Remarks of Chair, Professor Rishi S. Raj
Plenary Session, CCNY Faculty Senate Meeting
Meeting, December 15, 2011, 2 PM, SH-250
I am pleased to welcome you to the last Plenary Session of the Faculty Senate for the year 2011. It is time to thank everyone; faculty staff, administration for making this semester a success through your hard work. A lot has happened and the College has been moving forward in all the areas. It is time to celebrate for the accomplishments we all have achieved as a team.
New Year’s is just a few days away and there is so much hope and aspirations to look for. In between we have enough time for self examination, define our virtues and affirm our future ideas.
In the ever changing environment there is always a provision for change to meet the future needs to grow, enhance quality and build fabric of creativity. The Senate Executive Committee in its meetings is very conscious of its responsibility in mapping the effects the changes may have to all the constituents of the College. In this connection both of our governance bodies put their heart and soul in the issue of Pathways and reached to a reasonable solution as far as academic matters are concerned. Although flexibility is central to shared governance there has been some deviation from it at CUNY level. Nonethelessthe governance bodies made it clear through our resolutions that we would not like our College besieged by non-academics on College curriculum matters to preserve the quality of education. University is not a business and what we do for our students are not commodities. Teaching, creativity, discoveries are engines of innovations for economic and social quality and growth of a society and nation and, therefore, academic excellence and freedom etc. cannot be compromised.
We are very fortunate and I am proud to say that at City our faculty carries this spirit and values.
On matters relating to students concern for tuition increases, the faculty indeed is sympathetic to their cause. Although the increase in amounts looks little to those who have it, but to some who have nothing these increases may bea path changers. Our President is doing her best to not let that happen to our students in need and we are fortunate to have such a conscientious leader of our institution.
Beyond these issues which really occupied us a lot the Senate Executive committee has approved the nominations for the honorary degree candidates for 2012 graduation, Changes to Article XI of the College Governance on ombudsperson which will be presented to you shortly for your approval, a new Masters Program on Earth Systems and Environmental Engineering. It also looked into e-permit for courses, absence of Sallie Mae representative on campus causing difficulties for student’s tuition payment.
The Executive Committee also discussed issues relating to changes in governance regarding promotionsimilar to changes you approved for tenure cases, Distinguished Professor nomination procedures, on line/Hybrid Course evaluation,and service inclusion for young faculty load evaluations.
The Committee also believes that strengtheningthe Asian Study Program will bring added value and richness to the College and we should invite entrepreneurs to our College. Although at our College are very broad minded and believe in free speech, it has been felt that a vote on contentious matters should be by secret ballot to protect the young faculty’s participation in the Senate and our ombudsperson is looking into this matter further.
The College will also be making every effort to enhance evening offerings and also will initiate attracting top ranking foreign students to our campus. I am very pleased to note that President Coico has taken steps to enhance course offerings in view of over crowding and studentstimely graduation in the spring semester.
Finally I want to quote from Chinese philosopher Tao most appropriate for this occasion of festivity;
“Flexibility is companion in life,
All new born, living andthriving life is gentle and soft,
Filled with compassion, tender and green.
The stiffness, hardness, dryness and arrogance
Bunker of mentality are only companions in death.
Let theSystems evolve naturally.
Nostorm can last forever as there is time for everything.”
This philosophy may help us towards our attitude to each other, to our students and to all at our campus for strengthening our institution’s foundations, the Flagship of CUNY.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Holidays and my best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and a Prosperous New Year.
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