Baruch College Faculty Senate Plenary Meeting
Minutes of February 5, 2015
MINUTES
Senators Attending: C. Bellamy (Soc/Anth), M. Carew (Eco/Fin), A. Croker (S/CIS), B. Ferns (S/CIS), W. Finke (ModLang), K. Frank (ENG), R. Freedman (ZSB), M. Goodman (COMM), A. Grein (Mkt/Int’lBus), C. Hessel (Eco/Fin), R. Jain (S/CIS), S. Johnson (PSY), D. Jones (PolSci), G. Jurkevich (ModLang), S. Korenman (SPA), C. Kulatilleke (NatSci), A. Levitus (CNSLNG/PSY), T. Main (SPA), T. Martell (Eco/Fin), B. Murphy (HIS), J. O'Keefe Bazzoni (COMM), R. Ormsby (LIB), A. Pearlman (PSY), L. Rath (LIB), M. Seltzer (SPA), P. Sethi (MGT), S. Wine (S/CIS), Yin (MGT), R. Yue (S/CIS) .
Senators Absent: E. Axelrod (Law), C. Christoforatou (ENG), S. Dishart (COMM), C. Gengler (Mkt/Int’lBus ), K. Guest (Soc/Anth), D. Howard (Math), W. McClellan (ENG), M. Ozbilgin (ACC), G. Petersen (Soc/Anth), M. Stark (SPA), A. Vora (Eco/Fin), J. Weiser (Law), S. Wong (MTH), J. Ye (ACC) X.
Forty one additional members of the faculty and staff noted their presence.
The meeting was convened at 12:45 p.m. in VC 14-250 by Professor Chris. Hessel, Chair of the Faculty Senate.
I. Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved by assent.
II. Approval of the Minutes: Minutes of Plenary Meeting of December 4, 2014 were approved by assent.
III. Report from the Chair: Stan Wine announced the report of the P.S.C. request for faculty and staff to sign the petition requesting mayoral and the governor to accelerate a “fair offer” in the contract negotiations. Further a meeting will be held on February 19th to discuss progress
IV. Report of the Provost: Provost Christie indicated progress in the installation of CUNY-First in the recruitment process. CUNY has contracted for the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) research team at Harvard University survey of faculty and staff satisfaction. The “Middle States” periodic report is being prepared for June submission. As a “non-attendance taking institution” we must wait until the end of semester to assign a WU grade. An exception is allowed for students receiving “public assistance.” Such students should be reported in accordance with the attendant regulations. Finally, the governor has emphasized “experiential learning.” Professor Warren Gordon raised question as to class disruption from non-attendees.
V. Report of the President; President Wallerstein recognized and welcomed the new Counsel Olga Dais. Further he announced his expectation that graduation this Spring will be at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn.
VI. Old Business Report
Vote to Amend the Faculty Senate College-wide Undergraduate Curriculum Committee relating to the member from the Library.
Proposed change from the Chief Librarian designee (faculty-1 vote) to one faculty from the Library shall be elected by the Faculty Senate. The motion carried.
VII. New Business:
“Big Tent” discussion by faculty senators on how to deal with underrepresented population in the student and faculty bodies. Chair Hessel introduced the discussion by emphasizing the role of the Faculty Senate in advising and counsel the administration on policies and operations. The “Big Tent” discussion was introduced and conducted the “Big Tent” discussion by Professor Kevin Frank and Michael Seltzer. Professor Seltzer introduced the discussion by noting that the subject of today’s deliberations was an outgrowth of the Faculty Senate Plenary meeting in October. (Copies of the discussion guidelines and questions are appended as part of these minutes.)
At the conclusion of the deliberations Professor Seltzer requested five of the tables to report on their recommendations.
Professor Martell reported that for retention several improvements can be made as to faculty relations with students; specifically the use of data analytics to identify area of concern among new students.
Professor Frank reported a “long list” of potential improvements concerning student admission and retention, in particularly the enhanced use of essays in the admissions process. In addition an expanded advertising-marketing effort to explain the specifics of the three schools that comprise Baruch. The work of the SEEK programs experience and processes should be more widely applied.
Professor Mindy Engle-Friedman reported the recommendations of her table including an enhanced attention to GPA in the application process. Further professors should encouraged and motivated to spend more time and effort in student mentoring. She noted that students should be screened for Hybrid courses to assure that they would prosper in such a novel environment.
Kieran Morrow reported that her table assumed substantially expanded resources that might be employed for “out-reach” and mentoring. For faculty, faculty housing and spousal employment should be enhanced. Attracting and enticing minority faculty candidates.
Michael Goodman reported his table discussed the transparency of the admissions and transfer process; converting admitted students to registered / attending students. Faculty should be more aggressively used in the recruitment of students.
Professor Rita Ormsby – Library reported the need for better welcoming of new students; research why admitted student do not register and attend. Also a recommended was a program whereby “conditional admittance” students would be encouraged and counseled, should they subsequently need to transfer.
Professor Prakash Sethi reported a need for emphasis on “structured community” for new students.
Vice President Ben Corpus; requested that copies of the individual tables recommendations be forwarded to his Office. Chair Hessel requested that such copies be made and forwarded.
Professor Arthur Lewin stated his position as regarded the Faculty Strategic Plan and progress on the plan in achieving higher level of diversity. He then listed the specific steps in the plan and what progress has been achieved on each of the steps. Individual members of the faculty and Administration responded to his specific inquiries.
VIII. Announcements: Chairman Hessel noted the next plenary meeting of the Faculty Senate will be on the first Thursday in March that is March fourth. He then thanked all for the participation in the discussion and wished all a pleasant semester.
Meeting Adjourned at 2:20 pm
Respectfully Submitted
Michael G. Carew, Faculty Senate Secretary
Guidelines for Roundtable Discussion Participants
Thursday, February 5, 2015
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The process is designed to brainstorm strategies that can advance the college’s efforts to expand our inclusiveness of historically underrepresented populationsamong our faculty and student body.
Discussion Format:
· To maximize participation, in lieu of our usual plenary format, we will be discussing strategies at our tables for approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
· Participants are asked to sit with colleagues with whom they usually don’t have an opportunity to interact.
· Each table will choose a facilitator and a recorder.
· Each person will have the opportunity to jot down their own suggestions on the handouts that will be at each table.
· In addition, a second form will be at each table for the recorderto write down those particular suggestions that the table endorses as a whole.
· After discussions, five Senate executive committee members will report out on the endorsed suggestions of their tables.
· After the reports from the five tables, the floor will be open for discussion of those recommendations and any matters specific to the meeting’s focus.
· The Faculty Senate Executive Committee will compile all of the results and report back to the full Senate at its March meeting, including any possible discussion and action items.
Framing Questions: Participants at each table are asked to choose one of the firsttwo framing questions and the third question as the focus of their brainstorming:
1. What short-term and/or long-term strategies can be put in place to increase the enrollment numbers of students from historically underrepresentedcommunities?
2. What short-term and/or long-term strategies can be put in place to enlist new facultyfrom historically underrepresented constituencies?
3. What future role(s) would you like to see the Faculty Senate to play in these efforts?
Individual Participant Suggestions Sheet
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Instructions: Please jot down your suggestions in response to one or both of the following two questions:
1. What short-term and/or long-term strategies can be put in place to increase the enrollment numbers of students from historically underrepresentedcommunities?
2. What short-term and/or long-term strategies can be put in place to enlist new facultyfrom historically underrepresented constituencies?
In addition, jot down your thoughts on the following question:
What future role(s) would you like to see the Faculty Senate play in these efforts?______
Please hand in this sheet before you leave the meeting.
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Recorder Suggestions Sheet
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Instructions: Please jot down those specific suggestions or recommendations that elicited support at your table discussion.
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Please hand in this sheet before you leave the meeting.
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