Report of the Chair of the Faculty – L. Morimoto
- Registration this week has been rough since transfer students’ information has not been
uploaded into the system for proper advising.
- Seawolf Decision Day is next weekend for about 600 students. Parents are very appreciative of faculty being there to meet their students.
Consent Items: All approved
1. EPC: Environmental Science, Geography, and Management BS Revisions
https://sonoma.curriculog.com/proposal:3815/form
2. EPC: Environmental Science, Geography, and Planning BA Revisions
https://sonoma.curriculog.com/proposal:3814/form
3. EPC: CALS Minor Revision https://sonoma.curriculog.com/proposal:3254/form
4. EPC: CALS BA Revision https://sonoma.curriculog.com/proposal:3053/form
5. EPC: CALS Teacher Track Revision https://sonoma.curriculog.com/proposal:3058/form
6. APARC: Priority Recommendations
Business Items:
1. ERFSA: Resolution to Honor Victor Garlin 1st Reading ‐ S. Winter & R. Karlsrud
- Presentation of recognition for meritorious service and contributions of V. Garlin, who died unexpectedly in late February. First reading waiver and 2nd reading both approved unanimously. [Resolution attached at end of report. The Resolution will be formally presented to Victor’s widow and two daughters at the Senate’s final meeting of the term on 18 May. A copy was posted at Victor’s Memorial in Berkeley on 30 April.]
2. Senate Executive Committee Elections (2 Senators)
- Nominations from the floor: Wendy St. John and Paula Lane
- Both approved by secret vote.
3. EPC: Sustainability Minor 1st Reading – E. Asencio & D. Soto
https://sonoma.curriculog.com/proposal:3854/form S
- Approved unanimously by EPC
- No Questions
4. Ex Com Quorum during Summer
- Last summer planned 1 per month in case business arose. Three constitutes a quorum with one having to be the Chair, Vice Chair or Past Chair.
Standing Reports:
1. Interim President of the University – M. Lee
- Importance of Seawolf Decision Day and all of the tours we run on campus during the spring.
- Budget still a priority. Still making progress and still more to do with discussions to stabilize the budget over the next couple of years.
2. Provost/Vice-President, Academic Affairs – K. Moranski
- Seawolf Dig-In for Earth Day participants who pulled truckloads full of weeds.
- Campus Climate Survey still available to fill out https://www.sonoma.edu/updates/2023/2023-
belonging-and-inclusion-campus-climate-survey
- Changes for Budget: reordering, Library Dean moving to SEIE Ex Dir and another Librarian
moving into temporary position for Library Dean / Counseling Dept moving to School of Ed from
School of Social Sciences due to staffing (AC) issue to insure adequate support / consultation
with deans of schools and department chairs regarding reorganization at school and department level with Provost and Mike Ogg.
3. Vice Chair of the Senate - B. Burton
- Fridays at 4 had a great turnout at Overlook. Future dates: May 12, June 9 for more Fridays at Four.
- Social Science Study Abroad event
- Curfew in Rohnert Park = misdemeanor. Concern of our students being stopped that could
escalate / black and brown students disproportionately being stopped. Meeting with SSU Police
Chief to discuss. Juliana is on RP Roundtable and will bring it up at that meeting
4. Vice President/Admin & Finance – M. Ahmed
- 100 people participated in Seawolf Dig-in for Earth Day for clean-up.
- Risk management looking at not having to go through a whole process for software vendor
compliance for products that are already being used on other campuses
- Last week of May there will be some planned power outages to change to a new feeder.
- Realignment of Risk and Safety Services through attrition and resignation.
- Shout out for Athletic Teams.
- Questions about ADA-Compliant Software. Does SSU have to run software to validate compliance if company says they are compliant? Ans: Problem is they may be compliant in another state that does not meet CA standards. How do we expedite if vendor has national compliance / or some other CSU campus has certified compliance.
5. Vice President for Student Affairs – G. Jones
- Stressed importance of Seawolf Decision Day, with 80 tables
- 200 students at today’s Mental Health Day
- CAPS drop-in during finals week / group training for advising trans and binary students
- Men’s and Women’s lacrosse 2nd in league / rowing Guinness book of records for continuous rowing
- New Retention and Success Program run by Alvin / details later
6. Statewide Senators – E. Newman, R. Senghas
- Working sessions last week for May Plenary. Resolution promoting role of graduate education
at CSU’s / issue around quality counseling versus remote therapies from particular vendors –
excuse to decrease on-campus counselors / Cal GETC and separate campus GE packages are
important for distinct effort of graduates / findings of Mercer Study on faculty salaries – cost of living – aggregate / community colleges’ authorization to offer bachelor degrees – degrees being offered in direct defiance of CSU Chancellor’s lack of consultation letter / impact of AI.
- Question: what type of graduate programs? Ans: documenting of importance of current programs.
7. Staff Representative – K. Sims
- May 2nd at 1 pm guests AVP Risk Management and Mike Ogg / Hope Ortis report on Academic Master Plan Steering Committee.
8. Chairs, Standing Committees:
• Faculty Standards and Affairs – R. Whitkus
- Encourage administration to continue to fund research and scholarly activities
- Encourage faculty to remind students of opportunities to become involved in research activities
• Student Affairs – K. Thompson / M. Shott
- Working on revisions to Advising Policy to separate policy from practice.
9. CFA Chapter President – N. Reyes
- Mercer Faculty Salary Survey. Statewide CFA has not been given access to the actual report
(versus executive summary) nor the data/process/analysis. Problem in salary negotiation as CSU Administration is citing study in rejoinders for salary negotiations.
- CFA Faculty Salary Survey full report will be available later. 95.47% of members consider it a very important issue to receive a GSI / 84.63% want GSIs for lowest paid / 84.59% want SSIs for in-range raises / 61.66% want to configure lecturer range with no one below 65K year.
Good of the Order
Sexual Assault in E section of Rohnert Park. Do we have Self Defense Classes on-campus?
Kinesiology has had 2 sections each semester but with budget cuts have not offered any this
academic year. N. Reyes: CFA is willing to offer for free to faculty and staff. A. Monir and G. Jones will look into Rec Center or campus offerings.
Resolution of the Sonoma State University Academic Senate celebrating the service and contributions to the University of Victor Garlin, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Past President of Sonoma State’s chapter of the California Faculty Association, and longtime member of this body and its committees.
WHEREAS for 53 years, Professor Victor Garlin served the students and faculty of Sonoma State University with the highest sense of honor and probity, and
WHEREAS Victor Garlin’s Presidency of the CFA and unrelenting support of the faculty marked him as an exemplary faculty leader and role model, and
WHEREAS Victor’s ability to work congenially and cooperatively with SSU presidents, provosts and deans to settle differences showed him to be a true statesman, and
WHEREAS the quality and duration of Victor’s service to the Academic Senate and its committees both in active and retired status was matched by none other, and
WHEREAS Victor’s arguments before this body were cogent and compelling, while his keen questioning and exploration of important issues stimulated thoughtful and at times exciting discussions, both in the Senate and elsewhere, and
WHEREAS his prodigious memory and superior knowledge of all facets of issues of critical importance to the University constantly informed our discussions, and
WHEREAS his collegial nature, which demonstrated empathy for others, especially those victimized by events beyond their control, attracted countless friends and admirers, and
WHEREAS, as a staunch believer in academic freedom, Victor consistently defended the rights of students and faculty to freely express themselves in an academic environment, and
WHEREAS Victor’s pride in Sonoma State University remained undiminished even in its worst of times,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Academic Senate of Sonoma State University recognize and celebrate Victor Garlin for his contributions to the students and faculty of Sonoma State, the Department of Economics, the School of Business and Economics, and the University as a whole.
Submitted by ERFSA Senator Steven V. Winter