November 16, 2021

ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING

MINUTES

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

ZOOM MEETING

2:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Attendance:

Absences:

Guests:

OPEN FLOOR PERIOD:  2:00 - 2:05 p.m.

The Open Floor Period provides an informal opportunity for campus community members to raise questions or make comments directed to Senate officers or to university administrators.  Please arrive promptly at 2:00 p.m.

• Guest Wei-Ming Dariotis shared concerns about agenda item 8
• Sen. Way expressed thanks for those involved in the re-enrollment campaign

Call to Order: 2:05 P.M.

1. Approval of the Agenda for November 16, 2021

• Approved as submitted @ 2:05 P.M.

1. Approval of the Minutes for November 2, 2021

• Approved as submitted @ 2:05 P.M.

1. Announcements from the Floor
2. Reports
   1. Chair Report
      • Chair Albiniak announced that he and Sen. Goldman will be holding office hours to discuss the University Budget Committee
      • Provided the policy of administrative searches and call for sign up to pool
      • Discussed the two agenda items related to teaching evaluations
3. President Report
   • Pres. Mahoney shared that the CSU trustees voted on an historic ask for the budget, $715M in recurring and $1B in one-time funding
   • Had a legislative visit last week to discuss building student housing
   • Strategic planning launched with a goal to create a collective response to 1) who do want to be in 5-10 years and 2) why should a prospective student or employee choose us? Requested strong engagement in the process.
   • Shared updates on upcoming Provost search
     • Sen. Collins: given the new Provost search, what can this body do to reinforce the needs of the campus
       • Pres. Mahoney: a candidate should have the support of the community, a demonstrated commitment to social justice, student educational experience and success, experience managing budget, contributing to a great place to work, help us realize what it means to be a teacher-scholar institution
     • Sen. Collins: on the subject of budget, does the administrative body have possible talking points to share with the legislature in requesting funding?
       • Pres. Mahoney: We are underresourced and we need more funding per student, and housing
     • Sen. Yee-Melichar: ASCSU met with AVC Alva and discussed a common LMS amongst all state higher ed institutions. Are there updates to how this can be achieved?
       • Pres. Mahoney: this item is on the radar, will discuss with ExComm and provide updates
   • Held Hall of Fame event in-person for the first time in two years, honored six amazing alumni and noted the joy of  collective celebration.

1. Provost Report
   • Prov. Summit noted the scheduled budget presenation (agenda item#11) and thanked everyone that has participated and provided feedback to the budget presentations.

1. Standing Committees
   1. Student Affairs committee
      • Sen. Abeywickrama: have been working on the academic integrity policy and plan to bring to next plenary
   2. Academic Policies committee
      • Sen. Stowers: APC has one item on the agenda, proposed revision to the Academic Calendar policy, also working on the online education policy and graduate curriculum policy
   3. Curriculum Review committee
      • Sen. Drennan: developed internal guidelines at last meeting, will be hearing new proposals in ITEC and in video game studies
   4. Faculty Affairs committee
      • Sen. Rubin: have two items in first reading, proposal regarding faculty (TT and lecturer) extending flexibility of SETEs for the spring semester
   5. Strategic Issues committee

• Sen. Goldman: SIC continues to work on financial transparency, invited VPs Jackanicz and Porth to discuss transparency of donor funds, hope to have the RSO policy in first reading on Dec. 7, extended an open invitation to senators and constiutents to bring forward items to the committee, noted a survey being circulated about URSCA

OLD BUSINESS

1. Recommendation from Academic Policies Committee (APC):  Proposed Revision to S21-242: Academic Calendar Policy—second reading
   • Sen. Stowers moved item to the floor @ 2:38 PM and spoke to the item; the changes include stakeholders in the calendar process and ensures the fall and spring end on time.
   • Sen. Lynch proposed an amendment to include the Director of Financial Aid to insert as line 65
     • Seconded by Sen. Stowers
     • Sen. Critchlow spoke in favor of the amendment
     • VOTE on the amendment: 45/0/2 (Y/N/A) at 2:43 PM
   • Sen. Gerber spoke in favor of the item and the consultation included in the proposal
   • VOTE on the proposal
     • Item approved: 49/0/0 (Y/N/A) @ 2:45 PM

1. Recommendation from Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC): Revision and update of Temporary Modification of Academic Senate Policy #S20-241 Policy Resolution on Retention, Tenure and Promotion S21-287—first reading (time approximate: 3:15-3:30pm.
   • Sen. Rubin moved the item to the floor @ 3:28 PM and spoke to the item. Amendement addressed concerns brought up in past plenary, the opting-out of SETEs would be capped at 5 semesters and in the final semester, SP22, faculty would have to submit at least one of their course’s evaluations.
   • Sen. Thomas: requested clarification on intent of policy, does it apply to full professors who are not up for RTP? From a managerial standpoint, who has access to the SETEs?
     • Sen. Rubin: not intended to apply to full professors, intent of managerial access was not anticipated
   • Sen. Goldman: the pandemic happened to everyone, not just those in the RTP process, makes sense to apply the policy broadly. For the SETEs to have a value in improving an individual’s teaching ability, they need to be updated.
   • Sen. Clemens: SETEs have been established as problematic and biased, by opening up SETEs to chairs who take part in the RTP process, the chair would have access when no other part of the RTP process would.
   • Sen. Stein: spoke in favor of the item and appreciates the compromise
   • Sen. Hwu: if we don’t use SETEs, what other methods do we have? Is there evidence that SETEs are harmful to particular groups? What are other campuses doing?
   • Sen. Thomas: the risk of not having student input outweigh the risks of student bias against faculty
   • Item returned to committee @ 3:48 PM

NEW BUSINESS

1. Recommendation from Executive Committee (Ex Comm): Proposed Resolution in Support of Strengthening Undergraduate Advising at San Francisco State University—first reading
   • Sen. Gerber moved the item to the floor at 3:54 PM and spoke to the item. Addresses concerns about advising workload, differences in major and minor advising, GE advising. A large percentage of students (42-67% depending on major) change their major.
   • Sen. Clemens: is on the advisory board for LCA’s advising resource center, relayed concerns about giving another year of advising students to the UAC general advising
     • Sen. Gerber: each college is different, for example, CoSE has not received the same level of support in advising, support having consistent advising for students to have during their first two years
   • Sen. Drennan: the key is building a culture where students understand seeking consistent advising is the norm, there is room for growth and this is a positive start
   • Sen. Way ceded time to Guest Amy Dorie, who spoke in support of the resolution
   • Item returned to committee at 4:06 PM
2. Recommendation form Executive Committee (Ex Comm): Proposed Revisions to S15-213 Administration and Processing of Electronic and Paper Teaching Effectiveness forms—first reading
   • Sen. Drennan moved the itme to the floor at 4:06 PM and spoke to the item. This proposal seeks to address some of the SETE issues: including student reflection, opportunity for depts. and programs to develop questions of their own, while remaining in compliance with CBA.
   • Sen. Gerber: see the work of the TEA task force and this resolution in conjuction with one another, we need to fix some things immediately as well as careful thoughtful long term design. Important to hear student voice.
   • Sen. Stein: appreciate pressing nature of this issue, process may not be ideal but the faculty have been wanting an update. Concerned as not aware the resolution was being developed and would have changed view of the faculty resolution. Questions about why the SETE timing is not later than finals week. Curious if there is any research on explaining to students about historical bias in SETEs. Would like to include student letters in evaluation process.
   • Sen. D’Alois: part of the TEA task force, upset by the politics and surprised by this resolution, appreciate the student reflection questions
   • Sen. Allen: having a quantitative aspect makes it more efficient to review high numbers of evaluations, i.e. 120 lecturers, and can focus on areas to improve
   • Chair Albiniak: deliberation is a messy process, appreciate the sharing of different perspectives today, appreciate opportunity to reflect and improve communication

1. Recommendation from Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC): Proposed Revision to Temporary Modification of Academic Senate Policy #F15-160: Policy Resolution on Lecturer (Temporary) Faculty F20-291—first reading (time approximate: 3:30-3:45pm
   • Sen. Rubin moved the item to the floor at 3:49 PM and spoke to the item. The item reflects similar updates to item 6 applying similar flexibility to lecturer faculty. Noted the ASCSU passed a similar resolution urging CO to suspend student and peer evaulations through SP22.
     • Sen. D’Alois: the reason for this policy is we are living through a global pandemic. There is a reason this policy is coming to the floor.
   • Item returned to committee @ 3:53 PM

PRESENTATIONS

1. Jeff Wilson, VP & Chief Financial Officer, Admin & Finance, and Elena Stoian, Executive Director of Budget & Operations, “SF State Budget Presentation” (2:45-3:00pm time certain)
   • VP Wilson and Exec. Dir. Elena Stoian presented on the University’s FY 21-22 budget
   • Chair Albiniak: requested clarification on building the reserves and terminology
   • Sen. Stein: is it possible to break down the salary and benefits category by administators, staff, TT, and lecturer faculty?
   • Sen. Way: there was an anticipated deficit of ~$12M but learned it was actually $3M. Which figure is correct?
     • VP Wilson: $12M was the final budgeted deficit
   • Sen. Shapiro: what did we learn from this learn from this year of budgetary travail?
     • VP Wilson: remain committed to building a strong reserve to cushion us from economic downturns, be consertative with spending.
   • Sen. Stowers: requested clarification of budget figures on slide 5
     • Exec. Dir. Stoian: The $8.7M correspond to the CO set aside for future bargaining, we have fewer Pell Grant students so we received fewer state grant monies.

1. Provost Jennifer Summit, Academic Affairs, Dwayne Banks, Vice Provost of Academic Resources, “Academic Affairs Budget Presentation” (3:00-3:15pm time certain)
   • Sen. Prov. Summit and Sen. Vice Provost Banks presented on FY 21-22 Academic Affairs Budget
   • Sen. Summit provided an overview of the challenges: budget reductions, carryforwards, and plans to develop sound budget practices
   • Sen. Banks presented the budget in greater detail, the inclusion of lecturer salaries in the ongoing budget, and enrollment
   • Sen. Goldman: we’ve had a reduction in enrollment for a number of years; have we seen a drop in expenses due to that drop in enrollment? Requested clarification of the lecturer expenses figure.
     • Sen. Banks: Only some of the lecturer funds were outside the Academic Affairs budget, other structural changes, i.e. programs moving
     • Sen. Summit: with fewer students, we teach fewer sections, we will continue to adjust as enrollment changes. There are other costs that are slower to adjust.
   • Sen. Shapiro: how might the strategy to not fill vacant positions affect programs that require certain faculty numbers for accreditation?
     • Sen. Summit: first priority is meeting the needs of areas of students enrollment needs, and accreditation will be part of the prioritization.
2. Adjourment
   • Adjourned at 4:29 PM

POST-PLENARY FLOOR PERIOD: until 5:00pm

The Post-Plenary Floor Period provides an informal opportunity for senators and guests to meet, exchange information, or follow up on items or questions emerging from the meeting.