Overwhelming
= 85% or better in the direction that carried
Substantial =
75%-84%
Significant =
65%-74%
Narrow = 50-
65% in the direction that carried
Plurality =
less than 50% in the direction that carried
Tie = 50/50
(Note: excludes election results for various offices or representative positions)
Total non-election votes taken: 64 votes
Average number of voters (where counted): 93 FA members voting
Margin by which vote was decided: Unanimously = 6 (9%): Overwhelming = 26 (41%); Substantial = 12 (19%); Significant = 10 (16%); Narrow = 7 (11%); Tie = 1 (2%); Plurality = 2 (3%)
**SSHS Resolution
to preserve interdisciplinarity (in 3 parts as follows):
1. The college will continue to foster
interdisciplinary majors and minors
2. Majors that currently operate
between schools have the option of retaining an interdisciplinary
character. The nature of this
character would depend on the vote of the convening group, and acceptance by
the unit (school). Possible forms
this could take might include:
a. involving faculty from other
schools in the convening group
b. including courses from other
schools
c. obtaining
sustainable resources from participating school (e.g. for faculty and courses)
3. Units may develop a rationale for the
interdisciplinary
presence (i.e. membership) of any
individual faculty member in order to support and enhance the interdisciplinary
aspects of their curriculum.
Passed 79 yes; 30 No; 17 abstained
**Motion to table
the 3 Resolutions proposed by Provost Sandy Pfeiffer (see below items 1-3)
until the third meeting of Spring 2006
Item #1: Each major and minor will reside
in only one school. Decisions about such placement will be made by the provost,
in concert with the Deans Council. There will be an opportunity for convening
groups to appeal these decisions to the provost, who will consult with the
deans and the president before a final decision about the appeal is rendered.
Item #2: With few exceptions, every
full-time faculty member will be a member of the school/unit that is the home
of his or her primary convening group. Requests for exceptions must be made in
writing to the provost, with appropriate rationale included (such as proximity
to retirement or unusual academic interests/background at the College). The
provost will consult with the deans and the president before a final decision
is made about exceptions requested. Note: As previously announced, faculty will
have the
opportunity to choose secondary and, in
rare cases, tertiary convening groups. However, their actual school membership
will be exclusively in the one school of their primary convening group.
Item #3: The primary convening group of
each faculty member must correspond to the main teaching and scholarship
responsibilities of that faculty member. The provost and Deans Council will
review and approve all selections. Appeals of these decisions may be made to
the provost, who will consult with the deans and president before a final
decision is rendered.
Motion to Table Passed 60 yes 50 no 6 abstained
**The motion to have students in a given major reside only in one
school and be responsible to one dean and responsible for the school core
appropropriate to that school Passed 41 Yes 24 No 1 Abstained
**Faculty Assembly will dedicate most of the FA budget monies
allocated for the luncheon for Faculty In-Service in January to donate to
Hurricane Katrina relief as part of the all-college effort to raise funds for
relief. (A portion of the funds
will be reserved in order to purchase beverages for in-service day. Faculty will bring their own lunch for
this particular in-service).
Passed 58 Yes 0 No 1 Abstain [Motion later set aside due to college policies]
**First Year Seminar will carry a regular academic unit when CLA
is implemented in Fall 2006.
**Students will be required to take one Topics course (outside
their school) rather than two as was originally planned.
**Resolved that the Faculty Assembly of Ramapo College of New
Jersey strongly urges the NJ State legislators to enact Assembly Bill 2795
(which would add two employees to the boards of trustees of the State colleges)
and that a member of the Faculty Assembly be charged with summarizing the
discussion points (including electronic comments and comments made during oral
discussion points (including electronic comments and comments made during oral
discussion at the September 7, 2005 Faculty Assembly Meeting at Ramapo College)
regarding Assembly Bill 2795.
**The Faculty
Assembly reaffirms its strong commitment to a Fall 2006 implementation of the
Unit Plan (including the concept of the flex unit as outlined in the earlier
Course Load Adjustment - CLA - reports and resolutions) as it will enhance the
quality and reputation of Ramapo College. The Unit Plan will provide a better
education for students through a curriculum strengthened, enriched, and more
rigorous; and through a faculty committed, engaged, and able to actively pursue
more scholarship.
Passed by a substantial majority
**Searches Resolution 1: All advertising copy for a faculty
position should receive approval from the specific search committee before its
release.
**Searches Resolution 2: Each search committee will suggest target
journals for position advertising. The appearance of such advertising will be
mutually determined with the administration.
**Motion to create a task force to review search and hiring
practices at the College.
Passed 67 yes 3 no 8 abstained.
**Resolution to adopt a revised Latin Honor Policy: changing the
current policy
From:
Latin honors will be awarded to graduates who have completed a minimum of 65
graded credits
To:
Latin honors will be awarded to graduates who have completed a minimum of 64
graded credits for compliance with CLA (i.e., one unit equals 4 credits;
therefore 64/4 = 16 units).
**Resolution: To change faculty and staff seating
from the current location on the field (seated in chairs to the right of the
graduation candidates - facing the stage) to seating on risers along the tree
line, to the left of the graduation candidates when facing the stage.
Passed 59 yes, 8
no , and 13 Abstained.
**Resolved: We, the faculty, hereby affirm our faith in the presidential search process and the diligence of the search committee and commend them on having identified, in a timely manner, an impressive slate of qualified candidates for the Presidency of Ramapo College of NJ.
**Resolved: We, the faculty,
wish to thank the outgoing members of the Board of Trustees and the members of
the Board who joined earlier this year and to welcome the two new Board members
who are serving for the first time this evening. The faculty look forward to working with the Board of
Trustees in the future on behalf of Ramapo College.
**Resolved that the Faculty Assembly endorse the recommendation
offered by DAC (DAC Recommendation) and urge the President and the Cabinet to
take swift action on this recommendation.
**A vote to commit for review by ARC the concerns raised by Trent
Schroyer and in Professor Horowitz letter re: study abroad
**Resolved that Article VII of the Faculty Assembly bylaws be
amended to formalize the process for reporting out Faculty Assembly resolutions
by adding a new Section 6 as follows:
The Faculty Assembly President, in consultation with
the Faculty Advisory Council, in a timely fashion following each Assembly
meeting, will formally report to the Provost on any resolution taken by the
Faculty Assembly which requires decisions and/or implementation beyond the
assembly body. i.e. these would
include curriculum changes, academic policies changes, recommendations re:
capital improvements, and the like, but would not include internal matters such
as the establishment of a faculty assembly committee or an expression of
faculty opinions such as a resolution regarding academic freedom.
Passed 80 yes, 1 no and 2 abstained.
October 6, 2004:
**The ARC recommends: that the Faculty Assembly approve the
continuation of the course substitution policy for Senior Seminars until the
newly passed General Education Program has been implemented. The course
substitutions must be writing intensive courses. Passed by a substantial
majority.
September 8, 2004:
**Environmental Science Minor
Passed 108 yes, 3
no and 3 abstained.
**SBGC Resolution #1
The Reflection and Meditation Center: The Reflection and Meditation Center (proposed by Anthony
Padovano) is a space dedicated to meditation and peace. The SBGC having reviewed the proposal
recommends that the FA endorse 1) the concept of the Reflection and Meditation
Center and 2) that should the Center be ultimately housed in the historic
Carriage House where the Mailroom and print shop are currently located that the
historic nature of the building be preserved if possible, that the project be
integrated with the design for a belvedere over the adjacent pond, and that any
plantings around it be in keeping with the arboretum concept
Passed 81 Yes, 21 No and 16 abstained.
**SBGC Resolution #2
Solar Energy: The Faculty of
Ramapo College recommends that the administration investigate and develop a
long-term plan for producing a substantial portion of its electrical energy
from solar energy, and based upon its viability, begin implementation to
convert roof space into solar power production as soon as possible.
Passed 117 Yes,
3 No and 4 abstained.
August 1, 2004 (by mail ballot):
**General Education Program under CLA as per CLAIII Final Report
at http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/clagefinal06_14_04.html
July 1, 2004 (by mail ballot)
**ASEC Poll Responses
as of July 1, 2004 (See the ASEC page at http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/asecpage.html.) Ballot read: "I generally support the recommendations in the ASEC
5/17 Final Report"
Passed 50 Yes
(49%): 39 No (38%); and 14
abstentions (13%)
Twenty-six (26) of
the ballots provided additional narrative comments.
June 21, 2004:
**A resolution was made to suspend Parliamentary procedure to not
allow amendments to come to the floor at the June meeting. As a vote on the
bylaws, passage required 2/3 support.
Passed 50 Yes 23
No and 2 abstentions.
** Resolution
condemning official intimidation of academic speech
Passed 65 Yes, 6
No, and 2 abstaining.
** Selection of Faculty Dining Room Location: Option A: Pavilion;
Option B a separate section in the current dining hall in the Student Center.
Passed Option B
(35 votes) vs. Option A (11
votes), 10 abstained.
May 24, 2004 a.m Meeting:
**Resolution to hold an additional FA meeting in June, 2004 to
discuss the CLA committeešs final resolution.
Passed 58 yes, 24
no and 9 abstained.
** RESOLVED: That the
proposed Dean Evaluation Form and
proposed Dean Evaluation Process as presented by the Deans Evaluation Committee be
adopted for annual evaluation of the deans beginning with spring 2005
** RESOLVED: That the Provost Evaluation Process and Provost
Evaluation Form as presented by
the Deans Evaluation Committee be adopted for annual evaluation of the provost
beginning with spring 2005
**Resolved: To refer to CLA III committee for consideration the
proposal that the existing Gen Ed math courses be maintained in lieu of the
proposed quantitative reasoning component in the CLAIII proposal.
**Resolved : That the Faculty Assembly urges Student Affairs from
this point on to schedule housing selections during non-peak classroom times(
ie evenings and/or weekends).
Passed 63 yes, 21
no and 3 abstained.
March 17, 2004:
**RESOLVED: That
the Faculty Assembly endorse the proposed design of the Ramapo College
arboretum developed by the SBGC and forward that recommendation to the
administration. (Note the FA unanimously endorsed the overall concept of the
arboretum at the 12/10/03 FA meeting.
Passed 60 Yes and
2 Abstained.
**Resolution #1 (Academic Integrity Policy) recommended the
adoption of the revised draft of the Ramapo College Academic Integrity Policy.
(See the complete
text of the Ramapo College Academic Integrity Policy at http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/acadintegritypolicyrev.html
Passed 79 Yes, 2 No and 5 Abstained.
**Resolution #2 (Language of Grading) recommended the adoption of
the Provost Task Force Grading Recommendation #1. (See http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/TFgrading.html
Passed 71 Yes, 7 No and 3 Abstained.
ARC Resolution # 3 (Withdrawal Deadline), The ARC recommended the
adoption of the Provost Task Force on Grading recommendation #2 See: http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/TFgrading.html
Passed 60 Yes, 20 No and 3 Abstained.
** ARC resolution on continuing ARC: The ARC recommends that the Faculty Assembly vote to charter
the Academic Review Committee (ARC) as the standing committee of the Faculty
Assembly, replacing the former four Faculty Assembly standing committees:
Academic, Curriculum, General Education, and Senior Seminar, effective
immediately. (required 2/3 majority to pass)
Passed 98 Yes, 15
No, and 4 abstentions)
February 18, 2004:
** The ARC recommends the adoption of the Academic &
Curricular Guidelines Manual, dated 11/2003 Revised, and the updated Program
Proposal Review and Approval Process dated 1/2004, which are posted on the
Faculty Assembly website, to be effective immediately.
Passed: 83 Yes 2
no 0 Abstained.
**The ARC recommends that the Faculty Assembly approve the
continuation of the course substitution policy for Senior Seminars through
Summer 2005
**Motion to table Student Evaluation resolution until next meeting
[Note the Student Evaluation resolution was subsequently withdrawn
at the March 17, 2004 meeting]
December 10, 2003:
Revised Course Timetable (CLAII) (as per http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/CLAproposedscheduleredux.html
)
Passed Option 1 by a substantial majority
November 12, 2003:
** CLA
II recommends that the concept of the UNIT Plan as outlined in the
"IMPLEMENTING COURSE-LOAD ADJUSTMENT" final report (from CLA II,
dated October 6, 2003) be approved for implementation as soon as practicable to
coincide with the Banner migration in Fall 2005. (See http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/cla2final100303.html
)
Passed 96 yes, 9
no and 8 abstain.
**CLA II recommends approval of the definition and procedure for
FLEX UNITS as outlined in the "IMPLEMENTING COURSE-LOAD ADJUSTMENT"
final report (from CLA II, dated October 6, 2003). (See http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/cla2final100303.html
)
Passed 86 Yes, 15
No and 12 abstained.
**Motion to table discussion of the proposed CLA timetable to the
next meeting. (See http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/cla2final100303.html
)
[Options for a
revised timetable came back to the Dec. 10 meeting and Option 1 was approved at
that time see above]
** Resolution passed to continue wintersession
Passed 73 Yes, 16
No, 9 abstained.
October 8, 2003:
Arboretum: A motion was
passed to explore the possibility of developing an arboretum at Ramapo
September 10, 2003:
**Establish Dean's Evaluation Committee: one representative from
each academic unit, from PSA, and from Support Staff and two deans; recommendation
to be brought back to FA and Provost in 12/03.
Passed Yes, 3 No
and 3 abstained.
** Neuroscience Major
**CLA Resolution: Resolved that the faculty accept the report of
the Course Load Adjustment Committee and endorse a universal teaching load of
three courses per term based on teaching 3 Units consisting of 180 minutes per
unit/week. The remaining "flex unit" will be used for research and
professional advancement. We do not endorse the wholesale removal of convener
and other faculty released time. These and other issues outlined in the report
must be decided during the fall term, when the convening groups will make
needed adjustments. We recommend that a committee of compensated peers be constituted
as CLA II during the summer to frame all remaining issues for efficient
decision making in the fall.
Passed 119 Yes; 8
No; and 6 Abstained.
May 22, 2003:
**Resolution to select WebCT 4.0 as preferred course management
software
**Proposal to Establish a Spanish Language Major
**Resolution #1:
The Faculty Assembly reaffirms our commitment to a decentralized
shared-governance structure, and urges that a positive commitment to this
structure be incorporated into the Strategic Plan.
**Resolution #2: The Assembly affirms maintaining course
scheduling and curricular matters within convening groups and their conveners.²
Resolution #3: The Assembly affirms the election of School Deans
through the school structure. It opposes permanent Deans. The administration
retains the right to veto or remove any Dean.
Resolution #4: The Assembly also expresses great concern over the
language and the tone of page 7 of the Strategic Plan.²
Feb. 13, 2003 (By mail ballot)
**Resolution: "Moved that the leadership of the Ramapo AFT,
the Faculty Assembly, and the Academic Review Committee work together to
develop a plan to gather and analyze the appropriate information to prepare for
the discussion at the May Faculty Assembly meeting on Ed Cody's Course
Adjustment proposal and the faculty response to it."
Passed 96 Yes; 9
No; 7 Abstained.
**Motion to table (until the FA meeting in May 2003) the
Resolution to support the courseload proposal made by Ed Cody to reduce the
teaching load from 8 courses to 7 a year, to approve an all 3-credit
curriculum, to approve the reduction of graduation credits from 128 to 120, and
to remove release time from convenors.
Motion to table
passed 74 yes, 52 no and 3 abstained.
**Resolved: The Faculty Assembly requests that the College's
President create a panel made up of active faculty members, administrators and
emeritus and other retired professors (with absolute mayority of active
faculty) to look at all aspects of the association of the emeriti and other
retired professors with the College in the years following their retirement.
... The task force is to report
back to the Faculty Assembly with its recommendations
**Resolved to endorse the report of the Committee on Committees
(to create Academic Review Committee ARC)
(Must pass by 2/3 majority).
See:
http://phobos.ramapo.edu/facassem/REPORTS/commCommCharter7_24_02.html
September 11, 2002:
**Be it resolved that the faculty assembly of Ramapo College is
urging the Congress to provide the remaining funding, as follows, to make this
Center a reality:
$1.5 million through the VAHUD bill (before the VA, HUD and
Independent AGencies Subcommittee) to build a Center for International
Education and Entrepreneurship
and
$1.5 million in the Labor, Health and Humanb Services and
Education bill (before the LHHSED Subcommittee) to provide equipment and
curriculum development for the CIEE
**Resolved to send the resolution to endorse the Committee on
Committee reports to a paper ballot to be held by Sep. 20, 2002
Passed 71 yes, 28
no and 11 abstained.
Preference for location of Faculty Assembly meetings:
48 voted for holding meetings at SC136-7 and 48 in favor
of the Pavilion.