吃瓜爆料

 

President Philip A. Glotzbach called the meeting to order at 3:37 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

President Glotzbach asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held November 4, 2016.  Hearing none, he announced the minutes were approved.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

President Glotzbach welcomed everyone to the final Faculty Meeting of the semester and thanked everyone for attending on a very busy day.  He compared a semester to a Marathon: When we get to this point, it鈥檚 as though we鈥檝e reached the 22-mile marker: you鈥檝e already run a heck of a long way and the end is definitely in sight, but those remaining four miles can look pretty daunting.  Sometimes the final mile or two are even uphill!  Worst of all is the realization that you can just decide to quit: running those final 4.2 miles is a choice.  And we always have choices.

President Glotzbach indicated his regret for having to miss the November faculty meeting and said that he was distressed to hear 鈥� while literally half a world away in Asia 鈥� of the issues that arose during the course of that meeting and the very real pain that it occasioned, both at the meeting itself and later on.   Although it was a reminder that we still struggle in addressing issues of race on this campus, President Glotzbach was heartened to read some of the thoughtful self-reflections that people wrote afterwards.  President Glotzbach said that he stands before everyone in humility, knowing that he does not have some magical set of words that, once spoken, will set things right for everyone.
 
President Glotzbach stated that the work of making our community a truly welcoming and supportive place for all our members is not always easy.  In the past, he may have cited a talk on diversity and citizenship given many years ago by the University of Colorado historian Patty Limerick.  In that talk, she expressed nostalgia for her graduate school days in which she and her friends believed that any problem, no matter how complex, could be resolved with candles and hammer dulcimer music.  In that talk she also commented that in the difficult conversations around race sometimes it鈥檚 necessary for someone to step on a landmine.  Such challenging moments can lead to positive change, if we choose to cast them in that light.   Continuing the conversation is important.  Even though it can seem easier and safer sometimes simply not to engage with one another at all.  Especially if one is white, it is possible to claim the privilege of not engaging, but that response ultimately does not help us move forward.

At this moment, however, institutional actions are more important than words.  President Glotzbach applauded Beau Breslin, Joshua Woodfork, Cerri Banks, and others both in the Cabinet and outside that group for identifying the action-steps that have been reported.  These actions reflect ongoing commitments expressed in the Strategic Plan, which places inclusive excellence as a framing concept at the very beginning of the document and identifies two Goals that relate directly to issues of diversity and inclusion.  But, President Glotzbach stated, we are dealing with a charged moment that lends a genuine sense of urgency that we need to maintain, not just now but throughout the second semester and beyond.  This truly can be a moment of opportunity for teaching and learning, if we choose to make it so.  President Glotzbach pledged to do his part in maintaining that sense of institutional urgency and focus, and he has charged each member of the President鈥檚 Cabinet to identify a set of action steps he or she will be taking in his or her division across the coming months.

Thereafter, President Glotzbach reminded everyone some of the action steps that already have been identified:

• We are accelerating work to create an Africana Studies program (a priority identified in the Strategic Plan), and we are identifying the resources needed to hire a senior colleague in this area.
• Dean Breslin has proposed changes in the Faculty Handbook that will facilitate hiring of senior faculty colleagues.
• We are moving ahead to define the program and identify the resources needed to create a Center for Social Justice on campus 鈥� something students especially have called for.  Some days ago, an open planning meeting attracted more than 75 active participants from the faculty, staff, and student body.  Thank you to those of you who participated.
• The Dean of the Faculty鈥檚 office is partnering with CAPT to create an annual workshop for CAPT members on correcting for implicit and explicit bias in promotion and tenure decisions.
• CIGU is preparing a new set of recommendations for the campus.
• Throughout the current semester, different offices and organizations have sponsored a wide range of public events that represented learning opportunities for all of us, including the recent talks by this year鈥檚 Phi Beta Kappa visiting scholar.
• Today we invited to campus two highly knowledgeable and experienced colleagues 鈥� Susan Pliner and Sarah Willie-LeBreton (it is actually Sarah鈥檚 second visit to campus) 鈥� to conduct open workshops, which were very well attended and marked by a terrific, positive spirit.  A sincere thanks to everyone who chose to act by making the time to participate.
• Associate Professor Jeremy Day-O鈥機onnor of the Music Department has done terrific work in celebrating the life and achievements of Harry T. Burleigh; Jeremy will speak to us later about this.

All these are encouraging developments, and President Glotzbach expects to have more to report at the beginning of the next semester.  But he acknowledges that measuring effort is not sufficient; we need to see results that are tangible and notable in the experiences, first of all, of our students 鈥� particularly students of color 鈥� in their classrooms, in their residence halls, and across the campus.  And our faculty and staff need to feel tangible changes as well.   Creating a more welcoming campus culture is the work of everyone 鈥� and it is especially the work of those of us who are white.  

President Glotzbach stated that he and Marie鈥檚 recent travels took them to Asia and then on to London.  In China, they met with Skidmore parents, alumni, and prospective students and parents in four cities 鈥� Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing 鈥� in both individual meetings and larger events that typically attracted 40 to 50 people.  Skidmore is becoming established as a genuine presence in these cities.  In fact, it was quite inspirational to hear moving testimonials from the parents they met 鈥� many of whom have never traveled to the U.S. (and do not even speak English) and who, literally, have sent their sons and daughters half-way around the world to Skidmore, sight unseen.  They are exceedingly pleased with the experiences their students are having.  That this is true is a tribute to the work of our faculty and the many members of our staff who work with not just this particular group of students but with all our students.

Although they did not realize it at the time, but on this trip they were also involved in an informal social science research experiment.  Their meetings with parents in Hong Kong and Shenzhen took place just prior to the U.S. presidential election; their meetings in Shanghai and Beijing occurred immediately afterward.  In the first two cities, there was some talk of American politics, though not a great deal.  But in Shanghai and Beijing 鈥� again, just following the election 鈥� the very first question from parents was, 鈥淲ill what just happened affect the life of my child at your College?鈥�  Given some of the rhetoric and social forces that came to prominence in this election, the question is understandable.  Indeed, we all have heard reports of instances of harassment and worse in our cities and on some campuses.  Moreover, we are already starting to see signs that patterns of enrollment from international students may well shift over the coming years 鈥� with more students potentially choosing to attend college in Canada, the U.K., Australia, etc., and fewer in the U.S.  We will have to see how all this plays out, though President Glotzbach said that he does see troubled waters ahead for institutions of higher learning 鈥� especially liberal arts colleges such as Skidmore.   

Returning to the question of our Chinese parents.  As a rhetorical exercise, how would you have answered them?  Is the experience of their children at Skidmore going to change?  Our College is not perfect.  We have not yet fully realized the values both at the core of our mission but at the heart of liberal education itself.  But there is still much to be proud of.  If you doubt that, just talk to our Chinese parents about what they see happening in their students.   President Glotzbach indicated his response to them was clear and emphatic: This election does not change our campus community; it does not change who we are.  We are still committed to our core values of respect and care for one another that have made it such a good place for their students already.  

President Glotzbach stated that we have work to do.   To be honest, we are all just poor, dumb, fallible human beings.  We make mistakes.  We make mistakes as individuals, and sometimes we make mistakes collectively.  But we also offer amazing educational opportunities to all our students, and our commitment to doing so is, in fact, the central value that brings us all together.  In doing this work and the work of improving our campus community, we are better together than we can ever be as isolated individuals.  In fact, collectively we can be brilliant, if we keep struggling and working with one another to do better.

We live in a social reality that, ultimately, is the collective result of choices each of us makes in our individual lives.  We should begin anew by reaffirming how deeply we care 鈥� about our students, about the College, about one another.  We should embrace the work of making Skidmore the welcoming and affirming place we want it to be; this is the work of everyone.  Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to create opportunities for people to enter this work in new ways.    We should acknowledge that this work requires courage 鈥� the courage, sometimes, even to make missteps, and then the courage to go on.  We should remind ourselves that we are at our best when we are patient, generous, and compassionate towards one another 鈥� and that there are times when we need to create the space for restoration and redemption.  Finally, we should look for opportunities to come together to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones.  Starting next semester, we are bringing back the off-campus winter party for all Skidmore employees; more details on this will be forthcoming.

In concluding, President Glotzbach stated that today, the Skidmore Cares project provides an immediate opportunity for us to come together in fellowship and celebration of our community, the Holiday Season, and the importance of giving back.  President Glotzbach and Marie very much look forward to welcoming everyone and their families to Scribner House for the Open House this afternoon.  The wonderful people in Dining Services, once again, will outdo themselves in providing amazing food and drink.  

Thereafter, President Glotzbach opened the floor for questions.  An inquiry was made concerning the concerns that some of the people President Glotzbach and Marie met in Asia about the election, to which President Glotzbach responded that they were worried about climate and that somehow America and/or Skidmore would be a different place.    Another question was raised concerning the timetable for consulting with faculty and the community about the appointment of an interim dean and ultimately a new dean given the departure of Dean Breslin, to which President Glotzbach responded that a search firm has been retained but the exact timetable has not been confirmed at this point.  

Faculty Development Committee

On behalf of the Faculty Development Committee, Associate Professor Rachel Roe-Dale announced that Associate Professor Karen Kellogg was the winner of this year鈥檚 Distinguished Faculty Service Award. She thanked everyone who submitted nominations for this award and those who stood for consideration of the award.  A standing ovation was given to Associate Professor Kellogg.

DEAN OF THE FACULTY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS' REPORT

Beau Breslin, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, congratulated Associate Professor Kellogg on her award. DOF/VPAA Breslin reported that approximately 250-260 faculty and staff members attended today鈥檚 workshops given by Sarah Willie-LeBreton and Susan Pliner.  He thanked those that attended and indicated that it is a step, not the only step, but a step toward a better community.  

DOF/VPAA Breslin reminded everyone that Professor Corey Freeman-Gallant will be transitioning out of his role as Associate Dean of the Faculty over the break and that Associate Professor Ron Seyb will be transitioning into the role of Associate Dean of the Faculty responsible for student academic affairs.  A round of applause was given to both ADOF Freeman-Gallant and Associate Professor Seyb.

Concluding his report, VPAA/DOF wished everyone a happy holiday season.  

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES AND HONORS

A. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees. Dave DeConno, Registrar, read the following resolutions into the record (see attached):

RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Bachelor of Arts degree to 19 students of the Class of 2017 upon satisfactory completion of the degree requirements by January 31, 2017. 

RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Bachelor of Science degree to 3 students of the Class of 2017 upon satisfactory completion of the degree requirements by January 31, 2017.

There was no discussion, and the motions were voted on and passed with all in favor.

B. All-College and Departmental Honors.  Corey Freeman-Gallant, Associate Dean of the Faculty, read the following resolutions into the record (see attached):

RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College approve College Honors for the following 2 members of the Class of 2017, as presented at the December 2, 2016, Faculty Meeting: 1 student for magna cum laude distinction, and 1 student for summa cum laude distinction.

RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College approve Departmental and Program Honors for 4 students from the Class of 2017, as presented at the December 2, 2016 Faculty Meeting.

There was no discussion, and the motions were voted on and passed with all in favor.

OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Associate Professor Michael Arnush announced that the Open Classroom Week will occur February 20-24, 2017.  More information will follow.
• Associate Professor Jeremy Day-O鈥機onnell invited everyone to the Department of Music鈥檚 upcoming events celebrating Harry T. Burleigh, who was a trail-blazing African-American singer, composer, and arranger who sang in Saratoga Springs' Bethesda Church choir before going on to international fame.  A commemorative concert will be held later this evening in Zankel, which will be preceded by a pre-concert talk detailing his time spent in Saratoga Springs, New York.
• On behalf of he and Marie, President Glotzbach invited everyone to the Skidmore Cares Open House at Scribner House immediately following the meeting. Special thanks to team leaders, Eric Morser, Brooke Toma, and Kim Coons, for their help this year in organizing Skidmore Cares.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:11 p.m.

 

Debra L. Peterson
Executive Administrative Assistant