Middle States Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

January 16, 2008

12:30 – 2:00 pm

Room W1007

Present: Christa Acampora, Philip Alcabes, Eija Ayravainen, Tainia Borrero, Lynn Chancer, Sandra Clarkson, Conan Freud, Jill Gross, Joyce Hitchcock, Kelle Jacob, Manfred Kuechler, Joan Lambe, Mary Lefkarites, Annemarie Nicols-Grinenko, Roger Persell, Anthony Picciano, David Potash, Vita Rabinowitz, Andrea Savage, Richard Stapleford, Franklin Steen, Madlyn Stokely

1.      Working Group Open Meetings

Phil Alcabes (Steering Committee co-chair) indicated that each Working Group (WG) should hold at least one open meeting within the next 4 to 6 weeks (i.e., before the end of February).  WG chairs should send an agenda for the open meetings and two or three possible times to the Steering Committee (SC) co-chairs as soon as possible so that the meetings can be widely advertised.

Manfred Kuechler (WG 1, Technology Subgroup) indicated that his subgroup had already scheduled a meeting for 21 February (3:00 – 4:30 pm).  The meeting will include brief presentations and a Q&A session (full documentation will be available prior to the meeting).  The goal is to have a discussion about what works, what doesn’t work, and what is being done – this is not to be a gripe session.  The subgroup is collecting as much data as possible in January so that it can be presented at the meeting.  It was pointed out that this was not the only possible model for open meetings and that others could be used.

Jill Gross (WG 1) suggested that some WGs might be better served by a series of open meetings with targeted audiences (e.g., security personnel, science faculty).

Taina Borrero (Steering Committee) and Jill Gross suggested that we should use the open meetings to collect data (e.g., via exit interviews).  Podcasting and recording meeting minutes were also discussed.  Christa Acampora (WG 6) indicated that Brooklyn College used podcasting in their recent Middle States self-study process.

Methods for encouraging participation in the open meetings were discussed, particularly with regard to WG 4, Faculty.

2.      Middle States Documents

Phil Alcabes and Joan Lambe (Institutional Research) showed the group where recently posted documents could be found on Blackboard and encouraged the group to review what is already available and send requests for further data to the Steering Committee co-chairs as soon as possible.

There was a discussion about how to cite documents in the WG reports.  It was decided that the URL for the document, or the document name and the folder in which it was found, should be used.

Eija Ayravainen (Steering Committee) indicated that her office would be sending reports (e.g., strategic plans for admissions, the registrar, advising) to Joan Lambe within a week.  

Eija Ayravainen also cited the importance of indicating the limitations of available data (e.g., usage reports for Degree Works do not tell the whole story: there are lacunae in the program itself that need to be addressed).  Manfred Kuechler pointed to the need for definitions so that data could be properly interpreted.  Joan Lambe indicated that she would post definitions for data from her office.

Manfred Kuechler pointed to the need for more budgetary information – specifically data about money from philanthropy and money that comes back to Hunter from the Research Foundation.  Jill Gross requested additional information about revenues and expenses related to facilities.  Conan Freud (Steering Committee) indicated that a) the new state budget will be available next week, b) CUNY’s financial statements include information about foundation money, and c) he will look into the availability of the remaining requested data.

Phil Alcabes indicated that if there were specific questions for an individual or office (e.g., the registrar), WGs should send questions through the Steering Committee co-chairs.  He also indicated that the co-chairs could also arrange for individuals to come speak to the SC.

3.      Possible Meeting with President Raab’s Senior Staff

There was a discussion about how to make the best use of meetings between the Middle States Steering Committee and President Raab’s Senior Staff.  The discussion included issues related to timing and who should attend such meetings (e.g., Academic Deans, WG members).  The steering committee co-chairs indicated that they would discuss this in more detail when they met with President Raab on 17 January.

Lynn Chancer (WG 7) suggested that it would beuseful if the Steering Committee co-chairs could help the WGs identify the members of senior staff most relevant to their issues.

Provost Rabinowitz (Steering Committee co-chair) pointed out the importance of using the Middle States process to create a strategic plan/vision for Hunter.

Roger Persell (WG 3) pointed out that for his group (graduate programs), senior staff extends beyond Hunter College (e.g., to Executive Officers) and a protocol for contacting people at CUNY central or the Graduate Center should be developed.

4.      Miscellaneous Issues

Roger Persell pointed out that graduate students often gain support via teaching as adjuncts and asked whether his group (WG 3 - graduate programs) or WG 4 (faculty) should address this.  Phil Alcabes said he would schedule a meeting of the relevant WGs  to discuss this in more detail and to avoid duplication of work.

Phil Alcabes suggested Thursdays at 12:30 or 1:00 pm as a general meeting time for the Steering Committee during the spring semester.  He asked members who hadn’t already sent in their availability to do so as soon as possible.

Phil Alcabes asked all WG chairs to post a brief summary of what their groups had accomplished so far on Bb (in WG documents on the General Bb discussion board). 

At the suggestion of Kelle Jacob (Steering Committee), Phil Alcabes also asked WG chairs to post their meeting schedules on Bb.