CAL Faculty Council Minutes Jan. 23, 2024
2023-2024 Faculty Council Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2024, Webex
- Call to Order
Motion to begin; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting begins. - Roll Call
Present: Alamina, Al-Hariri, Allred, Amialchuk, Baltus, Beatty-Medina, Benton, Black, Bland, Bonifacio, Carpenter, Christman, Cook, Damschroder, Dudley, Emonds, Feldmeier, Gamble, Geiger, Grazzini, Hey, Kistner, Lawrence (for Nemeth), McBane, Mezo, Monteleone, Myers, Rouillard, Sakowski, Schlemper, Semaan, Smith, Stauch, Taylor, Ward, Whittaker, Zeigler (37)
Absent: Alam, Day, Foss (sabbatical), McKether, Mossblad, Nelson, Reed (7)
Guests: Barnes, Brakel, Cheng, Gregory, Keith, Kusina, Lingan, Lopez, McBride, Pryor, Sullivan, Thompson-Casado, Zych (13)
- Approval of Agenda and Minutes
Meeting agenda submitted for approval; Motion to approve; Second; Vote: Agenda Approved. - Dean’s Report: Melissa Gregory
A search for an Executive Secretary 1 for the Dean’s office has been approved to replace Debbie Corkins, who retired in January. The Assistant Director of Student Services search is in progress. President Postel will be selecting a new Provost soon; we have two strong candidates. Enrollment Management and Student Affairs will be part of the Provost’s office. The new 5-year Master Plan is under review; it has not gone to the Board of Trustees yet. Program Prioritization is an ongoing process; interdisciplinary activity and program modifications are currently happening. The Provost’s office expects a “commitment to efficiency and optimum student experience” and no more under-enrolled courses. Priority will be relevant, in demand programs and robustly enrolled classes. Faculty will use their expertise to move curriculum forward in new ways. A draft of the CAL Strategic Plan will be forwarded to the CAL Strategic Plan Committee for their review. The Provost has asked for plans by February 26. Recruitment and enrollment continue to be priorities.
CAL Reception Wednesday, January 31, 4-6 PM in Student Union 2592. Children welcome.
President Postel will be speaking at the February 20 CAL Faculty Council meeting in Savage Business 1200 A&B. In-person attendance strongly encouraged.
- Executive Committee Report: Ammon Allred
The Committee discussed the agenda and the upcoming visit by President Postel. The Curriculum Committee is working to clarify deadlines for course and program proposals/modifications to CAL and Senate. The Executive Committee has been meeting with the candidates for the CAL Dean; the finalists will visit campus again and all faculty will have the opportunity to meet them.
- Faculty Senate Report: Melissa Baltus for Gaby Semaan
The Faculty Senate met on January 16. It was reported that Ohio Senator Cirino, sponsor of Senate Bill 83, has been contacting university presidents to inquire about DEI. SB 83 has been approved by the House Committee. Provost Molitor recommended that faculty not give exams or mandatory assignments April 8, the date of the total solar eclipse. Traffic will be heavy, so provide alternate options for students to join class remotely. The Astronomy Department will host events related to the eclipse.
Program Prioritization is ongoing and timing and targeted programs will be announced soon.
Note: Faculty Senate Minutes are available on their website.
- Graduate Council Report: Jami Taylor
President Postel visited Graduate Council and stated that the new provost will have some say in the new deans being selected. He is working with the Board of Trustees to implement the Strategic Plan. Connie Schall, Interim Vice President for Research, visited and spoke about the use of AI and made recommendations cautioning its use in research and the grant review process.
- Elections Committee Report: Beth Schlemper
Suzanne Smith was selected as the Faculty Senate substitute for Deborah Coulter-Harris this semester. Per Senate rules, elections are not needed for temporary substitutes.
- Constitution and Bylaws Committee Report: Jami Taylor
No report. - Curriculum Committee Report: Holly Hey
Program modifications approved:
AR-MUSC-BM-GUIT: Music – Guitar Concentration, BM
AR-SISS-PHD: Spatially Integrated Social Science, PHD
AR-GEOG-BA: Geography – Urban and Regional Planning Concentration, BA
AR-GEOG-BA: Geography – Geography Information Science & Technology Concentration, BA
AR-GEOG-BA: Geography – Human and Environmental Geography Concentration, BA
AR-GEOG-MA: Geography, MA - Old Business
No old business. - New Business
The Arts division representative for the CAL Strategic Plan Committee had to step down. Contact Melissa Baltus if you are interested.
Sharon Barnes addressed Council with concerns about the program prioritization process and forthcoming changes to programs, and asked Council to make a statement endorsing the value of small degree programs.
- Announcements
Next Council meeting is February 6, 2024. President Postel will be attending and speaking at the February 20 meeting in Savage Business 1200 A&B.
- Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn; Second; Motion Approved; Meeting Adjourned