By Brandon Fey, News Editor
The faculty voted to approve a motion creating a “Senior Lecturer” position and a new communications major was presented at the faculty meeting on Thursday. It was sparsely attended compared to previous meetings, as the faculty were only a few votes over the 78 person quorum.
President Bob Iuliano began the meeting by referencing the “Dear Colleague” letter issued by the Department of Education on Feb. 14, which was discussed at the previous faculty meeting. He said that since the last meeting, the Department of Education has issued a subsequent FAQs on the letter which he said had “clarified and softened more concerning aspects of the letter.”
The letter specifically addressed race-based consideration in higher education admissions.
Iuliano said that the FAQs specify that the federal government cannot influence collegiate curricula, citing specific laws preventing it from doing so. He encouraged faculty members to continue to “teach courses as you see fit,” focusing on issues that they find are most important.
He also emphasized that the federal government is unable to sanction individual faculty members, explaining that it can only target institutions as a whole through a withdrawal of funding.
In addition, Iuliano shared that he was pleased with the 23 faculty members who volunteered to participate in conversations about the future of the college. The group met for the first time last week for preliminary discussion about ideas of a fall working group. The group will meet four more themes this semester to generate ideas. He said that he is interested in receiving faculty ideas and has been working to consult students as well.
Iuliano stated that the new masters of education program has been advertised extensively by the College, and has been “one of the most well received of all the announcements we have made this year.”
He also highlighted student athletic accomplishments including the recent victories by the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Provost Jamila Bookwala announced that Dean of Student Success Keira Kant will be taking a position at Bowdoin College. She said that she has been working with Vice President for College Life Anne Ehrlich’s office to consider changes to the center’s leadership for the future. The College is now looking for someone to fill the new position of Dean of Academic Advising and Student Success and encourages current faculty to express interest.
Bookwala also announced that gradation regalia for faculty members are now rentable through the College bookstore’s webpage. The deadline to rent is March 30.
The faculty then motioned to vote on the motion introduced at the previous meeting to create a “Senior Lecturer” position for lecturers who complete seven years of continuous employment. The motion was unanimously approved.
A new motion was introduced for the implementation of a communication studies major and minor at the College. This presentation was presented by professor James Udden of cinema and media studies and professor Melissa Forbes of the English department.
Udden stated that communications is the tenth most popular major in United States, and only two of the College’s “like” and “watch” schools, Franklin & Marshall and Dickinson
Colleges are the only institutions that do not offer communications or a similar major.
He said that according to information from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, there will always be demand for written and communication skills. He also stated that of a 47 person poll of Interdisciplinary Studies majors, 37% have created their own communications major.
He also said that according to Admissions Office data from 2021-23, 419 accepted students who chose not to enroll in Gettysburg had expressed interest in communication on their application. He specified that this is not a listed option on the application, and that they denoted this interest in the “other” category. Of these students, 76.5% went to an institution with a communications major.
Forbes discussed the proposed curriculum, which strives to offer a balance of theory, analysis and practice while remaining small enough to be taken as a double major or minor.
She said that the proposal would aim to make use of existing faculty and courses. The communications major would consist of three core courses, three analysis courses, three praxis courses and a practicum/capstone. These will include a mix of English and cinema studies class in addition to new classes under the communications designator, including a communications methods class which will be an option alongside English and cinema studies methods. The practicum will likely involve an internship or other direct experience.
Forbes also said that the major would include optional tracks, including “digital communication” and “public communication.” She said that other potential tracks could include “science communication,” “political communication,” professional communication” and “intercultural communication.”
The communications major and minor would be co-administered by the English and cinema and media studies departments. The proposal would require an operating budget, new computers for video editing and the hiring of one new lecturer.
Several faculty members spoke in support of the proposal, and there was no expressed opposition.
Professor Tasha Gownaris of environmental studies asked about the capstone requirement, to which Forbes replied that the capstone will involve an individual project like in cinema and media studies.
Professor Richard Russell of psychology asked if selected tracks will appear on students’ transcripts. Udden said that the tracks would be optional, and that they are currently working on how they will appear on transcripts.
Professor Rachel Lesser of classics asked about why the proposal requires the hiring of a new lecturer as opposed to someone on tenure track, citing the College’s reputation as a “scholar teacher institution.”
Udden replied that a lecturer would be best for this position because he is interested in someone who can focus on video production. He said that the lecturer position can attract people who come directly from the industry, and is an easy way to work around certain degree classifications and requirements. He said that he believes that this person will have an advising role for student organizations including the WZBT radio station and The Gettysburgian in addition to providing administrative assistance with individual advising.
If passed, the communication studies major and minor will be offered beginning the upcoming fall 2025 semester if a lecturer can be hired in time.
