Utica University’s Student-Run News Source, The Tangerine, Reports on the Academic Program Review

On December 8, 2022, the Utica University Student-Run News Source, The Tangerine, reported on the Academic Program Review at Utica University, “spurred by a Board of Trustees resolution, which has caused unrest and questions on campus.”

That Board of Trustees Resolution on Academic Program Review (August 19, 2022) states:

Whereas shifting enrollment patterns and a significant decline in enrollment have resulted in an unsustainable faculty-to-student ratio at the university; and


Whereas the current academic program portfolio no longer reflects prospective student recruitment interests regionally or nationally; and


Whereas the current academic program portfolio no longer reflects the credentials most sought by employers in the region or nationally;


Be it resolved, the Board of Trustees of Utica University direct the administration to undertake an academic portfolio review designed to provide recommendations for any changes to credentials offered by the institution, including possible program design, redesign, or elimination.

Recommendations are to be delivered to the Trustees at the February 2023 board meeting.

The Tangerine article includes interviews with faculty and students, as well as an interview with the Provost, Todd Pfannestiel.

Read More Details in the Full Article Here.

https://uticatangerine.com/11933/news/11933/

Utica University’s Student-Run News Source, The Tangerine, Reports on the Confidential Presidential Search

On October 20, 2022, the Utica University Student-Run News Source, The Tangerine, reported on the AAUP-UC’s October 16, 2022 open letter urging the Board of Trustees to reconsider their decision to conduct a confidential search for the next Utica University president and conduct an open and fully transparent final selection process. The Tangerine article includes Bob Brvenik’s response to the AAUP-UC letter as well as the Utica University Faculty Senate’s resolution stating that the response by the Board of Trustees did not “adequately address the concerns raised by the AAUP-UC.”

Read The Full Article Here

https://uticatangerine.com/11818/news/confidential-presidential-search-raises-concerns-on-university-campus/#

Utica University Faculty Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution Endorsing AAUP-UC Open Letter

At the October 19, 2022 Special Faculty Senate Meeting, called by petition to discuss issues related to the Presidential Search Committee, the Faculty Senate unanimously passed the following resolution:

The Utica University Faculty Senate endorses the October 16, 2022 AAUP-UC Open Letter to the Chairperson of the Presidential Search Committee. The response by the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees dated October 19, 2022, does not adequately address the concerns raised by the AAUP-UC.

Additional updates from the October 19 meeting, as well as future Faculty Senate Meetings, will be reported as they become available.

Read the AAUP-UC Open Letter.

Read the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Response.

Utica University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Responds to AAUP-UC Open Letter

On October 16, 2022, the AAUP-UC Governing Board sent an open letter to Heidi Hoeller, Chairperson of the Presidential Search Committee, and Bob Brvenik, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, urging them to reconsider their decision to conduct a confidential search for the next Utica University president and conduct an open and fully transparent final selection process.

On October 19, 2022, the AAUP-UC received a response from Bob Brvenik, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, via the Special Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Anthony Villanti.

The AAUP-UC feels this is a wholly inadequate response, and it’s unfortunate that the reply from the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees did not address our specific concerns with a confidential search process.

Download the PDF or read the full letter below:

AAUP-UC Letter Calling for an Open and Transparent Presidential Search

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On October 16, 2022, the AAUP-UC Governing Board sent an open letter to Heidi Hoeller, Chairperson of the Presidential Search Committee, and Bob Brvenik, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, urging them to reconsider their decision to conduct a confidential search for the next Utica University president and conduct an open and fully transparent final selection process.

Download the PDF or read the full letter below:

Congratulations To Our New Board Members!

Congratulations to our newly elected President, Leonore Fleming, our newly elected Vice President, Doug Edwards, our newly elected Treasurer, John Peter, and our newly elected Members-At-Large, Deborah Pollack, Jeffrey Miller, and Amy Lindsey, who will take office on July 1, 2022.

Beginning July 1, the AAUP-UC Governing Board for 2022-2023 is:

Governing Board Officers:

  • President: Leonore Fleming, Associate Professor of Philosophy
  • Vice President: Doug Edwards, Associate Professor of Philosophy
  • Treasurer: John Peter, Associate Professor of Mathematics
  • Secretary: Jim Brown, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice 
  • Past President: Adam Pack, Professor of Biology
  • Past Treasurer: Xiao Xiao, Professor of Mathematics

Governing Board Members-At-Large:

  • Linnéa Franits, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
  • Ariel Gratch, Assistant Professor of Communication Arts
  • Amy Lindsey, Associate Professor of Psychology
  • Jeffrey Miller, Associate Professor of Communication Arts
  • Deborah Pollack, Assistant Professor of Psychology
  • Daniel Tagliarina, Associate Professor of Political Science

We also want to take a moment to thank Adam Pack, whose second term as President ends on June 30, 2022. During his four years as President, he was an exceptional leader, and he led us through countless pandemic-related challenges with courage. His hard work and clear guidance over the past four years will not be forgotten.

We would also like to thank Xiao Xiao, who has been an incredibly organized and dependable treasurer for many years, as well as an important voice on the governing board (and now on the negotiating team).

Finally, we would like to thank John Cormican, Chris Tingley, and Tom Rossi, whose terms end on June 30, 2022, for their service on the Governing Board. We really appreciate their dedication to the union and their efforts to make our union stronger.

Solidarity Sunday – May 15 2022 – In Memoriam: Jim Scannell

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Solidarity Sunday May 15 2022Download

There will be a lot said about Jim Scannell over the coming days, weeks, semesters etc. His teaching, his life, and the influence he had on so many grateful Utica students over the years. For this edition of Solidarity Sunday, we on the governing board wanted people – especially members who have joined us since 2010 – to reflect particularly on the major role Jim played in our union, including during one of the most contentious negotiations of the millennium.  

-President Adam Pack, May 15 2022