November 28th, 2001

Present: R. Andrade, C. Baldonedo, S. Brauch, V. Bruno, J. Cantwell, S. de Freitas, L. Desvigne, J. Devine, P. Dillon, J. Gao, M. Glick, J.G. Ianni, E. Johmann, T. Julien, J. Karlen, W. Kurzyma, J. Lynch, E. Murray, R. Octaviano, M. Perez, G. Richmond, E. Rivas, L. Sardell, J. Wilson

Absent: S. Ahmed, H. Carvajal, E. Charlotin, M. Chowdhury, D. Davidson, K. Ferron, S. Islam, M.K. Islam, M. Khan, M. Lasso, T. Litvay-Sardou, K.M. Morshed, J. Ortiz, M. Quamruzzaman, M. Rahman, J. Rivera, S.M. Uddin, M. Zahangir

Guests: A. Anderson, C. Clarke, L. Cohen, R. Elliott, L. Fluk, J. Hyland, L. Iannuzzo, C. Macheski, G. Mellow, C. Montgomery, P. Nesoff , B. Storck

Chairperson Lynch called the meeting to order at 2:25pm in Room C320.

I. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on October 24, 2001 were approved with minor edits and the following corrections:

A. p. 1 – Under Guests, add the following names: C. Sterling-Deer and L. Gondopriono.

II. Chairperson’s Report

Chairperson Lynch reported on the University Faculty Senate meeting he recently attended. He explained that the University’s budget will be able to weather the fiscal crisis within the coming year, but that the college and CUNY can expect cuts in the future. He explained that Vice-President Elliott would provide particular information about the budget to the Senate.

III. Senate Committee Reports

A. Vice President for Adult and Continuing Education Search Committee

Prof. J. Karlen reported on the progress of the Search Committee. The Committee is working with Educational Management Network (EMN) in consultation for the search. To date, the committee has reviewed an advertisement that will appear in The Chronicle of Higher Education, and the process should be completed by the end of March or beginning of April 2002. Prof. Karlen stated that in addition to herself, the following individuals comprise the committee: Vice-President Richard Elliott, Deans Cliff Clarke and Paul Arcario, Jane Schulman, and Victoria Badalamenti.

B. Senate Executive Committee

E. Murray announced that the Senate Office (M 103) will be painted on December 6, and Information Technology (IT) will install cables so that the office’s computer will be networked.

C. Senate Subcommittee on Governance

E. Murray and E. Rivas asked for volunteers to work on the Senate Subcommittee on Governance. S. Brauch will serve as a resource, and the following senators volunteered to participate: C. Baldonedo, J. Devine, J. Karlen, and T. Julien.

Michael McSweeney and Sally Mettler (Faculty Council Representative) will also serve as external members.

J. Wilson will send an email request to the college community asking for a volunteer for the seventh committee slot (and third external member). J. Karlen suggested that the volunteer preferably be a faculty member who has previously served as a senator.

IV. Senate Attendance

Discussion next turned to the issue of attendance at Senate meetings. Chairperson Lynch suggested that the Senate pay closer attention to who attends the meetings. E. Murray suggested that if senators do not show, then their departments should be notified. J.G. Ianni explained the complications around students attending, who are expected to attend regular club meetings as well. E. Rivas said that students are encouraged to participate in both school clubs and the college Senate, and she suggested that students not be allowed to do both. E. Murray would like to see a compromise which might accommodate student schedules. J.G. Ianni proposed that student attendance be counted double for club attendance and suggested that club and senate meetings be juggled so that students may attend both. Chairperson Lynch stated that he would speak with Student Life to address the issue.

V. Report on the Strategic Planning Model

President Gail Mellow and Dr. Cliff Clarke addressed the Senate in order to make the Strategic Planning process clear and more explicit.

President Mellow and Dr. Clarke reviewed the Planning Model and explained the six steps that are fully detailed in the LaGuardia Live Wire, Number 11 (November 2001). President Mellow stated that the strategies and themes have developed out of the Visioning Summit and from conversations with Governance members. Right now, the President is interested in continuing to have the broadest and deepest participation of the entire college. Improving academic advising and looking into a deep need for better communication among the college constituencies are current priorities.

At this point, information is being collected and being transmitted to the Executive Council.

VI. Report on the College Budget

Vice-President Richard Elliott presented an overview of the College’s Budget at this time. He explained that the events of September 11 have made the City’s economy very unclear, but there has been no discussion of a tuition increase nor specific cuts. The Budget Request of 2002-2003 will be based on the University’s 2000-2004 Master Plan, which also includes initiatives associated within the context of Rebuilding New York City in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.

If people have questions about the budget and the comprehensive literature, which outlines the available and anticipated resources, then they should contact Vice-President Elliott directly.

VII. Curriculum Committee Report

Professor Cecilia Macheski of the College Curriculum Committee presented an overview of the courses under consideration. She then turned the presentation over to individuals associated with the proposed courses.

Department of Natural and Applied Sciences: Professor Byron Storck presented a proposal for a new course, SCP232, General Physics 2. This course and SCP231 will replace the previous three term General Physics I, II, and III sequence. This is the second part of a computer-based physics course intended for students who want to major in science, computer science, or engineering.

Professor Paula Nesoff presented a rationale for changing the Human Services Cooperative Education Pattern. This would include the implementation of the following sequence: HSC203, Human Services Internship and Seminar 1; HSD204, Child Development Internship and Seminar 2; HSD205, Child Development Internship and Seminar 3; HSM204, Mental Health/Gerontology Internship and Seminar 2; HSM205, Mental Health/Gerontology Internship and Seminar 3. As before, students would begin their seminar sequence with a generic beginning seminar, followed by Program-specific advanced seminars. However, it was often confusing to students to have to register for a seminar and an internship. The proposal stipulates that the seminar and internship be treated as a single unit within the registration system to minimize confusion.

Department of Humanities: Professor Carol Montgomery presented a proposal for a new course, HUL110, Group Communication of Non-Native Speakers. This course is designed to help students who are not native speakers of English develop their oral communication skills in a group setting.

Library Media Resources: Professor Louise Fluk presented a proposal for a revised course, LRC102, Information Strategies. This course is an introduction to the nature and use of information and information sources (print, multimedia, and electronic) for study and problem-solving. This course will replace LRC101, Introduction to Library Research Methods.

Department of Computer Information Systems: Professor Avis Anderson presented a proposal for a revised program, Microcomputer Systems and Applications A.A.S. Degree. The following changes are proposed: a. Revise the CIS172 course to focus on presentation graphics applications; b. Develop the new, required course, CIS175, Introduction to Desktop Publishing, to replace the 3-credit Computer Information Systems elective; and c. Offer the new course, CIS161, Multimedia Design I, as a required course in the MSA program to replace the AMM/CIS elective.

Professor Ianuzzo presented a proposal for a new course, CIS172, Desktop Publishing Applications. This course will introduce students to presentation graphics software. Students will receive hands-on training relating to designing slides, speaker’s notes, and handouts to produce professionally prepared electronic slide shows.

Professor Linda Ianuzzo also presented a proposal for a new course, CIS175, Introduction to Desktop Publishing. This course will introduce students to the basics of desktop publishing—the art of producing typeset documents. Topics will include input, composition, and output in electronic publishing.

Department of Social Sciences: Professors Lorraine Cohen and John Hyland presented a proposal for a new program option, Social Sciences and Humanities Labor and Community Organizing Option. This option will provide students with an interdisciplinary course of study that will qualify them to be employed as professional organizers and staff members within a wide range of labor and community organizations. To fulfill the requirements of the option students will take a set of thematically linked courses within the liberal arts and sciences combined with a strong hands-on experiential component through an internship in a union or community organization.

E. Murray moved to approve all of the curriculum items as a block. E. Rivas seconded. The curriculum items were approved with 17 in favor and 1 abstention.

Meeting adjourned by Chairperson Lynch at 4:20pm.

Minutes Respectfully Submitted,

James F. Wilson