Takiyah Ali

Key discussions during the meeting focused on several academic freedom concerns. These included a demand from the US Department of Justice requiring CUNY to submit demographic data regarding scholarship recipients, during which the Chair stated that faculty should retain control over merit-based scholarship decisions without government interference. The committee also discussed CUNY's compliance with the ADA concerning class recordings by students, emphasizing that such recordings must be strictly for educational use by the recorder and not shared. Furthermore, concerns were raised regarding CUNY's Title VI training and its anonymous reporting portal, with a recommendation that reports be directed first to professors or department chairs instead of the CUNY portal.

This document functions as a progress report detailing the accomplishments, challenges, and ongoing work of Lehman College under its 'Achieving the Vision: Strategic Directions for Lehman College, 2010-2020' strategic plan. The report is structured around four main goals: excellence in teaching, research, and learning; enhanced student success; greater institutional and financial effectiveness; and a commitment to engagement and community service. It provides quantitative and qualitative evidence of progress in areas such as faculty recruitment and support, student retention and graduation rates, financial health, and community outreach, while also addressing future challenges and opportunities for growth and innovation.

The committee addressed several items concerning academic freedom and compliance issues within CUNY. Key discussions included a US Department of Justice demand for demographic data on scholarship recipients, with a stated preference for faculty to retain decision-making authority over merit-based scholarships without government influence. The committee also discussed CUNY's compliance with the ADA regarding class recordings and the potential for these recordings to infringe upon professors' academic freedom, emphasizing that recordings must be solely for the recorder's educational use. Furthermore, concerns were raised regarding CUNY's Title VI training and its anonymous reporting mechanism, leading to a suggestion that Title VI reports be initially directed to professors and department chairs rather than the general CUNY portal.

The committee addressed several governance items. Key discussions included the approval of student nominations to fill committee vacancies and the nomination of Prof. Julie Maybee to fill a vacancy on the UCC. A timeline for Committee Faculty Elections, spanning from March 9th to March 23rd, was suggested and approved. Discussions on governance documents clarified the committee's role in bringing documents to the Senate for approval, and changes to Senate Governance bylaws regarding the composition of the Senate were reviewed, focusing on potentially adding more at-large positions due to new departments. A goal was established to educate the community on shared governance roles, and a shared folder was created for collaborative review of the governance structure document.

"Lehman 2025: Roadmap to the Future" is a strategic plan for Lehman College that outlines a dynamic, evolving path for the institution over a five-year period. Founded on an updated mission, vision, and values statement, the plan is structured around four core goals: educating, empowering, and engaging students to meet global and workforce needs; enhancing faculty and staff success; ensuring institutional sustainability and vitality; and embracing community engagement. Key priorities include advancing educational attainment in the Bronx, fostering social justice and digital inclusion, promoting curricular renewal and experiential learning, and strategically aligning resources to further the college's mission.