Response 1: a) with the emerging unit system, we need to strengthen the integrated nature of gen. Ed., writing, research, creativity, etc. This is the great hope and potential for the new system, but its also the risk that we don't do it well enough or let separatist or isolationist interests take over and create over specialization and mediocracy. (WAC is important but as a model of more)
b) I fear we are slowly becoming more standardized and conventionalized, less diverse, less integrated, etc. We don't need to go this way and can still resist or reaffirm our commitments to these most important values and traditions.
Response 2: Increasing
the number of tenure-track lines at the college. Emphasizing
academics as the core of what the college should be all about.
Response 3: We are actively pursuing faculty development e.g. Programs at FRC -- .Writing Circle; Teaching Circles; Workshops
Response 4: The importance of CLA. We've put 4-5 years into this project and we must accomplish this!
Faculty need to have more space for working on their teaching. If ASEC affects campus life, it needs to empower convening groups and disciplines. People who teach need more time with others who teach in their field. We need to spend less time in FA and Unit Councils and more time with our colleagues. Also equality among units must be investigated. If one school may cap courses at 15, all schools should have the option (see Response 4 to Question 4).
Response 5: Show them your powerpoint of the wide range of faculty involvement. Highlight CLA and give its history as an exemplar of how the FA works.
Response 6: As the school continues to grow, need to reassess the student/faculty ratio. One of our strengths has been the small class sizes. We need to hire more faculty. Need to identify ways to support current and potential faculty in obtaining their Ph.D.. if this is going to be a requirement. Particularly a concern if we want to attract diverse faculty.
Response 7: No comment on this question.
Response 8: Compare the Ramapo College full-time faculty lines per students enrollment with 1) College of NJ 2) Stockton State College 3) private liberal arts college we aspire to be compared with which college?
Response 9: The college webpage needs a review to be sure it is clear and concise. CLA needs to be addressed.
Response 10: No comment on this question.
Response 11: Need to renovate classrooms, esp. in B-wing. Walls are paper thin, very hard to maintain student attention when classes in back-to-back rooms in session. Library needs dollars, acquisitions person!
Response 12: CLAW is essential for faculty to strengthen their courses and do research and publication to promote and raise the public profile of Ramapo College.
Response 13: Keep CLA on schedule. Don't use it as an excuse to try to undermine the various kinds of work faculty do by trying to claim that a flex unit can now account for all. Give the faculty the respect they deserve and work on ways to make their jobs richer not harder.
Response 14: I have two major concerns: A) Bob Cassidy, one of the founding fathers of the College just retired. I would like to emphasize how important that this line remains in philosophy. B) My colleague and I continue to work to reinstitute the philosophy major. We hope to have it in place in Fall 06. The Major would be Philosophy and Religious Studies.
Response 15: A) Ramapo faculty are devoted to teaching. However
B) It is essential that CLA be implemented and that would just put us in line with the other Jersey schools.
Response 16: Please emphasize: A) Importance of the Course Load Adjustment. B) Importance of hiring additional faculty. Show how our numbers compare to schools of comparable enrollment.
Response 17: The Affirmative Action Office is non-functional. There is no clear affirmative action policy.
Response 18: One of the best things about Ramapo is the very strong liberal arts preparation that our students receive. Our graduates in the field receive high praise from employers, mostly (I think) because of their very strong liberal arts preparation.
Response 19: (A.) Constructive leadership transition and change management. (B) Strengthened sense of community, supported by processes that better integrate various stakeholders. (C.) Improved communication (up/down, down/up and lateral) between all Ramapo College constituencies. (D.) Increased academic resources, to make CLA's goals achievable specifically more qualified faculty. (E) More consistent promotion/tenure policies. (F) Way to allow active faculty time for research + service under CLA. (G) How faculty can ease orientation (and be ongoing resource) to Board. (H) Establish faculty compensation equity in fields where new hires are at market rate (as is appropriate) but older faculty more (???) or are still at non-market rates (paid less than junior new hires). (I) Fiscal Support for AACSB accreditation.
Response 20: No comment on this question.
Response 21: The college's emphasis on recycling as been diluted since the building of the Village. Recycling is given lip service, but not really practiced. This needs to change, at the behest of the Board.
Response 22: That if CLA does not go forward, we faculty will really be in a snit.
That we love this school and work hard.
That we have excellent students who need to be taught by faculty who have the institutional support (read: CLA) to do the job students deserve.
Response 23: We should have more lecture and lab space. We should have more faculty for growing majors.
Response 24: There doesn’t seem to be a system of checks and balances, which applies to the Administration. It would be very helpful to the new President, if the evaluations for deans and vice-presidents were implemented. Faculty would then be able to communicate anonymously with the President, and highlight our strength and weaknesses. The quality of life for faculty at the College needs improvement. When morale is higher, faculty will more inclined to spend additional time on campus, donate money to the College, and attend school functions and athletic events.
Some Specific Nitty-Gritty Issues:
There is not a single place on campus that faculty can
call their own. Faculty need a place on campus to bring guests, potential
donors, job candidates, and to discuss students confidentially. The area set
aside for faculty in the cafeteria does not meet this need because it is heavily
used by students. This area should be enclosed or another room designated
.
All administrative decisions affecting teaching and learning should reflect
faculty input. These include, for example, building design, classroom design,
and design of classroom technology. We can avoid costly mistakes by involving
the faculty before the decisions are made.
Faculty need to be able to park close enough to their classrooms so that they
can transport the materials they need for teaching. The gated lot is too small
to accommodate our faculty. An additional gated lot in the Pavilion area or
a parking garage should be implemented.