Meeting of the CCAS Faculty Senate
Approved Minutes
September 24, 2024
The meeting was called to order at approximately 12:48 p.m., with CCAS Faculty Senate President Robert Emmons presiding. There are 35 Senators, including 3 officers and 0 senators-at-large. Of the 35 voting members, 19 were present. A quorum was met.
I. A motion to approve the minutes of April 30, 2024, was made. The motion to approve the minutes was approved.
Voting record: 19 ayes, 0 opposed, 2 abstentions.
II. Courses and Programs presented by Alex Roche, Chair of the APC, for Faculty Senate recommendation:
|
Courses presented for discussion and recommendation by APC to Faculty Senate |
||||
|
Department |
Course # |
Course Title |
Credit Value |
New/ Revision |
|
Computer Science |
50:198:418 |
Explainable & Fair Artificial Intelligence |
3 |
NEW |
|
Digital Studies |
50:209:102 |
Introduction to Gaming and Esports |
3 |
NEW |
|
Digital Studies |
50:209:130 |
The Evolution of Gaming and Esports |
3 |
NEW |
|
Digital Studies |
50:209:306 |
Media Creation of Esports |
3 |
NEW |
|
Digital Studies |
50:209:307 |
Digital Blunders |
3 |
NEW |
|
Digital Studies |
50:209:308 |
AI & Society |
3 |
NEW |
|
Digital Studies |
50:209:407 |
Independent Study in Esports |
3 |
NEW |
|
English and Communication |
50:989:320 |
Game Writing and Development |
3 |
NEW |
|
Philosophy and Religion |
50:730:328 |
AI & Society |
3 |
NEW |
|
Programs presented for discussion and recommendation by APC Committee to Faculty Senate |
||||
|
Department |
Minor |
Date when program will begin |
||
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
III. Explanation of APC Procedures in Accordance with Updates to CCAS Faculty Senate and FASC Subcommittee Bylaws – Alex Roche, APC Chair
Last year’s bylaws discussions and amendments resulted in a shift in the faculty senate’s role in approving what comes before the APC. The APC is in charge of college-wide curriculum and academic standards. Whereas in previous years, the APC brought proposals for new courses, programs, etc. to the Senate for a vote, the APC will now come to the senate for advice. This is in line with the general agreement last year that the senate is an advisory body rather than a legislative one. Beginning this semester, the APC will bring courses to the Senate for discussion. Courses introduced during the senate meeting have already been vetted by the APC, but the APC will incorporate any feedback it receives from the Senate. The APC will wait one week after a senate meeting before officially approving anything that has come before it. This allows senators to provide feedback both during the senate meetings and during the week afterwards.
IV. Announcement of APC Courses and Programs – Alex Roche, APC Chair
Alex Roche introduced the following courses for discussion:
50:198:418 Explainable and Fair Artificial Intelligence
50:209:102 Introduction to Gaming and Esports
50:209:130 Evolution of Esports
50:209:306 Media Creation for Esports
50:209:307 Digital Blunders
50:209:308 AI & Society
50:209:407 Independent Study in Esports
50:730:328 AI & Society
50:989:320 Game Writing and Development
There was discussion about Digital Studies Esports course proposals. There are early plans for an Esports Media Arts minor, but that process has not started yet. Jim Brown provided clarity about this and also made clear that Digital Studies is in conversation with the Business school about how such a minor would align with the Business School’s esports certificate.
V. Senate Business
a. Update on Ad Hoc Committee on Online Education from Jim Brown, Rafey Habib, Robert Emmons, and Randy Mershon
The committee has met once. The initial meeting was introductory, and the Dean shared some preliminary data about enrollments in courses across the college for both online and in- person courses. He also shared current policy with regard to teaching loads, expected enrollments for each instructor per semester and per year, and policy with regard to enrollments and course cancellations. The Dean raised questions to the group about how faculty want to approach questions around teaching loads (including questions about faculty using grant funds for course buyouts that might result in faculty members not being in the classroom) and how faculty want to develop an online course strategy.
Jim Brown shared with the senate a proposal he made to the dean about creating an incentive structure that would encourage faculty to teach in-person and to teach larger classes, a system that would not automatically cancel classes with fewer than 10 people and that would perhaps allow faculty to earn course releases for every X number of students taught. Rafey Habib shared the Dean’s questions about policies regarding a 3/2 teaching load for faculty who are “research inactive.” The Dean said that we currently have no definition for what research inactive (or research active) means. The committee members also shared what they learned about inequities between Camden and New Brunswick in both advising software (Camden has a lesser set of features in EAB software) and advising staffing (all NB students have an advisor sign off on their schedule before it is official, something that would be impossible in Camden given staffing levels). Senators raised questions about the revenue differences between online and in-person classes, about how efforts to cut back on online courses would affect adjunct faculty, and about available data for the effectiveness of current online offerings (especially as they compare to in-person offerings)
b. Update on Fall 2024 Enrollments, Robert Emmons
The college is down 10 total students from last academic year when counting all students in the college. New student numbers are flat from last year’s numbers; however, there are fewer First Time in College (FTIC) students and more transfer students. The graduate school is at capacity. The college cancelled only 12 classes due to enrolments (mostly courses staffed by Lecturers) as compared with 30 cancelled classes in Fall 2023.
VI. CCAS Faculty Senate Attendance Policy
All senators are expected to attend all meetings. Senators should write secretary to notify the senate leadership if they can’t make it. If senators do this, the absence is excused. If a senator has two unexcused absences, senate leadership will contact their department to ask them to elect a replacement.
VII. Announcements
James Boucher, University Senator, reported that the University Senate has passed a resolution requesting that the Board of Governors include a broad group of people in the search for the next president of the University. That motion included a request to involve students, staff, and faculty viewpoints across all campuses and to have a large search committee.
The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Present: Sarah Allred, Margaret Betz, James Boucher, Jim Brown, Gail Caputo, Michelle Carlin, Brian Corbett, Travis DuBose, Robert Emmons, Chris Fitter, Rafey Habib, Osama Hamed, Sheikh Islam, Randy Mershon, Jim Mobley, Tamara Nelson, Alex Roche, Stass Shpanin, Longmei Shu
Absent (Senators): Maureen Donaghy, Jamie Dunaev, Hunter King, Clinton McNair, Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, Xingyun Qi, Amy Savage
Excused Absent (Senators): Valerie Adams-Bass, Craig Agule, Kendra Boyd, Anthony Grasso, Ann Heidelberg, Yoona Kang, Susan Mokhberi
Present Senators-at-Large: n/a
Absent Senators-at-Large: n/a
Excused Senators-at-Large: n/a
Present (Invited Guests): n/a
Drafted by Jim Brown, 9/26/24