Faculty Meeting Minutes
May 15, 2024
Gannett Auditorium/Zoom
Dorothy E. Mosby, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. She welcomed the faculty to the last Faculty Meeting of the academic year, and thanked everyone for their hard work in bringing the semester to a successful close.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Dean Mosby asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held April 26, 2024. Hearing none, she called for a vote on approving the minutes, which were then approved unanimously.
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 Science degree to 178 students of the Class of 2024 to be awarded on May 18, 2024.
RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Bachelor of Arts degree to 44 students of the Class of 2023 upon satisfactory completion of the degree requirements by August 31, 2024.
RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College recommend to the Trustees the granting of the Bachelor of Science degree to 14 students of the Class of 2023 upon satisfactory completion of the degree requirements by August 31, 2024.
The total number of graduates of the Class of 2024 is 662 as follows: 41 for January completion, 553 for May completion, and 58 for August completion.
There was no discussion, and the resolutions were voted on and passed with a large majority.
B. All-College and Departmental Honors. Corey Freeman-Gallant, Associate Dean of the Faculty for Student Academic Affairs, read the following resolutions into the record (see attached):
RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College approve College Honors for members of the Class of 2024, as presented at the May 15, 2024, Faculty Meeting: 89 students for summa cum laude distinction, 141 students for magna cum laude distinction, and 67 students for cum laude distinction.
RESOLVED, that the Faculty of Skidmore College approve Department and Program Honors for 258 students from the Class of 2024, as presented at the May 15, 2024 Faculty Meeting.
ADOF Freeman-Gallant noted to the faculty that, including the January graduates receiving honors, 308 of 652 graduates in the class of 2024 are graduating with honors; 47.2% of the total graduates. In recent semesters, over 60% of grades have fallen in the A-range, the highest percentage in the College’s history. ADOF Freeman-Gallant noted that the CAS will be considering these trends and the possibility of new Honors criteria during the next academic year. There being no further discussion, the resolutions were voted on and passed with a large majority.
There being no further discussion, the resolutions were voted on and passed with a large majority.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
On behalf of the Faculty Advisory Board (FAB), Professor Ryan Overbey introduced three changes to the Faculty Handbook (see attached).
A faculty member asked about the significance in removing “Compliance” from the title for the Associate Director for Employment, Compliance, and Workforce Diversity. VP of Human Resources Sarah Vero explained that the change in title is to better reflect the function of the position, and to streamline the title itself as it is otherwise wordy.
A faculty member pointed out that two members of the Gender Studies Program are currently serving on the Faculty Advisory Board, and asked whether or not one of them would have to leave their position on the board. Professor Overbey clarified that two members of one department or program will continue to be allowed, and that three faculty members would not. The faculty member suggested that larger interdisciplinary programs may mean that this new rule’s implementation creates difficulty in staffing panels. Professor Overbey acknowledged this concern, noting that it had not yet come up, but that there will be additional discussion before voting on these changes takes place.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
On behalf of the Indigenization and Decolonization Collaborative (IDC), Associate Professor Adam Tinkle introduced the group to the faculty. Professor Tinkle stated that the IDC has been working to produce a 2-year action plan focused on exploring transformations in the college’s relationship to its history, geography and indigenous neighbors. The action plan’s first phase will be preparatory projects to establish institutional credibility and uplift resource sharing across divisions and departments in support of the IDC’s overall aims. The second phase will focus on reconciliation and relationships with local Mohawk tribes. This will involve program-level commitments to action. Professor Tinkle asked faculty members to keep an eye on their inboxes for details on the IDC program, action plan, and relevant events throughout the Fall semester.
In closing, Professor Tinkle noted that the IDC was approached by the leadership of the Skidmore Coalition for Palestine. The student organization requested that IDC share with the faculty their letter of demands to the Board of Trustees, one of which is the development of a land acknowledgment, which falls under the IDC’s interests. He pointed out that many Skidmore students feel passionately about injustice, and that IDC had a number of collaborative and productive conversations with these students about their shared investment in decolonization both locally and globally.
Students then entered Gannett Auditorium, and time was given to non-agenda items.
Dean Mosby reminded the students that there was more business to be completed in the faculty meeting, and that the President, the Faculty and the Dean have heard and appreciate their voices as students. The students exited the auditorium. Time was given to discussion before the meeting proceeded with Dean Mosby inviting President Marc C. Conner to present his report.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
President Marc C. Conner reaffirmed his commitment to fostering open dialogue on campus, protecting speech, and representing all campus constituencies. President Conner expressed his gratitude to the faculty for their work throughout this year, and that he is also looking ahead to the next year and what external factors such as the national election and the crisis in the Middle East may bring. He then asked Dean Mosby if he might invite further comment from the faculty. Dean Mosby assented and a discussion of non-agenda items amongst the faculty ensued.
When discussion concluded, President Conner spoke about the progress made on the COVID Risk Initiative, Middle States accreditation, and Strategic Planning in the past year, and noted his anticipation of further progress to be made in the coming year. He thanked the faculty for their active participation in making Skidmore a campus characterized by respectful dialogue even on the most difficult of subjects. President Conner then invited VP of Admissions and Enrollment Jess Ricker to give an update on the incoming class of first years.
VP Ricker explained that there have been an unusual number of headwinds in admissions this year, one obstacle being a delay in the FAFSA form’s availability to prospective students and their families. This is preventing families from comparing aid packages and making their decision. VP Ricker said that the number of full pay students is down, and noted that this reflects trends across higher education. She said that best estimates at this time are that the class will be short of the goal of 705 students by 30 to 50 students. The shortfall combined with the decline in full pay students will mean a drop in revenue. VP Ricker told the faculty that VP of Finance and Administration Dan Konstalid would be explaining further. She then thanked the faculty for their help and participation in Admissions’ programming over the prior year, also celebrating that the Opportunity Program will be fully enrolled for the first time in several years. VP Ricker said that the FAFSA delays prevented her from updating as thoroughly as is usual at this time, and thanked the faculty for their support.
VP Konstalid opened his report with the reminder that the college’s operating budget is predicated on a concept of budgeting towards a baseline net enrollment. In the past, Skidmore’s enrollment has been well over the budgeted net fiscal enrollment amount for students matriculating in Saratoga Springs. Although this incoming class is expected to be lower than the goal, the college will remain at or above its budgeted net fiscal enrollment in September of next year. Though the impact will hit fully at a later time, preparatory adjustments will need to be made before that point. VP Konstalid said that, currently, our contingency is sufficient to offset the change in financial aid (rate) profile of the incoming class. He expects to address the differences in volume through contingency or below the line volume differences. Other developments could arise, he said, that would require adjustments to this plan.
VP Konstalid noted that the headwinds we have been hearing about have arrived at Skidmore, and so future budget planning will require assumptions to be reexamined to ensure that our plans remain in concert with the evolving realities. He said that IPPC will be adding two additional faculty and two additional staff to the budget and finance sub-committee, where shared governance regarding the budget occurs. VP Konstalid closed his remarks by reaffirming to the faculty that action is being taken now to prepare for the coming demographic shifts.
President Conner invited faculty to speak with him after the meeting in Gannett, or at the Senior BBQ in Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. He then solicited questions for VPs Ricker and Konstalid from the faculty. A faculty member asked if there would be a General Salary Adjustment at the start of the next fiscal year. VP Konstalid answered that a GSA consistent with recent history had been recommended to the Board of Trustees, who would be voting on it shortly. He said that it would be released the following week.
A faculty member pointed out that of the 738 students admitted to the class of 2024, 652 are graduating. VP Ricker said that retention is very important, and that Admissions also works to recruit transfer students to fill those spots in the class. She further explained that ADOF Freeman-Gallant and the Enrollment Management Group are investigating retention trends since COVID, including the supports students have access to while at Skidmore.
President Conner closed his remarks by thanking the faculty and extended again the invitation to speak with him after the meeting.
DEAN OF THE FACULTY/VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS' REPORT
Dean Mosby opened her remarks with an update on negotiations with the non-tenure track union. She said that they had a bargaining session last week, and that a number of non-economic items have been agreed upon, marking forward progress in the negotiations. She then thanked the department chairs and program directors who had recently met with her and ADOF Janet Casey and who have provided helpful data, insight, and opinions. Dean Mosby acknowledged the outgoing department chairs and program directors; Jeremy Day-O’Connell (Music), Juan Navea (Chemistry), T.H. Reynolds (Health and Human Physiological Sciences), Oscar Perez-Hernandez (LACLAS), and Flagg Taylor (Political Science). She reminded the chairs and program directors of their upcoming workshop on May 22nd, to be facilitated by Kevin Dettmar. Dean Mosby said that she would also be sharing some information regarding position allocations at that meeting.
Dean Mosby then asked the faculty to join her in thanking Associate Dean of Faculty for Infrastructure and Faculty Affairs Pat Fehling for her service in the office, highlighting ADOF Fehling’s work on the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences. She continued by welcoming Associate Professor Oscar Perez-Hernandez, current Program Director of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies and Special Assistant to the Dean of Faculty to the role. She remarked on his unique background spanning both the humanities and STEM, saying that she knows it will be invaluable as the office continues to evolve in how it supports the academic community at Skidmore.
Dean Mosby spoke about her office’s planned work for the summer, such as taking stock of faculty workload and equity, institutional grant opportunities, student success, faculty retention, and how to better support faculty in mid-career. She reminded the faculty that the procession at commencement will be lining up at 10:15am, and exhorted them to get their parking passes from campus security if they have not yet. She recommended that faculty park in the lot adjacent to Hall of Springs, and said that the procession will begin at 10:40.
Dean Mosby said that she was looking forward to seeing the faculty on Saturday to celebrate the accomplishments of the senior class. She reflected on her first year at Skidmore, describing it as a learning experience characterized by a community possessing grace, dedication, and resilience. She said that she has been amazed by the commitment exhibited by the faculty, both to the students and to one another. Dean Mosby said that she hopes that the faculty will have opportunities to celebrate their achievements of the last year, and thanked them for their hard work and their passion. She emphasized that she sees Skidmore as a community of hope and optimism that inspires those sentiments even outside of its boundaries, before closing with a poem of gratitude by Alberto Alvaro Rios.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nora E. Graubard Senior Administrative Coordinator