By Ella Prieto, Editor-in-Chief
Faculty Complaints Regarding “Disrespectful Conduct” Addressed
The final faculty meeting for the fall semester began with a statement read by Professor of Chemistry Tim Funk on behalf of the Faculty Council regarding the “numerous” communications from faculty members voicing concerns about disrespectful conduct during faculty meetings. He informed the audience that the Council reviewed these concerns, read appropriate sections in the Faculty Handbook, and receiving advice from the College’s legal counsel. Funk referenced the College’s Freedom of Expression Philosophy, specifically that it is not the role of the College to shield members from opinions they find unwelcome or disagreeable.
“We encourage members of the College community to act according to the principle that the best response to ideas they find offensive is speech, not censorship,” read Funk. “Any effort by members of the College community to limit openness in this academic community is a matter of serious concern, and it hinders the freedom of expression and the discovery of truth.”
Furthermore, the Faculty Council expects all members of the community to engage in civil discourse through sustained discussion and constructive participation. Funk ended by encouraging all members to reflect on how to respectfully engage with each other during faculty meetings, along with the broader campus community, in ways that align with the Freedom of Expression Philosophy and the College’s Mission Statement.
President’s Report
President Bob Iuliano echoed his support for the statement read by Funk, especially considering an inappropriate login name at the last faculty meeting that was directed at a member of Iuliano’s team. Due to this incident, they will no longer be showing login names on the projector during meetings.
“I want to join the Faculty Council in asking each of us to redouble our commitment to respect and goodwill,” said Iuliano.
He then acknowledged the wonderful support given to international students from faculty, which helps attract students from around the world to the College.
“I have been so struck by the profound ways we are enriched and our educational mission is enlivened by virtue of what these students bring our campus,” Iuliano stated.
Thus, before Thanksgiving, he wrote to Gettysburg’s two United States Senators and Federal Representatives about the importance of dynamic exchanges with international students for this College and the higher education mission.
Provost’s Report
Provost Jamila Bookwala informed faculty that the Provost’s Office has concluded the third round of reviewing proposals for the Presidential Investment Funds Initiative. The $500,000 funds were made available by Iuliano for non-personnel, non-recurring expenses that strengthen the College’s teaching and learning. All the requests made this semester have been funded in full, supporting Art & Art History, Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Environmental Studies, Physics and the Sunderman Conservatory, along with Archives & Special Collections in Musselman Library. The remaining $25,000 will be allocated in the spring semester.
Bookwala noted that several requests involved interdisciplinary and interdivisional requests, which she thought of as “really fabulous” for this initiative.
She then called for nominations for the Benjamin Franklin Professorship in the Liberal Arts and Sciences. The appointment is open to all faculty members from all disciplines on campus, and is a five-year term, beginning in the next academic year. Letters of nomination are due Jan. 23.
The second January Faculty Institute will take place Jan. 14, focusing on AI in the classroom. Anyone involved in teaching students is welcome to join, including professors, Musselman Library and Center for Student Success staff. Also in January, the Provost’s Office will host division-specific meetings to engage in forward-looking and collective discussion.
Bookwala concluded her report by thanking professors who help current and former students apply to prestigious grants and fellowships and wishing everyone a wonderful winter break.
Enhanced Partnership with CIEE
Associate Professor and Department Chair of French and Italian, John Murphy, continued his presentation of the enhanced partnership with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) from the last faculty meeting. After some clarifications from Murphy and support from individual faculty members, the faculty voted to approve the enhanced partnership.
Requesting a Change in Tenure Home Policy
Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies Steve Gimbel introduced an amendment to the Change in Tenure Home Policy that added the Faculty Grievance Committee to handle the appeal process.
Associate Professor of Management Alice Brawley Newlin read a statement on behalf of the Faculty Grievance explaining that they do endorse the amendment, explaining that they were not consulted in its creation, and they believe the process is not in their charge. She reiterated that while they support this policy, they do not believe that the Grievance Committee should be a part of the process.
After much back and forth, the faculty voted to table the discussion for the next faculty meeting, which will be the first of the spring semester.
Announcements
Dean of Academic Advising & Student Success for the Center of Student Success, Josef Brandauer, asked faculty to submit final grades on time so they can process student appeal processes. He also reminded faculty to remind their students of the Honor Code on assessments.
