Minutes - December 6, 2021 - 3:05pm - Online through WebEx
CCSU FACULTY SENATE MEETING
Present: Acharya, K.; Al-Masoud, N.; Amaya, L.; Andreoletti, C.; Atkinson, S.; Barr, B.; Bigelow, L.; Bishop, J.; Blitz, D.; Boscarino, N.; Bray, A.; Broulik, W.; Crundwell, G.; Drew, S.; Duquette, M.; Dumpson, N.; Elfant, A.; Emeagwali, G.; Evans, M.; Farrish, K.; Foster, P.; French, J.; Gamache, J.; Garbovskiy, Y.; Garcia-Bowen, M.; Gardner, P.; Gichiru, W.; Givens, E.; Gonzalez, K.; Gu, S.; Halkin, S.; Hedlund, J.; Hernandez, J.; Holt, J.; Jackson, M.; Jarmoszko, T.; Karas, R.; Kean, K.; Kreeger, J.; Kumar, R.; Langevin, K.; Larsen, K.; Lewis, M.; Martin, A.; Matthews, S.; Matzke, B.; Morano, P.; Ofray, J.; Orange, M.; Phillips, E.; Roark, E.; Robinson, G.; Salama, T.; Salgado, E.; Savatorova, V.; Schenck, S.; Scott, T.; Sikorski, J.; Small. I.; Smith, J.; Smith, R.; Sohn, Y.M.; Spear, E.; Sugg, K.; Tellier, A.; Thomas, J.; Vargas, C.; Villanti, S.; Wang, W.; Washko, L.; Whittemore, L. Zadi, S.; Zhao, S.
Ex-Officio:Burkholder, T.; Farhat, J.; Jarrett, J.; Kostelis, K.; Mulrooney, J.; Wolff, R., Toro, Z.
Parliamentarian: Dimmick, C.
President of the Senate: Latour, F.
Guests: Alicandro, J.; Bucher, L.; Button, C.; Ciotto, C.; Cintorino, S.; Claffey, G.; Elsinger, N.; Fallon, M.; Ginter, V.; Kirby, Y.; Magnan, C.; Martin, K.; McGrath, K.; Merenstein, B.; Moreland, D.; Pope, C.; Shen, X.; Suski-Lenczewski, A.; Tully, J.; Werblow, J..
1. Minutes
1. Minutes
a.
Minutes of November 15, 2021 were accepted.
b.
Minutes of November 29, 2021 were accepted.
2. Announcements: a. AAUP President (T. Burkholder) b. SUOAF-AFSCME (J. Gamache/L. Bigelow) c. SGA (N. Elsinger) d. FAC to the Board of Regents (D. Blitz) e. President of the Senate (F. Latour) 3. Committee Reports (reports marked with an asterisk are informational reports intended for consent agenda only; if you would like a report to be discussed, please inform the President and Secretary by Monday, noon) b. Defenders of General Education (J. Bishop)
4. Unfinished Business
a. Financial Transparency at the University
- Given that the agenda is already long and that there are many details that need to be worked out and discussed, the Steering Committee is proposing that this item be postponed to the first meeting of the Spring 2022 semester.
b. Departmental Name Change Proposal
- Department of Geography to Department of Geography, Sustainability and Tourism
- Statement of Opposition from Department of Biology
- Statement of Opposition from Department of Geological Sciences
- Statement of Support from three individual faculty members
- MOTION: To change the name of the Department of Geography to the Department of Geography, Sustainability, and Tourism. Motion seconded. Discussion.
- Sen. Kreeger spoke on behalf of the proposal. He reviewed the document shared with the agenda and gave a brief history of the department’s work in the area of sustainability and the rationale for the request for the department name change.
- F. Latour indicated that he received three statements of support from individual faculty members and two departmental statements of opposition.
- Sen. Evans reviewed a written Statement of Opposition from the Geological Sciences Department.
- Sen. Halkin shared the views of her department, which included a statement that the first courses in this effort were co-taught by faculty from the Biology Department. The student and faculty participation in the courses in this program and in other programs has been inter-departmental. The department favors an interdisciplinary program and has proposed an independent interdisciplinary program.
- T. Garceau spoke in favor of his department’s proposal.
- Sen. Bigelow stated she is in favor of this proposal in recognition of the leadership position that the department of Geography has taken on this global issue.
- Sen. Bray said there are at least three departments that address "sustainability", two of which are not asking for that specific word in the department name.
- K. Larsen said she worries about confusing students into thinking Geography is the one place to go for sustainability (see Biology's program). If you want an example, the Computer Science Honors Program is often confused with the university Honors program. I see this as another name change that will confuse students more than help them.
- Sen. Crundwell said his Department is named Chemistry & Biochemistry and the latter program is shared.
- C. Button shared the website of the Global Environmental Sustainability Action Coalition, including the page on the site that lists all of the symposia held. Those symposia, he noted, included many interdepartmental collaborations. He said they are seeking a name change now, but years ago they sought an interdisciplinary program and there was not funding to make that happen. The compromise was the current concentration. A review of the degrees conferred by the Geography Department shows the leadership position the department has taken on this issue on this campus. He stated he feels this will increase enrollment and that it is not the intent of the department to work in isolation. They want the students seeking out this degree to have an easier way to find it in the course catalog; he also wants the name of the department to recognize what the faculty in the department specialize in and teach. He stated that geography is by nature a holistic discipline.
- K. Larsen clarified: We meant a clearing house for students wanting to select certain majors or specializations that have a sustainability / environmental focus. A list of different programs that students can use for comparison with contact information for the relevant faculty.
- Sen. Bray: But the challenge is that there has been a history of excluding other members/departments that could participate in sustainability activities on campus (ex. conference) - there is a history of leadership based on exclusion in these campus activities. Not - "the more the merrier" mentality.
- Sen. Al-Masoud: How would this department (program) address environmental engineering challenges?
- C. Button indicated they would not teach engineering but hoped that the department used the SUST designator to teach courses. He cited that History and other departments have used the SUST designator, many associated with course abroad programs. He indicated the Geography department would also encourage students to take these courses if they were consistent with their program and interests.
- Sen. Al-Masoud asked how certain global challenges (e.g., water) would be covered, since sustainability is such a broad label.
- F. Latour clarified we are not speaking of adding a new program; this discussion is about changing the name of an academic program. However, it does make him wonder why we do not already have a degree program in this area, given the number of faculty in other departments who are interested in this area.
- Sen. Al-Masoud supported that.
- C. Button said that was the goal in 2007 but the Dean at the time said there was no funding for that. He hopes that once we are beyond the name change, the matter of a degree program could be revisited.
- Sen. Bray: But given the multi-disciplinary nature of "sustainability" it is confusing if it does not address all/most facets of the word.
- F. Latour pointed out that a message to everyone could be sent by using the Faculty Senate listserv.
- Sen. Hernandez: As someone who works with external community partners to develop campus-community partnerships, it is often challenging for them to identify a starting point to begin exploring potential partnerships ---it seems that this might help external partners identify a place to start that can then expand beyond the department depending on community needs through internal networks.
- Sen. Evans: if Sustainability is in the name of the Department, Geography 'own's' it.
- Sen. Bigelow: Isn't the word "science" in multiple department titles?
- Sen. Bishop: Education leadership doesn't "own" education.
- C. Pope shared in the chat: Senators, please feel free to peruse the Geography website for how the department offers and administers Sustainability courses currently. https://www.ccsu.edu/geography/
- K. Martin stated that after hearing this conversation she feels that it is time to revisit the old proposal to create a new degree program.
- F. Latour asked whether that could be done through referring this to an ad hoc committee that is appointed by the Steering Committee and charged with working with all departments with an interest in this, but certainly those who have opposed to the current proposal.
- MOTION: To substitute the original Proposal with the creation of an ad hoc committee comprised of faculty from all interested departments to create an interdisciplinary program in Sustainability. Motion failed 18-22 by roll call vote.
- Speaking to the original motion, Sen. Crundwell noted that sustainability has been on campus for a long time and a lot of departments take part in it, including a recently retired member of his faculty. If something is going to succeed on this campus it needs a champion, and C. Button has been the champion for sustainability. He said he does not have a problem with them putting sustainability in their name because it will attract students, including students in our programs. We currently share a program with another department, and we discuss and debate matters. We do not own biochemistry, but we do have champions to fight for it. To make this program an interdisciplinary program will take away the champion. There is no reason you cannot have a Sustainability program with a BA and BS program with the BS program having courses that are taught outside of the host department. We talk about breaking down silos and here we are creating one. He closed with saying he has no problem with the proposed name change.
- Sen. Sugg, speaking to the original motion: Given what Jessica Hernandez says about external contacts and Geography's strong in-place curriculum, the department name change seems a productive starting point. As the funding and organizational issues are revisited, the larger interdisciplinary program could be developed--and perhaps with renewed focus and energy.
- K. Larsen: Will Geography equally advertise the SEST department programs related to this?
- Returning to the original motion:
- MOTION: To call the question. Motion passed by required 2/3 vote (33-1 by roll call vote).
- MOTION: To support a name change of the Department of Geography to the Department of Geography, Sustainability and Tourism. Second. Motion approved by roll call vote (24-8).
- President Toro asked for the numerical results of the vote.
- MOTION: To create an ad hoc committee that works on a proposal for an interdisciplinary sustainability program. (Note no reference to geography dept name.) Motion seconded. Motion approved by roll call vote (30-7).
- Sen. Crundwell asked whether it was possible to have both a BA and a BS degree in Sustainability. F. Latour said he could confer with Y. Kirby.
5. New Business
- F. Latour moved the proposal from the Steering Committee (needs no second) and opened the floor for discussion.
- Sen. Crundwell asked whether the committee is a moot point if the President moves ahead now with creation of the new department. He asked whether this could be postponed. F. Latour said that the committee could, as its first task, reach out the President Toro to see if the committee is necessary.
- Sen. Halkin stated that her understanding is that this is a department of 12, four of whom might be moved into another department, so regardless, the department of 12 needs a chair.
- F. Latour indicated that depending on who is moved, the constituency for which they are find a chair may be different, so regardless, we have to appoint an ad hoc committee.
- Sen. Halkin opined that someone with all of the skills needed to unify the group of twelve could be possibly found. She then asked if they currently have a chair.
- F. Latour indicated that they do have an interim chair.
- T. Burkholder clarified this would be to determine the chair-elect, whose term would begin in August 2022 for the 2022-2025 term.
- F. Latour asked if there was any objection to modifying the Resolution to include a sentence clarifying the term as stated immediately above. No objections were heard.
- Sen. Bishop stated that the Senate was tasked to identify a chair and that the Senate does not have a choice on that. Given where we are in the semester, this is timely.
- F. Latour indicated a special Senate meeting could be called during Winter Break.
- MOTION: To call the question. Motion passed by required 2/3 majority. Motion passed unanimously.
- MOTION: To create an Ad Hoc Committee to Recommend a Chair of Educational Leadership, Policy and Instructional Technology. Motion passed unanimously.
- This item was deferred to the first meeting of the Senate in the Spring semester.
c. Approval of December 2021/January 2022 candidates for graduation
- Dean Wolff made a motion to approve the Fall 2021 degree candidates of the Carol A. Ammon College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences on behalf of the faculty, subject to their satisfactory completion of all requirements for graduation. Seconded. Motion approved.
- Dean Farhat made a motion to approve the Fall 2021 degree candidates of the School of Business, as presented on the graduate list, on behalf of the faculty, subject to their satisfactory completion of all requirements for graduation. Seconded. Motion approved.
- Dean Mulrooney made a motion to approve the Fall 2021 degree candidates of the School of Education and Professional Studies, as presented on the graduation list, on behalf of the faculty, subject to their satisfactory completion of all requirements for graduation. Seconded. Motion approved.
- Interim Dean Jarrett made a motion to approve the Fall 2021 degree candidates of the School of Engineering, Science, and Technology, as presented on the graduation list, on behalf of the faculty, subject to their satisfactory completion of all requirements for graduation. Seconded. Motion approved.
- AVP Robinson made a motion to approve the Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 degree candidates on behalf of the faculty of the School of Graduate Studies, as presented on the graduation list, subject to their satisfactory completion of all requirements for graduation. Seconded. Motion approved unanimously.
6. Adjournment
SUMMARY OF ROLL CALL VOTES
- The meeting adjourned at 5:31pm.