Faculty Council Minutes
College of Arts and Letters
2022-2023 Faculty Council Meeting Minutes
September 13, 2022, Webex
- Call to Order of 2022-2023 Council
Motion to begin; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting begins. - Roll Call
Present: Alamina, Allred, Baltus, Beatty, Benton, Black, Branson, Carpenter, Christman, Cook, Crookston, Emonds, Feldmeier, Ferris, Foss, Gamble, Geiger, Grazzini, Heberle, Hey, Jin, Kistner, Lawrence, McBane, Mezo, Miner, Monteleone, Montpetit, Nemeth, Peralta, Sakowski, Sapci, Schlemper, Semaan, Smith, Stover, Taylor, Thompson-Casado, Whittaker, Yaklin (40)
Absent: Caceres, Dudley, McNamara, Stauch (4)
Guests: Gregory, Keith, Montes (3) - Approval of Agenda and Minutes
Meeting agenda submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Agenda Approved.
Minutes from May 3, 2022, meetings submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Minutes Approved. - Dean’s Report: Mel Gregory
Changes to the institution last fiscal year included leadership transitions, an enrollment decline that exacerbates the university’s structural financial deficit, and a $2.8 million budget cut from CAL.
This year: the University of Toledo’s sesquicentennial, a celebration of UToledo’s identity, history, longevity, and permanence.
Higher ed is experiencing rapid changes nationally. The University of Toledo is getting smaller; this change has been accelerated by the pandemic. The Board of Trustees wants a strategic plan and business plan by December 2022. The ODHE wants a review of low-enrolled courses, duplicate programs, and low-enrolled programs by September 2022.
Resource prioritization includes not only reductions but also reinvestment, and more comprehensive strategies going forward. Consider speaking with colleagues in your department about what happens if enrollment stays flat or declines. Moving forward: reflect on values and priorities; control what is within 09/15/2022 our reach; target our energy; imagine ways that programs can evolve in new directions; serve with intention; connect with our new student populations; and advocate aggressively.
Fall enrollment: University new student enrollment down 6.3%; CAL down 1.6%. CAL has 7% fewer DHS students but a greater number of adult and international students: 1/3 of our new students are now non-traditional. CAL’s combined undergraduate and graduate headcount is down 8% from 2021: we graduated a lot of students but also lost many students. Retention of our first-year students has improved the last two years. Think about retention as a frame for communication with students and pedagogy, syllabus, policies, curriculum, and your activities as teachers and scholars.
CAL is looking for student ambassadors; please recommend to Emily Cohoe.
ARPA deadlines built into Faculty 180: DPC September 26 - October 28; Chair October 29 - November 25; Dean November 26 - December 22.
CAL Welcome Back Reception on October 6 (details forthcoming). Midterm grading opens October 3 and closes October 23.
Edward Shapiro Distinguished Lecture Series is hosting author, playwright, and screenwriter Tony Kushner on September 20, 7:00 PM, in Doermann Theatre. - Executive Committee Report: Stephen Sakowski
Committee met and discussed Agenda for today and Committees that are still in need of people. - Faculty Senate Report: Suzanne Smith
Faculty Senate met on September 6. Election for new Senators concluded on Friday, September 2. Gary Insch is the new Senate President, and a new Executive Committee was elected. Linda Rouillard is president-elect; Deborah Coulter-Harris is secretary; Jerry Van Hoy and Rob Stevens are main campus at-large representatives; Robert Topp is a health-science campus representative with a second to be determined. Kimberly McBride is the Ohio Faculty Advisory Committee Representative.
The two Amendments to the Faculty Senate Constitution were approved and the Constitution goes to the Board of Trustees for their approval at their September meeting.
Enrollment numbers are creating budget challenges; enrollment is down 8% and the budget is based on a 6% decline, so the budget is being recalibrated. Faculty Senate is organizing an ad hoc Faculty Senate Finance Committee comprised of representatives from each College.
The COVID Task Force is still meeting and following CDC guidelines. Flu shots will be available in October at the Main Campus Pharmacy. Flu shots will be mandatory for students and health science faculty.
Interim Provost Risa Dickson provided a few updates on what her office is working on, including looking closely at where the “efficiencies” are for the future, and that a small group is “socializing” the Strategic 09/15/2022 Plan. She emphasized that program prioritization is not about cutting; it is about looking at what we offer and where we need to prioritize resources to reflect changes in higher education taking place across the country. She said the goal is to hold onto the foundation of a liberal arts education but also create relevant disciplines for students and jobs in the future. Her office is building data in the Institutional Research Office to track the student life cycle, i.e., retention. Keeping students is most important and a multi-pronged effort. She considers the arts the foundation of education, even for disciplines like engineering, because of its emphasis on critical thinking and creativity.
Note: Faculty Senate Minutes are available on their website. - Graduate Council Report: Jami Taylor
The Graduate College is being formally dismantled and degrees will be coming from the academic colleges. The strategic planning process for COGS that was begun by former Provost Amy Thompson has been put on hold due to University strategic planning.
Interim Dean Scott Molitor discussed the fact that international students need to have more face-to-face classes because of US immigration policies; his interpretation is that they can have only one online class if they are a full-time student.
Research fellowships will be due January 19 for those who want funding for next summer. - Curriculum Committee Report: tbd
None. - Elections Committee Report: Pam Stover
None. - Constitution and Bylaws Committee Report: Jami Taylor
None. - Old Business
None. - New Business
CCAP needs a new Arts representative; election forthcoming.
Volunteer for Humanities Representative for Curriculum Committee: Joey Gamble.
Volunteer for Social Sciences Representative for Elections Committee: Beth Schlemper.
Volunteer for Arts Representative for Bylaws/Constitution Committee: Holly Hey. - Announcements
Tony Kushner in Doermann Theatre on Tuesday, September 20. 09/15/2022
Banned Books Festival on September 22.
Season schedule for the Department of Theatre and Film has been released and includes Hamlet in November.
The English Department is hosting Dr. Lorgia Garcia Pena for the 30th Richard M. Summers Memorial Lecture on Thursday, September 29, at 6:00 PM in the McQuade Law Auditorium.
Center for Visual Arts guest lecture by Dr. Bart Pushaw on Thursday, September 29, 6:00-7:00 PM in Haigh Auditorium (CVA 090)
Art Department Gallery Schedule:
Jeremy Long, August 29-October 14 / Reception and artist lecture tentatively October 14
Joel Lipman, October 31-December 12
Merge (2021 VSA Emerging Young Artists exhibition) January 17-February 17th 2023
Juried Student Exhibition March 3-March 27; Reception on March 3
BFA Honors Thesis Exhibition April 7 - May 1; Reception on April 7 - Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting Adjourned
Minutes Prepared: 9/15/2022 - Subject to Change