Steering Committee Report April 2024
Many will be aware of controversy regarding changes to CUNY Bylaws that the Chancellery has proposed. CUNY faculty governance leaders voiced concerns about department chair prerogatives and the role of administration in faculty hiring and class scheduling. At the QCC level, we are glad to report that our administration has been open to hearing Senate concerns on the matter and has reiterated their support for the spirit and letter of shared governance as it now stands on our campus. At the CUNY level, we are grateful for Council of Faculty Governance Leaders members who approached Executive Vice Chancellor Wendy Hensel about faculty concerns. EVC Hensel responded promptly, talks have been productive, CUNY has agreed to expand the timeline of considering Bylaws changes, and faculty and CUNY administration have made steps toward finding common ground and agreement. At our own campus, we thank President Mangino and Vice President Curtis-Tweed for their commitment to dialogue and understanding.
All this is to say that shared governance works and faculty voices in the process are of paramount importance – a concept to remember as election season wraps up. Julian Stark, chair and Paul Sideris, secretary of Committee on Committees have compiled a ballot of Senate Standing Committee 2024-2027 rosters to go before the Senate for a vote at the April meeting. We thank all who volunteered to be placed on a committee. CoC has also announced the results of the recent Faculty-Member-at-Large, HEO, CLT, and Adjunct Faculty Member Senate elections, and results will be presented at the next meeting. There were just enough nominees for the number of vacancies in each category – all nominees ran uncontested, so no elections needed to be held. This fact represents an unfortunate and continuing trend of declining participation in shared governance here at QCC. Department chairs, remind your faculty of the importance of service. We all should remember that it is all our responsibility, faculty and administration alike, to mind the store.
Elections will continue from the Senate floor at the May meeting. Committee on Committees will be electing four new members from any interested faculty nominees to replace the three who will rotate off, and Julian Stark who was elected last May to serve a one-year term. Steering Committee members each serve one-year terms, so there will be an opportunity for any senator to run to fill any of those seats. Parliamentarian and Senate Technology Officer are other roles that will need to be filled by senators. Department chairs, encourage service from your faculty – all nominees should be named from the floor by their department chair.
Our college, university and city have rarely been under such stress as they are now and much of the college and university stress rests on faculty shoulders. I have felt the heaviness these past months, and I expect you have, too. I hope all our hearts can continue to be filled with joy and gratification of service to our students and to each other.
Academic Senate Steering Committee (AcademicSenateSteeringCommittee@qcc.cuny.edu)
Dr. Steven Dahlke, Chair SDahlke@qcc.cuny.edu
Dr. Scott Litroff, Vice Chair SLitroff@qcc.cuny.edu
Prof. Philip Nelan, Secretary PNelan@qcc.cuny.edu
