Faculty Council Minutes Feb. 7, 2023
College of Arts and Letters
2022-2023 Faculty Council Meeting Minutes
February 7, 2023, Webex
- Call to Order
Motion to begin; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting begins. - Roll Call
Present: Alamina, Alam, Allred, Amialchuk, Baltus, Beatty, Benton, Black, Branson, Caceres, Carpenter, Christman, Compora (for Geiger), Cook, Damschroder, Dudley, Emonds, Feldmeier, Ferris, Foss, Gamble, Grazzini, Heberle, Hey, Jin, Kistner, McBane, McNamara, Mezo, Miner, Monteleone, Montpetit, Nemeth, Peralta, Sakowski, Sapci, Schlemper, Semaan, Smith, Stauch, Stover, Taylor, Thompson-Casado, Whittaker, Yaklin (46)
Absent: Crookston (1)
Guests: Gregory, Keith, Lingan, Sullivan (4) - Approval of Agenda and Minutes
Meeting agenda submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Agenda Approved
Minutes from January 24, 2023, meeting submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Minutes Approved. - Dean’s Report: Mel Gregory
No report. Response to a question posed in chat re: summer class schedules: the Provost’s office sent a message to the Deans on Monday, February 6, listing many cuts to summer class offerings across all Colleges. The Dean’s office is reviewing the list and plans to prioritize and ask that sections critical to CAL majors be allowed to run so as not to impede students’ degree progress. Associate Dean Kristen Keith has been asked to calculate the net revenue the College would gain from each course being offered so it is clear how much money we would lose if particular classes are not offered. - Executive Committee Report: Stephen Sakowski
The committee met and discussed the agenda for today and the plan for the upcoming CAL All-Faculty meeting. Vice-Chair Melissa Baltus will be hosting. - Faculty Senate Report: Suzanne Smith
The Faculty Senate Executive Committee has been meeting separately with President Postel, Provost Dickson, and Vice Provost La Fleur Small. Topics addressed with the President included the IRB process, general research issues affecting faculty and students, and the upcoming national search for Provost. The Dean’s search for CAL was also discussed and the process and timeline for that is under discussion.
The Executive Committee and the Provost discussed the new strategic plan, which will be presented to the Board of Trustees on February 8. Initiatives include increased research support to help UToledo move to an R1 designation, a potential $2 million national branding campaign, a five-year budget projection that cuts $30 million, and clarifying policies and definitions regarding workload equity across Colleges and departments. They also discussed the budget process and her proposed University budget oversight committee; there is a need to review the current taxes and subventions that were last discussed in March 2021. The Provost is seeking input from Faculty Senate on addressing artificial intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT and its intrusion into our classrooms. A Senate committee will review the issue and present recommendations to the full Senate and the administration.
Three surveys will be distributed to faculty: one to gather information on technology issues facing faculty, particularly related to hybrid and online classes; two, the Dean’s evaluation; and three, a survey from the Recruitment and Retention Committee. Faculty are asked to watch for and respond to each.
Vice Provost La Fleur Small addressed the approval process for faculty sabbaticals. Her office received 41 applications, not all of which can be funded. The number awarded cannot exceed the 5-year average; based on this, 26 sabbaticals were funded and 21 of those were first-time sabbaticals awardees.
Provost Dickson said she will be presenting a five-year financial plan and a five-year strategic plan to the Board of Trustees, but the strategic plan will not be accepted unless the Board is happy with the financial plan: “The numbers we have to cut continue to be sober in any number of ways.” A potential reduction and reorganizations to Colleges is not a top priority because it will not save a lot of money. However, changes to the Honor’s College and University College are inevitable. Her office is looking at all the data and having conversations about the structure of these colleges, what’s working and what is not.
The Chair of the Faculty Senate Elections Committee presented a reapportionment plan for the number of Senators per College for next year, using a ratio formula based on the number of eligible faculty per college. The College of Arts & Letters will get one more Senator for 2023-2024; we currently have 13.
Bryan Blair, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics, spoke and reviewed Rocket student-athlete success rates; they have a 3.4 overall GPA. Some of his goals include engaging more students to attend athletic events on campus, increasing the impact of sports on the city of Toledo, and increasing revenue streams supporting the athletic program. He also mentioned a need to renovate and build athletic facilities.
Note: Full Faculty Senate Minutes are available on their website. - Graduate Council Report: Jami Taylor
Anne Fulkerson and Jason Huntley attended and discussed the strategic planning process.
The next Graduate Council meeting will have several curriculum matters to attend to. - Elections Committee Report: Pam Stover
No report. - Constitution and Bylaws Committee Report: Jami Taylor
No report.
Curriculum Committee Report: Renee Heberle
Course modifications tabled:
COMM 2150: Digital Design for Media Communication
COMM 3340: Visual Communication
Course proposals approved:
ECON 3750: Survey of Health Economics
REL 2320: Judaism
REL 2410: Christianity
REL 2500: Islam - Old Business
The Annual All-Faculty College meeting is Thursday, Feb. 16, 4:00-5:30 PM in CBA 1025 (Recital Hall) - New Business
A reminder that departments should be discussing their open seat for Council for the 2023-2024 academic year. - Announcements
Thursday, February 16, 4:00 pm – CAL Council All-Faculty Meeting in CPA 1025 (Recital Hall)
The Inside/Out Prison Exchange Program is seeking more instructors to be trained. Contact Renee Heberle for information. - Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting Adjourned