Date/Time/Location: Friday, January 28, 2022 / 10:00 AM / Zoom Webinar
EXCO Meeting Called to Order
10:54 AM
Members Present (16): Hanadi Al-Samman, Alan Beckenstein, Aaron Bloomfield, Aniko Bodroghkozy, Bob Hirosky, Joel Hockensmith (Past Chair), Tish Jennings (Chair-Elect), Susan Kirk (Chair), Kathryn Laughon, Kevin Lehmann, Carol Manning, Peter Norton, Robert Patterson, Andy Pennock, Eric Ramirez-Weaver, James Savage
Guests/Others Present: Maïté Brandt-Pearce (Vice Provost Faculty Affairs), Ming-Jer Chen (Faculty Senate), Joe Fore (General Faculty Council), Brie Gertler (Vice Provost Academic Affairs), Vanessa Gregg (Faculty Senate), Jason Kerrigan, (Faculty Senate), Maria Lane (Admin Support), Katya Makarova (Faculty Senate), Benjamin Moses (Faculty Senate), Brian Pusser (Parliamentarian), Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez (Faculty Senate), Sarah Stewart Ware (Faculty Senate), Nicole Thorne Jenkins (Dean, McIntire), Brian Wright (Faculty Senate)
Concern from Students re: Eating/Drinking in Classrooms
Susan Kirk shared that she had spoken to Brie Gertler about a concern brought to Brie by Robyn Hadley (Vice President & Chief Student Affairs Officer). Robyn noted that students have expressed concern about fellow students not following mask rules and exploiting the ability to eat and drink within the classroom.
- The suggestion was that faculty say something to offending student on behalf of students who are concerned. For clarification, the no eating/drinking rule has not applied to the classroom and was specifically for events. Classrooms are not typically thought of as a place where eating/drinking is the main activity.
- Brie has looked at the guidance and did not see any specific mention of eating/drinking in classrooms. There is no specific request of faculty. A town hall was held by Student Affairs/Student Health and so this concern was shared with Brie as a result of that discussion. She was asked to share the information among faculty and what they may choose to do will vary. A relatively easy thing could be to say at the beginning of class something like “I’m requesting that no one eat or drink because some students have expressed concerns”.
Discussion
School of Nursing has prohibited eating and drinking during class.
Darden has the same rule.
Q: Do we know the numbers of people who have had Covid (faculty/students/staff).
A: That is on the Covid tracker. This may undercount actual number, testing at home may not be reported.
Ben Moses: In addition to tracking numbers, we’re also looking at prevalence (how frequently tests are positive). Over the last couple of weeks positivity rate has been around 40% which is very high. Nearly all vaccinated people who are infected are not being hospitalized.
Susan Kirk: We can share the concerns of the student town hall to the faculty. Faculty should be free to make a statement at the beginning of class. What I’ve heard from some faculty is that they don't want to be policing and reporting it, but we should remind faculty that the rule does remain in place and that they can enforce it if they want to.
Setting Agenda for Faculty Senate Meeting 2/7
- Chairs, please let Susan know if you have items you would like added to the agenda.
- Administrator in Dining Services has requested to come before Faculty Senate to talk about meal plans for faculty.
Jim Savage: Do we want to say anything to the University about requiring stronger masks?
Susan Kirk: There should be medical grade masks available to the students. Not sure if that has happened, if students are wearing medical masks or cloth masks.
Kathryn Laughon: I think students have put forward a request to make N95 or N95 type masks available. Some other Virginia universities have bought those masks. School of Nursing bought KN95 for community and is distributing for free. It would make sense to me to support that request.
Benjamin Moses: We need to reinforce proper wear of a mask across grounds. I don’t know that there is an added benefit to going to N95, I think we should really focus on proper wear of the masks we have right now.
Motion
James Savage: Move that we ask the administration to provide N95 or KN95 to faculty, staff, and students.
Second: Hanadi Al-Samman
Discussion
- Do we think access to the masks is the problem? Have we identified that the problem is access or is the problem behavior?
- The College never provided masks to faculty or students as far as I know, so we do need that to be requested.
- The University has said they would provide masks. Brie meets weekly with the Contingency Planning Group. This concern could be sent to Colette Sheehy who represents operations if that has not happened.
- What is the amount of time each mask can be worn?
- Generally, if they’re soiled or no longer fit securely you shouldn’t use them.
- I wouldn’t recommending using an N95 mask for more than a day.
- CDC has recommended that, if possible, people in the community should wear N95, KN95, KN94
- Am seeing recommended 40-80 hours of use in high filtration mask
All those in favor of taking forward the request to the administration to provide KN95 masks, please raise your hand.
For: 12 Against: 3
Motion Passes
December 2021 EXCO Minutes
Susan Kirk shared minutes from December 2021 EXCO Meeting to review.
Motion to approve minutes: Tish Jennings
Second: Rob Patterson
For: 15 Against: 0
Motion Passes
New Business
- Rob Patterson shared that he hopes Susan as Faculty Representative to the Board of Visitors will be able to raise the perspective of those who may disagree or have a different point of view than her own. He noted that he believes she has earned being there and will be a great voice for the faculty.
- Susan Kirk noted that if she felt the Board had an opinion that she didn’t feel represented the faculty, she would not be afraid to express that. As an example, she explained that the Board has asked her several questions including how the faculty felt about the issue of free inquiry and expression, and she shared that it was not universal; some felt the University has taken the wrong stance or had not supported people in the minority.
- Tish Jennings shared that she has been thinking about the scheduling of meetings for 2022-2023. She would like to pre-schedule meetings for next year. She plans to survey the Faculty Senators who will continue next year to see if lunch time might work for most people.
- Joel Hockensmith shared that the Nomination Committee has been collecting nominations for offices.
- According to the Handbook, Nomination Committee will solicit nominations for open Faculty Senate offices beginning February 1.
- Nominations can be made from the floor at the February Faculty Senate Meeting.
- By mid-March, nominees will submit statements, give oral statements, then FS votes.
- Have 3 nominees for At-Large EXCO, need at least 1 more nominee.
- Have nominees for Athletic Advisory Council. Do not have nominee for Colonnade Board, Financial Strategic Transformation, or Faculty Senate of Virginia.
- No nominees for Chair-Elect.
Q: Are these nominations open only to senators?
A: Yes. And at-large members must have time remaining on their Faculty Senate appointment to serve. The Chair does not.
- Susan requested Joel share his December BOV report at the February faculty Senate meeting.
- Maïté Brandt-Pearce is looking for a few people to serve on committee that will look at PROV-017
- Currently undergoing a systematic review of major faculty policies.
- Concluding review of PROV-004 and beginning review of the Promotion and Tenure policy.
- Putting together a small advisory committee. This is part of a long, inclusive process. There are faculty representatives from various schools and would like to have representation from Faculty Senate as well.
Q: Can participants be any faculty senator, or do they have to be on EXCO?
A: Any faculty senator or any faculty who Faculty Senate recommend.
Q: Can you give us an update on the progress of PROV-004?
A: The policy is in its formal 30-day review. It has been sent to Faculty Senate, school leadership, University Policy Committee. We will receive comments from those groups, make appropriate edits, and then it will go to be signed.
Meeting Adjourned
Motion to Adjourn: Tish Jennings
Second: Aniko Bodroghkozy
Meeting adjourned: 11:35 AM