Steering Committee Report April 2020
April’s Senate meeting is important because votes will be taken in the following important matters: a Senate seat run-off election, Committee on Committee’s Senate Standing Committee slate approval, Bylaws Committee proposals, Curriculum Committee course revisions, and Common Core Course Review Committee nominees, Steering Committee thanks in advance all senators for participating in the Webex virtual meeting.
Steering Committee also extends heartfelt thanks to everyone in governance who make our college run. We particularly acknowledge Interim President Timothy Lynch for his steadfast communication and guidance. On behalf of the entire Queensborough community, we offer our gratitude.
Faculty Executive Committee led by Dr. Phil Pecorino has moved forward with several elections, including for positions on the Student Activities Governing Board, Student-Faculty Disciplinary Committee, Academic Review Committee, University Faculty Senate, a College Laboratory Position on the College Personnel and Budget Committee, and open positions on FEC.
The Curriculum Committee has had a significant workload recently due to updated remediation requirements and related prerequisites revisions. We acknowledge Chair Todd Holden and Associate Dean Michael Pullin for their leadership in this time sensitive matter.
Committee on Committees chaired by Dr. Stephen Hammel has efficiently conducted important Senate and Senate Standing Committee election processes, and Dave Moretti has provided stalwart leadership in ensuring that all online governance communication happens smoothly.
Professor Ben Murolo has led the Bylaws Committee successfully in virtual meetings to address three ongoing proposals that have needed to undergo several revisions.
All other Senate Committees have carried on in their work wherever feasible with dedication to their charges and to the mission of our college. To them and everyone we say thank you, and well done.
Drs. Beth Counihan (English), Urszula Golebiewska (Biology), Shannon Kincaid (Social Sciences), and Professor Reuvain Zahavy (Mathematics) have stepped forward to fill three available nominee positions from QCC for the CUNY Common Core Course Review Committee (CCCRC). CCCRC consists entirely of faculty and reviews courses submitted by the colleges, to insure they meet the Student Learning Outcomes for their Common Core curricular areas. SC thanks these colleagues for their willingness to serve; a vote will be taken to fill the three positions, and Dr. Counihan has offered a candidate’s statement, which may be read here.
Steering Committee acted on behalf of the Senate to approve three Curriculum Committee Reports that were made ready for approval after the March Senate meeting. The February Supplemental Report was tabled at the March meeting because an XXX placeholder was included in lieu of a college catalogue page number. At the March meeting the Senate agreed that SC could approve the course revisions when appropriate replacement wording was agreed upon before the April meeting. The SC vote was deemed noncontroversial because all revisions consisted only of prerequisites updates necessitated by a new CUNY remediation policy. SC also approved similar prerequisite-based course revisions in the Curriculum Committee March 30th Supplemental Report after the March meeting. These committee-approved revisions were not presented to the Senate in March. Finally, SC approved similar course revisions in Curriculum Committee’s Report for March 31st Meeting on behalf of the Senate. These three SC votes were taken between Senate meetings so that CUNY approval could be granted in time to facilitate the CUNYfirst registration process."
We know that we are all thinking of one another as we carry on, and that each of us has individual as well as collective challenges to face. We in the Steering Committee are grateful for our fellow senators and all our QCC colleagues. We are confident that we will all joyfully greet each other soon.
Be well, friends.
Academic Senate Steering Committee (AcademicSenateSteeringCommittee@qcc.cuny.edu)
Dr. Steven Dahlke, Chair SDahlke@qcc.cuny.edu
Dr. Jannette Urciuoli, Vice-Chair JUrciuoli@qcc.cuny.edu
Dr. Zivah Perel Katz, Secretary Zkatz@qcc.cuny.edu
