College of Arts & Sciences Meeting

Fairfield University

11 November 2011

Alumni House

MINUTES (APPROVED)

Prof. Driscoll (Chair, CAS Planning Committee) called the meeting to order at 3:39p.m. There were approximately 42 faculty members present. 

I. Approval of Minutes

MOVED by Prof. Walker and seconded by Prof. Steffen, that the minutes of the October 14^th meeting be approved as submitted.

No Proposed amendments or corrections submitted.

Motion PASSED [31 in favor, 0 opposed, 11 abstained]

II. Election of additional Planning Committee member

Chair O’Driscoll opened the floor to nominations for two additional Planning Committee members.

Prof. Epstein nominated Prof. Bowen. Prof. Bowen respectfully declined.
Prof. Walker nominated Prof. Sauer. Prof. Sauer accepted

MOVED by Prof. Steffen, and seconded by Prof. Keenan that nominations be closed.

By acclimation, Prof. Sauer was elected (two-year, CAS Planning Committee).

III. Election of sabbatical replacement for CAS chair, SPR 2012 ONLY

Chair O’Driscoll opened the floor for nominations to elect a Spring 2012 sabbatical replacement for the CAS Chair.

    Prof. Epstein was nominated.

MOVED by Prof. Walker, and seconded by Prof. Keenan that nominations be closed. Motion PASSED [38-0-0]

By acclimation, Prof. Epstein was elected CAS Chair as a sabbatical replacement for the sitting Chair. Epstein will serve as CAS Char in Spring 2012.

IV. Election of Divisional Merit Review Committees, at-large members

Chair O’Driscoll opened nominations for the election of at-large members of the Divisional Merit Review Committees.

The following faculty were nominated and elected (by acclimation) to serve on their respective Divisional Merit Review Committees (2011-2013):

	2010-12	2011-13
HUMANITIES
English	Bayers	Rajan
History	Behre
Modern Lang	Campos	Sourieau
Philosophy	Brill	DeWitt
Relig Studies	Benney	Humphrey
VPA	Nash
At large		Chamlin
At Large		Bowen
At large	McFadden
NAT. SCIENCES & MATH
Biology	Klug	Sauer
Chemistry & BC	O'Connell
Math & CS	Bernhardt	Mulvey
Physics	Winn	Xu
At large	McSweeney	McSweeney
SOC. & BEH. SCIENCES
Communication	Gudelunas	Ryan
Economics	Lane	LeClair
Politics	Boryczka
Psychology	Salafia	McCarthy
Soc & Anth	Mielants	Crawford
At-large	Henkel
At-large	Zhang

No at-large member was nominated for the Social and Behavioral Sciences. The Dean and Associate Dean agreed to work together to identify a volunteer among the Social and Behavioral Sciences. There were no objections.

V. Proposed Change to CAS Governance Document (A&S Student Awards Committees)

Associate Dean Weiss presented the proposal (Appendix One). Weiss explained that the number of Student Award Committees and the total number of committee members would remain the same if the proposed changes were approved. The proposed change would simply divide the 12 members into four subcommittees, each one responsible for one award. Currently the 12 members are divided into three subcommittees, one of which is responsible for two awards. The only change is that each award will have a separate committee, of three members each. The total number of members will remain the same.

Prof. Sapp MOVED to adopt the changes. Prof Keenan seconded the motion.

Motion PASSED unanimously [39 for, 0 against, 0 abstained]

VI. Announcements (Steve Bayne report on MLS)

Prof. Bayne presented a report on MA degrees in the Humanities.

The Masters in Liberal Studies (MLS) committee completed a feasibility study for a potential MLS program at Fairfield University. Market research and the feasibility study promote the creation of a Fairfield MLS program. Specifically, a high number of market research respondents reported some interest in pursuing an MLS within the next five years. The MLS committee will meet next week to create a working group to develop an MLS program. The goal of the working group will be to build a MLS program by Fall 2013 or 2014. For the first year, 20 is the target number for in-coming MLS students.

Prof. Bayne answered questions from the floor:

Q: Who was the target audience for the market survey, and who were the most interested potential

MLS students?

A: The survey target audience was people from Fairfield and Westchester counties with backgrounds

in teaching, healthcare, and banking. Respondents’ primary motivation for pursuing a

MLS was personal enrichment. Respondents reported that the reason they would consider pursuing

an MLS at Fairfield was due to Fairfield University’s reputation.

Q: What is the MLS curriculum?

A: The MLS curriculum is an interdisciplinary program that includes Core Courses and electives. Bayne invited potential course descriptions (most interdisciplinary) for MLS courses. The early curriculum will focus on interdisciplinary courses, some of which will be team taught.

Q: What programs are local MLS competitors?

A: Wesleyan University and Albertus Magnus University

The New School and New York City area programs can be considered as competitors, but the Fairfield MLS program will not actively recruit students from New York City. The target student population includes Fairfield and Westchester counties.

Q: Can teachers who seek MA programs for advancement or professional development credentials, use a MLS for this purpose?

A: Perhaps, but the emerging MLS program does not intend to draw significant numbers of students away from other Fairfield programs (such as American Studies).

VII. Brief remarks by the Dean

A. Budget Update

1. Fiscal ’12 (current year)

§ Academic Division provided for reductions to help meet this year’s budget shortfall by not filling staff vacancies due to voluntary retirement or other separation, reconfiguration of open positions to maximize efficiencies, and using restricted funds for one-year operating expenses in programs that had (and were stockpiling) restricted funds. There were no layoffs in the academic division.

§ In CAS, use of restricted funds and trimming in areas with some flex (e.g. grad assistant hours, student workers, etc.) were used for our contribution to help meet the gap.

§ Other divisions experienced lay-offs, 11 individuals. Each VP decided how to meet their budget reduction goals. No divisions or units were targeted in any particular way.

§ C&NS did not experience any lay-offs.

§ Generous severance along with employee assistance is being offered.

§ Staff and administration will have a one-year (December – June) reduction in Univ retirement contribution; this will be progressive with smaller reductions at lower salary levels.

§ Faculty Salary Committee likely will bring proposals to General Faculty for one-time reduction in Univ. retirement contribution. Given raises last year, reductions in force, and potential future layoffs, I invite faculty to seriously consider voting in favor of this as a way to demonstrate solidarity with the staff and also that the faculty is sharing the costs of the budget situation.

§ There will be no changes to tuition remission benefits for faculty or staff.

§ No TT faculty hiring freezes; all currently authorized searches are moving forward. The Dean is hopeful that this will continue and indeed it’s a priority of the SVPAA, as well. The President sees freezing TT hiring as a “last resort.”

§ NOTE: The Comprehensive Campaign is being funded by a loan from the Endowment, not through annual operating dollars. This is not an atypical way to do this, when endowment fundraising is part of goal.

2. Fiscal ’13 (planning for next year)

§ Budget request instructions out to Chairs by early next week. Keep expectations very contained.

§ Expectation is that we will continue to make TT hires, though pace may be affected, and programs with vacancies may not get replacements (or get them right away). Full-time visiting instruction could be very challenging to get approved in this climate.

§ Capital budget requests will be entertained as always, as this is how we calculate depreciation of facilities into annual budgets (can impact our bond ratings).

§ FY ’13 requests may include rationales for new or refilling TT faculty, new or continuation of P of Ps and visiting instructors, though temporary full-time instruction will be difficult to get. Number of sections to be taught by adjunct or overload also must be included (revisions to adjunct requests will be possible through late summer based on actual enrollment data, etc.).

§ Operating budget in the College likely will be the same, some intra-College realignment may be necessary – don’t expect any new funds, and to seek to streamline operations in departments & programs

Dean Crabtree opened the floor for questions from faculty (about the budget).

Q: If the Board of Directors is committed to keeping us at 95^th percentile, doesn’t that conflict with the soon-to-be-proposed cuts in faculty retirement contributions. Is this not robbing Peter to pay Paul?

A: That is a better question for the next General Faculty meeting. Also, faculty should bring questions and concerns to the attention of the Faculty Salary Committee.

Q: Can we consider or discuss the idea of merging application for merit with the annual review process?

A: Remember that Department Annual Reports do not include individual faculty accomplishments. The report primarily contains aggregate data. The Dean reported on discussions about exempting all continuing (renewed) pre-tenure faculty from the annual merit review process because they must complete an individual, comprehensive annual review. She hopes FSC will propose such a revision to the University Merit Plan.

Q: Times are tough…and the “tough” should be shared, but I do not feel that the

burden is being shared fairly. Between now and next Friday’s General Faculty meeting, can we hear details on whether or not there are cuts and a shared burden with senior level university officials.

A: More information is forthcoming from the FSC. Also, today, the President asked me to encourage faculty to speak with him about budget concerns. Send the President your thoughts on this matter (via email, with CC to SVPAA Paul Fitzgerald, if you wish).

Q: Has our web person been let go?

A: I heard that may be the case. Associate Dean Im and I are exploring the impact of this and other potential reductions in staff.

B. Quick Faculty Search Update

1. Associate Dean call for nominations is out. Inquiries are coming in (deadline Dec. 1). Decision will be announced by the start of spring semester to allow for planning, mentoring, etc.

2. Politics and Psychology candidates are visiting in November.

3. Searches in Economics, English (poetry), History, Math, MLL-Spanish, Philosophy, and Religious Studies will unfold in the spring semester.

4. Some Jesuit CVs are going around. Some have been deemed unacceptable so far, others are moving toward invitations to campus visits.

C. Quick Admissions and Enrollment Update

1. First-ever admissions event focused on the natural sciences was held today. 25 families participated from as far away as California! Thanks to the science faculty who are facilitating that visit in collaboration with Admissions.

2. Applications for early action on pace. Total applications so far is 4200, which is about an 11% increase from last year at the same time.

3. Grad programs enrollments are soft and this also has created a revenue gap. Students who began grad programs during the economic downturn have completed their degrees.

4. Average age of our grad students is 33; 40% of them are attending full-time (compared to only 20% 5 years ago).

5. Paul will likely give admissions/enrollment updates at General Faculty meetings.

D. Update on CAS Initiatives and Routines

1. Fr. Fitzgerald and I met with nearly 30 alumni attorneys last night to discuss and raise funds for our Law & Society program (in draft) and pre-legal advising program.

2. Dean had annual meeting with all pre-tenure faculty in the College yesterday.

3. Meeting with all tenured Associate Professors will be scheduled for spring semester.

4. Associate Dean Manyul Im is working on digitalizing ASCC and other CAS documents and procedures. He is also available to consult on dept/program and other CAS webpage issues.

5. Associate Dean Joan Weiss will be moving the A&S Student Awards process forward soon. Please ensure your students submit their work for consideration.

6. Assessment rubrics for NEASC – all departments should be proceeding to collect, analyze, and interpret student learning artifacts and data. Revised NEASC assessment questionnaires will be completed by each degree program (using a new online form created by Office of Institutional Research) by January 15^th – Dean will prompt chairs via email.

7. CAS Staff, led by Assistant Deans Sue Peterson and Dawn DeBiase, along with Jean Daniele, are working on better management of course scheduling, enrollment management, adjunct contracts, student appointments, etc. Please cooperate with them when they reach out to you.

8. Suggestion: CAS faculty using Outlook calendars facilitates meeting scheduling. Keep in mind that non-teaching days cannot always be off the table for scheduling meetings.

9. Please let me know if you would like me to invite any staff or administrators from the University to address the CAS faculty or discuss some aspect of University operations with you.

10. CAS Staff are sharing “best practices” at national professional higher education meetings. Assistant Dean Dawn DeBiase presented her scholarly research at the National Academic Advisors (NACADA) annual meeting in Denver in October. Her presentation, attended by over 100 academic advisors from institutions across the nation, highlighted her use of Motivational Interviewing techniques with academically at-risk students, including those who are on academic probation or who have returned from an academic dismissal. Her techniques are new to the discipline of academic advising, and her research is demonstrating the successful use of these counseling techniques in the academic context. She took Dr. Ron Salafia’s Psych Statistics course in order to move from case study to quantitative research; her results are statistically significant. She is being encouraged by leaders in the scholarship of academic advising and higher education to publish her work. Several institutions have requested more information about the techniques and permission to use some of the advising forms Ms. DeBiase developed for this work. These kinds of presentations give national prominence to Fairfield University.

E. Recognition of faculty and student accomplishments:

1. Carlin O’Donnell ’12, an English major, submitted an application for the Rhodes Scholarship in District 1 Rhode Island, his home state.  His application and his letters of recommendation are a testament to his talent and to the educational experience at Fairfield University. This is the most competitive scholarship in the country, granting only 32 each year. It is good that Fairfield University can present such a strong candidate and even if Carlin is not chosen, an important outcome is that Fairfield University is becoming known to the Rhodes Trust.

2. Halimat Somotan ’12 won the Schomburg-Mellon Humanities Summer Institute Fellowship at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. It is awarded through a national competition to ten rising seniors. Ms. Somotan is the first Fairfield student to win the prestigious fellowship, which involves a six-week program that brings in internationally renowned scholars to work with undergraduates who have an interest in the African diaspora.

3. Sara Colabella, M.A. in Communication, May 2011, will be presenting her paper, titled: "Cultivation Theory and the Digital Age: Extrapolations and Limitations in the Age of New Media" at the National Communication Association (NCA) Conference in New Orleans on November 19, 2011. Dr. David Gudelunas, Associate Professor of Communication, was the advisor on Sara’s MA thesis, on which her conference paper is based, and he encouraged her to submit a paper for consideration. While many doctoral students have papers accepted for this professional conference, it is not typical for MA students from small programs to present there. Even more impressive, Ms. Colabella's paper was selected through a peer-review process as one of the four "Top Papers in Communication and the Future.” This is a major accomplishment, and one that is rare even for long-time professors in the field. Sara is currently applying to Communication Ph.D. Programs.

4. The American-Scandinavian Foundation recognized Jo Yarrington, Professor of Studio Arts and accomplished installation artist and printmaker as an American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellow in their Centennial Video Interview Project.  In appreciation for her creative work and support, Prof. Yarrington was invited to attend the Nordic-American Friendship Centennial Ball on Friday, October 21, 2011 at The Hilton Hotel in New York City. Ball gown was required.

5. Dr. Kathy Schwab was selected as “Hellene of the Year” by District 7 of the Order of AHEPA, which is the largest Greek-American association in the world. It works to promote the ancient Greek ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and, democratic values such as human dignity and freedom. The award letter Kathy received, which was a complete surprise to her, notes AHEPA members’ visit to the Bellarmine Museum of Art in addition to her research in Greek art that has been featured at the Acropolis Museum in Athens as well as in many other prestigious venues.  For example she recently gave a presentation on the Caryatid Hairstyles at the Trump World Tower at U.N. Plaza.  The event was sponsored by the Association of Greek American Professional Women, a high-powered group in the NYC area.

6. Fairfield University hosted the 51^st annual meeting of the New England Psychological Association on October 28-29, 2011. The meeting was attended by 500 psychology faculty and students from not only the six New England states but reaching as far south as Maryland and across the Atlantic to Spain.  Dr. Judy Primavera served as the on-site coordinator of the event. Fairfield University’s chapter of Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor Society, provided conference volunteers and made all welcome. NEPA extended complimentary registration to all Fairfield university students and nearly 100 of our undergraduate and graduate students enjoyed the wide array of research presentations and workshops. Four Fairfield University faculty, seven students, and five alumni were the authors on seven paper and poster presentations.  Senior Psychology major Nile Muzyk was awarded the prestigious Honorary Undergraduate Fellow award.  The highlight of the conference was the keynote address by internationally renowned child advocate Dr. James Garbarino from DePaul University in Chicago who spoke of Children and the dark Side of Human Experience: Confronting Global Realities and Rethinking Child Development. Deborah Carroll ’82, now a psych prof at another university, was inaugurated as NEPA’s new President, and she was thrilled to be back on our campus for this honor 30 years after her graduation from Fairfield.

F. Faculty-Board Member Interaction

The SVPAA has been inviting faculty to more substantively engage with Board members. These initiatives include luncheons at which faculty share their teaching and research interests with Board Members. Board members have been very impressed; I hear one even got choked up!

G. Faculty-Graduates & Families Interaction at Commencement

The university is considering ways to increase faculty interaction with graduates and their families prior to or as part of commencement activities. Faculty members expressed interest in this idea. The Dean will share that interest with Assoc VP Malone.

H. Final Note of Appreciation:

· I am increasingly aware of the ways the economic crisis is affecting us across positions at the University and across the country. Please be generous with your charitable giving, and please keep in mind that – even if it’s not visible – folks in our midst are facing challenges.

· Being with our junior faculty is always an uplifting experience. We are a vibrant community of teacher scholars that is growing stronger and stronger.

· Thanks TO ALL OF YOU for all you do to contribute to making Fairfield a place where our junior and senior colleagues alike can find professional success, and live our vocation as educators contributing to the common good.

· I hope that, despite budget woes at Fairfield, the ongoing and ever emerging challenges in higher education today that affect our work as teacher-scholars, and the wider challenges in the world, that we can support each other with civility and genuine kindness.

VIII. Q&A

Professor Dewitt announced that results from a recent study include some good news. Student satisfaction with faculty and their Fairfield education is high. DeWitt encouraged colleagues to review survey results on-line via the website of the General Faculty.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

Prof. Bowen MOVED to adjourn the meeting, and Prof. Gudelunas seconded the motion.

Meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Scott M. Lacy

CAS Faculty Secretary

ATTACHED

APPENDIX 1: AMMENDMENT TO THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES GOVERNANCE DOCUMENT

APPENDIX 1:

AMMENDMENT TO THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES GOVERNANCE DOCUMENT

Motion:

That the existing language in the CAS governance document: 3.5.1.3 Arts and Sciences Awards Committee

The Arts and Sciences Awards Committee consists of four professors from the Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts, four from the Natural Sciences and Mathematics and four from the Social and Behavioral Sciences, appointed annually by the Dean.

The purpose of this committee is to solicit and review submissions of their work by students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Awards are made annually in the areas of Humanities, Arts, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Be replaced by:

The purpose of the Arts and Sciences Awards Committee is to solicit and review submissions of work completed by students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Awards are made annually in the areas of: humanities; visual and performing arts; natural sciences and mathematics; and social and behavioral sciences.

The committee of twelve faculty members is comprised of four subcommittees, one for each award. Each subcommittee consists of three faculty members with the majority from the relevant division or discipline, appointed by the Dean to staggered three-year terms.

Rationale:

Currently one committee decides two awards. A subcommittee for each of the four awards is appropriate. Three instead of four members on each subcommittee is sufficient. The majority membership of each subcommittee from the relevant division or discipline allows for outside representation on each subcommittee.