College of Arts and Letters

Faculty Council Minutes Dec. 6, 2022

College of Arts and Letters  
2022-2023 Faculty Council Meeting Minutes
December 6, 2022, Webex

1. Call to Order
   Motion to begin; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting begins.
   
   
2. Roll Call
   Present: Alamina, Allred, Amialchuk, Baltus, Benton, Black, Branson, Caceres, Carpenter, Christman, Cook, Damschroder, Dudley, Emonds, Feldmeier, Ferris, Foss, Gamble, Grazzini, Heberle, Hey, Kistner, Lawrence (for Alam), McBane, McNamara, Mezo, Miner, Montpetit, Nemeth, Peralta, Sakowski,  Schlemper,  Semaan, Smith, Stauch, Stover, Taylor, Thompson-Casado, Whittaker, Yaklin (41)
   
   Absent:  Beatty, Crookston, Geiger, Jin, Monteleone, Sapci  (6)
   
   Guests: Dickson, Gregory, Keith, Layng, Lingan, Montes, Nielson, Sullivan (8)
   
   
3. Guest: Interim Provost & Executive VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Risa Dickson
   Higher education is in the “hardest pivot” in the history of higher ed. The enrollment challenges were foreseen and are because there have been fewer students born. Changes in birthrates indicate that        enrollment numbers will not come up anytime soon. In addition, there is a very difficult legislative climate nationally and particularly in a red state like Ohio. The University of Toledo has remarkably strong         programs and really good faculty. The strategic plan is lined up and the Board of Trustees will see a preview at their December meeting. They’ve asked to see it again in January with a five-year financial plan.
   
   Program prioritization is being discussed with the deans to refocus the resources in the College. Efficiency is necessary, as is room to grow programs that are increasingly in demand. We need to allow space for changing and combining of disciplines, some of which tend to be technologically heavy and expensive. Program prioritization and deciding what we spend resources on is off of the budget model. A more integrated incentive-based budget will take about three years to really work.
   
   Financial stability requires a clear student success model from recruitment through graduation. We are currently beta testing a Student Success dashboard to help identify students we are successful with and where we need to intervene. Understanding who we are successful with will enable us to actively recruit those students. The goal is to separate what should be institutional-level initiatives and where colleges need to focus in terms of student persistence, retention, and graduation.
   
   Responses to chat questions: Technology is one of the reasons education has become so expensive. Administrative “bloat” is very heavily the IT programs on campus: the technology, site licenses, equipment, security and tech people. We must focus on technology as that’s where everything is going. However, the arts are not only relevant, they are essential. No administrator should ever tell a discipline what they need to be doing or how they need to be doing it. Example of a logical intersection: art of glass and chemistry of glass. Faculty need to create those intersections and not expect the institution to do so.
   
   Concern raised about the messaging by Matt Schroeder and its impact on faculty. There is no hiring freeze – better termed a “frost” - because program prioritization will require hiring in central areas.
   
   The “Huron Report” is not directing any decisions – it is a lot of data, not recommendations. The deans have been working on the prioritization and working with an “insane” amount of data, data which also needs to be cleaned up. Program collaboration can be realized, discussed, and brought forward. The budget model will morph to allow cross-disciplinary and cross-college collaboration and flexibility.
   
   The goal is to ensure UToledo has the resources and stability to be strong in 10 years, when many institutions may no longer exist. Tenure is essential to academic freedom.
   
   
4. Approval of Agenda and Minutes
   Meeting agenda submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Agenda Approved.
   
   Minutes from November 22, 2022, meeting submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Minutes Approved.
   
   
5. Dean’s Report: Mel Gregory
   No report.
   
   
6. Executive Committee Report: Melissa Baltus
   The committee met and discussed the agenda for today and the visit by Provost Dickson.
   
   
7. Faculty Senate Report: Suzanne Smith
   The Senate Executive Committee met with William McCreary, Vice President and Chief Information and Technology Officer, and Angela Paprocki, Chief of Staff for Academic Operations and Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, regarding technology issues facing faculty, particularly hybrid tech for classrooms. The Senate Technology Committee will gather information and be a conduit to administration on these issues.
   
   President Insch reminded all that there is a shortened timeline for new and revised courses. Proposals need to be in CIM as soon as possible, but no later than early March, for approval for next academic year.
   
   Provost Dickson said that the Provost’s office will be looking at how financial aid is awarded with the goal of growing enrollment without discounting tuition and growing net tuition revenue.
   
   The Senate Retention and Recruitment Committee reviewed several goals, including increasing yield by improving engagement of students after first contact with UT and reallocating resources to the enrollment mission, meaning recruiters, campus tours, web pages, and marketing. They also recommend appointing a full-time executive vice-president for enrollment to govern the recruitment and retention process. A review of peer universities shows that we are underperforming in comparison. Communication between the recruitment office and academic units needs to be strengthened. Recommendations included marketing specifically to transfer students and adult learners, and to broaden offerings of remote and hybrid courses. They conclude that we have poor quality campus tours, slow communication, few campus visit opportunities, and a “lackluster” website. Retention challenges include students who are not prepared for STEM classes and lack college level writing skills, and students who cannot pay tuition, fees, and room and board. Students are also frustrated by parking (a big issue on social media for new students).
   
   Note: Full Faculty Senate Minutes are available on their website.
   
   
8. Graduate Council Report: Jami Taylor
   No report.
   
   
9. Curriculum Committee Report: Renee Heberle
   Program proposal:
   AR-PSC-BA: Political Science – Global Studies Concentration. Vote: approved.
   
   Course proposals:
   GEPL 3650 – Economic Geography. Vote: approved.
   AR 1010 – Liberal Arts Lab. Vote: approved.
   
   Course modifications:
   GEPL 6920 – Research Design. Vote: approved.
   DST 4000 – Global Issues in Disability Studies. Vote: approved.
   
   Deadlines for proposals:
   Submit to Curriculum committee by January 15 for Jan. 24 Council meeting.
   
   The final deadline for Senate consideration is February 11, so anything submitted after January 15 will not make it into the Fall 2023 schedule.
   
   
10. Elections Committee Report: Pam Stover
    No report.
    
    
11. Constitution and Bylaws Committee Report: Jami Taylor
    No report.
    
    
12. Old Business
    An At-large Social Sciences representative will be needed for spring 2023.
    
    Curriculum deadline for CAL Council is January 15, 2023.
    
    
13. New Business
    None.
    
    
14. Announcements
    Student pottery sale and exhibitions on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Secor Building in Toledo.
    
    
15. Adjournment
    Motion to Adjourn; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting Adjourned