, Department
of Mathematics and Statistics, Chair of Governance Council of the University Senate,
talked about the work the Governance Council towards voting privileges of part
time faculty. Provost Darrell asked the audience what can be done to change the
culture within departments to have more participation of contingent faculty and
more recognition of their work. Answers included: inviting more engagement of
contingent faculty, having intentional dialogs that address this issue, bringing the
dialog outside the circle of already committed individuals, bring the dialog to Deans
and Department Chairs and heads of Units. Keep improving the remuneration and
path to permanency. Encourage research and access to resources for research.
Mar 22nd Assessment of administrative units. The Senate will have 1 or 2
representatives in the Assessment Advisory Committee. It is advised that those
representatives have knowledge of the Senate, program reviews and assessment.
Prior Senate leaders, UPPC, GOV and CAA are appropriate choices.
Mar 22nd Leadership meeting.
Decanal 360 review is in the process of discussing parameters of evaluations. This
review is internal to UAlbany, whereas the assessment of administrative units is
involved with Middle States Accreditation. Minnesota has a pilot program in place.
Consultation with the legal department is underway because of fear of FOIL
requests of the reviews. Rules of items that are foilable are governed by NY State
law, and are different than Minnesota’s.
Plans for the Spring Faculty Meeting are underway. It will have a conversational
format with the President, the Provost and past Immediate Chair of Senate,
moderated by Chair of the Senate. Questions from the audience will be welcomed.
Proposal to videotape senate meetings may have unintended consequences.
Procedures to communicate the content of the Senate meetings should be re-
addressed. Consultation with the legal department is recommended.
The question of quorum was revised and promoted the question of efficacy of
student participation in the Senate. A question to consider is whether the
composition of the Senate is appropriate.
Next meeting of website working group: March 30th.
