faculty notes

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Library Committee Self Study

Name of Committee: Library Committee

Current Committee Members (please indicate chair and any other officers):

Maria Bibbs

Ellen Daugherty

Maritza Davila

Adrian Duran (Chair)

Soyoung Park

Joel Priddy

Leslie Holland

Ian Sterling

Part 1: MCA Faculty Handbook Description

1) The 2011-2012 MCA Handbook includes the following description of the Committee:

Library – Oversee the acquisition of periodicals and books. Membership: Library Director, Visual Resources Curator, LAS Chair and four F-T faculty (including both studio and Liberal Studies.)

2a) In the opinion of the committee, does the handbook description accurately describe the function, purpose, and membership of the committee? Please explain.

Yes, but not really. The committee has taken it upon itself to exist as an advisory body in all things related to the Library. Acquisition is one facet of this. Facilities, staff, IT, and long-term planning have been added to these.

2b) Please suggest changes/edits/rewrites for the Handbook description of your committee. If the Handbook does not currently include a description for your committee, please write one. (Answers to this section of the self-study are suggestions only. They are intended to help the faculty move toward Handbook revisions, but they should be regarded as draft versions at this stage. Please don’t spend an inordinately long time trying to craft the perfect description—they can be changed and edited as we go through the process.)

Library—The Library Committee oversees the direction and resources of the MCA Library. The Committee advises the Librarian and the MCA Administration in matters related to the MCA Library. Membership: Librarian, Visual Resources Curator, four F-T faculty (including both studio and Liberal Studies), and a representative from IT.

Part 2: Committee Charge, Duties, and Goals

1) Does the committee operate under a clearly stated committee “charge” (that is, a statement of purpose explaining what the committee is charged with doing on behalf of the faculty or college—this may be different from the catalog description of the committee)? Is this charge written down and made available to the members of the committee and the college community at large? Please explain. (If you feel that the current catalog description or any revision to the description that you made above functions adequately as a charge, please say so).

No.

2) Does the committee maintain a set of specific duties? Are these written down? If a set of such duties exists (written down or in the minds of the chair or other members of the committee), please list them here. (In other words, what is the committee specifically responsible for? What does the committee do?)

No, the duties of the committee respond to the needs of the Library and the submissions made to the Committee by the larger MCA community.

3) Does the committee have a set of goals (short and/or long-term)? If so, please list them and briefly explain the process the committee used to arrive at these goals.

Yes. To advise the Librarian and the Administration on Library matters and long-term planning for the Library. And to induce action.

4) Other than verbal reports at faculty meetings, does the committee make reports in verbal or written form to the faculty or administration? How often are these reports made? Where are written reports housed and are they available to other members of the college community?

Yes, the Library Committee submitted its report in January 2011. This may have been the first of its sort. This is still an active report, and should be integrated into the Strategic Plan. Otherwise, there is no formal schedule of written report submission. All Library Committee endeavors are available to the MCA community on request.

5) Please add any additional comments about the charge, duties, and goals of the committee.

Part 3: Committee Membership

1a) To the best of the committee’s knowledge, how are faculty members of the currently committee chosen?

Appointed by Dean.

1b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, how do you think the members of the committee should be chosen?

It would be advantageous to have representation from ArtEd. The committee membership should be determined in consultation with the Librarian.

2a) Do the faculty members on the committee have limited terms of service?

No.

2b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, should there be terms of service? Please explain.

No.

3) Does the current committee membership structure make sense? Is the committee too big, too small, the right size? Please explain.

Seems fine.

4a) Does the committee as it currently exists have faculty members from each of the Divisions of the College? If so, do you feel (or is it a requirement of the committee) that it always have representation from each of the Divisions?

No grad or design arts representation. Otherwise, studio, LS, and staff are represented.

4b) If the Committee does not include members from each Division, should it? Please explain.

We would benefit from membership that includes at least one practitioner of the digital arts.

5a) If there are administrators on the committee (according to Dean Strickland’s committee grid), explain their role(s).

No.

5b) If administrators are members of the committee, do you feel that their roles are necessary? In other words, does the committee feel that administrators should be members of the committee? Please explain.

The committee does not necessarily consider administrative presence necessary, however there is some belief that administrative presence might increase administrative attention and response.

6a) If there are staff members on the committee, explain their role(s).

Yes, Ian. He is our IT expert and otherwise participates as do other members.

6b) If staff are members of the committee, do you feel that their roles are necessary to the successful functioning of the committee? Please explain.

Yes, having Ian has been a great help.

Our decision making is autonomous. The execution of actions related to those decisions is entirely dependent upon elements beyond the Committee. That is where we often falter.

8) Please add any additional comments related to membership, committee structure, the appointment or election of members, participation of non-faculty members, etc.

Part 4: Committee Meetings and Time Commitment

1a) On average, how many times per semester does your committee meet? Please indicate if the number of meetings varies by semester and explain why.

Usually 2 meetings, but more have occurred when needed.

1b) Is there a set meeting schedule (e.g., once monthly, bi-weekly, etc)? If not, how does the committee determine if a meeting is necessary and who calls the meeting?

No. We hold meetings as they become necessary. The meetings can be called by any member of the Committee, though the Librarian or Chair most often do so.

1c) If there is no set meeting schedule, do you think that there should be a set meeting schedule or a minimum number of meetings for your committee per semester? Please explain.

No. The obligations of the members are such that a set meeting time would be logistically unfeasible.

1d) How long is the average meeting?

1-1.5 hours.

2) In general, how many hours of commitment per semester does this committee require of members?

Varies. Librarian does most work. Chair does second most. Members tend to distribute work equally amongst themselves.

3a) Does the committee take minutes, keep notes, or otherwise track and archive the activities of the committee?

Yes.

3b) If you do keep minutes, where are they housed? Can other faculty (or administrators) not on your committee look at these minutes easily?

Presently, Chair maintains minutes on his MCA computer. They can be accessed upon request.

4) Please add any additional comments on committee meetings and the time commitment required of faculty on this committee.

Health and Safety Committee Self Study

Name of Committee: Health and Safety Committee

Current Committee Members (please indicate chair and any other officers):

Elizabeth Brown

Maritza Davila

Susan Maakestad

Remy Miller

Haley Morris-Cafiero (Co-Chair)

Bill Price

Cynthia Thompson

Leandra Urrutia

Cathy Wilson

Ken Houk

Carla Ruffer

Jonathan Welden (Co-Chair)

Part 1: MCA Faculty Handbook Description

1) The 2011-2012 MCA Handbook includes the following description of the Committee:

In the 2011-2012 MCA Handbook under the subheading “Standing Committees” (p. E10) the following description is available:

Health and Safety – Establishes and enforces policies and procedures for the safe operation of all academic facilities.

2a) In the opinion of the committee, does the handbook description accurately describe the function, purpose, and membership of the committee? Please explain.

The committee feels that the handbook description is in need of revision. The function is still on target, but the purpose should be updated to reflect where the college currently stands in regard to the use of safe practices, becoming more responsible environmentally, and how this may impact the community at large. In addition the composition of the committee needs to be addressed.

The Health and Safety Committee, composed of appropriate faculty and staff, is responsible for the establishment of policies and methods that promote safe and environmentally responsible practices both physically and pedagogically throughout MCA and within the Memphis community.

Part 2: Committee Charge, Duties, and Goals

During the past four years, the college actively sought to address issues of health and safety introduced in voluntary audits requested of EPA and OSHA. Although a formal college-wide committee did not meet, individual faculty worked together in their departments to resolve EPA and OSHA issues with the assistance of the Facilities Director and EPA Coordinator. These issues were also brought before the entire faculty at regularly scheduled faculty meetings and through email. The college is now compliant with these audits. At this time the committee would like to change it’s purpose and create additional goals that allow for the creation of new environmentally proactive policies, in addition to ensuring that MCA remains EPA and OSHA compliant.

In the past few years, the focus of the committee has been to help all faculty members maintain safe practices and also become compliant with EPA and OSHA guidelines on a voluntary basis. This was accomplished through emails, small group meetings, and faculty meeting announcements. As the committee transitions to a larger group, duties will be more clearly delineated in early 2012.

3) Does the committee have a set of goals (short and/or long-term)? If so, please list them and briefly explain the process the committee used to arrive at these goals.

The Environmental Policy outlines a set of goals that the committee will begin to investigate ways of making each one happen.

No reports currently exist. When the committee becomes more active, the reports will be kept in Jonathan Welden’s office.

5) Please add any additional comments about the charge, duties, and goals of the committee.

Part 3: Committee Membership

1a) To the best of the committee’s knowledge, how are faculty members of the currently committee chosen?

The Dean and Faculty Representative presented last year’s Faculty Assignments at a faculty meeting on Sept. 15. The faculty voted to keep assignments consistent with the exception of changes needed to address new faculty and faculty who had left the college. It was agreed that most positions should be maintained. Current members of the committee were chosen as the people responsible for areas (studios, housing, woodshop) that have active engagement in handling, storing and/or disposing of hazardous materials. The faculty was asked for their input (Sept 15 email from Faculty Representative, Ellen Daugherty, and a new assignment grid for all committees was presented to the faculty via email from the Faculty Representative on Sept. 21.

1b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, how do you think the members of the committee should be chosen?

Members should be chosen based on their working environments and their interest in the carbon reducing measures of the college. Any broad EPA/OSHA policy changes are communicated to committee to be disseminated to their areas.

2a) Do the faculty members on the committee have limited terms of service?

Committee appointments are made yearly. However, most positions remain the same year-to year due to teaching assignments where specific faculty members are actively engaged in compliance with EPA and OSHA mandates.

2b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, should there be terms of service? Please explain.

No. As the engagement with hazardous materials requires compliance with certain laws and engagement with college community to insure college-wide management of the materials, the term of service for the members is not finite.

3) Does the current committee membership structure make sense? Is the committee too big, too small, the right size? Please explain.

At present the committee size appears to be appropriate to meet the needs of the college. As the needs of the college change, the committee structure will be adapted.

The committee does not currently have any faculty members from liberal studies or the design arts division. The committee will solicit interested faculty to join once goals and duties are clarified.

4b) If the Committee does not include members from each Division, should it? Please explain.

It is not necessary to have all divisions represented. However, additional members have the potential to better inform the committee on issues such as technology, grant writing or simply to bring a different perspective to the group.

5a) If there are administrators on the committee (according to Dean Strickland’s committee grid), explain their role(s).

There are no administrators on the committee.

N/A

6a) If there are staff members on the committee, explain their role(s).

Director of Physical Plant, Jonathan Welden, is the Co-Chair of the committee, Carla Ruffer and Kenny Houk.

6b) If staff are members of the committee, do you feel that their roles are necessary to the successful functioning of the committee? Please explain.

Yes. All staff members involved are pivotal for success. Jonathan Welden is responsible for changes and maintenance to properties owned by the college and is therefore aware of current projects, budget and plans related to facilities. Jonathan also works with Haley Morris-Cafiero to stay up to date on EPA and OSHA regulations to guarantee MCA’s continued compliance. Kenny Houk is responsible for the shop and safety in this area is critical. Carla Ruffer directs Student Life and student safety/ wellbeing are major concerns of her position.

MCA faculty, staff and students are currently in the process of reviewing policies related to health and safety.

8) Please add any additional comments related to membership, committee structure, the appointment or election of members, participation of non-faculty members, etc.

None.

Part 4: Committee Meetings and Time Commitment

1a) On average, how many times per semester does your committee meet? Please indicate if the number of meetings varies by semester and explain why.

Committee meetings have been held once per semester. As the committee becomes more active, it is anticipated that meetings will be held 4 times per semester.

1b) Is there a set meeting schedule (e.g., once monthly, bi-weekly, etc)? If not, how does the committee determine if a meeting is necessary and who calls the meeting?

1c) If there is no set meeting schedule, do you think that there should be a set meeting schedule or a minimum number of meetings for your committee per semester? Please explain.

1d) How long is the average meeting?

One hour.

2) In general, how many hours of commitment per semester does this committee require of members?

10-15 hours.

3a) Does the committee take minutes, keep notes, or otherwise track and archive the activities of the committee?

Yes.

3b) If you do keep minutes, where are they housed? Can other faculty (or administrators) not on your committee look at these minutes easily?

Minutes are kept for the committee and may be located in the Director of Facilities office. Other faculty (or administrators) may have access to these minutes via email, phone request or by setting up an appointment.

4) Please add any additional comments on committee meetings and the time commitment required of faculty on this committee.

None.

Handbook Committee Self Study

Name of Committee: Handbook Committee

Current Committee Members (please indicate chair and any other officers):

Ellen Daugherty (Fall 2011 replacement for Joel Priddy)

Remy Miller

Haley Morris-Cafiero

Joel Priddy (Sabbatical Fall 2011)

Betty Spence

Part 1: MCA Faculty Handbook Description

1) The 2011-2012 MCA Handbook includes the following description of the Committee:

NONE (see pp. E-9, E-10)

2a) In the opinion of the committee, does the handbook description accurately describe the function, purpose, and membership of the committee? Please explain.

N/A

The Handbook Committee is a standing faculty committee whose purpose is to review the MCA Faculty Handbook and suggest both editorial changes/corrections and policy revisions to the faculty and administration. The Handbook Committee also accepts recommendations from the faculty and administration for handbook changes, and handles questions and problems that faculty or administrators may have regarding handbook policy.

Part 2: Committee Charge, Duties, and Goals

Currently, there is no charge. A possible charge might be:

The Handbook Committee shall continually and consistently review the MCA Faculty Handbook (hereafter, Handbook) and shall recommend changes in the Handbook (including prose, organization, corrections of errors, and substantive policy changes) to the faculty and the administration. The Committee shall address questions, concerns, and recommendations from the faculty and administration regarding Handbook matters. The Committee shall use appropriate means to recommend and seek approval for changes to the Handbook, including the Policy on Policies. The Committee shall be responsible for the correct and timely publication of all changes to the Handbook. The Committee shall be responsible for archiving past iterations of the Handbook and for the prompt distribution of all revisions to the Handbook to the full faculty and administration.

No and No. A proposed list of duties would include those enumerated in the proposed charge (above) and the following.

* The Committee shall report its proceedings to the faculty body in written minutes and periodic reports at faculty meetings.

3) Does the committee have a set of goals (short and/or long-term)? If so, please list them and briefly explain the process the committee used to arrive at these goals.

We discussed the following goals at our October 28, 2011 meeting:

1) To root out evil policies and recommend changes

2) To find mistakes and inconsistencies in the current Handbook and correct them

3) To improve the overall prose of the Handbook

4) To change the format of the current Handbook in order to improve its logic, its usability, and its professionalism

At faculty meetings.

Currently, there are no written reports, but we have begun keeping minutes. As yet, we do not know where these minutes will be housed other than on Ellen’s laptop.

5) Please add any additional comments about the charge, duties, and goals of the committee.

None

Part 3: Committee Membership

1a) To the best of the committee’s knowledge, how are faculty members of the currently committee chosen?

The original committee was made up of volunteers who were then affirmed by the faculty.

1b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, how do you think the members of the committee should be chosen?

It is the opinion of the members of this committee that, in general, this should be a voluntary committee with limited membership number.

2a) Do the faculty members on the committee have limited terms of service?

Not currently.

2b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, should there be terms of service? Please explain.

The committee thinks that terms should be limited. This committee should be one on which the entire faculty body serves at one time or another. By limiting terms of service, we will encourage the membership of the committee to change (new ideas, different opinions are healthy) and we will encourage a larger portion of the faculty to embrace ownership of the committee and the Handbook. The committee also suggests that the membership of the committee be reviewed annually (not yet sure by what means). The chair of the committee should be a member who has served on the committee for at least one year already. The goal is to always have a committee on which at least one person is a carry-over from the previous year—a sense of continuity and an understanding of past decisions can be maintained within the committee.

3) Does the current committee membership structure make sense? Is the committee too big, too small, the right size? Please explain.

Currently, it is too big by 1 (if Ellen stays on in the Spring when Joel returns). The committee should be 4 people.

Yes. Currently, we represent Fine Arts, Foundations, Liberal Studies, and Design Arts (when Joel returns from sabbatical). It is the opinion of the committee that having representation from all Divisions of the College is important and desirable—so we recommend this as a specification of membership.

4b) If the Committee does not include members from each Division, should it? Please explain.

See above.

5a) If there are administrators on the committee (according to Dean Strickland’s committee grid), explain their role(s).

No administrators.

No administrators should have any role on this committee.

6a) If there are staff members on the committee, explain their role(s).

N/A

6b) If staff are members of the committee, do you feel that their roles are necessary to the successful functioning of the committee? Please explain.

N/A

We don’t really know, although most of the changes that we would recommend will have to be approved by the full faculty and may have to be introduced through the Policy on Policies procedures. So our autonomy is most likely limited.

8) Please add any additional comments related to membership, committee structure, the appointment or election of members, participation of non-faculty members, etc.

None

Part 4: Committee Meetings and Time Commitment

1a) On average, how many times per semester does your committee meet? Please indicate if the number of meetings varies by semester and explain why.

This is a new committee. We have had only one meeting, so these are uncharted waters.

1b) Is there a set meeting schedule (e.g., once monthly, bi-weekly, etc)? If not, how does the committee determine if a meeting is necessary and who calls the meeting?

No set meeting schedule yet. Currently, the Chair calls the meeting.

1c) If there is no set meeting schedule, do you think that there should be a set meeting schedule or a minimum number of meetings for your committee per semester? Please explain.

Yes, In theory, the work of this committee is ongoing and substantial. In order to make the committee meaningful, we should have frequent meetings, probably one per month.

1d) How long is the average meeting?

50 minutes (lunch hour)

2) In general, how many hours of commitment per semester does this committee require of members?

Unknown, but if the committee functions as it should, probably a lot.

3a) Does the committee take minutes, keep notes, or otherwise track and archive the activities of the committee?

Yes.

3b) If you do keep minutes, where are they housed? Can other faculty (or administrators) not on your committee look at these minutes easily?

Unknown at this moment. Currently, Ellen has the minutes but they have not been archived in an easily accessible place.

4) Please add any additional comments on committee meetings and the time commitment required of faculty on this committee.

None.

General Education Committee Self Study

Name of Committee: General Education Committee

Current Committee Members (please indicate chair and any other officers):

Betty Spence (chair)

Adrian Duran

Tom Lee

Remy Miler

Haley Cafiero (Institutional Effectiveness consultant)

Part 1: MCA Faculty Handbook Description

1) The 2011-2012 MCA Handbook includes the following description of the Committee:

None (see E-9 and E-10)

2a) In the opinion of the committee, does the handbook description accurately describe the function, purpose, and membership of the committee? Please explain.

n/a

Writes and regularly reviews General Education competencies. Responsible for seeing that Gen Ed competencies are met. Analyzes Gen Ed assessment data and suggests changes based on that data.

Part 2: Committee Charge, Duties, and Goals

There is no formal charge. The description above serves (at this time) also as a charge.

The duties so far have consisted of writing a set of school-wide Gen Ed competencies, deciding upon two places to measure those competencies (one at senior level), writing rubrics to be used to measure those competencies. Future duties will be to look at data from the assessments that are done each semester and suggest/implement change based on that data. In short, the committee has the responsibility of seeing that the General Education competencies are being met.

3) Does the committee have a set of goals (short and/or long-term)? If so, please list them and briefly explain the process the committee used to arrive at these goals.

The goal of the committee is to oversee the Gen Ed program in order to keep us accredited. This goal was basically handed to us out of the necessity of our current pursuit of SACS reaccreditation

The committee has not yet reported to the faculty or administration in writing, other than by writing the Gen Ed goals and presenting them to the faculty for vote. If the committee continues as is apparently warranted by the description, charge, and goals above, then it will be making at least yearly reports to the faculty and the academic dean.

5) Please add any additional comments about the charge, duties, and goals of the committee.

The charge, duties, description, and goals of the committee as stated above seemingly warrant its existence as a standing committee or some permanent entity of the college. Because we must continually “close the loop,” there is no opportunity for this committee to dissolve, as much as we might like it to.

Part 3: Committee Membership

1a) To the best of the committee’s knowledge, how are faculty members of the currently committee chosen?

Current committee members were nominated and elected by the faculty, with the exception of Haley Cafiero, who serves as consultant/liaison to the SACS reaccreditation process. Haley replaces Patti Hollifield, original Institutional Effectiveness coordinator (no longer employed by MCA), who was a non-elected member of the committee.

1b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, how do you think the members of the committee should be chosen?

As stated above. The current election process is fine. If the committee continues, there will probably be a yearly process of members rotating off and being replaced with a newly-elected member. Terms of office have not been established.

2a) Do the faculty members on the committee have limited terms of service?

Not yet established.

2b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, should there be terms of service? Please explain.

There should be a process by which members rotate off, or elect to rotate off, the committee. The entire committee should not rotate at once, however, for purposes of continuity. None of this has been established and won’t be established until and unless the committee becomes a standing committee.

3) Does the current committee membership structure make sense? Is the committee too big, too small, the right size? Please explain.

Committee size is just right. Structure could change if/when the definition of Gen Ed is pinned down to exactly which departments it encompasses.

The committee currently has representation from Liberal Studies, Art History, Foundations, and Fine Arts. It has no representation from Design Arts. To the best of my memory, the membership was nominated to represent the divisions/departments directly involved in General Education, with Tom Lee as a member at large (?).

4b) If the Committee does not include members from each Division, should it? Please explain.

As yet to be determined. Even the definition of Gen Ed is in debate right now. Once it is firmly established what divisions are included in General Education, we can look again at the makeup of the committee.

5a) If there are administrators on the committee (according to Dean Strickland’s committee grid), explain their role(s).

Currently Remy Miller, Academic Dean, is on the committee, but he does not sit on the committee as dean; in other words, he was elected as a faculty member to the committee and has only recently stepped up to the dean’s position. Whether Remy will continue to serve on the committee has not yet been addressed. There is no role for an administrator on the committee.

There is no role for an administrator on the committee.

6a) If there are staff members on the committee, explain their role(s).

There are no staff members on the committee.

6b) If staff are members of the committee, do you feel that their roles are necessary to the successful functioning of the committee? Please explain.

n/a

7) To what extent are the decisions of your committee autonomous? In other words, do you make decisions that do not go to the full faculty for approval? Or do you make recommendations that then must be approved by the faculty or others? Please explain. The committee wrote the Gen Ed competencies that went to full faculty for approval. The rubrics based on those competencies did not go to the faculty for approval. In “closing the loop,” faculty can make recommendations to faculty and/or administration, but I assume that it can take no action based on assessment data without approvals from either administration or faculty (depending on what recommendations are made). If rubrics are revised, I assume the committee will take the authority to do that without approval.

8) Please add any additional comments related to membership, committee structure, the appointment or election of members, participation of non-faculty members, etc.

No additional comments.

Part 4: Committee Meetings and Time Commitment

1a) On average, how many times per semester does your committee meet? Please indicate if the number of meetings varies by semester and explain why.

The committee met 8 times this semester. With rubrics written and in place, I assume that meetings will be less frequent in the future.

1b) Is there a set meeting schedule (e.g., once monthly, bi-weekly, etc)? If not, how does the committee determine if a meeting is necessary and who calls the meeting?

The committee meetings this semester were determined by how close we were to having completed rubrics and the nearness of the deadline for completing them. Deadline was determined by when they will be used (review committees and BFA assessment).

1c) If there is no set meeting schedule, do you think that there should be a set meeting schedule or a minimum number of meetings for your committee per semester? Please explain.

Once Gen Ed processes are in place and running well, meetings will probably be monthly or perhaps even bi-monthly.

1d) How long is the average meeting?

One hour

2) In general, how many hours of commitment per semester does this committee require of members?

Wow. In addition to the 8 hours of meeting time, I would imagine that members have spent at least that much more in developing rubrics and reading emails. So 16-20 hours so far this semester.

3a) Does the committee take minutes, keep notes, or otherwise track and archive the activities of the committee?

The chair writes minutes and distributes them to the committee members for approval.

3b) If you do keep minutes, where are they housed? Can other faculty (or administrators) not on your committee look at these minutes easily?

At present, they are housed on Betty Spence’s computer. Other faculty or administrators would have to request to see them.

4) Please add any additional comments on committee meetings and the time commitment required of faculty on this committee.

The Gen Ed committee has become a huge responsibility for its members and an important piece of the SACS puzzle. The time commitment will lessen somewhat once our assessment processes get rolling, but there will always be more work to be done.

The committee has given Betty Spence full authority to write this report, and she is its sole author. The report is being distributed to committee members, who may have additions or corrections to the statements herein.

Gallery Committee Self Study

Name of Committee: Gallery Committee

Current Committee Members (please indicate chair and any other officers):

Elizabeth Brown

Don DuMont

Tom Lee

Susan Maakestad

Hannah Park

Bill Price

Jennifer Sargent - Chair

Zark Strasburger

Cynthia Thompson

Leandra Urrutia

Jennifer Gonzales

Cat Pena

Part 1: MCA Faculty Handbook Description

1) The 2011-2012 MCA Handbook includes the following description of the Committee:

Gallery—Will assist in the hanging and installation exhibits for MCA’s galleries for the academic year. Membership: Ten F-T faculty members and Work Study assistants.

2a) In the opinion of the committee, does the handbook description accurately describe the function, purpose, and membership of the committee? Please explain.

For most of the Fall ’11 semester there have been 8 members and two graduate TA/work study assistants. There are currently 12 members (including chair) but this number has not yet been tried in practise. More members have become necessary because of varied teaching schedules and the difficulty of having enough people to help at any one time.

The committee does what is stated

(Elizabeth) should read “Will assist in the hanging and installation of exhibits for MCA’s . .”

We could include de-installation in the description

(Cynthia) some weekend and/or weeknight hours are necessary for the installation of exhibitions in a timely manner.

Add: This may entail working evenings, weekends or during the holidays in order to fulfill exhibition schedule

Part 2: Committee Charge, Duties, and Goals

(Tom) No. description is adequate for now.

(Cynthia) Not sure if it really states it clearly but the committee is charged with, under the direction of the chair, seeing that the exhibition schedule is accurately implemented and completed.

(Tom) No. The chair asks ahead of time if we (or I) am able to do such and such which is usually an individual requirement related to a specific need.

(Elizabeth) The chair of the committee sends a written list of specific duties via email to all members asking for their preferences. (These duties change from year to year based on the current exhibition schedule.) Tasks are delegated to the entire committee by dividing the workload as evenly as possible.

Generally these duties consist of moving and placing work, installing work, possibly working at the opening of a show, taking down work (including patching, painting and plastering), packing work for shipment,

(Cynthia) The committee follows the set of duties for each exhibition listed by the Chair. These include receiving and unpacking works arriving for an exhibition, making sure they arrive in good condition – filling out a condition report, placing the works with the assistance of the Chair,

hanging the exhibition, clean up, assistance with receptions if necessary, attendance at said events, de-installing exhibitions, prepping walls for next exhibition, packing works to be return shipped. Clean up, maintenance of storage and gallery equipment etc…

3) Does the committee have a set of goals (short and/or long-term)? If so, please list them and briefly explain the process the committee used to arrive at these goals.

(Elizabeth) Our unwritten major goal seems to be to enable the installation and deinstallation of professional exhibits in all of the MCA galleries to share both with the MCA community as well as the public at large.

(Tom)We have not normally met as a committee. There are sometimes “meetings” at the beginning of an installing session.

(Cynthia) The director in association with the pr and director of development/VP Kim Williams should construct goals together to meet the mission of the college.

This committee carries out all the practical work necessary to ensure that exhibitions are installed/deinstalled according to the schedule set for the school year in the preceding Spring semester.

(Tom) Chair meets with administration or staff to request and report. No written reports that I’m aware of.

5) Please add any additional comments about the charge, duties, and goals of the committee.

(Cynthia) A yearly schedule of duties and who works when would be nice to have planned out in advance so that we can each plan our schedules and know when we are needed to work.

I list exhibition tasks together with number of people needed at either the end or the beginning of each semester. I know teaching schedules before I send out this request to committee members

Part 3: Committee Membership

1a) To the best of the committee’s knowledge, how are faculty members of the currently committee chosen?

(Susan) appointed

(Elizabeth) I believe it is decided by the Dean and the Faculty Representative based both on a faculty member’s preference and where there is a need for members.

(Cynthia) The dean places people on committees, supposedly after talking to faculty to determine if they would be best to serve on that particular committee

(Tom) I volunteer but I’m not sure that’s normal.

1b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, how do you think the members of the committee should be chosen?

(Cynthia) I think EVERYONE should at one time serve on this committee. It is a lot of work but supports our mission of the college. Even if you are a liberal arts prof you have something to add by being on this committee and can gain experience. Too often this committee is made up of the same people over and over. It is not fair to be honest.

(Tom) Volunteer first, then draft.

2a) Do the faculty members on the committee have limited terms of service?

(Susan) no

(Elizabeth) not that I am aware of

(Cynthia) Not sure

(Tom) Don’t know.

Don’t know

2b) If it is not explicitly stated in the description/rules/by-laws of the committee, should there be terms of service? Please explain.

(Elizabeth) Not for this particular committee since there is always a need for help with exhibitions.

(Cynthia) I think so

(Susan) Yes, there should be term limits. Have people cycle in and out. If someone really enjoys being on the committee he/she could elect to remain. It’s a good experience that others at the college should experience. It is truly a service-oriented committee. Without the committee, there would be no shows hanging in the 3-4 galleries.

3) Does the current committee membership structure make sense? Is the committee too big, too small, the right size? Please explain.

(Elizabeth) It seems to be the right size.

(Cynthia) This committee should be made up of a lot of faculty because exhibitions are in multiple galleries and we all have varied teaching schedules – it’s difficult to hang a show with only 3 people when that is all who can show up.

(Susan) I have no idea why I was originally appointed to this committee, as I had no background in the duties involved. I have learned a lot.

(Tom) It’s a good size when everyone shows up.

I will be able to tell at the end of spring semester as committee is now larger than it has been before

(Cynthia) No, it could have more

(Elizabeth) I do feel having practicing artists/designers on the committee is important. There is plenty to do however, so having some members from Liberal Studies seems fine as long as they are willing to learn.

(Tom) Don’t know but it’s a good point that any area required to put anything on a wall (or floor, or pedestal…) should be available to help…..or learn and help….or at least pick up stuff.

It’s a good theory but having faculty members who hate doing the work makes the gallery job harder for all members of the committee and particularly the chair. There are also faculty with physical problems who cannot do the work.

4b) If the Committee does not include members from each Division, should it? Please explain.

(Susan) Representatives from all divisions makes sense, service-wise.

5a) If there are administrators on the committee (according to Dean Strickland’s committee grid), explain their role(s).

6a) If there are staff members on the committee, explain their role(s).

Cat Pena has just been added to committee and has already proved very useful in being based at The Nesin Grad School. Her availability is limited by her job at 477 store. Jennifer Gonzales is both staff and faculty, also based downtown, and is also limited by her work schedule - full time including some evenings.

(Elizabeth) Since the bulk of the committee work is spent hands-on working in the galleries, there really isn’t a lot of discussion taking place that lends itself to inclusion of diverse experiences (as may be the case on other committees). Certainly, the help of administrators and/or staff is welcome especially if they have prior experience setting up and taking down exhibitions.

6b) If staff are members of the committee, do you feel that their roles are necessary to the successful functioning of the committee? Please explain.

(Elizabeth) Since members divide the tasks, everyone’s role is important. It is not as if staff is completing tasks that are different from anyone else’s.

(Tom) Probably, given the nature of funding for the committee work.

The particular people chosen for the committee are an excellent addition although I expect them to be mostly of use downtown. I will see next semester if they have enough time available to help with installation/deinstallation of exhibitions.

(Cynthia) the director of exhibitions, the chair, has oversight and vision for the gallery which we as a committee follow. We are always able to curate or propose a project for support

8) Please add any additional comments related to membership, committee structure, the appointment or election of members, participation of non-faculty members, etc.

Part 4: Committee Meetings and Time Commitment

1a) On average, how many times per semester does your committee meet? Please indicate if the number of meetings varies by semester and explain why.

(Cynthia) We should meet once a semester to receive a calendar of duties revolving around each exhibition and visiting artist

(Elizabeth) We don’t hold official committee meetings per se, although we communicate via email (for scheduling in particular). This seems to be an efficient way for our group to communicate. We also meet with other members during work sessions for a particular exhibit.

(Tom) Only when we install.

We get together at the beginning and end of exhibitions, this means that obligations extend outside of semesters.

Hyde: Fall, 2 exhibitions, one to be installed before the beginning of the semester; Spring, 1 exhibition; Summer, 1 exhibition (installed/de-installed outside of spring semester)

Rust Hall: Main Gallery: Fall, 2 exhibitions - 1 installation outside of semester; Spring, 3 exhibitions – 1 deinstallation, 1 installed/deinstalled outside of semester

Lower Gallery: 2 exhibitions per semester

Alumni Gallery: TA responsibility if I have grads assigned, 3 exhibitions a semester

1b) Is there a set meeting schedule

(e.g., once monthly, bi-weekly, etc)? If not, how does the committee determine if a meeting is necessary and who calls the meeting?

(Elizabeth) None currently. If a meeting were necessary, the committee head would contact the committee members via email and ask us to meet.

(Cynthia) The director of exhibitions calls meeting when and if necessary

No, see above

1c) If there is no set meeting schedule, do you think that there should be a set meeting schedule or a minimum number of meetings for your committee per semester? Please explain.

(Susan) No. We don’t need meetings. Jennifer is able to conduct business via email.

(Elizabeth) Our current method of scheduling and communicating (via email several times a semester) seems to work efficiently.

(Cynthia) Once a semester to go over the events for the year as a group , the entire schedule could be set very easily in one meeting.

No because of nature of duties

1d) How long is the average meeting?

Until exhibition is complete, 3 / 4 hours but can be longer

2) In general, how many hours of commitment per semester does this committee require of members?

(Susan) I estimate 12-15 hours per faculty member per semester.

(Elizabeth) About 10-20 hours.

(Cynthia) I would say roughly around 20 hours a semester

(Tom) Depends how many shows we work on and what jobs we have to do. I’ve not kept track of my own hours, but installing the current show downtown (Adrift) I helped for about 6 hours and expect the uninstalling to take as long.

Depends on exhibition requirements and class and holiday schedules of committee members

3a) Does the committee take minutes, keep notes, or otherwise track and archive the activities of the committee?

3b) If you do keep minutes, where are they housed? Can other faculty (or administrators) not on your committee look at these minutes easily?

4) Please add any additional comments on committee meetings and the time commitment required of faculty on this committee.

(Susan) The gallery committee hangs most of the shows in Rust Hall and in the Grad Center. We take down the work and pack it for shipping. We work days, nights, weekends and during holidays. We can’t merely meet at noon during the semester to conduct our business. The work is done behind the scenes. While the shows are noticed, the work of the committee is not. It may appear to the MCA community as if the shows magically appear for all to appreciate. Because of that our participation on the committee does not go appreciated. I have been criticized for not doing committee work! The committee is invisible to the rest of the faculty. That is partly why I suggest that there be term limits for this committee. Faculty can volunteer to stay on, but others will be enlisted so that all will understand the valuable work of the committee. Otherwise, perhaps this work should not be done by faculty at all, but by students. We may need to start a Gallery Management class.

Dates to Remember 2012-2013

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Library Committee Self Study

Health and Safety Committee Self Study

Handbook Committee Self Study

General Education Committee Self Study

Gallery Committee Self Study