UFS

To review initiatives and policies proposed by the Office of Academic Affairs and evaluate initiatives and policies being implemented, especially – but not limited to – the adequacy of governance in the School of Professional Studies and the academic integrity of its courses, general education, and general education and articulation in the context of the Coordinated Undergraduate Initiative.

The Central Administration contact for this committee is the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

To advise the Executive Committee of the Senate and the University Faculty Senate as well as the Council of Faculty Governance Leaders on matters regarding University budget and University budget processes; to meet regularly with the Vice Chancellor for Budget and Finance, the Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning, Construction and Management, and other senior administrators, as necessary, in order to advise on University-wide budget priorities and other budgetary matters. Membership for this committee will be selected from the Executive Committee, the Council of Faculty Governance Leaders, and CUNY faculty colleagues knowledgeable about budgetary matters.

The Committee will consist of 9 faculty members from a variety of CUNY campuses chosen for their expertise relevant to facilities, planning, and management issues including the fields of architecture, engineering, environmental science, laboratory sciences, and finance.

The committee will focus on three areas of concern with facilities: their compliance with the University’s academic goals, their compliance with the best accepted health and safety standards, and their compliance with ADA accessibility standards.

Thus, the work of this committee will be to:

* ensure that the long-term physical development of the University proceeds in accordance with and in furtherance of the University’s academic and instructional goals, and that relevant department chairs are genuinely consulted in a timely manner on the design of new and modified facilities which their departments will use.

* ensure that new and modified facilities are constructed according to relevant health and safety-related building codes, even in cases where state construction agencies might be exempt from these codes.

* ensure that new and modified facilities are made accessible to all members of the university community.

In addition, the committee will inform itself by meeting periodically with officials from CUNY’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning, Construction and Management, the City University Construction Fund, CUNY’s Board of Trustees, the Dormitory Authority, and contractors, and attempt to evaluate their effectiveness in meeting the above goals.

Ongoing issues that the committee would be expected to examine include the use of space for instruction and research, classroom and laboratory design, the fairness of the capital plan across all the campuses, and the integrity of contractors.

The committee will submit to the UFS an annual report that will be distributed widely and publicly.

To review, develop and communicate recommendations regarding 1) library policies for the University with particular attention to issues raised by new technologies and media applications in a period of limited resources and concerns for privacy and confidentiality; and issues of access to libraries and their resources for people with disability issues; 2) the uses and effects of educational technologies on teaching, curriculum, and the future of the University; 3) the need for archiving of academic and governance materials; 4) faculty academic websites; 5) the information technologies related to the Integrated University (ERP, CUNY Portal, Electronic database, etc.); 6) distance learning and faculty input in related policy making.

The Central Administration contacts for this committee are the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Senior Vice Chancellor.

In consultation with the Executive Committee, to monitor legal issues affecting academic freedom and free speech; to respond to questions referred by the Executive Committee or the Academic Freedom Committee. To examine and report on the purview and operations of the Office of Legal Affairs. Central Administration contact is the Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs. (Membership normally requires a law degree.)

To serve as the screening committee for nominees to the University Committee on Research Awards (UCRA); to strengthen communication with the UCRA Executive Committee. PLEASE NOTE: This is not a committee on general research issues.

To continue examining the implications of the “time to tenure” issue, e.g., legislative sponsorship, kinds of consultation with faculty, means by which each CUNY campus would vote on this issue, etc.

To suggest ways of making new faculty hires comfortable and well-oriented in CUNY’s “culture.”

To review faculty replenishment decision making processes from recruitment to approval by the Board of Trustees, including changing practices at the colleges (e.g., more top level control), changing practices at the university-level (e.g., central approval of campus hires based on “diversity”), manipulation of lines, and similar factors.

The Central Administration contacts for this committee are the Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and the Vice Chancellor for Faculty and Staff Relations.

To review the results of the ACT Math test. Also to review the SAT and Regents exemption policies to the basic skills assessment tests. Finally, to report on the availability of counselors and counseling services for students on the campuses.

To study and make recommendations about disability/quality of life issues that affect students and faculty, including such issues as access to facilities and pedagogical accommodations for students, faculty, and staff with disabilities; security; rental of space; health and safety; and environmental conditions. The Central Administration contact for this committee is the Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer.

In consultation with the Executive Committee, to complete planning for the fall conference and to plan the spring conference of the UFS.

The Council facilitates close consultation between faculty engaged in research and the Board of Directors of the Research Foundation (on which four of the members of FAC serve), examines and comments on the annual financial report of the Foundation, and advises the Foundation on general policy. University Faculty Senate Petition 22 -24.pdf