Behrend Faculty Council Meeting Minutes

Monday, March 13, 2023
4:30 p.m. via Zoom

  1. Call to Order – Lisa Jo Elliott, Faculty Senate Chair
  2. Approval of minutes from January’s Faculty Council Meeting
    Adam Simpson; Wilson Brown
  3. Update from Senators - any pressing initiatives
    Matt Swinarski regularly shares information on our Canvas page.
    1. There was a forensic report about sabbatical leaves for non-tenure track faculty. There is a lot of interest in pushing forward this idea.
    2. There is a legislative report on the General Education recertification procedures and how the recertification will be conducted.
    3. Advisory reports are recommendations from the Senate:
      1. Global engagement produced an advisory report on how to provide additional support for ESL / ELL students.
      2. An interesting study on sustainability was completed by students.
    4. There was an information report on curricular proposal workflow and timeline report that can be useful to understand procedures in coursework and curricular development.

      Matt Swinarski will continue to share information and will keep the reporting cycle moving.

  4. Updates from standing Committee Chairs
    1. Athletics committee: Adam Simpson reports on the February 16 meeting. They discussed standing charges, which are largely taken care of.
      1. Complaints from faculty are frequently related to scheduling. One committee member needs to sit down with coaches and help figure out times and schedules.
      2. There is a misconception about Erie Hall. The facility is not reserved only for sports teams. Quite the opposite: More casual interaction between students and professors would be great. Going to pick-up games would be ideal. It would be an opportunity to mingle with students.
    2. Graduate affairs: They had two meetings. They addressed one of their standing charges: Get info on how individual programs and graduate programs keep in contact with alums. They are surveying program directors of each of our grad programs to assess faculty needs, faculty composition, and to assess financial needs. They are scheduling interviews to complete this task.
    3. Curricular Affairs Committee: Linda Hajec reports that the CIM system has some problems that need to be addressed. Once they have a list of recommended majors and careers, the committee will work with faculty to map out what we should be suggesting to students as appropriate academic paths. This work will help with retention and student success.
      1. Matt Swinarski invites you to send issues with CIM to Al Warner who sits on the curricular affairs committee at the University level.
    4. Lisa Jo Elliott reminds members that committee reports are needed before the end of the semester (May 15)
    5. Selecting a new chairperson for Faculty Affairs
      1. The Faculty Council selected a new chairperson for the Faculty Affairs committee to replace the chairperson who stepped down.
  5. First Year Seminar ad hoc committee
    1. Lisa Jo Elliott invites members to propose faculty to serve on an ad hoc First Year Seminar committee.
  6. New business and comments for the good of the order.
    1. Matt Swinarski: The education committee is looking at enhancing advising services across the campuses. This is an example of a topic that was brought up by Behrend faculty members and it’s now making its way through. Faculty can reach out to Senators to bring up questions and problems they would like to see discussed.
  7. Adjournment
    1. Matt Swinarski; Adam Simpson