2016-2017 Summary of Activity

The Faculty Council session begins September 1. It meets monthly September through May, and as needed. The minutes of Faculty Council meetings are posted, upon approval by the Faculty Council.

Faculty Assembly convenes twice a year.  The Fall Assembly was held on November 7, 2016.  The Spring Assembly was held on March 20, 2017.   The meetings are recorded and archived on the website.

Faculty Council Officers 2016-2017

J. Robb Dixon
Chair
Associate Professor of Operations and Technology Management
Questrom School of Business

Stephen Brady
Past Chair
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Graduate Medical Sciences Director, Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Program
School of Medicine

Janelle Heineke
Secretary-treasurer
Professor of Operations and Technology Management
Questrom School of Business

Discussions and Outcomes

On May 3, 2017, Chair Dixon announced the outcome of the Officer election.  The Faculty Assembly, via confidential online ballot, elected Dr. Cataldo Leone (GSDM) as Vice Chair and Dr. Eileen O’Keefe as Secretary-treasurer.  Dr. Leone will assume the role of Faculty Council Chair on June 1, 2018. the Nominating Committee put forth candidates for open committee chair seats: Academic Freedom, Credentials and By-laws, Faculty Policies, Research and Sustainability. It also called for nominations from the floor.  Chair Dixon announced that the University Provost will convene a task force to review current library services and envision the future of library services.  Council members who are interested in joining the task force, or would like to nominate a colleague, were asked to contact the Chair or the Director.

On April 5, 2017, the Council heard reports from the Awards Committee, Benefits and Compensation Committee, Credentials and By-laws Committee, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Media and Communication Committee, Nominating Committee, and the Teaching and Learning Resources Committee.  The Council voted unanimously to accept the Award Committee’s recommendations for the 2017 John S. Perkins Award Winners.

On March 1, 2017, the Council met on the MED campus. Prior to the meeting, Council members had an opportunity to tour the NEIDL.  MED Provost Karen Antman attended the meeting and discussed the effect of the federal government’s immigration and travel policies and budget on student recruitment and faculty research activity. The Council asked about faculty recruitment and retention on the MED campus, auxiliary services, health and safety concerns, and plans to upgrade the physical plant.  MED Provost Antman reported that SPH, MED, and GSDM are up for accreditation review in 2018-2019.

On February 1, 2017, Amanda Miller, Callie Sopper, and Deepti Nijhawan of the Office of Global Programs gave a presentation about current initiatives to support international students.  Chair Dixon solicited the Council representatives to report on issues that concern the faculty of their school/college. Several topics emerged that were common to more than one school/college. Chair Dixon will follow up with the President and Provost.

On January 18, 2017, University Provost Jean Morrison met with the Faculty Council and responded to question sent by Council members prior to the meeting on a number of topics: the Student Information System, student mental health services, faculty annual performance review and merit increases, gen ed implementation, child care support for faculty and staff, and the unionization of lecturers.

On December 13, 2016, the Nominating Committee put forth candidates for vacant committee chair positions.  The Faculty Council elected Dr. Rebecca Kinraide (CAS) chair of the Teaching and Learning Resources Committee and Dr. Donald Smith (Questrom) chair of Compensation and Benefits.  Executive Director of Benefits Nimet Gundogan joined the meeting to report on the rollout and the early data about the new health insurance plan on employee health care usage. Ms. Gundogan reported that the Benefits Advisory Committee will reconvene to discuss restructuring the retirement investment benefit.

On November 2, 2016, President Robert Brown met with the Council and discussed a wide range of topics: review and promotion for non tenure-track faculty; the plan to upgrade the Student Information System; health insurance usage for University employees since the implementation of the new insurance structure; and the search for an Associate Provost of Equity and Diversity;  President Brown said the discussion to reconsider changes to retirement investment benefits will resume in spring 2017. No changes will be made until January 2018. The Faculty Council elected Dr. John Bernstein (COM) and Dr. Stephen Brady (MED) to serve on the Dean Search Advisory Committee for the College of Fine Arts.  Dr. Harold Cox (SPH) and Dr. Martha Thompson (CAS) were elected to serve on the Dean Search Advisory Committee for the School of Social Work.

On October 5, 2016, the Council met with Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs Elizabeth Loizeaux to discuss implementation of the General Education Requirements. Dr. Bruce Schulman, co-chair of the Task Force and a member of Faculty Council, attended as well.  Dr. Janelle Heineke, co-chair of the University Council Committee on Faculty Policies reported that the emeritus status policy has been returned to the Committee for further review.  Chair Dixon reported that the Executive Committee met with the University Ombuds Francine Montemurro to compare notes about issues that concern faculty.  Assistant Provost of General Education Implementation Susan Jackson also met with the Executive Committee to discuss her new role.  Chair Dixon announced that there will be a search for a dean of the College of Fine Arts.  A call for nominations will be sent to the Assembly.

On September 20, 2016, Chair Dixon announced the meeting calendar and discussed the governance structure of the University for the new members.  The Council heard updates from the following Committees: Faculty Policies, Graduate Programs, Research and Scholarly Activities, and Undergraduate Programs.  Chair Dixon attended the Provost’s Retreat earlier in the month.  The University Provost will form several committees to implement the General Education curriculum.  Chair Dixon attended the Board of Trustees meeting.  The Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing made recommendations about divestment from fossil fuels. An announcement from President Brown is forthcoming.  The Faculty Council elected Hee-Young Park (MED) and Megan Sullivan (CGS) to serve on the Dean Search Advisory Committee for the School of Education.