SSU Academic Senate Meeting of 27 October 2022

Academic Senate Report

October 27, 2022

Submitted by ERFSA Senator Steven V. Winter

Note: Correction of Oct. 13 Report see end of this report.

Report of the Chair of the Faculty – (L. Morimoto)

- All CSU AS’s responded to CSUAS on the Cal-GETC:  9 Accept / 9 Accept with Changes / 5 Not Accept.  Several wrote resolutions about their concerns. 

- Alarmed in talking with 6 of 8 new junior faculty about collegiality problems in departments (bullying / asking them to take sides / senior faculty say my class so you have no right to teach even though you have that expertise / senior faculty say that is my classroom-lab space or prime time slots for teaching).  Discussion followed about changes to make faculty feel safe and valued.  Cultivate a community of care among faculty that translates to students and staff.

Special Reports:

1. Care Team Report (R.J. Henne)

- Team of people for students in distress and need (death of family member / relationship breakup / seen academic problems / etc. – things that may need CAPS help but may just need basic human contact).  The team evaluates, creates a care case and assigns a care team member to help.  Care team member will refer student, after initial contact, to other professional services and needs.  Contact with students with offer of help is made via cell phone and emails.  If no response an emergency check is made.  Many students respond and say thank you but they do not want the service. 

- Also offer help in general to housing students when there is a transport out of the residences.

- Questions: How do we know if we should refer a student? Ans: Please do not hesitate to send us concerns about students.  Let the Care Team figure out the behind-the-scenes process / Q: Can faculty member receive feedback? Ans: Faculty or staff can indicate they want feedback and the Care Team will do so within their ability of confidentiality with student.

Business:

1. EPC: Music Program Revisions 2nd Reading – (E. Asencio, A. Collinsworth & J. Palmer)

- Minor changes to identify courses that are common across the core of the major and courses that are specific to each concentration.  Needed to bring into compliance with EO1071.

- No Questions.

- Approved 18-0

·       Music with a Concentration in Liberal Arts; BA Program Revision

·       Music with a Jazz Studies Concentration; BM Program Revision

·       Music with Performance Concentration; BM Program Revision

2. FSAC & S&F: PDS Name Change 1st Reading – (R. Whitkus & E. Ducy)

- Professional Development Subcommittee name change to Teaching and Learning Subcommittee.  Have other charges not specific to professional development.  Struck all three responsibilities and rewrote with six new responsibilities (abbreviated): campus environment supportive of professional development and pedagogical support / feedback to agencies of the university on the development of programs / review applications and give recommendations for awards / organize and promote an annual teaching showcase / advise the Provost on budgetary and hiring decisions / collaborate with the Center for Teaching and Educational Technology, the

Center for Community Engagement, and the Associate Vice President for

Faculty Success by co-sponsoring professional development opportunities.

3. SAC: Student Grievance Policy Revision 1st Reading – (M. Shott)

- Updating EO’s, contact person / point, pronouns and formalized Academic Senate Office as source of help.

- No Questions

4. FSAC: SETE Policy Revision - 1st Reading – (R. Whitkus)

- Change SETE to ROSE (Reflections on Student Experience).  For RTP reframe as a reflection of the learning environment by students rather then an evaluation of the teachers teaching effectiveness. Students are not qualified to access teaching. 

- No Questions

Standing Reports

1. Interim President of the University – (M. Lee)

- Preview Day last Saturday was very impressive with around 600 attendees.  Thank you to all of the faculty that participated.

- Stevenson Hall Dec 2nd ribbon cutting ceremony.  Question: if faculty can bring in own personal furniture. Ans: Ahmed indicates offices will be fully furnished. Q: how will art work in Stevenson reflect different ethnicities. Ans: the campus has an Art Committee that looks at these issues. Looking at Joan Baez collection paintings moving to Stevenson Hall from Library.

- State Audit on Title IX will start collecting information on Nov. 1st.  Team on campus Dec.6-8th.

2. Provost/Vice-President, Academic Affairs – (K. Moranski)

- Highlight of Preview Day was five (one from each school) research program presentations that stressed student excellence.

- Graduation Initiative 2025 Summit is tomorrow Oct. 28th from 11-11:45.

- Academic Master Plan elections are underway and will conclude by next Friday.  The first meeting of the Steering Committee will be Nov. 7th.

3. Vice Chair of the Senate - (B. Burton)

- Emeritus Luncheon on Friday Nov. 4th.

4. Vice President/Admin & Finance - (M. Ahmed)

- Toast is opening Oct. 31st.

- Talked about Intercollegiate Athletics success and Budget Forum.

5. Vice President for Student Affairs – (G. Jones)

- Parent and Family Weekend with 160 families last Saturday

- Save a Seawolf Alcohol Awareness Week is this week with a variety of events.

- Intramural Sports are now back.

6. Vice-President of Associated Students – (N. Hernandez)

- VP applications have closed

- Raising Student Voice training had 15 participants.

7. Statewide Senators - (E. Newman, R. Senghas)

- No report as statewide plenary is next week

8. Staff Representative – (K. Sims)

- IT Project Team discussion on submitting proposals

9. Chairs, Standing Committees:

• Educational Policies – (E. Asencio)

- 1st reading of Course Modality Policy.

Good of the Order

- Chair Chat next week with Provost Moranski about COPLAC Identity

Correction to 13 Oct report:  I reported that VP of Admin & Finance Ahmed said this about Intercollegiate Athletics: “Fall Athletic teams are all currently in first or second place in the conference.” The audio recording indicates he said: “Our athletic teams are doing very good. The volleyball team has 5 straight wins. The men's Soccer team is tied for the seventh place in the College Association. The women’s soccer team is tied for first place. They're also academically performing very well and keeping up with their course work.”