Steering Committee Report October 2023
As expected, this semester is moving by quickly. We wish everyone continued inspiration as we move forward.
On Wednesday, October 18th during club hours, the MSA and the SGA are sponsoring Fight Campus Hunger basketball and volleyball tournaments in the RFK gym. The event is FREE for students, with a nominal registration fee of $5 for faculty and staff to participate. All funds raised support the food pantry on campus.
It would be wonderful to see faculty and students come together for a good cause. Hunger is a real and growing problem on campus. In just the first six weeks of this Fall semester, nearly 800 students have accessed the food pantry.
Richard Tayson, former adjunct faculty representative to the Senate has needed to resign his Senate seat, as there were no classes for him to teach this semester. Department chairs, please ask your adjunct faculty for a nominee to serve out his term, which ends after the April 2024 meeting. We thank Richard for his service to the Senate and to the English Department.
At the October meeting the Special Committee on Pedagogical Response to Artificial Intelligence will offer a preliminary report. Thank you, Scott Litroff, chair and Steering Committee representative, and Special Committee members Beth Counihan, representing Faculty Executive Committee; Phyllis Curtis-Tweed, representing Academic Affairs; Michael DeMarco, representing Senate WID/WAC Committee; and Davia Willis, representing Student Government Association.
Last meeting’s in-person quorum was the largest since the pandemic – we thank senators for their commitment to transparent college governance.
We thank these committees for their recent submission of their annual reports: Assessment Committee, Urszula Golebiewska and Barbara Rome, co-chairs; Committee on Committee, Danny Sexton, chair; and Food Insecurity, Ashlie Klepper, chair.
As of this writing, we still need annual reports from the following committees: Academic Development and Elective Programs, Admissions, Computer Resources, Course and Standing, Curriculum, and Student Activities.
Thanks go to senators and Senate Standing Committee members for their responses to the Senate webpages effectiveness survey. Here is a link for senators and Committee members to respond to the brief survey for those who want to respond and have not yet done so.
At upcoming meetings, senators will have curriculum changes to consider – new programs, new courses, program revisions, etc. Approving such changes is one of the Senate’s most important functions, and so we remind all senators to read Curriculum Committee monthly reports thoroughly.
We remind all senators and Standing Committee members that Steering Committee is available to talk during its Monday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM and Friday 1:00 – 2:00 PM Zoom hours. The Zoom link is also found on the Steering Committee homepage.
We thank Elisabeth Lackner, Director of Institutional Research and Assessment for presenting results of the recent Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey. The survey measures faculty satisfaction with QCC’s work environment. Analyzing results is a first step in building the home that we want QCC to be. The Assessment Committee will be tasked with analyzing the results and making recommendations to the Senate. All senators are encouraged to read and digest the results for themselves.
The college is facing enormous challenges at this time. Our working together to retain teamwork and collegiality is therefore extraordinarily important. College administration and Faculty Governance Leaders are collaborating closely to maintain a campus environment that advances open communication and the energy to weather the months ahead. A chance to work together is offered by the Faculty Executive Committee – attend its Faculty Meeting on Wednesday, October 25th from 12:00 PM – 1:45 PM on the upper level of Student Union Lounge.
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
