Meeting Minutes #279

Members Present: Thomas Davis, Ed Cohen, Suneet Bhatt, Francois Berthiaume, Xenia Morin, Anne McPherson, Marci Meixler, Janice Gobert, Triveni Kuchi, Gerben Zylstra, Alisa Belzer, Lei Yu, Meenakshi Dutt, Kaysha Corinealdi, Crystal Akers, Hanan Kashou, Jeff Zahn, Ana Pairet, J. Sophia Fu, G. Tony Bell, Mariann Bischoff, Glenn Amatucci, Heather Moulton, Rob Isenhower, Sarah Johnston, Edward P. DeMauro, Estelle Mayhew-Timmerman, Bret McCandless, Jennifer Shukaitis, Teona Williams, David (DK) Kryscynski, Tim Power, Matt Sequin, Jehan Mohamed, David Smith, Anna Haley, Cara Cuite, Ronnee Ades, Kemal Gursoy, Heather Pierce, Tom Stephens, Dilafruz Nazarova, Jeremy Morgan, Elin Wicks, Daijiro Okada, Justin Kalef, Silke Severmann, John Evans, Andrew Baker, Jing Jin, Sue Shapses, Sanjib Bhuyan, Santiago Cuesta, Jessey Choo
 

Non-Members Present: Henry X. Velez, Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Institutional Planning and Operations; Jackson Lockhart, Parliamentarian.
 

1. Call to Order and Opening Remarks

Chair Anna Haley called the meeting to order and confirmed quorum. The agenda and prior meeting minutes from March 13, 2026 were approved without objection. Haley welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of maintaining active faculty participation in shared governance during a period of institutional uncertainty. Opening remarks referenced ongoing financial pressures, administrative planning efforts, and the need for transparent communication between administration and faculty governance bodies.

2. Institutional Planning and Operations Update

Henry Velez, Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Institutional Planning and Operations, provided updates on university operations, infrastructure planning, and institutional priorities. Discussion included deferred maintenance projects, operational efficiency initiatives, transportation and parking concerns, and broader financial pressures affecting institutional planning. Faculty members raised concerns regarding the long-term impact of cost-saving measures on academic operations and campus resources. Additional questions focused on communication surrounding infrastructure decisions and the prioritization of future projects.

3. Chancellor’s Shared Governance Committees Update

Council members received updates regarding the Chancellor’s Shared Governance Committees and ongoing coordination efforts between administration and faculty leadership. Discussion focused on improving communication between governance groups, strengthening faculty representation in university planning processes, and ensuring transparency in institutional decision-making. Members emphasized the importance of consistent faculty consultation on matters affecting academic policy, budgeting, and campus operations.

4. Faculty Engagement in Research Strategy

Andrew Baker, Francois Berthiaume, and Janice Gobert presented updates regarding faculty engagement in institutional research strategy initiatives. Discussion centered on expanding faculty involvement in strategic planning for research priorities, interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities, and improving institutional support for faculty scholarship. Members also discussed concerns related to research funding, administrative support, and balancing research expectations with teaching and service responsibilities.

5. Standing Committee Reports

Standing committee co-chairs provided detailed updates on committee activities, ongoing projects, and areas of concern.

Athletic Affairs: Committee members discussed current athletics initiatives and the relationship between athletics and the academic mission of the university. Discussion included student-athlete support services, communication between athletics administration and faculty, and oversight of academic standards affecting student-athletes.

Academic Affairs: Members reviewed ongoing academic policy discussions, curriculum-related matters, and instructional concerns raised by faculty. Topics included classroom resources, academic support services, course scheduling challenges, and faculty concerns regarding workload and instructional quality.

Budget, Planning, & Infrastructure: The committee provided updates regarding budget planning, infrastructure maintenance, and operational planning efforts. Members discussed deferred maintenance needs, transportation and parking concerns, and the financial pressures shaping institutional priorities. Faculty emphasized the importance of transparency in budget allocation decisions and equitable distribution of resources across departments.

Faculty and Personnel Affairs: Committee members continued reviewing departmental bylaws, governance structures, and faculty personnel policies. Discussion included faculty participation in departmental governance, concerns regarding non-tenure-track faculty representation, and the need for consistent governance standards across departments.

Student Affairs: Updates focused on student support initiatives, campus climate concerns, and ongoing review of student-related policies. Members discussed student well-being, access to campus resources, and efforts to maintain open communication with student organizations and campus communities.

6. Other Business

Additional announcements and university matters were discussed. Members reiterated the importance of faculty engagement, transparency in governance processes, and continued communication between administration and faculty leadership. No additional formal resolutions were introduced.

7. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned following completion of all scheduled agenda items.