Faculty Council Minutes - Feb. 8, 2022
2021-2022 College of Arts and Letters Faculty Council Meeting Minutes
February 8, 2022, Webex
Call to Order 4:00 PM
I. Roll Call
- Present: Alam, Alamina, Allred, Baltus, Benton, Black, Branson, Caceres, Carpenter, Case, Christman, Compora, Cook, Dudley, Dunn, Feldmeier, Ferris, Foss, Grazzini, Hey, Keith, Kistner, McBane, Mezo, Monteleone, Montpetit, Nemeth, Miner, Rouillard, Sakowski, Sapci, Smith, Stover, Taylor, Thompson-Casado, Xianlin, Yaklin, Yamazaki (38)
- Absent: Beatty, Crookston, Heberle, Semaan, Stauch, Whittaker (6)
- Vacancies: 1
- Guests: Gilbert, Hammel, Hintz, Gregory, Padilla (5)
II. Approval of Agenda & Minutes
- Meeting agenda submitted for approval; Motion to approve with date correction; Second; Vote: Agenda Approved.
- Minutes from January 25, 2022, meeting submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Minutes Approved.
III. Dean's Report: Charlene Gilbert
- Survey sent to all staff and the College asking for feedback on suggested professional development opportunities; please communicate suggestions to your Chairs, as well.
- Significant progress has been made on getting Arts and Letters students involved in undergraduate research. Summer research awards are contingent upon students having faculty mentors, so please consider being a mentor.
- Budget process ongoing; a discrepancy exists between expenses and revenues. Ideas for revenue generation encouraged; please email Dean Gilbert or your department Chair.
- Two donors are making significant gifts to the College to support the Global Scholars Program. Suggestions for and interest in participating welcome, including those with experience leading trips of 20 students abroad.
- A reminder to please submit your Starfish reports by the deadline of Friday, February 18. This reporting is important to student assistance and retention efforts.
IV. Faculty Senate Report: Suzanne Smith
- The College Level Budget Advisory Committees were discussed with the Provost; these committees are currently populated by Deans and Faculty Senate would like to change that to include Senate and faculty representation.
- The Provost reported that the Inclusive Access Textbook program has saved students $1.8 million so far; this program replaces traditional print textbooks with digital versions. The deadline to participate for fall 2022 and spring 2023 is Friday, February 25. Interested faculty should contact Barnes & Noble Student Bookstore. See also Utoledo.edu > Office of the Provost > Faculty Affairs > Inclusive Access Textbook Form.
- Concerns were raised regarding two new College of Graduate Studies positions that are being cost-shared, with positions in both Marketing and Director of Student Success. In addition, Success Coaches for Graduate students are being hired. Objections included the comment that the Graduate Advisor should be mentoring graduate students, not Success Coaches, especially when funding for Graduate Assistantships has been cut.
- A new deadline for course proposals will be needed because of year-round registration.
- The Student Affairs Committee met with members of the Muslim Student Association to address concerns about course calendars and exams conflicting with religious observances. The Provost reminded all that a comprehensive Religious Days Calendar is posted on the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s web page. President Bigioni said that including these holidays on our academic calendars should be common practice.
- The Ohio Faculty Council met on January 14. Universities need to affirm or deny auto-textbook adoption policies, which go into effect in August 2022. Student debt, which is forwarded to the Attorney General for collection, was discussed. Transcripts are often withheld in these cases and the Ohio Faculty Council is collecting information on this issue. The University of Toledo allows two semesters of outstanding debt before sending accounts to the Attorney General unless a payment plan has been agreed upon. Unless the debt has been forwarded to the AG, UT does not and cannot withhold transcripts from potential employers.
- House Bill 327, about teaching divisive concepts, is on hold but Ohio Faculty Council would like to have a resolution ready. Faculty Senate is planning to draft its own resolution as well, which will be presented to the Executive Committee and then distributed to Faculty Senate for discussion.
V. Graduate Council: Dan Hammel
- The College of Graduate Studies is planning to hold another Graduate Recruitment Fairs but needs to consider ways to improve attendance. A plan is being considered to host an all-University online event.
- The Midwest Graduate Symposium will be held April 9 online.
- A number of international students have purchased medical insurance that is not compliant with the ACA, so the University has had to step in and remove that option for students. These students will have to use ACA or University plans, which will substantially raise the price of their insurance.
VI. Curriculum Report: Linda Rouillard
- Course proposals: WGST 3100 – Globally Queer; HEAL 4960/5960 cross listed with PSC 4420/5420* - Political Determinants of Health. Vote: Yes – 27; No – 0; Abstain – 6; approved.
- Program Modifications: Anthropology BA; German BA; Health Care Policy and Administration Graduate Certificate; Public Administration MPA. Vote: approved.
- *Associate Dean Gregory stated that the Faculty Senate Core Curriculum Committee is getting multiple requests for some courses taught by other Colleges (e.g., HHS) to be included in the core under the Social Sciences distribution area. A concern is that this risks diluting Social Science course enrollments in Arts & Letters. Associate Dean Hammel agreed and said A & L should monitor and be aware of this concern; however, a difference of note here is that HEAL 4960/5960 is cross listed with PSC 4420/5420 and is an advanced level course.
VII. Elections Report: Trish Case
- Please forward nominations for Council by February 18; the election will take place after Spring Break.
VIII. Announcements:
- The Department of Art Faculty Exhibit is in the Gallery. The closing scheduled February 11th, 6-8:30 PM.
- Focus on Abortion: Americans Share Their Stories Exhibit in Carlson Library, 5th floor, through February 17. Co-sponsored by the Department of Women’s & Gender Studies and the Eberly Center.
IX. Adjournment
- Motion to Adjourn; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting Adjourned