College Senate Communications

Colleagues,

Yesterday, the CT State College Senate voted no confidence in Chancellor Terrence Cheng in a Special Meeting, which was called January 31, 2025, to be held on February 6, 2025. A survey was used to determine if 1) a Special Meeting was warranted, 2) the use of Executive Session, 3) the breadth of the resolution and 4) campus inclusion. Senators considered the language of the resolution for over a week prior to the Special Meeting, and all senators had the opportunity to propose alternate language. Ultimately, the language of the resolution was revised, as was the decision to act at the Special Meeting. The resolution is available here.

The College Senate first considered this issue in November, but postponed formal consideration of a vote of no confidence, pending the results of the Comptroller’s report that Governor Lamont called for in October 2024. The Comptroller’s report was released in December 2024, followed by an additional Auditor’s report last month. 

The Comptroller’s report details improper use of procurement cards, excessive spending by leadership, violations of financial policies and procedures, and failures to uphold contractual obligations. Specific concerns include Chancellor Cheng’s questionable spending practices, such as meals exceeding policy limits, excessive tipping, unauthorized travel expenses, improper mileage logs for a state vehicle, employment of a chauffeur, and other financial irregularities. 

The Senate's action reflects concern about the timing of the biennial budget process, ongoing accountability hearings, and the impact of financial mismanagement under Chancellor Cheng, among other concerns. The Senate encourages campus governance bodies to bring forth related resolutions as may be warranted. Ultimately, the Senate’s swift action reflects concerns that Chancellor Cheng’s actions have eroded trust among students, staff, and faculty and the College Senate acted as a representative body of the College.

The vote of no confidence calls on the Board of Regents to immediately initiate a leadership transition and prioritize ethical leadership in appointing new executives. We urge the Board of Regents to act swiftly and decisively, as the future of the CSCU system is at stake.

In the spirit of shared governance,

Elle Van Dermark, President, CT State College Senate

CT State Colleagues,

I have called a Special Meeting of CT State College Senate for today, Thursday, February 6, at 12:30 to discuss sensitive matters related to personnel issues. No votes can be taken during Executive Session; thus, any action we may take will occur immediately afterward during the open meeting.

The Senate’s primary role is to deliberate and vote on recommendations to be forwarded to the CT State Community College administration, but our work does not stop there, and occasionally, our concerns need to be elevated to CSCU or the Board of Regents. Additionally, the College Senate serves as the voice of the college community. Presentations to the Senate are, in essence, presentations to the entire college, and Senators' questions often reflect the concerns of their colleagues. Thus, the implications of our work and meetings are far-reaching.

Issues related to shared governance, academic affairs, and employee recognition were discussed at the January 24 CT State College Senate meeting. These discussions underscore the Senate’s role in shaping the institution’s policies and priorities. At the February Senate meeting, critical decisions will shape the future of shared governance at CT State. As both a decision-making body and a representative voice for the college community, the Senate provides faculty, staff, and students with a platform to influence initiatives and governance matters. To ensure your voice is heard and your perspectives are considered, please share your concerns, support, and questions with your Senators so they can make informed decisions.

Shared Governance Task Force Recommendations

The Shared Governance Assessment Task Force presented recommendations to simplify structures, streamline processes, improve communication, and increase engagement. These proposals, developed jointly by the Curriculum Congress and Senate Task Force, were informed by feedback from the Shared Governance Summit, governance leaders, and a survey distributed statewide during the Fall 2024 semester. The Task Force is hosting three virtual Town Hall meetings to answer questions and hear from the college community:

• Monday, Feb, 10, 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb 11, 12:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb 12, 4 p.m.

At the meeting, Senators agreed to consult with their campus colleagues before voting. At the February 28 meeting, the Senate will vote on the proposal options, which will then be forwarded to President Maduko and his cabinet. The Task Force proposals are attached for review.

Statewide Service Awards and Recognition Program

Vice President of Human Resources Anna Krupitskiy discussed CT State's commitment to employee recognition through three college-wide programs. She framed these initiatives as important to morale and essential efforts that impact retention and culture.

• Service Recognition – Acknowledges long-serving employees. Relaunching in Fall 2025, it will honor those who reached service milestones in 2024 and 2025. Previous concerns about consistency and accuracy were noted.
• Excellence Awards – A new program recognizing employee achievements through nominations and selections. A college-wide committee will oversee this effort, culminating in a celebration at the end of Spring 2025.
• Employee Spotlight – Recently launched to regularly highlight employees' contributions based on nominations, fostering appreciation and recognition.

NECHE Visit – Focus on Shared Governance

NECHE will visit CT State from April 6 to 9. While details on the review team and meetings are pending, shared governance will be a primary focus. Updates will be communicated via statewide email, campus CEOs, and college Senators. Your input will be collected through local and college-wide governance representatives.

Senate to Respond to NCHEMS and Charter Oak Report

The Senate will formally respond to the NCHEMS Report, commissioned by the Office of Policy and Management at Governor Lamont’s request. This report raises significant concerns about the future of CSCU, funding, and higher education in Connecticut.

Additionally, the Board of Regents published the Charter Oak Scaling Report, which could transform the online landscape—including at CT State. Senators were asked to help identify faculty and staff willing to analyze and respond to the findings (see attached report). More information is forthcoming regarding ways the college community can contribute to the Senate reports. 

Senate Endorses Provost’s Restructuring Plan

The Senate endorsed a Provost's Office restructuring aimed at improving efficiency by reducing five administrative positions to three. Provost Hynick solicited Senate feedback on her plan in November and requested endorsement during the January Senate meeting.

The new structure includes:

• Vice Provost of Academic Affairs
• Vice Provost of Student Affairs
• Director of the Office of Disability and Accessibility Services
• Additionally, the six-school model will transition to four:
• School of Liberal Arts and Education
• School of STEM
• School of Nursing, Allied Health, and Human Services
• School of Business and Professional Studies

The Senate will receive ongoing updates on this restructuring.

CT State Metrics for CSCU ACT Framework

Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, JD Mathewson, presented the CSCU ACT Framework, which aims to enhance student success through three strategic pillars:

• Accessibility
• Completion
• Talent

Each pillar includes measurable goals to assess student outcomes. Faculty and staff feedback is encouraged via a college-wide survey and through Senators before the final report to the Board of Regents in February.

Senate Bylaws and Website Updates

The Senate has restructured its bylaws. In addition, you can expect to see further improvements to the Senate web pages in the coming days. These enhancements will improve transparency and accessibility while also responding to calls for a more thoughtful design.

Faculty Senate Elections – Spring 2025

Elections for faculty senators from the campuses to CT State College Senate will take place this spring. Last year, the Senate transitioned to three-year terms with phased implementation. Faculty elected this spring will serve a three-year term beginning in the fall. Previously, staff senators were elected to two-year terms, while at-large senators began three-year terms.

Each campus’s shared governance body must submit the names of newly elected Senators to the College Senate via email by April 1. Additionally, any changes to campus representation, including early departures, should be reported promptly to ensure accurate representation and a smooth transition.

In closing, while change is constant, and as the CT State College Senate begins its third year of work, we are seeing patterns emerge. The fall semester is a time of evaluation—assessing what is working and what needs improvement. The spring semester is when the senate committees draft recommendations to address areas of concern. As we look to the coming months, I am hopeful that the work we do will continue to improve CT State.

In the spirit of shared governance,

Elle Van Dermark, President, CT State College Senate

Colleagues, 

In January 2022, CT State implemented a new shared governance system. After two years, a joint task force of the Senate and Curriculum Congress was charged with assessing its effectiveness and, based on your input, recommending any needed changes to the administration at CT State. 

This confidential survey asks for your input on shared governance at CT State. Your honest feedback, including suggestions, is crucial to this process.

Current Shared Governance Structure
CT State's shared governance currently operates with three main components:

• Administrative The CT State Senate addresses administrative matters like budget, personnel, and policies. It includes equal representation from all 12 campuses, College Office staff, and student senators.
•  Curriculum The curriculum governance process has three levels:
• Statewide Discipline Councils (SDCs): Reviews, incorporates feedback for, and approves curriculum for specific academic disciplines.
• School Area Curriculum Committees (SACCS): Reviews and approves curriculum proposals originating from each School of Study.
• Curriculum Congress: Provides final approval of curriculum proposals for new or modified courses and programs.
• Campus: Each campus also maintains its own shared governance structure in addition to these statewide bodies. 

Please provide as much detail as you'd like in your responses. You may skip any questions that do not apply or that you prefer not to answer. Thank you for your time and valuable input. Please complete the survey.  

The deadline for submission of this survey is December 20 at 5 p.m.

You can expect further updates based on the results of this survey at the beginning of the spring semester. If your feedback indicates that changes are needed, you can expect proposals for any such changes to be voted upon by all faculty and staff at CT State during the spring semester.

Best Regards,

CT State Shared Governance Assessment Taskforce
Joe Cullen, Jenn Natoli, Brian Keiser, Hannelore Moeckel-Rieke, Rebecca Busch Adams, Marsha Bryant, Topher Logan, Mark Lynch, Jacob Spjut, Sarah Selke, Allan Ballinger

Elle Van Dermark, President of College Senate
Jason Seabury, Chair of Curriculum Congress

CT State Colleagues, 

The October meeting of CT State Senate focused primarily on financial matters, specifically the shared services model, CT State's Plan in response to the Student Services Resolution, and the budget process, before responding to a request to support a Human Services Statewide Discipline Council.

Shared Services – A Murky View
Shared Services includes various services used by both CT State and CSCU. We commonly think of IT, Payroll, Labor Relations, and until recently HR, but there are many more. Despite CT State contributing 11% of its total budget to these services, many questions about these services remain unanswered. Senators expressed frustration because CFO Lloyd Blanchard, who had requested time to brief the senate on Shared Services, was unable to provide clear answers to basic questions. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns about CSCU's understanding and oversight of Shared Services.

Unresolved issues include details about the specific services provided, the offices within Shared Services, the number of personnel involved, existing vacancies, and funding sources beyond CT State’s contributions. It is also unclear how other institutions—such as Eastern, Western, Central, Southern, or Charter Oak—benefit from these services, which appear to be funded primarily by CT State.

Shared Services originated from the initial efforts to consolidate the 12 community colleges in order to reduce costs. Initially, it was touted as administrative consolidations that would save the system money by leveraging purchasing power and limiting redundancies. However, CSCU stopped touting the savings, resulting in many questioning if these cost savings were ever realized. When asked about savings resulting from Shared Services, CFO Blanchard admitted that he could not identify a beginning or endpoint to conduct a reliable analysis. Nevertheless, the current Shared Services structure, the specific services provided, the beneficiaries, and the commingling of fiscal resources are disconcerting.

Now that CT State is an independent institution, larger and more diverse than its sister institutions – Eastern (3,604 HC), Western (3,165 HC), Central (9,195 HC), Southern (8,385 HC), and Charter Oak (1,561 HC) combined – the lack of transparency in Shared Services is particularly concerning. CT State (34,658 HC) serves a significantly larger, more vulnerable student population. Our students are more likely to be first-generation, to work full- or part-time, and to come from disproportionately underserved populations. These differences highlight an imbalance in power dynamics within CSCU.

How Shrinking System Office Risks Offloading Poorly Performing Area to CT State
The Board of Regents directed CSCU to shrink the size of its System Office. Many Shared Services will be moved to CT State, but this is a risky move for CT State. Without a clear understanding of what Shared Services encompasses, its budget for the past five years, or its potential shortcomings, we cannot plan and budget for these services.

Importantly, without the resources necessary to accomplish the work, Shared Services could not be successful. Why then was there a $13M surplus from Shared Services? In approximately January 2024, a $13M surplus was revealed in budget documents submitted to the BoR. If CT State pays for Shared Services, those dollars should be returned to our coffers. These discrepancies make clear the importance of ensuring that we are asking critical questions about past performance and the budget to plan for the transition. We need a complete and comprehensive organizational chart at CSCU that includes the component parts of Shared Services, a budget by functional area, staffing and vacancies, single points of failure, master list of projects for the last five years, and a detailed accounting of the problems each area has encountered. Until we know the state of Shared Services, what is coming our way, previous budgets, and an anticipated timeline for transfer, how can we manage Shared Services any better?

Senate Secures Commitment for Mid-Year Review
The senate reviewed CT State's plan to restore student services, which was developed in response to the Board of Regents Resolution of August 28, 2024. 

• Most-Needed Positions: Positions eliminated before the budget mitigation process were not considered despite the need, along with benefits they would have provided to students.
• Campus Input: The process for gathering and evaluating recommendations from campus CEOs.
• Shared Governance: The extent to which campus-level shared governance was involved.
• Sustainability: Whether restored positions would be maintained long-term.
• Plan Robustness: The overall adequacy of the plan to address student needs.

In addition, senate support for the three Presidential Initiatives and Student Services, while important, was divided. These initiatives were not vetted with the same rigor, nor did they adhere to the resolution. The three Presidential Initiatives focus on new efforts to address Student Transportation gaps, Supplemental Instruction establishes a pilot program to assist students in 25 sections of courses with high withdrawal or failure rates, and Career Services which provides additional career services at Asnuntuck, Northwestern, Three Rivers and Tunxis as these campuses do not have dedicated full-time resources for this critical area

Nonetheless, after the senate expressed concerns, President Maduko committed to collaborate with campus CEOs and shared governance leaders to consider further restoration of positions during the mid-year budget review. This commitment secured the senate's endorsement of the plan.

Budget Conversation – Complexity Continues
The projected budget conversation continued along the same trajectory of seeking clarity on a topic that is deeply nuanced. CFO Kerry Kelley was asked to help the senate understand how CT State develops a budget in response to Office of Policy and Management’s (OPM) biannual budget request and the projected deficit. The presentation runs from 2:19 to 2:33 in the video.

Senators raised questions about funding for full-time faculty, a centralized process for creating the budget that fails to include campus shared governance, and capital funding from the bonding commissions. Additionally, there was a desire for more transparency and communication from the administration regarding budget decisions and the rationale behind them. Senators felt they needed more information to understand the budget and provide informed feedback. Finally, Faculty Advisory Committee Co-Chair Colena Sesanker raised concerns about the current funding process used by the governor and legislature that maintains a constant state of crisis at CT State.

Human Services Statewide Discipline Council
The senate then turned our attention to a request to form a Human Services Statewide Discipline Council (SDC). This request, brought forward by Human Services faculty from several campuses, was made by Professors Sarah Perez and Shelley Buchbinder. The senate voted to support their request, and the recommendation was subsequently made to the Provost.

What is Next
Please watch for a forthcoming report on the Shared Governance Summit held at Middlesex. You will start to see some changes such as the new CT State Shared Governance email (from which this communication was sent), as well as updates to the Shared Governance webpage, and other suggestions from the summit. 

Remember, the CT State Senate webpage hosts meeting videos, minutes, our charge, bylaws, last spring’s recommendations, and a list of Senators from each campus. You’ll also find links to all our upcoming meetings. Senate meetings are scheduled for the fourth Friday of each month during the academic year, except December. 

In the spirit of shared governance,

Elle Van Dermark
CT State Senate President

CT State Colleagues, 

Most of this letter focuses on the issues raised at the Senate’s State of the College Reports. Before we delve into those, there is something different I want to share. As I visit each campus and meet with local shared governance leaders, I have the extraordinary privilege of seeing and experiencing pride in place. Despite long hours and being asked to do more with less, you are still incredibly proud of the work you do for one another and our students. Somehow, you rise to the challenges we are experiencing with unrelenting dedication and determination that manifests in being proud of where you work is awe-inspiring. Thank you for sharing that with me. It is something I want everyone to know exists to varying degrees at each of the seven campuses I have visited thus far. As I share this observation, most colleagues know their campus is special, but CT State is more than a campus, and I suspect that pride in place exists at every campus. Now, let’s get on to the usual business at hand.

Campus Reports
The primary focus of the September meeting was the campus reports, which serve as the State of the College Report and form the foundation for Senate committee work in the coming year. One thing that may not have been clear, if you were watching or listening, is some campuses opted not to repeat issues once they were raised. That should not be misconstrued to conclude the issues articulated only apply to that campus. Rather, our Senators opted to truncate their reports, once an issue was known.

Some of the challenges we are currently facing include:

- Shared Services: Issues with Human Resources, Labor Relations, and IT infrastructure.

- Communication: Problems related to and including inconsistency in the quality of emails, being overwhelmed by emails and announcements, no point of contact, and navigating complex webpages at the campuses and CT State.

- Staffing Shortages: Key student-serving areas such as admissions, advising, financial aid, placement services, and exam proctoring are vacant or understaffed. These impact the quality of services we provide and creates uneven expectations for students across campuses.

- Course Related Issues: Limited course availability, especially in critical General Education courses, was frequently lamented by faculty and advisors alike. Additional concerns related to the rigor of online instruction, student preparedness for online courses, and student’s ability to succeed in online courses were also frequently raised. These problems are made more salient when we also learned that seated section cancellations result in increased pressure on advisors to place students in online classes. These trends stand in stark contrast with some campus deans canceling seated sections early while other campuses add online sections to swoop in and bolster enrollment. Although CT State reported 378 fewer class cancellations this fall, 707 classes were still canceled this fall.

- Leadership Disparities: Differences in leadership structures across campuses were raised as was their absence during evenings, Saturday classes, and after-hours events.

- Facilities and IT Infrastructure Issues: Outdated facilities, IT infrastructure, and inadequate maintenance are negatively affecting both staff and students. Maintenance gaps are also contributing to less than idea working and learning environments.

- Drop for Non-Payment Policy: This policy remains a significant barrier to student retention. Many campuses report issues with students being dropped from classes, and the re-registration process is burdensome and confusing for both students and staff.

- Low Morale: Burnout is becoming more common, affecting staff and faculty as we try to balance increased workloads with limited resources.

- Frustration with Decision-Making: Faculty and staff expressed frustration with the decision-making processes. There is a clear need for more meaningful engagement and more effective ways for our input to be incorporated into campus decisions.

- Disparate Processes: Leadership structures and the decision-making processes at the campuses and the college remain a concern, as does campus leadership’s presence and meaningful involvement (or a lack thereof) in shared governance at both the campus and statewide levels.

It is clear the strains these challenges place on staff and faculty are adversely impacting students. What is less clear is what we can do in response. What is clear is the solutions will come from you. While Senators are steeped in the problems raised, the solutions will come from those who are closest to the issues. I look forward to hearing the solutions and ideas you make through your Senators–making shared governance work for us all.

Student Services Resolution
As I attend Board of Regents meetings, it is evident the Board is moving in new directions. However, it remains unclear what this means for CT State. The Board resolution directing CT State to restore some student services positions is hopeful and yet, the timeline was extremely short. President Maduko and I sent a joint letter to Chancellor Cheng and Board Chair Martin Guay requesting additional time, and we were granted two additional weeks. While we appreciate this, I must point out that these conversations should have happened last year during budget remediation or after we received additional funding from the legislature. Nevertheless, the extra time allows the Senate’s Budget and Finance Committee to work closely with Vice President of Finance and Administration Kerry Kelley and for CT State’s recommendations to be presented at our October meeting. It also provides an opportunity for the Senate’s recommendations to be considered by CT State leadership.

As I visit campuses, attend President Maduko’s Town Halls, and meet with local shared governance leaders, I see how passionate the people of CT State are. We are deeply committed to our campuses and our students. What remains unclear ishow we become a community. How do we create a unified community when campuses like Quinebaug Valley and Northwestern are hours away from Three Rivers, Housatonic, or Norwalk? I don’t have an answer, but I believe we will. Seven visits are complete with five to go, and I look forward to each one. Please continue to come introduce yourself and say hello.

Your Ideas Will Solve Address Our Challenges
Please remember, your voice is crucial to shaping the solutions that will address these challenges. It is easy to continue complaining once we start down that path. It is harder to identify the problems and focus on solutions. Please engage with your Senators: talk with them regularly, invite them to your department and division meetings, meet them in the hallways, and brainstorm solutions. They can only represent you and share what’s happening in Senate, when they are given the opportunity.

More information is forthcoming soon, but on Friday, October 11, about 75 elected shared governance leaders gathered at Middlesex campus for the Shared Governance Summit. We began with a deep dive into the Charge for each CT State, Shared Governance Body. After learning what we should be doing, we reported some gaps and suggestions for doing a better job. The day was focused on helping our elected leaders learn from one another, air some common grievances, and suggest solutions. More to come on the summit, so please keep an eye out.

Student Senators
Soon, the Senate will have a full complement of student Senators. Working with the Student Activity Directors at the 12 campuses, a process for electing student Senators was defined that aligns with our charge.

CT State Senate Student Representative Schedule

Already this year, Christina Murphy from Northwestern and Leesa Cabrera were elected. Once Capital knows the results of their student election, CT State Senate will benefit from our students’ voices.

Remember, the CT State Senate webpage hosts meeting videos, minutes, our charge, bylaws, last spring’s recommendations, and a list of Senators from each campus. You’ll also find links to all our upcoming meetings. Senate meetings are scheduled for the fourth Friday of each month during the academic year, except December. The September Senate meeting already has more than 600 views, which is particularly impressive given that the meeting was held in person and the video quality is …less than ideal. Still, you’ve taken the time to watch the CT State Senate at work. Thank you. 

In the Spirit of Shared Governance,

~ev
Elle Van Dermark

Dear CT State Colleagues,

Final Meeting CT State College Senate

The final CT State Senate meeting is tomorrow, Friday, May 24 at 12:30 pm. Join the meeting online.

Thank You For Your Service

As our first year of statewide shared governance draws to a close, I am struck by the immense amount of work we have accomplished and the challenges that lie ahead. I want to acknowledge and express my deepest gratitude to the Senators who were willing to step up and get involved, despite the uncertainties of this new endeavor.

Tunxis: Mark Milewski, Kirstin Cullinane, Sandy Vitale 

Three Rivers: Nicola Ricker, Ronda Charette, Joe Selvaggio 

Quinebaug Valley: Norly Germain, Peter Bennett, Nicole Marcoux-Bowen 

New Britain: Eileen Rhodes, Brian Kapinos 

Norwalk: Peter Aster, Michelle Nye, Stephen Kittredge 

Northwestern: Crystal Wiggins, Jeremy Withnell, John Fiorello 

Naugatuck Valley: Paul Collette, Lisa Boyko, Sarah Perez 

Middlesex: Angelo Glaviano, Patrick Verroneau, Betty Riedinger 

Manchester: Mehrdad Faezi, Jennifer Natoli, Sarah Cieglo 

Housatonic: Asantewa Dawson, Felisha Guirand-Fleurimond, DeNeva Wilson 

Gateway: Allan J. Ballinger, Miguel García III, Roberta Prior 

Capital: Seth Freeman, Ariel Robinson, Sarah Zorn 

Asnuntuck: Elle Van Dermark, Bonnie Solivan, Thayre Trzepacz 

Special recognition is given to Brian Kapinos, Secretary; John Fiorello, Vice President of Staff; and Nicola Ricker, Vice President of Faculty. As members of the Executive Council during this formative year, their efforts were crucial in shaping the Senate and helping establishing protocols and practices that were later incorporated into the Bylaws.

All our Senators contributed to a robust, framework for future collaborative efforts and decision-making processes. Thank you for your unwavering support and hard work throughout this year.

Your Senators, Your Issues, Your Voice

At CT State Senate, Senators take up the issues brought to us by our constituents – the students, staff, faculty, and administrators at our campuses. We seek to understand how issues manifest at each campus. It is through the prism of disparate experiences at each campus that we grasp the complexity of the issues and work towards recommending effective solutions. This makes our work challenging but also requires your participation because, without you, Senators cannot help shape solutions.

During spring 2023, our work focused primarily on implementing shared governance, defining participation, and logistical parameters for the Senate. In September 2023, we held a State of the College Session where each campus identified and shared their top concerns. While we have resolved some issues directly, others are still in progress. Nevertheless, your elected Senators serve as your voice.

Progress & Process

In recent months, we have begun offering solutions. Our standing committees–Admin and Human Resources, Bookstore, Budget and Finance, Bylaws, Elections, Staff and Student Affairs Council, and Council of Faculty to the Provost–have helped refine and improve processes, address gaps, and make recommendations to CT State. Some of the issues we have undertaken include:

- Budget: Mitigation

- Marketing CT State to prospective students

- CT State Org: Structure, redundancies

- Course and Pre-Req substitutions

- Course Program of Study (CPOS) issues, Grade Changes, Home Campus Designation

- Degree Works, and Banner & Ellucian Reports

- Bookstore: Access to textbooks, challenges related to using Financial Aid

- Provost’s Syllabus Template

- Final Exam Schedule

- Communications from CT State, Campus Leadership: Point of Contact/Point Person

- Campus Governance and relationships to Statewide Governance

We have also sought to address concerns related to Course Caps, the Cancellation Process, building the Course Schedule, and issues adjacent to these through a dedicated taskforce. The Course Caps and Cancellation Taskforce sponsored the statewide survey soliciting your feedback, which your senators shared at each campus.

On Friday, some of our work will come to fruition with recommendations from the Senate to CT State administration. It is our intent to engage with administration to make incremental progress. These recommendations will advance that work. Our work is not done, but in the last year, we have seen faculty and staff forge a path for shared governance.

As we conclude this academic year, we welcome the incoming Senate who will resume this work in August. The new Senators bring fresh perspectives and renewed energy to continue our work. They will build upon the foundation we have established addressing issues and exploring new opportunities.

In the spirit of shared governance,

Elle Van Dermark

CT State Senate President

https://ctstate.edu/shared-governance/college-senate

Professor of History

CT State Colleagues,

Our March meeting has almost 300 views on YouTube. Our April meeting will be held Friday, April 26 at 12:30 pm, and you can watch the April meeting online.

Elections for Statewide Shared Governance

I want to start off this month by expressing my thanks to the Shared Governance bodies across the 12 campuses for their efforts during the Spring Elections. First endeavors are inevitably challenging, and we encountered some unexpected obstacles; nonetheless we completed our inaugural round of elections. Some folx were reelected, and we will also welcome new individuals to serve in various capacities in Senate, Curriculum Congress, the Statewide Discipline Councils, School Area Curriculum Committees, and more. The official results will be announced once all reporting is finalized.

From this experience, it is evident we need to establish more direct channels of communication, gain a deeper understanding of the diverse organizational structures and leadership frameworks across campuses, and enhance our collaborative efforts. We will focus on these in the upcoming academic year.

Shared Governance: We Control What We Do and How Administration Responds Is Up to Them

Last month I shared a report commissioned by CSCU on Human Resources Shared Services, conducted by Lori Lamb through the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, to guide future steps. During the presentation, one of the most concerning revelations was no staff nor faculty were consulted during the review, nor were they interviewed in the preparation of the report.

CT State Senate views this omission as significant and committed to convening a Special Meeting. The purpose of the proposed meeting was to provide Chancellor Cheng and (now) Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor Lamb the opportunity to directly engage with the largest group of individuals impacted by HR Shared Services. However, both Lamb and Cheng declined to participate in this crucial dialogue.

Despite a finding from Lamb (written when she was a consultant) highlighting the "failure in shared governance" and the importance of collecting input from relevant stakeholders, neither Lamb nor Cheng showed any inclination to collaborate with Shared Governance. In our invitation, we proposed, "the purpose of the meeting is for faculty and staff to benefit from an abbreviated presentation, for you to outline how the recommendations will be put into action at the college, and to address any questions."

In her current role as Interim Assistance Vice Chancellor, Lamb replied, “We welcome further written feedback from the Senate and any recommendations you would like to propose. We can then consider that information in the context of work that is already underway to implement the recommendations in the report. However, given this report was completed last year and that many things are in process or require further consultation with CT State Leadership, and System Office leadership, to implement, we do not believe another meeting to talk about the report is in order.”

Authentic Shared Governance

Shared Governance is a complex and nuanced mechanism in higher education. While it serves an advisory role, it also plays a crucial role in fostering trust. Mandated by the New England Commission of Higher Education, the quality and reciprocity of the relationship ultimately rests with administration.

Administration has the choice to disregard the efforts of Shared Governance or to address the issues raised through it directly with integrity and to enact meaningful change. Effective Shared Governance offers the promise of collective decisions informed by the expertise and perspectives of various stakeholders. Genuine collaboration has the potential to enhance policies, practices, and the overall institution. Authentic engagement with Shared Governance requires a steadfast commitment and belief in its value.

Alternatively, administration may opt not to engage, resist conflict resolution, or evade transparency, and accountability. We are committed to authentic engagement. We cannot control how they respond.

The CT State Senate has diligently worked to establish a record of transparency and accountability. Our meetings are recorded and made publicly available, Senators are elected from every campus, and we remain accountable to both you and one another. If you believe a Special Meeting is necessary despite the lack of participation from CSCU, please talk with your Senators so they can represent your concerns at our meeting on Friday, April 26.

Consultants, Reports & Climate

The AASCU report on HR Shared Services was commissioned by CSCU, and it is one of several we are grappling with. They have also partnered with SVP Connecticut on a project titled, “North Star,” to develop system priorities. Also underway is Governor Ned Lamont and the Office for Policy and Management’s (OPM) report from the consulting firm, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), to make recommendations in response to the question, “What are the day-to-day barriers to serving students more effectively?” According to Brian Prescott, President of NCHEMS, this project was funded by OPM to find a path forward. From the onset he was clear during a campus meeting, “This project is forward looking. Recommendations (from you) to roll back to 12 colleges – we are unlikely to make that recommendation.”

Then, CT State commissioned the Ferrilli report, titled "Enrollment Gap Analysis and Optimization Project," which sheds light on various issues within the system. These include excessive middle management, a deficiency in strategic planning, ineffective communication structures, and bureaucratic obstacles. While the consultant conducted 28 interviews, it remains unclear who is included in the category of "key college personnel." Furthermore, there is a lack of data regarding the total number of individuals interviewed and how many were campus staff or students. What is evident, however, is no faculty members were involved in the process.

Finally, CT State, in collaboration with the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, is currently administering a Climate Survey. Presented to the Senate in March, the HERI survey seeks to gauge the sentiments of our student, staff, and faculty. Last week, Senators were called upon to encourage participation. This survey is an important opportunity for CT State to collect information directly from staff, students, and faculty. Perhaps it will shed light on the morale issues we are grappling with.

While surveys and reports can serve as valuable tools for assessment, the sheer volume of surveys also raises concerns. In a year dominated by budgetary considerations, the influx of external reports has led to questions about costs to implement these reviews that lack data explaining their methodology and findings with shared governance and concerns about survey fatigue.

Data, Collaboration, & Recommendations to Improve CT State

In September 2023, we held a State of the College Session: each campus was asked to identify and share the top concerns from their campus. In recent months, your elected Senators have engaged in committee work to address these concerns.

In the weeks ahead, please look for opportunities to provide feedback on the recommendations that Senate Committees will share via your Senators. We do our best work when you share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns.

The Senate remains steadfast in our commitment to Shared Governance and our devotion to improving the college and operations. We are spearheading these efforts and will continue to work with CT State leadership to improve operations. To ensure your voice is heard, please connect with your Senators, and share your thoughts and concerns. Together, we can navigate these challenges and ensure the voices of our community are heard.

~ev

Elle Van Dermark, President of Senate

Dear CT State Community,

This announcement is to notify the college community of upcoming governance changes and elections for AY2024-25.

Inaugural elections occurred in the Fall of 2022, and various committees were charged and began work in January 2023. Since that time, an incredible amount of work has been completed by the CT State Statewide Discipline Councils (SDCs), School Area Curriculum Committees (SACCs), Curriculum Congress and College Senate. Those initial governance terms come to an end at the end of the Spring 2024 semester, and elections will occur over the next month for these bodies as well as for a new general education subcommittee of Congress. The current model, updates and summaries of this work can be found on ourShared Governance website (a summary is also attached to this message). Of particular note, the Congress and Senate bylaws have been finalized with updated representation, and a new general educationsubcommittee of Curriculum Congress is being formed. The current agreed-upon compensation for these committees is also attached, though further negotiations for increased compensation are ongoing.

Statewide Elections

All CT State shared governance bodies requiring statewide elections – this includes Curriculum Congress and the discipline-based positions on general education – are using the following election cycle:

March 22 – Process shared at Congress and Senate

March 27 – Call for nominations distributed to college community, deadline April 8

April 9 – Online ballots distributed to college community, voting commences

April 23 – Voting concludes, Results announced shortly after

May 1 – AR proposal approval deadline

May 17 – Curriculum Congress meeting will include old and new members, the latter of whom will vote on Congress leadership elections for AY2024-25: Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary

Please consider self-nominating yourself for one or more of these important positions by clicking the following link. Note the deadline listed above of April 8.

Self-Nomination Form

Local Elections

All CT State shared governance bodies requiring local campus elections – this includes College Senate, SDCs, SACCs, and the campus-based positions on the general education subcommittee – should also be getting underway imminently. Your senators should generally be coordinating those campus-based elections. Please refer to an email from Elle Van Dermark, current President of Senate, for further details on the senate side. As a point of further clarity, for the general education subcommittee, local governance groups are directed to hold elections for the following positions if they have not already done so: “1 FT Faculty or Staff rep per campus with general education assessment expertise (x12) elected locally at each campus.” It is worth noting that while having people with extensive assessment expertise is preferred and such individuals ideal to have on the committee, how the campus-based representative is selected is ultimately left up to the campuses, and the “assessment expertise” criterion can be met in a variety of ways. When any local representative is elected, make sure to notify your campus dean, as they have the responsibility of forwarding that name on to those handling election results.

I can personally attest to the reality that it has been, and will continue to be, a challenge to try to create processes while also handling a daunting workload. However, this is work that directly impacts the classrooms and programs of your colleagues, and it’s work that must be done for the sake of the students, who deserve the best and clearest programs, classes, and processes that we can give them. Thank you all, and looking forward to seeing many of you in meetings to come. 

Best,
Jason

Jason Seabury
Professor of Mathematics
Chair, Curriculum Congress
CT State Community College – Naugatuck Valley
Office: E419 Phone: 203-596-8631

Dear CT State Colleagues,

Building upon the previous CT State Senate letter (2/24/24), I want to share some exciting, interesting, and even disturbing information with you.

Exciting: A Historic Meeting as CT State Senate Delegation Meets with Governor Ned Lamont

A Senate Delegation met with Governor Lamont on February 29 to advocate for funding for CT State, discuss the unique role of Connecticut’s only Community College, and elucidated the responsibilities we have to our students and in our communities. Our meeting with Governor Lamont was nothing short of historic, and it rests upon the work of our staff, students, faculty, and labor unions who have been tireless advocates for years.

Governor Lamont posed some interesting comparisons, asked questions and genuinely engaged with the delegation. We emphasized the need for additional support to CT State with block grants or attributed funding; made clear the harm that has come from budget cuts to our students as a result of cuts at our campuses; explained how Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) restructuring of debt has disproportionately hurt CT State, and we explained how desperately our campuses need bonding to be approved from the Bonding Commission to address health and safety issues in our facilities. The dialogue was constructive, and we remain hopeful for positive outcomes.

As we emphasized the need for more financial support, Governor Lamont raised the issue that his administration allocated more dollars to CSCU than ever before and made clear his support for Chancellor Cheng. We asserted several critical factors related to that funding and how it impacts CT State: two additional layers of administration (CSCU and CT State), inflation, the distinct needs of an open access college, and the impact of OPM restructuring. We also challenged the claims that CSCU made to the state legislature for years, that CT State would save money.

Joining me to advocate for additional funding was Vice President of Staff John Fiorello (Northwestern), Vice President of Faculty Nicola Ricker (Three Rivers), Sandra Vitale (Tunxis), and Allan Ballinger (Gateway). Please join me in thanking them for their ardent advocacy.

Interesting: Statewide Shared Governance Elections will be Facilitated and Reported by Campus Shared Governance Leaders

In the inaugural elections for statewide shared governance, campus deans and CT State administration oversaw the process of electing campus representation. However, moving forward, this responsibility transitions to campus shared governance bodies. This marks a pivotal moment for campus shared governance to manage and report the elections of representatives who will advocate how statewide policies impact your campus. If you are interested in serving, please reach out to current senators to learn about their experiences from the last year and a half.

During our State of the College meeting last fall, senators identified over 50 pressing issues from our campuses. While we are still in the process of formulating recommendations, we have made significant progress as we have established relationships with CT State Administration, conducted investigations and researched current processes and practices compared to best practices. We are on track to make recommendations to President Maduko by the end of this year’s session which demonstrates the important roles and responsibilities of statewide shared governance.

Our focus has included a range of critical issues, including timely communications with a designated point of contact, budget allocations and remediation efforts, course schedule development, course caps, the course cancellation process, final exam scheduling, responses to the draft syllabus template, which is planned as mandatory for fall, as well as concerns surrounding campus bookstores. Additionally, the Student Services and Experiences Council has been actively addressing a range of issues related to enrollment management.

If this work interests you, please consider running in your campus elections. Your involvement and dedication to addressing these and upcoming issues are invaluable as we continue to work towards enhancing our institution's operations and fostering an environment conducive to academic excellence. Our next senate meeting will be held on Friday, April 26 at 12:30 pm. You can watch the senate meeting online.

Campus participation in the process is vital and a new ask. Campus shared governance leaders will need to solicit interest for CT State Senate, hold elections, and report the results to co-collegesenate@ct.edu as soon as possible and prior to the April Senate Meeting on April 26.

Terms for senators shall be for three years and senators may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. However, in order to establish staggered terms:

• Faculty Senators will be elected to a one-year term in April of 2024
  • Faculty Senators also serve on the Council of Faculty to the Provos and Committees
• Staff Senators will be elected to a two-year term in April 2024
  • Staff Senators also serve on the Council of Student Services & Experiences and Committees
• At-large Senators will be elected to a 3-year term in April 2024
  • At-Large Senators serve on senate committees

All senators serve on senate committees and have responsibilities to work with their campuses as well as share information from senate in regular campus communications as well as prepare for and attend senate meetings.

Campus governance leaders shall submit names, membership role (faculty, staff, atlarge), and contact information of newly elected Senators to Senate Elections Committee via email.

Senate Committees: Your Passion and Experience Can Help Advance Senate Priorities

If you find yourself deeply engaged in an issue that warrants a different approach, please consider joining a CT State College Senate Committee. You needn’t be a senator to join a committee, but it does require a commitment to learning about the issues deeply before making recommendations. These committees provide essential avenues for collaboration, where your expertise, experience, and commitment can effect meaningful change. By becoming a member of one of our committees, you'll actively contribute to crucial initiatives and procedures that shape the trajectory of our institution. Talk to your current senators to learn about the issues we are working on and the committee leading our efforts.

Disturbing: A Damning Shared Services Report

Finally, at Senate’s March meeting, Lori Lamb presented a recent report (attached) to Chancellor Cheng that sheds light on issues with the Shared Services framework that demands immediate attention (see March meeting, 1:15 for the report). It is evident that corrective measures in response to the findings need to be articulated. Rest assured, we are committed to addressing these issues transparently and swiftly and while prioritizing the best interests of our colleagues as the Senate considers our next steps.

Working together, our commitment to shared governance transcends our campuses as we forge a path for strong, meaningful, statewide shared governance that advocates for our students, our colleagues, and Connecticut State Community College.

Committed to Shared Governance,

Elle Van Dermark
She/her
President, CT State Community College Senate
Professor of History, CT State Asnuntuck

CT State Colleagues,

This is the first of what I hope is many updates from CT State Community College Senate. I want to begin by inviting you to review the Senate Shared Governance webpage where you will find a list of our Senators, videos from past meetings, minutes and links to our remaining 2023/24 meetings. Our next meeting is Friday, February 23 at 12:30 pm.

One Year Later

It has been a year since faculty and staff embarked upon the journey of actively participating in and eventually leading CT State Senate. With three representatives from each campus – faculty, staff and at-large – the elected body diligently drafted bylaws and embarked upon the mission of establishing a statewide Senate that is committed to meaningful shared governance and supporting campus shared governance bodies. The process of establishing a new college has been arduous, and we needn’t dwell on the challenges. Rather, at CT State Senate we are committed to improving Connecticut State Community College. These challenges are opportunities for the Senate to shape the trajectory of our institution. We are committed to working with President Maduko and campus governance bodies who are also interested in proposing solutions to the challenges we face. Thus far, we believe our work has been characterized by efforts to understand the breadth and depth of issues brought to our attention, identify solutions and operate with transparency. We are working to bring about significant positive change to improve CT State.

Shared Governance Focused on Solutions

Throughout the spring of 2023, our focus was primarily on implementing shared governance and delineating the parameters for Senate participation and logistics. Then, in September, we hosted a State of the College Senate Session where each campus shared their most pressing concerns. In response, we charged standing committees dedicated to investigating those issues and developing solutions.

Our college Senate work begins by trying to understand what is happening and why. That means we are engaging with CT State administrators to familiarize ourselves with the policy or regulatory requirements and subsequently, delving deeper to understand their intentions while effectively communicating our concerns. Through this, we are developing a deeper understanding of the differences at each campus, how those issues impact the campuses differently, and establishing parameters for working together to craft solutions that support each campus.

The Senate also works closely with President Maduko who is an ex-offcio, non-voting member. We also worked with our respective campuses to solicit and appoint campus representatives to the Academic Program Planning committee. We anticipate further collaboration on the forthcoming Early College and Dual Enrollment taskforce. Additionally, our task-focused faculty and staff councils work candidly with administration and campus-based leadership to engage leaders with direct knowledge of important issues as they arise so they can be dealt with directly and efficiently.

We Can Do Better and Will with Your Help

In closing, we have done a lot in the last year, but there is still much to do. I am asking you to consider how you and your campus interact with statewide governance. At our January meeting, we invited Curriculum Congress to join us in a CT State Governance Review and Assessment that seeks to analyze how well the current structures are meeting CT State’s\ needs. To do that, we will need to learn from your experiences, and we will benefit from your ideas and input.

It is our sincere hope that by evaluating what governance is and is not doing, as well as how it operates, we will develop recommendations for how we can be more effective, efficient and responsive. Thus, CT State Senate is committed to making Connecticut State Community College better – for everyone.

Together, we remain dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment where shared governance is not just a concept but a reality that drives positive change within Connecticut State Community College.

Committed to Shared Governance,

Elle Van Dermark
She/her
President, CT State Community College Senate
Professor of History, CT State Asnuntuck