Faculty Council Minutes - Feb. 22, 2022
2021-2022 College of Arts and Letters Faculty Council Meeting Minutes
February 22, 2022, Webex
Call to Order 4:00 PM
I. Roll Call
- Present: Alam, Alamina, Allred, Baltus, Beatty, Benton, Black, Caceres, Case, Christman, Compora, Cook, Crookston, Dunn, Feldmeier, Foss, Grazzini, Hey, Keith, Kistner, McBane, Mezo, Monteleone, Montpetit, Nemeth, Miner, Rouillard, Sakowski, Sapci, Semaan, Smith, Stover, Thompson-Casado, Xianlin, Yaklin, Yamazaki (36)
- Absent: Branson, Carpenter, Dudley, Ferris, Stauch, Taylor, Whittaker (7)
- Vacancies: 2
- 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 February 8, 2022, meeting submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Minutes Approved.
III. Executive Committee Report: Jetsa Caceres
- The Executive Committee met Friday, February 18, and discussed the upcoming elections which will be detailed in the Elections Committee report.
IV. Faculty Senate Report: Suzanne Smith
- The Faculty Senate Executive Committee met with President Postel on February 4. In response to the topic of religious holiday observance addressed at the previous Faculty Senate meeting, President Postel said that the plan is to make a new calendar that includes religious holidays recognized by UT. Senate President Bigioni stated that this would need to be coupled with accommodations policies.
- Progress on current executive searches was shared by President Postel: the search for Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is down to two candidates; the Athletic Director was down to three but has since been filled; the Pharmacy Dean is down to four candidates and is expected to be filled in March; and there are many candidates for the Vice President for Online Programs, which should also wrap up in March.
- President Bigioni asked the Constitutional Rules Committee to schedule faculty meetings prior to the ratification vote.
- Provost Bjorkman said the retention rate has increased to 88.9%, up from 86% last year, and includes an increase in international and graduate student enrollments.
- Applications for the Faculty Fellows Program are due by March 11; contact Amy Thompson for information.
- Curriculum approvals in Arts & Letters include a new course in Disability Studies; course modifications in Music and Art, as well as a change in hours (to 9) for the Theatre internship; program modifications in Disability Studies, Art, and a new Graphic Design Certificate.
- The Core Curriculum Committee presented changes in core curriculum to Disability Studies, Economics, and Women’s and Gender Studies, all approved. A course proposal for LGL 1500: Legal Aspects of Poverty was not approved.
- A final report on the Accreditation visit included areas of accomplishment: UT’s response to the pandemic because of our robust online course infrastructure; community engagement; program review; internal audit; and faculty staff commitment to student success. Areas noted for continued improvement were more action on diversity, equity, and inclusion; declining enrollment; and growth in graduate level advising. Goals that need to be achieved before the next Higher Learning Commission review in 2031-32 include full integration of the IBB model; strategic planning process; continued community engagement; and renewing UT’s Carnegie classification as a research university.
V. Dean's Report: Charlene Gilbert
- The Arts & Letters Retention & Completion Committee met; the College’s retention numbers are up after a decline the past two years. Of students who enrolled in fall, 85% are back this spring, and the URM retention rate is higher at over 90%. Starfish reports and midterm grades are essential aspects of support and retention of our students.
- A suggestion to faculty to think about building in enough opportunities in the course to gather information by midterm on how students are capturing concepts and whether they are on-track in the course. Data show that low-risk assignments early in a course are useful in helping students get a sense of efficacy
- Please use the Rocket Care Form if you have a concern about a student’s well-being.
- A standard policy of responding to student emails within 24-48 business hours is suggested, as timely response and feedback is very important to many students, particularly those in online classes.
- Multi-term registration begins March 16.
- 1000-2000 level = 15 students
- 3000 level = 12 students
- 4000 level = 10 students
- Courses combined with graduate courses = 10 students
- 6000-7000 level = 7 students
- 8000 level = 5 students
- Workload agreements due March 1. Communication from the Provost reminds faculty and departments that suggested minimum enrollments for courses are:
VI. Graduate Council: Dan Hammel
- The College of Graduate Studies has a new (shared) marketing person who will help with the marketing of graduate programs. Some additional graduate funding has been allocated, and Arts & Letters did receive some of it.
- Lucy Duhon from the Library said that OhioLink has developed an agreement with Cambridge University Press and will soon have one with Wiley. Contact her with questions about publishing in a Cambridge or Wiley journal, as this agreement provides certain privileges.
- Graduate Council approved a new policy that requires a new course proposal be accompanied by at least one program modification proposal that shows how the new course fits into the curriculum. Course proposals will be held until a program modification proposal is submitted.
VII. Elections Report: Trish Case
- Nominations requested for the open at-large positions and CCAP.
VIII. Adjournment
- Motion to Adjourn; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting Adjourned