Faculty Council Minutes - May 3, 2022
College of Arts and Letters
2021-2022 Faculty Council Meeting Minutes
May 3, 2022, Webex
Call to Order 4:00 PM
- Roll Call
Present: Alam, Allred, Baltus, Beatty, Benton, Black, Branson, Caceres, Carpenter, Case, Compora, Crookston, Dunn, Feldmeier, Gamble, Hey, Jin, Keith, Kistner, Lawrence, McBane, Mezo, Miner, Monteleone, Montpetit, Nemeth, Peralta, Rouillard, Sakowski, Sapci, Schlemper, Smith, Stover, Taylor, Yaklin, Yamazaki (36)
Guests: Gregory, Hammel, Hintz, Sullivan - Approval of Agenda & Minutes
Meeting agenda submitted for approval; Motion to approve with date correction; Second; Vote: Agenda Approved.
Minutes from April 19, 2022, meeting submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Minutes Approved. - Executive Committee Report: Jetsa Caceres
The Executive Committee met on Friday, April 29. Items discussed included the transition to next year. - Faculty Senate Report: Suzanne Smith
The Faculty Senate Constitution was ratified by a vote of 316-10. The Provost met with the Executive Committee and stated that Academic Affairs will not meet its retention target next year. The Provost cited many challenges, including the effects of COVID, underprepared students, and bad press from the Toledo Blade.
The Provost addressed the R1 classification status that is a potential university goal and the recent HLC report that states UToledo is closer than we think. UToledo is 4th among public institutions in Ohio in the Social Mobility Index because of our number of Pell Grant students, our tuition, and the earning potential of our graduates. She stated that we can move up on that Index in 2023; also, the designation of R1 status comes from the Carnegie Institute, which does classifications every three years.
Al Baker, who is in his final term as Chair of the Board of Trustees, thanked faculty for supporting students during the past two years. He also thanked the Senate for updating its Constitution and looks forward to receiving and approving it.
The Board of Trustees has approved 64 candidates for tenure and four candidates for Distinguished University Lecturer. Michael Kistner, member of CAL Council, is one of six recipients of this year’s Outstanding Teaching Award.
The Deans of the Colleges of Arts and Letters and of Natural Sciences and Mathematics have been exploring the idea of a potential merger between the two colleges.
LGL 1500 – Legal Aspects of Poverty has been approved as a core curriculum course.
The Strategic Planning Committee presented a new proposal for revising the Mission and Vision statements, resulting from fourteen Town Hall meetings this year and survey results. These can be viewed on the Strategic Planning Committee website. The new strategic plan would set the course for the next four years. Six strategic goals were identified, and the drafts are also listed on the website.
Assistant Vice Provost for Institutional Research Anne Fulkerson said the committee is identifying gaps in becoming an R1 institution. UToledo is competitive on STEM metrics but weaker in non-STEM research and development, so there is a need to bolster non-STEM doctoral research degrees in the humanities and social sciences.
A state review of low-enrolled and duplicate programs at universities is coming up in September. A review many years ago resulted in the state rescinding the PhD program in English.
The Faculty Senate election has been delayed until August 2022.
A correction to last meeting’s report on the parking funding: the University did receive $52 million on October 1st, 2021, and the $140 million is an estimate of the total to be paid over the next 35 years.
- Dean’s Report: Mel Gregory
The University is in a serious financial climate. We are experiencing a decline in enrollment that is not rebounding the way the institution anticipated earlier this year. FY23 budget still being finalized, and the Provost requested a $2.6 million cut to CAL.
The Office of Finance has requested assistance from Huron consultants to pursue program prioritization across campus in fall 2022. This is a process by which the university will assess and prioritize programs to strategically allocate funding.
CAL’s service, teaching, and research is vital to UToledo. CAL is currently in first place regarding the retention of continuing students, and our goals are to continue to support student success, retain the students we have, continue to provide excellence in the classroom, and advocate for our students.
President Postel requested that Interim Dean Gregory and Dean Seigar of NSM explore the possibility of merging the two colleges and pursue a “self-study” over summer. President Postel also stated that “other structural consolidations will be explored at this same time on a parallel path; CAL and NSM are not the only possibility.”
Enrollment is UToledo’s most critical project. Net confirmations are down as students make their final college decision. CAL’s net confirmations are slowly moving up.
- Graduate Council Report: Dan Hammel
Graduate Council President David Giovannucci provided a summary of the past year; highlights include elimination of the GRE and GMAT and getting President Postel to attend 10 Grad Council meetings. Dean Thompson highlighted accomplishments, including a new graduate student online orientation program, a strategic enrollment and student success plan, creation of the Student Success Center, and an official process to approve pipeline programs in CIM.
Graduate Assistants will soon be covered under the University’s employee health insurance plan.
Jerry van Hoy and Patrick Lawrence were elected to Graduate Council; Patrick Lawrence is also the Vice-Chair.
- Curriculum Report: Linda Rouillard
CCAP election results: Holly Hey (Arts), Gaby Semaan (Humanities), and a tie for Social Sciences. Another ballot has been sent.
After the Faculty Senate election takes place in fall, we will run an election to replace Senator Ally Day for the remainder of her term.
- Elections Report: Trish Case
CCAP election results: Holly Hey (Arts), Gaby Semaan (Humanities), and a tie for Social Sciences. Another ballot has been sent.
After the Faculty Senate election takes place in fall, we will run an election to replace Senator Ally Day for the remainder of her term.
- Constitution/Bylaws Report: Jami Taylor
No report - Old Business
None - New Business
None - Announcements
The first meeting of the 2022-2023 CAL Faculty Council will immediately follow the adjournment of the final 2021-2022 meeting.
- Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting Adjourned
Minutes Prepared 9/1/2022 - Subject to Change