College of Arts and Sciences Fairfield University
MINUTES OF MEETING, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
There were approximately 80 CAS faculty members present.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Glenn Sauer at 4:05.
Approval of Minutes of April 28, 2010
MOVED by Betsy Bowen and seconded by Vera Cherepinsky, that the minutes of the April 28 be approved as submitted.
AMENDMENT: David McFadden noted an error under "Comments from the Dean" 21 lines down, "Laura Henkel" should be "Linda Henkel". Amendment accepted.
PASSED: The minutes of April 28 were approved as amended, unanimously.
Introduction of New Faculty
Chairman Sauer introduced the following new faculty:
- Ive Covaci, Asian Studies
- Laura Samponaro, Classical Studies
- Colleen Arendt, Communication
- Michael Serazio, Communication
- Anna-Marie Aksan, Economics
- Ali Yaycioglu, History
- Antonio Grau-Sempere, Modern Languages
- Beth Bouloukos , Modern Languages
- Douglas Peduti, S.J., Philosophy
- Bidyut Das, Physics
- Daniel Kapust, Politics
- Terrence Klein, Religious Studies
In addition, Chairman Sauer introduced two faculty members who have been teaching as affiliates for some years, but who are now Professors of the Practice:
- Eugenia Zavras, Biology
- Christine Earls, Biology
Introduction of Bellarmine Museum Director
Chairman Sauer called upon Katherine Schwab (Visual and Performing Arts) to introduce the Director of the new Bellarmine Museum of Art. Katherine was pleased to introduce Dr. Jill Deupi as the new Director. Dr. Deupi received her B.A. from Mt. Holyoke College, her M.A. from the University of London (London Royal Academy of Art), and her Ph.D. in the History of Art (specializing in 18th-century Naples and Rome) from the University of Virginia. Jill has been teaching at Fairfield as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Art History, and has published "Eternity's Shadow: The Legacy of Greek Art, 1300-1800" in A Companion to Greek Art, ed. Tyler Jo Smith and Dimitris Plantzos (2009), and "From Rome to Beijing: A 1719 Document of Musical and Other Papal Gifts to China," in Studies in the Decorative Arts XV, no. 1 (2007-2008), with Maureen Cassidy-Geiger and Michael Erwee. Dr. Schwab commented that Dr. Deupi has worked extremely hard these past two years, and "has really brought us to where we are." The faculty welcomed Jill with a round of applause
Jill thanked Katherine, and mentioned several key dates for the new Bellarmine Museum: an Open House October 22, from 5 to 7, and another Open House at Saturday Homecoming, from 1 to 5. The Museum itself will open October 28, and will be open to the public Monday to Friday 10-3. Group accommodations and guided tours are also available. The Museum has twelve curate shows scheduled already, and it is soliciting proposals for more. Mark Scalese asked what the difference was between the Bellarmine Museum and the Walsh Gallery. Jill answered that the Walsh is a gallery, hosting temporary exhibits, whereas the Bellarmine is a museum, with a permanent collection. The Bellarmine will have some temporary exhibits, but its emphasis is more historical that that of the Walsh Gallery.
Elections
Chairman Sauer announced that four CAS offices needed to be filled: (1) Chair, (2) Planning Committee Natural Sciences representative, (3) Distinguished Teaching Award Committee Natural Sciences representative, (4) Distinguished Teaching Award Committee Humanities representative.
Dr. Sally O'Driscoll (English) was elected CAS Chair, 2010-2012, by acclamation.
Dr. Amanda Harper-Leatherman (Chemistry) was elected Natural Sciences representative on the CAS Planning Committee, by acclamation.
Dr. Kraig Steffen (Chemistry) was elected Natural Sciences representative on the Distinguished Teaching Award Committee, by acclamation.
Dr. David McFadden (History) was elected Humanities representative on the Distinguished Teaching Award Committee, by acclamation.
Dean's Remarks
Dean Crabtree welcomed the faculty back, and also welcomed the new faculty. She stated that her comments will be divided into: (1) Highlights from last year; (2) State of the College; (3) Three-year priorities, and where we are now; (4) University College.
I. Dean Crabtree welcomed our new colleagues, and remarked that it had been a terrific hiring season. We currently have six tenure-track position searches underway, in Biology, Economics, English Literature, English Creative Writing, History (U.S.), and Politics. These searches show that our administration is committed to preventing budget cutbacks from affecting faculty hires; this differentiates us from many other American universities at this difficult time.
II. State of the College.
Dean Crabtree announced that the CAS Annual Report has been posted, and reported:
Faculty Achievements
Scholarship:
Grant Activity: (as of July 1, 2010):
Numerous other specific faculty achievements are listed in the annual report.
Dean Crabtree commented that it is most helpful when faculty keep their Eidos information updated (2 times per year or so); your or Curt's work studies can help with this; department program assistants should be trained to do this. The web profiles should also be updated, but Dean Crabtree was not sure of the interface between these two. Every spring we have the annual performance review; faculty need to keep their Eidos information updated for that.
In response to a question from Dean Crabtree, Curt Naser stated that faculty members need to edit their web profiles themselves, and that Eidos is set up to link to the University faculty profiles, but that a decision was made not to use the capacity, in favor of having faculty re-enter their scholarship data on the faculty profiles page.
Dean Crabtree continued:
Student achievements (Many more are in the annual report):
The
class of 2010
included 495 students who received their B.A. and B.S. from academic
programs
in the College of Arts & Sciences. Undergraduate students in the
College of Arts
& Sciences reflect similar commitments to excellence and
achievement as do
our faculty
Our graduate students are also high achievers, for example:
III. Enrollment Highlights (see PowerPoint, attached).
CLASS of '14
This was our first test-optional year, and only 14% of the applying students opted not to take the SAT. Bear in mind that those opting not to take the test must visit our campus and interview. Twenty-three percent of our enrolled students came from the test opt-out group. Within this group, women heavily outnumbered men, partly because the yield was high, and the Nursing field was large. These figures are also typical nationally. At Fairfield overall, we are committed to 60-40 as the maximum gender spread.
Nineteen percent of our entering first-years are people of color. This makes us more diverse than the national average (community colleges possibly excepted), which is 12-13%. We are witnessing growing diversity in other areas too, notably age groups; there are more older students now. These changes necessitate changes in our teaching; we need to be aware that students have different learning styles today, and we also need to make changes in our institutional culture.
Graduate Enrollment Trends
For graduate enrollment, see Powerpoint presentation, attached. The figure of 1292 has recently gone up to 1301. Any proposals to create new graduate programs are welcome. New graduate programs need faculty champions and faculty buy-in; then we do the market research and move ahead with planning.
Summary/Q&A
For the top five programs, see Powerpoint, attached. The fastest growing major at Fairfield is Accounting. Enrollments to the School of Nursing are off the charts, because of both the growth of our program and the national nursing crisis.
Dave Winn asked whether opting not to take the test hurt or enhanced a student's admission prospects at Fairfield. Dean Crabtree replied that we do not have that data.
Question: What is the SAT average? Answer: Contact Karen. Overall, students were less well-prepared than we expected, but compared with their peers at other equivalent institutions, their level of preparation is about the same. We must deal with the students we have, not with an ideal.
Edrick Lopez (English) asked whether the need for adjustment involved hiring more faculty of color? Dean Crabtree replied that she was referring to pedagogical methods, but that the University is committed to diversifying the faculty.
Rick DeWitt (Philosophy) commended Dean Crabtree for an excellent job in plugging the faculty, and asserted that we have a great faculty. However, he expressed apprehension that our acceptance rate was higher and our yield lower. Dean Crabtree replied that admissions has everyone worried; our peer institutions are experiencing the same problems. It is an erratic, unpredictable business: less steady than it has been previously. As an expensive, elite institution whose students are mainly in the 18-22-year-old age bracket, we are at a disadvantage compared to institutions whose applicant pools are more diverse. The 18-22 bracket is not growing, and we are therefore competing for a shrinking pool with state institutions. It is a challenging business.
Dean Crabtree continued:
IV. Review of CAS Priorities and Progress
NEASC related
o JVA APPROVED CAS GOV DOC
Strategic Plan related
o THANKS TO ALL FACULTY INVOLVED IN CORE PATHWAYS
o THANKS TO ALL FACULTY INVOLVED IN L&L COMMUNITIES
o THINGS TO KEEP ON THE RADAR:
IDEA implementation
E-Portfolio
- Program Review. I commend the programs that we have reviewed; it has been wonderful dealing with Asian Studies, Women's Studies, and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. LACS had a productive retreat, which I attended. The Philosophy Department has some good ideas which they want to share.
- Assessment of Student Learning. Curt Naser has been working with departments on their assessment plans, for core learning outcomes and core pathways. We are making progress.
- Annual Faculty Performance review. There is a University-wide merit plan. I have been working with the chairs on the annual review of pre-tenure faculty.
- Advising. Beth Boquet is leading our reconceptualization of advising.
- Governance. The CAS Governance Document has been reviewed, the revisions have been voted on by the CAS faculty and have been approved by President von Arx. Many thanks to Dean Joan Weiss and everyone else who has worked on the document.
- Implementation of the Strategic Plan in the College. Work proceeds on the integration of the core curriculum. To Kathy Nantz: the various disciplinary programs want tables at the Core Unmasked event this year. My thanks to everyone who has been participating in Living and Learning. We have also had some good ideas bubbling up concerning the integration of graduate programs, and concerning diversity.
- Welcome back to Orin Grossman. (Orin commented that Dean Crabtree has been doing a better job than could ever have been expected).
- Keep a heads-up on several ongoing projects: (1) The IDEA evaluation form and system, for which there are many CAE and departmental workshops scheduled. (2) E-portfolios; a pilot is underway, in departments and programs that have capstones. Aaron Perkus is leading this initiative. (3) Student Life has been working on Student Discernment; please talk about this with your departments.
V. University College
Dean Crabtree (dean both of CAS and University College) then spoke about University College, with the aid of a large Powerpoint diagram (see attached).
Study Abroad to International Programs
UC Non-Credit Programs
UC Degree/for-Credit Programs
UC Staff
UC as an entity
- Study Abroad has been broken off from University College. There had never been a logical connection. - We are looking at a program in Tanzania. There are also plans for programs in Brazil and China. - It is business as usual with the UC non-credit programs. Elizabeth Hastings directs these. With regard to the for-credit courses (see Powerpoint, attached), we have been researching what works and what does not. Aaron and I will fold our research findings into the program review process. We will make recommendations that will go through faculty committees as appropriate. I have conversed with committee chairs to figure out processes, based upon what proposals might come forth.
Manuel Im (Philosophy) asked concerning the Committee on University College. Dean Crabtree replied that Ed Deak (Economics) is the CAS representative on that committee. Aaron Perkus is a guest on it, and it also includes Gerry Campbell (DSB), and Suzanne Campbell (SON). The University Curriculum Committee has agreed to include University College issues as a standing agenda item this year. Banner and lots of other issues are involved.
Betsy Bowen what the SVPAA is looking to do here. Dean Crabtree replied that the SVPAA would like to completely reconfigure all of University College; to integrate fully the UC programs with the Schools. Faculty have to review and make recommendations. At the end of the day, there are a lot of unknowns with UC. All the UC staff are doing the same jobs. UC is receiving no additional admissions to the Associate in Arts program, and a proposal has been made that it be closed.
David Sapp asked about online courses. Dean Crabtree replied that Janice Dunn continues to work on this problem. There is a committee, but we need a task force, and a much more comprehensive approach. The University Curriculum Committee does have an agenda item on this; if you have concerns, contact them.
Dean Crabtree finished her remarks by thanking all of the department chairs and program directors for all of the leadership that they provide. She also urged the faculty to ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY AND INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY!
Divisional Merit Review Process
Chairman Sauer listed the CAS Committee set up to draft a proposal on the divisional merit review process: Dennis Keenan (Philosophy), Matt Kubasik (Chemistry) Laura Nash (VAPA), and Susan Rakowitz (Psychology). He then invited Dennis Keenan to introduce the committee's draft proposal (see attached).
Dennis Keenan began by stating that, for himself, he regards merit pay as a colossal debacle, and that this draft is an imperfect form of damage control. A major goal is to minimize the amount of work that faculty will be forced to do on merit pay assessment. He has no vision that this document is perfect.
There are three basic parts to the draft: (1) Divisional Committees, (2) the Process for Years in which only Standard Merit is Available, and (3) the Process for Years in which Further Merit is Available (see draft, attached).
Dennis proceeded to describe these three parts of the draft, and then called for questions.
Curt Naser asked, in light of the limitation to three one-page reflective essays, whether annual reports might be attached as appendices to a faculty member's merit application. Susan Rakowitz replied that the more years accepted, the easier it is to work on this. Curt then asked, so where is the reflective component? Dennis said that they did not get to this. (But see Joe Dennin's comment, below).
Question: whether the essays would account for one year or for three? You could lose out if you produced a book in a year that did not have additional merit. Susan replied that when there is additional merit, you go back to the last year in which there was additional merit, and count everything in between, whether that period is five, ten, or fifteen years.
Leo O'Connor (English) asked how much money was available for additional merit this year. Answer: we do not know. Leo asked further: then why are we even working on this draft? Answer: merit pay has been a fairly contentious issue for some departments, and this draft can lead to less contention.
Cecelia Bucki (History) asked concerning additional merit thresholds: they are not in this draft. Answer: these have already been set up in the University merit plan that the General Faculty approved last year.
Joe Dennin (Math) pointed out that the essays do not have to be reflective: just a list, if that is what you want to do.
Mary Ann Carolan (Modern Languages) asked how much faculty time this process would take. Answer: the committee tried to minimize the amount of time.
Rick DeWitt commented that this draft sounds like a good plan, and that the committee has clearly put a lot into it. Rick reminded the faculty that last year the General Faculty approved a change in the distribution of salary and benefits. On average $2200 per faculty member went from benefits to salary. This amount will likely increase each year at roughly the rate health costs increase, so in upcoming years we may well have money, moving from the benefits part of the compensation pie to the salary part, to fund substantial amounts of additional merit. We do not know what the effect of this will be down the road. We must thus look carefully at additional merit.
Dean Crabtree reminded the faculty that the General Faculty voted on and approved a University merit plan last year. Currently we have no plan for the College to implement the University plan. A number of faculty came to me about this problem. At our last CAS meeting we voted to create a committee to draft a plan, which it has now done. The larger issues that people have been bringing up are not relevant to this specific implementation question.
Betsy Bowen (English) asked about timetables. October 15? Dennis replied that the committee had not thought that far, but that nothing will happen until next semester.
Laura McSweeney (Math) asked whether the reports will be confidential? Answer: yes.
Manuel Im asked why we are waiting to vote, if the draft is ready now? Dennis replied that a vote on the draft is not on today's agenda, and that we need a more substantive discussion on whether we want to go down this road at all.
Cecelia Bucki asked when the elections to the Divisional Committees will take place. Answer: after the CAS votes on and approves this draft, if it does so. The departments will then elect their representatives.
Chairman Sauer recommended that if faculty have any further questions they consult the committee.
MOVED, by the new Chair Sally O'Driscoll and seconded by Cecelia Bucki, that the meeting be adjourned. PASSED unanimously.
Chair O'Driscoll adjourned the meeting at 5:25
Bill Abbott