Steering Committee November 2024
The Steering Committee presented tutorials for Standing Committee Chairs and Secretaries on October 16 and 23, covering a range of topics including procedures for elections, updating commitee websites, preparation and posting of monthly reports, navigating through Cascade, and preparation of Annual Reports. A special thank you to Dr. Daniel Garbin for leading these tutorials. Please note that the Steering Committee will be holding two more sessions for Standing Commitee Chairs and Secretaries in the Spring Semester. All Standing Committee members are encouraged to please ask the Steering Committee for assistance should you have questions or procedural issues in the course of your committee work.
The Steering Committee's efforts to provide support for Standing Committees is informed in large part by the issues, concerns, and questions brought to us by committee members throughout the academic year and by the deliverables those committees present to the Academic Senate. It has become clear to us that committees are in need of additional guidance in key areas for which there is currently no language within the Academic Senate bylaws addressing these specific concerns. Additionally, the Steering Committee has found that the lack of specificity these areas within the bylaws in addressing those issues has resulted in confusion among Steering Committees as they navigate their charges. These areas include officer elections and submission of Annual Reports to the Academic Senate. The Steering Committee is currently drafting proposals for amendments to the Academic Senate bylaws to address these issues and will present actionable items for Senate consideration at the December 10 meeting.
The Steering Committee is happy to assist Standing Committees and Senators-at-Large should they need guidance in proper formatting of documents for actionable items, including monthly reports, resolutions, and other proposals to be considered by the Academic Senate. The recitals of a formal propsal (the whereas - therefore format) are intended to provide a clear and logical format for presenting the proposed action and rationale for why it should be supported. Providing clarity within these documents is essential in communicating proposals to the Academic Senate.
We have been seeking faculty volunteers to serve on the approved Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence. Though the target is to include 7 faculty members on the committee, there are currently 3 volunteers. The Steering Committee will continue to search for more volunteers, but will at this point move forward with OAA in formation of the committee. Please contact the Steering Committee if you are interested in serving on the Special Committee on AI, which is a commitment through the end of Spring 2025.
Lastly, we would like to highlight that fundraising efforts for CUNYTuesday will soon be underway. Various teams will be fundraising for one of three very impactful causes: The Lucille A. Bova Food Pantry; The QCC Promise Scholarship; and The LGBTQIA+ Resource Center. Please consider donating during the campaign period of November 11 - December 3.
Academic Senate Steering Committee (AcademicSenateSteeringCommittee@qcc.cuny.edu)
Dr. Scott Litroff, Chair
Dr. Daniel Garbin, Vice Chair
Prof. Philip Nelan, Secretary
