By Laken Franchetti, Editor-in-Chief
On Thursday, the final faculty meeting of the semester took place. President Bob Iuliano began the meeting by providing an admissions update.
Admissions Update
May 1 is traditionally the deadline for deposits from the upcoming class. For this year, the deadline has been extended to allow students more time to make decisions.
Currently, there is a slow admissions cycle due to problems with the federal financial aid system, which Iuliano explained has stalled the admissions process across higher education. Other factors that Iuliano provided include demographic changes and the reception of higher education costs.
Iuliano underscored that the College is going to continue working hard to generate deposits.
Faculty Council Discussion
Professor of Psychology Richard Russell and Chairperson of German Studies Kerry Wallach from the Faculty Council resumed the discussion from the last faculty meeting about additional steps that could be taken to repair the broken governance system.
Three main points were discussed so that the Faculty Council could receive input: potentially bringing an external evaluator to campus, adopting expansive rather than constricted readings of faculty committee charges and creating a faculty senate model of governance.
Chairperson of the Political Science Department Caroline Hartzell raised the possibility that given administrators also serve on these committees, more pressure could be placed on other committee members, such as those of junior status.
Associate Professor of Africana Studies and History Abou Bamba asked for further evidence of and clarification on what is meant by a “broken governance system.”
Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Susan Russell voiced concern that the convener of the faculty meetings should be a faculty member and not the President of the College. Russell believed having the President convene meetings made it difficult for junior faculty members to voice concerns.
Professor of Physics Kurt Andresen brought up the course time changes that occurred without large faculty input or faculty vote. Andresen questioned if the Faculty Council was discussing expanding faculty roles, and if so, how would faculty members convince those in administration to see the faculty’s newfound authority. Russell responded that part of the Faculty Council’s goal was to give faculty members more of a voice in decisions.
Chairperson of Cinema and Media Studies James Udden expressed that clarity of the faculty committee charges is the issue.
Sunderman Conservatory of Music Professor Avner Dorman shared his belief that a lack of clarity leads to caution, which in turn leads to a lack of action. Dorman supported the presence of faulty members being in the room where decisions are being made.
Free Palestine Protest
As Dorman was providing his thoughts, students participating in a Free Palestine protest entered the faculty meeting. Iuliano welcomed the students and encouraged them to speak into a microphone if they would like.
One student read a statement that the protest’s organizers had crafted. The statement called for the College to complete numerous actions: disclose all investments, expenditures and endowment funding; divest from any companies or organizations with ties to Israel and the Palestinian genocide; end all current collaborations with Israeli academic institutions, study abroad programs, and universities; provide increased funding and scholarships for students from Gaza as their universities have been destroyed; and issue a public statement that calls for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the Israeli occupation.
More information on the protestor’s statements and presence at the faculty meeting can be found in The Gettysburgian’s coverage of the protest. Iuliano welcomed the opportunity to continue such discussions with students if they would like to meet with him, and he underscored the College’s commitment to freedom of expression.
Faculty Awards
Associate Professor of English McKinley Melton was recognized by Provost Jamila Bookwala as he is leaving the College after the conclusion of this semester.
Bookwala then announced two awards for faculty members. The Luther W. and Bernice L. Thompson Distinguished Teaching Award was presented to Assistant Professor of Management Alice Brawley Newlin. The Dr. Robert E. Dutton ’46 Memorial Mentorship Award was presented to Chairperson of Jewish Studies Stephen Stern.
Director of the Center for Public Service Jeffery Rioux announced the faculty award for community-based learning. This award was presented to Assistant Professor of Health Sciences Megan Benka-Coker for her commitment to the classroom and learning opportunities such as Vida Charter School.
Professor of Health Sciences and Director of the Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning (JCCTL) Josef Brandauer presented the JCCTL Excellence in Teaching Award to Professor of Mathematics Ben Kennedy.
Closing
Iuliano wished faculty members well wishes for the summer and concluded the faculty meeting.
