CAL Faculty Council Minutes Oct. 31, 2023
2023-2024 Faculty Council Meeting Minutes
October 31, 2023, Webex
- Call to Order
Motion to begin; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting begins. - Roll Call
Present: Alamina, Al-Hariri, Allred, Baltus, Benton, Black, Bland, Bonifacio, Carpenter, Christman, Cook, Damschroder, Day, Dudley, Foss, Gamble, Geiger, Grazzini, Hey, Kistner, Lawrence (for Nemeth), Martin (for Emonds), McBane, McKether, Mezo, Monteleone, Mossblad, Myers, Nelson, Rouillard, Sakowski, Schlemper, Semaan, Smith, Stauch, Taylor, Ward, Whittaker, Zeigler (39)
Absent: Alam, Amialchuk, Beatty-Medina, Feldmeier, (4)
Guests: Gregory, Keith, Lingan, McBride, Quinonez, Roberts, Schauwecker (7) - Approval of Agenda and Minutes
Meeting agenda submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Agenda Approved. - Dean’s Report: Melissa Gregory
Compliance trainings due October 31.
Human resources has an employee assistance program that includes access to mental health sessions and life management referrals. Be aware that recent current events are personally impacting colleagues and students. Please notify the Dean’s office if you are hosting an event inviting discussion so that a safe space can be arranged for all.
New CAL marketing, communication, and enrollment specialist Sydney Schauwecker is getting to know the College and is working on the December Rocket Scholars Day.
CAL is searching for a new Assistant Director of Student Advising.
Continuing recruitment activities include an aggressive communication plan and telling our story. Recruitment as relational work is important. Prospective students value faculty presence and passion. Consider using existing events as opportunities to bring HS students to campus. - Executive Committee Report: Ammon Allred
The Executive Committee met to discuss today’s agenda, forming an ad hoc committee for the CAL strategic plan, possibly holding some meetings in-person in spring, future and potential Council guest speakers, and student representation on Council. - Faculty Senate Report: Gaby Semaan
Report from October 10 meeting: The Faculty Senate survey regarding affects of budget cuts on faculty, programs, and departments has been sent. President Postel met with Executive Council and the University is consulting with the Smith group on the Master Plan. The UT president house was sold a few years ago and the money put into a scholarship fund. There is no plan to merge UT with BGSU.
The Provost reported that 44 faculty were promoted. University College and the Honors College will be dismantled. Matt Schroeder presented information and it was suggested that the report was too technical and that the balancing and spreadsheets they use should be summarized more in future Senate reports.
Report from October 24 meeting: President Postel visited and stated that a capital campaign with a feasibility study is in the works and should be done every 7-9 years and UT is overdue. The Provost search is ongoing and 10 candidates were interviewed and a shortlist will be released of the candidates who will be invited to campus. In addition to working with Smith Group of Ann Arbor on the master plan, UT is involved in citywide innovation opportunities. The administration will be working with Colleges on an individual basis in the budget process. Opportunities for growth include stats, computer science, pharmacy, nursing, and cybersecurity. We need to address potential problems with accreditation because of low faculty numbers in some programs. There is ongoing reduction in administrative staff.
The Provost reported that the Dean of HHS is stepping down and there will be a search for a replacement, in addition to one for Nursing. Concerns about sabbaticals being denied because of lack of funding to hire faculty were addressed and funds for 20-25 faculty sabbaticals each year are being sought. The Provost stated that all colleges had to identify budget cuts.
Alana Malik, University Assessment Director and State Compliance Coordinator, visited and spoke about the importance of OT 36 and the deadline of December 15 for recertification.
Note: Faculty Senate Minutes are available on their website. - Graduate Council Report: Jami Taylor
The Acting Vice-President for Graduate Enrollment and the Interim Provost answered questions. Dilip Das, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, visited and discussed the Supreme Court case and campus diversity efforts. - Elections Committee Report: Beth Schlemper
The vote to correct the typo in the College of Arts and Letters Elaborations for Faculty Evaluation of Tenure and Promotion passed with 1 no vote. - Constitution and Bylaws Committee Report: Jami Taylor
No report. - Curriculum Committee Report: Holly Hey
Course proposal approved:
COMM 3710: Podcasting
Program proposals approved:
Data and Technology Ethics, Certificate
Environmental Ethics, Certificate
Tabled:
Healthcare Ethics, Certificate [proposal]
AR-REQ: College of Arts and Letters Undergraduate Requirements [modification].
Motion to consider this as New Business at next CAL Faculty Council meeting; vote; passed. - Old Business
Vote to correct the typo in line 347 (“creativity” should be “creative”) of the College of Arts and Letters Elaborations for Faculty Evaluation of Tenure and Promotion: approved by CAL Faculty. - New Business
Guests Julie Quinonez and Gina Roberts from the Registrar’s Office presented information on the Course Program of Student (CPOS) rules. UToledo has begun implementing a federal requirement, that has existed for quite some time, that requires federal financial aid be used only for classes in a student’s degree program. UT was not able to implement the required changes because our degree audit system was not compatible with Banner. Funding was provided because of concerns about UT’s lack of compliance with the federal requirement. Emails were sent to the financial aid office identifying students who may be taking a course that does not count toward their academic program; 170 undergraduate students received an email, which represents about 1.7% of the undergraduate students enrolled for fall 2023. Some students were flagged even though their schedule choice did not impact their financial aid; moving forward, students will only be notified if it impacts their financial aid. Program advisors are precluded from being notified that a student receives financial aid, so the notification process needs to follow privacy law. About 75% of UT students receive some type of aid, so the majority of UT students saw no change whatsoever.
An ad hoc committee is being formed to work with the Executive Committee and Dean’s Office on the creation of the College of Arts & Letters Strategic Plan. If interested, contact Melissa Baltus. - Announcements
Next CAL Council meeting is November 14; Dave Meredith from Enrollment will be the guest speaker.
Please complete the Faculty Senate survey on budget cut impacts.
November 11, 7:00 PM, Center for Performing Arts: Adrienne Torf and the Voices of the Revolution Perform Collaboration.
December 1, 7:30 PM, Center for Performing Arts: Screening organized of the documentary "Sr. Eileen and Her Boyz, an HIV in the Rustbelt Story," co-produced by Holly Hey and Ally Day, music collaboration with Lee Heritage. Panel discussion to follow. - Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting Adjourned