CAS Faculty Meeting
25 March 2015
Alumni House
3:30 p.m.
MINUTES
Proxies filed:
Prof. Henkel for Prof. Harding and Prof. McSweeney
Prof. Van Dyke for Prof. Miecznikowski and Prof. Steffen
With 68 members present, the Chair called the meeting to order at 3:34p.m.
I. Approval of November minutes
The
Chair opened the floor to approve the minutes. Prof. Bowen MOVED
to approve the minutes. Prof. Weiss SECONDED the motion.
With no corrections or revisions
from the floor, the Chair CALLED THE VOTE. With a clear
majority voting in favor, the motion PASSED.
II. Update on status of CAS Dean search, Senior Vice President for Academic Affaris Babington
SVPAA Babington provided an update on CAS leadership and the search for the new CAS Dean. Her remarks are outlined below.
Dean Search - the Process & Result
- 3 final candidates visited
the university and met with various constituents of the campus
community (department chairs, administrators, staff, students,
etc.).
- There was disagreement on the three final candidates following the campus visits.
- The search committee did extensive research on the candidates, and the SVPAA reviewed these confidential resources.
- Materials and reviews of
candidates varied in terms of specificity. SVPAA did additional
reference checks and research and grew concerned about some of the
confidential information she received.
- None of the candidates
demonstrated the administrative experience nor specific strategies for
leading the College at this critical moment.
- SVPAA made the difficult decision to close the search without making an offer.
Dean Search - the Road Forward
- Assoc. Dean Y. Williams will serve as Interim Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences for the next two years
- SVPAA has been working with
a number of university thought leaders with administrative experience
and/or extensive experience at Fairfield. Discussions with
the SVPAA have focused on the question of what is the "leadership
model" that strengthens the college (specifically: makes CAS more
important to our students, leverages our terrific College resources,
clearly articulate CAS strengths, strengthens the student experience,
and to translate the tradition of the Jesuit liberal arts into 21st
century learning and lives.
- SVPAA and a small task force with work with the CAS to consider the question/s above.
- Interim Dean Williams (Humanities)
- Assoc. Dean Walker (Natural Sciences)
- Prof. Boryzka (Social & Behavioral Sciences)
- Assoc. Dean Gudelunas (Communications & Emerging Media)
- The consideration of
potential "leadership models" will encourage opportunities for input
through formal and informal meetings, groups, and discussions.
- SVPAA encouraged College faculty to support the CAS leaders involved with this initiative.
Closing Remarks
- The SVPAA recognized Jim
Simon for his service as the Dean of the College for the past
year. Dean Simon's CAS colleagues recognized his service with an
enthusiastic round of applause.
- The SVPAA also recognized
Prof. Epstein for his leadership as the new Director of the Core
Curriculum. Prof. Epstein's CAS colleagues rerespoded with an enthusiastic round of applause.
Question & Answer Session
Prof. Bowen: What is a leadership model? Does that term indicate a different Dean profile?
SVPAA: There
has been a lot of discussion about alternative structures for the
college. That said it is not my position to select the ideal
structure or leadership model for the College. The task force
will look at what the CAS needs to be more distinctive, to capitalize
on existing resources, and to strengthem the college. Instead of
bringing in a new dean for the College while it's in flux, we'd be wise
to first better articulate who we are.
Prof. Bowen: Where were the discussions?
SVPAA: They were programmatic discussions that were not at the CAS-wide level.
Prof. Mielants: Will there be a new search during Dean Williams term as interim dean?
SVPAA: Yes.
Mulvey:
I was not aware of the discussions on potential new leadership
models. I don’t know what "leadership model" means. I
respect the CAS leaders you selected for the task force, but they were
not elected by their CAS colleagues. The people you listed were appointed by you.
SVPAA: I appointed the group to represent the different disciplines in the college.
Mulvey: Yes, but they have
were not elected. They were appointed. They are
representing the CAS as appointees not elected representatives.
Will the leadership team look to the College governance document
throughout the process?
SVPAA: I assume they will work within the College governance structure.
Prof. Thiel: Since
CAS colleagues haven't had leadership model discussions, I assume this
initiave is a response to conversations outside the College. Is
that true?
SVPAA:
Did I close the search because someone else told me to? No.
I based my decision on the search materials and research.
My goal is transparency, and I believe I have been transparent.
My goal is to represent all academic endevours and interests at the
highest level. In the past year there has been College rhetoric
about losing students, losing strengths). We now have an
opportunity to examine our strengths and consider alternative models.
Prof. Epstein: In the
event the group developes proposals related to our governance
structure, those ideas and proposals go to the CAS faculty for
approval, correct?
SVPAA: The College governance structure must be followed.
Prof.
Lakeland: Can you assure us that the task assigned to this team
of four, in no circumstances, involves dissecting the College?
SVPAA: That is not my
intention for the process. I have no motive to take pieces of the
College and send them elsewhere.
III. Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee (ASCC) Report
Prof.
Nash, ASCC Chair reported on the accomplishmets of the ASCC in the
2014-15 academic year. She thanked her fellow committee members
for their efforts and dedication.
ASCC Accomplishments-to-Date
- 42 undergraduate courses approved
- 2 graduate courses approved
- Approved Health Science Initiative
- Approved 2 majors (PR major, Journalism major)
- Collaborated with UCC to
approve a 3-year process for developing and offering an
interdisciplinary course. These courses will have the prefix ID.
- Gave a "stamp of approval" for the 5-year BA/MA initiative
- Prepared to present at the April CAS meeting a new on-line course proposal to update and streamline the process
IV. CAS Elections
1. Arts & Sciences Planning Committee (2 openings)
A. Interdisciplinary Studies Representative
The
Chair announced that prior to the meeting, Prof. Sealey accepted a
nomination to serve as the Interdisciplinary Studies member of the
ASPC. The Chair opened the floor for additional nominations. With no
further nominations, Prof. Sealey was ELECTED by acclaimation to the
ASPC.
B. Natural Sciences & Mathematics Representative
The Chair announced that prior to the meeting, Prof. Fernandez accepted a nomination to serve as the Natural Sciences & Mathematics member of the ASPC. The Chair opened the floor for additional nominations. With no further nominations, Prof. Fernandez was ELECTED by acclaimation to the ASPC.
2. College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Chair, 1-year replacement term
The
Chair announced that due to his new appointment as Director of the Core
Curriculum, he will not serve the second year of his term as College
faculty chair. Prior to the meeting, Prof. LoMonaco accepted a
nomination to serve as the College faculty chair (1-year replacement
term). The Chair opened the floor for additional nominations. With no
further nominations, Prof. LoMonaco was ELECTED College faculty chair.
3. College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Secretary
The
Chair announced that prior to the meeting, Prof. Davis accepted a
nomination to serve as the College faculty secretary (2-year term). The Chair opened the floor for additional nominations. With no
further nominations, Prof. Davis was ELECTED College faculty secretary.
4. Distinguished Teaching Award Selection Committee, Social & Behavioral Sciences colleague
The
Chair announced that prior to the meeting, Prof. Ryan accepted a
nomination to serve as the Social & Behavioral Sciences member of
the Distinguished Teaching Award Selection Committee. The Chair opened the floor for additional nominations. With no
further nominations, Prof. Ryan was ELECTED to the teaching award selection committee.
5. Merit Review Committee Members
A. Department Representatives
The
Chair announced the winners of this year's merit review committee
members. The members listed in the far right column were elected
as department representatives to their divisional merit review
committees (2-year terms). The members listed in the left
column will serve the final year of their service with this year's
round of merit review.
Department
|
2013-14 & 2014-15
|
2014-15 & 2015-16
|
English
|
Boquet
|
Gannett
|
History
|
Ruffini
|
Lawrence
|
Moderl Lang. & Lit.
|
Goldfield
|
Xiao
|
Philosophy
|
Dewitt
|
Keenan
|
Religious Studies
|
Umansky
|
Davidson
|
Visual & Perf. Arts
|
Porter
|
Nash
|
Biology
|
Sauer
|
Fernandez
|
Chemisty
|
Kubasik |
O'Connell |
Mathematics
|
Staecker
|
Demers
|
Physics
|
Biseli
|
Winn
|
B. At-large Divisional Representatives
This year, CAS colleagues elected
2 at-large members to represent the humanities, and 1 at-large
colleague to represent the social and behavioral sciences. The second
humanities representative is a 1-year replacement postion for Prof.
Gordon.
The Chair announced that their respective departments nominated the
following canditates for the at-large divisional slots below:
Humanities (2 slots) - Xie, Carolan, Naser, Nguyen, Rose
Social & Behavioral Sciences (1 slot) - Pagano, Nantz, Borryczka, Lacy
*The second highest vote recipient for the Humanities slot will serve a 1-year replacement
Chair-elect LoMonaco and
Secretary-elect Davis tallied the written ballots for the at-large
divisional representatives. The winners are listed below.
Division
|
2013-14 & 2014-15
|
2014-15 & 2015-16
|
At-large, Humanities
|
Nguyen
|
Rose
|
At-large, Soc & Beh Sciences
|
|
Nantz
|
V. Dean's Remarks
The Dean announced three new hires for the College.
Chemistry & Biochemistry - Dr. Jillian Smith-Carpenter, Emory University (post-doctorate)
Economics - Prof. Hedieh Shadmani, Kansas State
History (Southeast
Asia) - Dr. Sunil Purushotham, Cambridge
*The Psychology Department suspended
its search.
The Dean announced that he will report on next year's proposed searches at the April meeting of the College.
The Dean announced that all visiting lines and professors of the practice were renewed.
The Dean closed with a reminder
that there was just over a week left to submit a colleague as a nominee
for this year's Distinguished Teaching Award.
The Dean opened the floor to questions. With no questions
from the floor, the Chair opened the floor for motions or new business.
VI. Adjournment
Prof.
Keenan MOVED to close the meeting. Prof. Mielants SECONDED the
motion. The Chair closed the meeting at 4:09p.m. CAS
colleagues adjourned to the Dean's reception.
College Planning Comming (ASPC)
-Elected-
Bob Epstein, Chair (2016)
Scott Lacy, Secretary (2015)
Marti LoMonaco, Chair-elect (2016)
Carol Ann Davis, Secretary-elect (2017)
-Dean's Office-
Jim Simon, Dean
David Gudelunas, Associate Dean
Aaron Perkus, Associate Dean
Brian Walker, Associate Dean