Meeting Date: August 30, 2019
Location: SSC 205, Time: 12:30 p.m.
Members Present: Richard Burton, Susan Curtis, Meredith
Dickens, Corey Evans, Roxanna Ezenekewe, Pam Goodman, Som Linthicum, Malisa
Looney, Gerald Maxie, Robin McFall, Julia Seligson, Foster Sims, Doug Stephens,
Mia Tensley, Debbie Vance, James Walker, Rhonda Whitten
Members Absent: Deborah DeMino, Jan Gibbs, Amanda Karaganov,
Jeremy McCracken
Guests: Galen Dehay, Ken Kopera,
Matt Simon, Ahmad Chaudhry
Presider: Julia Seligson
Welcome and Agenda: Julia called the
meeting to order at 12:32 and directed all in attendance to the agenda for the
meeting.
1. Welcome and Introductions – Julia Seligson
Julia welcomed senators and guests
to the new academic year. She asked senators to introduce themselves and tell
what academic area they represented. In addition, she stated that she did not
have the name tents finalized because she was waiting to hear from a few
divisions concerning adjunct/lecturer senators.
She stated that Robin McFall had
agreed to serve as secretary for this meeting since we have not yet elected
officers. She also reminded everyone the meeting would be recorded for the sole
purpose of creating minutes and the recording would be deleted once minutes
were approved.
Julia also reminded senators that
since she is now a department head, she will not be able to remain as Faculty
Senate president as is stipulated in the Constitution and Bylaws. She stated
that later in the meeting we would have nominations and vetting for new
candidates.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline: Julia/new president will
create the name tents once all divisions provide names for adjunct and lecturer
senators.
2.
Welcome and Thanks – Galen Dehay
Galen thanked all the senators for agreeing to serve in an important role
and represent all faculty. He stated he was especially appreciative of those
senators who helped at the Adjunct Expo: Julia Seligson, Robin McFall, Jeremy
McCracken, and Som Linthicum. Galen also announced that after Julia brought
concerns to him, he has allocated funds to pay for lunch for each Faculty
Senate meeting.
He then provided updates/"points of pride" concerning fall enrollment
numbers, funding for professional development, new/redesigned academic
programs, and external partnerships. He also updated Faculty Senate on the VPAA
search, explaining why he had restructured the College's administration. He
then shared information about upcoming renovation plans for Fulp Hall and
Oconee Hall. He reviewed the College's strategic planning cycle, giving an
updated timeline, and encouraging faculty to get involved. He shared
information about upcoming charrettes and encouraged everyone to participate.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline: Julia/Robin will post the
presentation Galen used to the Faculty Senate Teams folder for all to review.
Senators should encourage faculty to participate in the charrettes during fall
2019.
3.
Master plan – Ken Kopera
Ken provided more details and a timeline for the upcoming renovations of
Fulp Hall. He stated the fifth floor would lose all faculty offices so two
much-needed science labs could be built. As a result, faculty in the English
department would move to Miller Hall (where the student success coaches were
previously located), and science faculty would take the offices vacated by the
English department. Ken added that the English department would be in the space
in Miller Hall for approximately three years. He noted Miller Hall will have
some modifications made for new classroom space as well.
Ken also stated that Oconee Hall would be the next building to be thoroughly
renovated. He stated that while it had received superficial updates (such as
painting and new floors) over the past twenty years, it had not received any
major updates because we were focused on three new campuses, the Student
Success Center, and the Ruby Hicks Hall renovation. Since Oconee Hall houses
the majority of our classes, it must be updated to more adequately meet today's
needs. He stated we do not yet have a firm timeline as the College is still
working to determine funding for the renovation and to finalize plans for the
building. He noted that Oconee Hall would be completely offline during the
renovation, so faculty offices would be relocated to space in Anderson Hall.
Classes would be relocated to other buildings, including Miller Hall.
Ken stated he does not want anyone to panic over the Master Plan. He said
the plan is most often in flux, depending on campus needs, and is not set in
stone. He strongly encouraged faculty to ask him to come to division and
department meetings, saying he is always willing to answer questions, allay
fears/concerns, and provide the most current plans.
Ken then discussed a new planning committee to redesign the Central Plaza
in the middle of campus. He asked for two to four senators willing to serve. He
said Julia could send him names.
Malisa Looney brought up a concern about the water quality (taste, color,
and smell) in Fulp Hall. Ken stated he would look into the issue and get back
to her as quickly as possible.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline: Senators will share this
update with concerned faculty and let department heads/deans know about Ken's
willingness to come to meetings. Julia will send Ken two to four names from
Senate for the Central Plaza redesign committee.
4.
Faculty Choice Scholarship – Som Linthicum
Som updated Faculty Senate on the work completed by the sub-committee on
revitalizing the Faculty Choice Scholarship. He noted the committee met over
the summer and has developed some possible criteria, considered a new name to
reflect the scholarship's new focus, and discussed potential fund-raising
activities. The sub-committee will continue to meet, and other senators are
welcome to join the group. Som stated the committee will bring more information
to the next Faculty Senate meeting.
Action to be taken as
a result of discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline: The
sub-committee will continue to plan and bring information to Faculty Senate.
Senators should share information about the scholarship with constituents in
order to help promote it.
5.
Nominations and Vetting for 2019-2020 Faculty Senate
President – Julia Seligson
Julia
reviewed the processes outlined in Article III for nominations and vetting. She
then opened the floor for nominations.
Som Linthicum nominated Pam Goodman. Julia stated she had received a
nomination for Matt Simon, who meets the qualifications outlined in the
Constitution and Bylaws. Mia Tensley nominated Robin McFall and Som Linthicum.
Som declined the nomination. Jimmy Walker nominated Jeremy McCracken.
As was done in the spring, Julia asked the nominees to step out of the
room for the vetting discussion. Once the nominees left the room, Senate
discussed each candidate to determine which should move forward to the ballot
on which all faculty would vote.
When the nominees returned, Julia announced Senate agreed to place Pam
Goodman, Robin McFall, and Jeremy McCracken on the ballot. The candidates will need to have their
candidate profiles completed and submitted to Julia no later than September 6.
She stated those could be sent to her via email. Voting will open on September
9 and close September 13.
6. Approval
of minutes from May 2, 2019 – Julia Seligson
Julia referred everyone to the
minutes from the May 2 meeting, and Robin displayed the minutes for senators to
review. These minutes had been posted in the Teams folder for all to review.
Robin stated she had received no suggestions for changes. Julia asked if there
were any changes. Hearing none, all senators approved the minutes, and Julia
stated the minutes will stand approved as posted.
Action to be taken as a result of
discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline: Robin will submit the
approved minutes to the committee blogspot for posting and will upload the
approved minutes in the Faculty Senate Teams folder.
7.
Division and Committee Updates – various senators
Time expired before we could get to this agenda item. Julia noted we will
have these at the September 20 meeting. Som suggested that these updates be
submitted in writing (in a brief paragraph) before the meeting to help speed up
the process.
Action
to be taken as a result of discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline: Senators
from each division and committee will give updates at each Faculty Senate
meeting. Senators should share the information from each division with
constituents.
8. Adjournment
Since we were out of time, Julia
adjourned the meeting at 1:58.
Respectfully submitted by Robin McFall
Next Meeting: Friday,
September 20 at 12:30 in SSC 205
