Colleagues,
The following 14 items are contained in this document:
- Resolution in Appreciation of Chancellor Nancy Zimpher
- Joint Statement on Shared Governance (already approved by the Faculty Council of Community Colleges and the Student Assembly)
- Resolution on Contingent Faculty in Governance
- Resolution on Faculty Involvement in Administrative Searches
- Resolution on Part-Time Assistantships
- Resolution on Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Resolution on Broad-Based Fees
- Resolution on Open-Access Repositories
- Resolution on Selection Process for Distinguished Professor
- Resolution on Criteria for Length of Service for Distinguished Professor
- Resolution on Liberal Arts Credit Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees
- Changes to Bylaws and Associated UFS Procedures
- Motion 2 (used if and only if above change fails)
- Resolution in Support of Stand-Alone Unit Head for New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University
In addition, I expect we will ask you to support or endorse a resolution passed by the Student Assembly related to excusing absences for part-time military obligations.
University Faculty Senate
176th Plenary
SUNY Canton
April 22, 2017
Resolution in Appreciation of Chancellor Nancy Zimpher’s Commitment to Shared Governance and Being a Friend of the Senate
Whereas from the very beginning of her tenure, Chancellor Nancy Zimpher made broad participation a hallmark of SUNY planning, as evidenced by both her listening tour of the campuses and the strategic planning processes that engaged many representatives from across the system and the state; and
Whereas Chancellor Zimpher further enhanced the engagement of shared governance organizations in the planning and operations of the SUNY System by appointing the Presidents of the University Faculty Senate (UFS), the Faculty Council of Community Colleges (FCCC), and the Student Assembly (SA) to her Cabinet; and
Whereas Chancellor Zimpher invited governance organization representatives to fully participate in, and often lead, committees and planning groups assigned to evaluate and recommend important System initiatives, including seamless transfer, resource allocation, applied learning, and diversity initiatives; and
Whereas Chancellor Zimpher’s support for the “SUNY Voices” project has been instrumental in facilitating increased communication among faculty and student governance leaders and campus administrators, as well as providing a mechanism to develop stronger governance leadership among faculty and students; and
Whereas Chancellor Zimpher has participated in open and frank question-and-answer sessions with the UFS at nearly every plenary meeting during her tenure; therefore
Be it Resolved that the University Faculty Senate of the State University of New York expresses its deepest appreciation for the enthusiastic support in word and deed that Chancellor Nancy Zimpher has given to shared governance; and
Be It Further Resolved that the UFS, in recognition of her committed leadership in fostering shared governance, bestows the Friend of the Senate award, our highest honor to a non-member of the University Faculty Senate, to Chancellor Nancy Zimpher.
University Faculty Senate
Governance Committee
176th Plenary
SUNY Canton
April 22, 2017
Resolution Regarding Contingent Faculty Involvement in Shared Governance
Whereas colleges and universities continue to move to a model where many classes are taught by contingent faculty[1], such that the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) reported that, as of 2015, 65% of all faculty positions are contingent and 36% of full-time faculty are contingent, up from 43% and 18% respectively in 1975[2]; and
Whereas the percentage of contingent faculty at SUNY has increased from 39.6% in 1995-96 to 61.3% in 2015-16[3]; and
Whereas, at our Health Science Centers a large majority of faculty, estimated at 70%, hold the clinical faculty title which requires service, teaching and research but is classified as contingent; and
Whereas the AAUP recommends that contingent faculty must be engaged with shared governance and protected by academic freedom in order to maintain, “Quality of Student Learning”, “Equity Between Academic Colleagues”, “Integrity of Faculty Work” and “the Protection of Academic Freedom”[4]; and
Whereas only half of all SUNY State-operated institutions allow contingent faculty to be members, either voting or not, in their governance bodies; and
Whereas many contingent faculty who are generally paid “by the course” are not engaged with campus governance because there is no service expectation with their appointment; and
Whereas campus governing bodies and departments might benefit from hearing other points of view from contingent faculty; and
Whereas many contingent faculty are given syllabi with no opportunity for input or allowance for their own creativity with respect to helping their students meet learning objectives; and
Whereas few campus academic freedom statements provide adequate protection to contingent faculty, forcing contingent faculty to be less engaged with teaching sensitive subjects; therefore
Be It Resolved that the University Faculty Senate strongly recommends that campus governance bodies engage contingent faculty with campus governance; and
Be It Further Resolved that the University Faculty Senate requests that campus governance bodies recommend that campus administration provide, where governance or curriculum development is not an expected part of the workload of contingent faculty and thus deemed extra service, a stipend to appropriately compensate contingent faculty for their time and service on campuses; and
Be It Further Resolved that the University Faculty Senate urges academic departments to provide opportunities for contingent faculty to participate in programmatic decisions and the development of curriculum materials; and
Be It Further Resolved that the University Faculty Senate urges local campus governance bodies to allow for the definition of faculty to include at least those holding full time to one-half time qualified rank, according to the SUNY Board of Trustees Policies and Procedures,[5] to be members (voting or non-voting) of the campus governance body; and
Be It Further Resolved that the University Faculty Senate recommends that all campuses review and amend their academic freedom statements such that they encompass all members of its community, particularly contingent faculty.
BACKGROUND
The UFS Governance Committee surveyed the campus governance leaders of the 33 state operated campuses within SUNY concerning the voting rights of contingent faculty. Of the 33 campuses, 18 responded. The questions concerned the voting rights of contingent faculty as well as students and professionals, only data pertaining to faculty are reported here as that is all that is pertinent to this resolution.
Question #1: Please indicate which of the following are eligible to serve on the college senate (or the equivalent campus governing body).
100% of campuses report that all full-time academics who are eligible for or currently have continuing appointment may serve
50% of campuses report that full-time academics on contingent appointments may serve
39% of campuses report that part-time academics on contingent appointments may serve
Question #2: With respect to senate (or the equivalent governance body) elections and college-wide referenda, please indicate which of the following have voting rights.
100% of campuses report that all full-time academics who are eligible for or currently have continuing appointment may vote
50% of campuses report that full-time academics on contingent appointments may vote
39% of campuses report that part-time academics on contingent appointments may vote
The following questions were only directed to the 50% of campuses reporting that contingent faculty have a role in the campus governance body.
Question #3: Where contingent faculty are eligible to serve on faculty senate (or the equivalent campus governance body):
27% report that a set number of seats are reserved for contingent faculty
73% report that contingent faculty serve in the same positions as faculty with or eligible for continuing appointment
Question #4: Where contingent faculty have voting rights on the faculty senate (or the equivalent governance body), is there an FTE requirement?
27% report that they do have FTE requirements – >50%; >75% or full time)
73% have no FTE requirement
Question #5: Where contingent faculty have voting rights on the faculty senate (or the equivalent governance body is there a time-in-service requirement?
18% reported that same as other senators which was after the first year of appointment
82% reported no requirement
Question #6: Are there departments or other units where contingent faculty have voting rights?
50% said yes
14% said no
36% said they weren’t sure
University Faculty Senate
Governance Committee
176th Plenary
SUNY Canton
April 22, 2017
Resolution on Administrative Searches at the Level of Dean and Above (Excluding Presidents)
Whereas the Policies of the Board of Trustees specifies that the appointment, including an interim appointment of academic officers such as vice-president for academic affairs, academic deans and others with similar academic responsibilities (excluding the President) shall be made after consultation with the faculty governance body of the campus; and
Whereas evidence shows that when campuses specify procedures in their bylaws for faculty consultation in administrative searches, there is adherence to the procedures; therefore
Be It Resolved that the University Faculty Senate strongly recommends that all recognized campus governance bodies specify within their bylaws consultative search procedures for all appointments of vice-president for academic affairs, academic deans, and others with similar responsibilities; and
Be It Further Resolved that the University Faculty Senate urges the SUNY Chancellor, the SUNY Provost, and the Campus College Councils (or Boards of Trustees) to encourage Campus Presidents to work with local campus governance bodies to write and approve the campus governance bylaws pertaining to consultation during vice-president for academic affairs, academic deans, and other appointments above deans that have significant academic oversight; and
Be It Further Resolved that the University Faculty Senate strongly recommends each campus governance body determine the method by which representatives of recognized campus governance bodies will be selected to search committees for all appointments of vice president for academic affairs, academic deans and others with similar responsibilities (excluding the President).
Background:
The Governance Committee of the University Faculty Senate has been made aware of searches for academic leadership positions at the Dean’s level and above (excluding Presidents) that have been conducted without faculty representation in the search process, and in some instances, without a formal search.
According to the State University of New York Policies of the Board of Trustees:
Title B.
§ 2. College Administrative Officers. Appointments of all college administrative officers and professional staff not in a negotiating unit established pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law shall be made by the chief administrative officer of the college; such appointments shall be reported to the Chancellor.Appointment of academic officers such as vice-president for academic affairs, academic deans and others with similar responsibilities shall be made after consultation with the faculty.
§ 3. Acting Appointments. Interim appointments on an acting basis of college administrative officers and professional staff not in a negotiating unit established pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law, other than chief administrative officer, shall be made in accordance with Section 2 above.
The inclusion of faculty representation from the faculty/shared governance structure enhances searches for these key positions. To better understand current practices, the UFS Governance Committee asked campus governance leaders to complete a brief confidential survey. Twenty-one campuses responded to the survey. Key findings include:
●52% of campuses report that their bylaws have a statement about the role of faculty governance in administrative searches at the level of Dean and above. Of these campuses, 82% report that the procedure described in their bylaws is followed.
●48% of campuses report that their bylaws lack a procedure for involving faculty governance in administrative searches. Of these campuses:
o21% report no consultation.
o36% report that the administration informs the campus governance leader of faculty appointed to search committees or requests that the campus governance leader represent the faculty on the search committee.
o43% report that the campus governance leader is asked to nominate faculty to the search committee.
●When the campus governance leader is asked to nominate faculty for a search committee, a variety of procedures are employed to identify faculty that demonstrate varying degrees of commitment to consultation.
o37% of campuses have a policy that dictates the selection process.
o18% of campuses solicit and confirm nominations for faculty representation through the governance group.
o30% of campuses report that faculty representation is chosen by the campus governance leader in consultation with an executive committee.
o11% of campuses report that the campus governance leader serves as the faculty representative to administrative search committees.
oOn one campus, the campus governance leader appoints faculty to search committees without consultation.
The survey also queried campuses regarding faculty consultation for administrative searches in which internal candidates were part of the selection process. The following scenarios were reported, again reflecting variation in consultative processes. Many campuses accept internal candidates into the pool from the initiation of a search (34%) or after an external search fails (8%). Thirty-six percent of campus report the appointment of an interim – 14% had an interim administrative appointment until the external search was successful, but 22% reported that the interim appointment was made permanent. Seventeen percent of campuses report the appointment of an internal candidate to an administrative position without a search. Two campuses reported multiple administrative searches that followed different scenarios.
University Faculty Senate
Graduate Academic Programs and Research Committee
176th Plenary
SUNY Canton
April 22, 2017
Resolution on Part-Time Assistantships
Whereas a shared mission of the graduate programs of the State University of New York is to educate, train and prepare students for careers in all areas of study; and
Whereas most assistantships, grants, and other funding for assistantships do not restrict the use of money to students in full time programs; and
Whereas SUNY system-wide and campus-based regulations and practices regarding the use of state funding for graduate assistantships may disadvantage part-time graduate students in favor of full-time students; and
Whereaspaper 8207 Tuition Waiver procedure precludes part-time graduate students from receiving tuition waivers; and
Whereas graduate students may have debt, children or other familial or work obligations preventing them from taking a full-time program; and,
Whereas underrepresented students, such as students of color and women, are overrepresented in part-time programs due to the obligations above; and
Whereas SUNY strives to be a national leader in all of its educational endeavors and diversity is a core value for all SUNY campuses, and the SUNY Board of Trustees passed a resolution on September 10, 2015 “to make SUNY the most inclusive higher education system in the country”; therefore
Be It Resolved that the University Faculty Senate encourages the SUNY System Administration to eliminate any restrictions on the use of funding for assistantships for part-time students to allow this to be a campus decision about how to use their funds; and
Be It Further Resolved that the UFS urges all faculty, staff and graduate programs to consider part-time graduate students for assistantships, encouraging all students to have access to training, networking and intellectual discourse with faculty and other research.
University Faculty Senate
Graduate Academic Programs and Research Committee
176th Plenary
SUNY Canton
April 22, 2017
Resolution to Develop A SUNY Postdoctoral Research Fellow Recruitment Program
Whereas postdoctoral associates are continuing their training towards becoming the next generation of scholars, scientists, and engineers; and
Whereas high quality postdoctoral research associates are important investigators who can significantly contribute to the institution’s research programs; and
Whereas high quality postdoctoral research associates can advance the SUNY system by generating high quality data that can be used to write successful grant applications; and
Whereas recruitment of high quality postdoctoral research associates to SUNY campuses will increase the research productivity of SUNY faculty; and
Whereas successful recruitment of high quality postdoctoral research associates to SUNY campuses can be enhanced by an incentive program; therefore
Be It Resolved that the University Faculty Senate urges the SUNY Vice Chancellor for Research and SUNY Research Foundation to establish a SUNY Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program to aid SUNY faculty in the recruitment of outstanding postdoctoral research associates to work and train on SUNY campuses. Specifically, the program will supplement a fellow’s salary for the first three years of their training with a SUNY Faculty Member.
University Faculty Senate
Operations Committee
176th Plenary
SUNY Canton
April 22, 2017
Resolution to Consider Impact of Broad-Based Fee Increases
Whereas decreasing state support and increasing operating costs have yielded increasing broad-based fees (see April 2017 Operations Committee Report for data);
Whereas some SUNY campuses are using fees to cover personnel and Other Than Personal Service (OTPS)costs that should be funded through state lines, thereby also increasing total campus expenses for students due to incurring fringe benefit costs that would otherwise have been covered by the state;
Whereas fees are not covered by some funding sources, including the proposed Excelsior Scholarship;
Whereas students and their families may view fees at SUNY institutions negatively and may result in opting to enroll elsewhere; therefore
Be ItResolved that the University Faculty Senate recommends to SUNY System Administration and individual campuses that increases in broad-based fees be closely scrutinized to ensure the appropriate balance of addressing both immediate fiscal need and long-term institutional financial viability, student enrollment impact, and persistence/graduation outcomes.