All past Board of Trustees resolutions are accessible to the public. Materials from the current year are available below and copies of past materials are available by request. Please email Eileen Hughes at [email protected] or Dr. Virginia Meléndez at [email protected] request past board materials. Thank you.
Resolution 1-2025: Strengthening the Community College Presidential Search Process and Ensuring Transparency and Accountability
Date: February 6, 2025
To: Board of Trustees
From: L’Tanya M. Watkins, Board Chair
Subject: Strengthening the Community College Presidential Search Process and Ensuring Transparency and Accountability
MOTION
A motion by Trustee Yeger, second by Vice Chair Stilley, and
WHEREAS, On November 12, 2024, the State University of New York (“SUNY”) Board of Trustees adopted a resolution regarding “Strengthening the Community College Presidential Search Process and Ensuring Transparency and Accountability” (the “Resolution”) which amends the SUNY Guidelines for Presidential Searches for Community Colleges (the “SUNY Guidelines”); and
WHEREAS, The Chancellor of SUNY and other SUNY officials have taken action(s) in furtherance of the aforesaid Resolution, including implementing new requirements regarding the employment contract of community college presidents; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Trustees of Rockland Community College has been advised that the adoption and implementation of said Resolution exceeds the statutory authority granted to the SUNY Board, in contravention to statute and existing policy and/or guidelines; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Trustees of Rockland Community College has further been advised that the SUNY Board failed to promulgate the new rules/requirements contained in the Resolution pursuant to the State Administrative Procedure Act’s statutorily required rulemaking procedure; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Trustees of Rockland Community College has determined that it is in its best interest to institute legal action, and/or take any other appropriate legal action to protect its rights, authority and autonomy as it relates to the Community College Presidential Search Process.
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of Rockland Community College hereby appoints Ingerman Smith, LLP, as Special Counsel for the purpose of commencing legal action against the SUNY Board of Trustees, the Chancellor of SUNY, Dr. John King, and/or any other proper parties on a cooperative basis with other community colleges and/or parties in the State Supreme Court, County of Albany, and/or other appropriate administrative agency(ies), jurisdiction(s) and/or tribunal(s), challenging the legality of the action(s) taken by SUNY related to the Resolution, the legality of the Resolution and the action(s) that the Chancellor of SUNY and others have taken in furtherance of the aforesaid Resolution and/or take any other appropriate legal action to address issues relating to the Resolution and its impact on the interests, rights, autonomy and authority of the Rockland Community College; and
RESOLVED, That the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Rockland Community College is herewith authorized to execute a retainer agreement with Ingerman Smith, LLP, and any other necessary documentation relative to this appointment, on behalf of the Board.
Action
Yeas: Watkins, Eckert, Gruber, Stilley, Valentine, Wortendyke and Yeger
Nays: 0
Abstentions: None
Motion passed: 7 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions
February 6, 2025
Resolution 2-2025: Approval for Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2025-2026 3rd Year
Date: February 24, 2025
To: Board of Trustees
From: Dr. Scott J. Kalicki, Officer in Charge
Subject: Approval for Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2025-2026 3rd Year
WHEREAS, The Agreement by and between SUNY Rockland Community College, the County of Rockland and the Rockland Community College Federation of Teachers (RCCFT) Local 1871 requires that persons with term appointments be notified of their reappointment by the last day of February; and
WHEREAS, The SUNY Rockland Community College Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion (RTP) Policy requires that each candidate be reviewed and evaluated for renewal by a College RTP Committee; and
WHEREAS, The following non-tenured faculty have submitted to the RTP process and have been reviewed by a College RTP Committee and are recommended for reappointment by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; and
WHEREAS, The Officer-in-Charge has reviewed the recommendations of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the College RTP Committees, and the faculty will be sent the required notification by February 28, 2025; be it therefore
RESOLVED, That the SUNY Rockland Community College Board of Trustees approves the reappointment of the following non-tenured faculty, to their third year, for one academic year beginning September 1, 2025:
Third Year:
Angela Northrup
Dina Mounitz
Gaelle Duvivier
Kathlen Shankar
Resolution 3-2025: Approval for Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2025-2026 4th Year
Date: February 24, 2025
To: Board of Trustees
From: Dr. Scott J. Kalicki, Officer in Charge
Subject: Approval for Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2025-2026 4th Year
WHEREAS, The Agreement by and between SUNY Rockland Community College, the County of Rockland and the Rockland Community College Federation of Teachers (RCCFT) Local 1871 requires that persons with term appointments be notified of their reappointment by the last day of February; and
WHEREAS, The SUNY Rockland Community College Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion (RTP) Policy requires that each candidate be reviewed and evaluated for renewal by a College RTP Committee; and
WHEREAS, The following non-tenured faculty have submitted to the RTP process and have been reviewed by a College RTP Committee and are recommended for reappointment by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; and
WHEREAS, The Officer-in-Charge has reviewed the recommendations of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the College RTP Committees, and the faculty will be sent the required notification by February 28, 2025; be it therefore
RESOLVED, That the SUNY Rockland Community College Board of Trustees approves the reappointment of the following non-tenured faculty, to their fourth year, for one academic year beginning September 1, 2025:
Fourth Year:
Richard Ahrens
Stacy Casden
Rose Frowd
Marci Manela
Karen Schaffer
Matthew Siciliano
Dr. Kamil Woronowicz
Resolution 4-2025: Approval for Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2025-2026 5th Year
Date: February 24, 2025
To: Board of Trustees
From: Dr. Scott J. Kalicki, Officer in Charge
Subject: Approval for Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2025-2026 5th Year
WHEREAS, The Agreement by and between SUNY Rockland Community College, the County of Rockland and the Rockland Community College Federation of Teachers (RCCFT) Local 1871 requires that persons with term appointments be notified of their reappointment by the last day of February; and
WHEREAS, The SUNY Rockland Community College Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion (RTP) Policy requires that each candidate be reviewed and evaluated for renewal by a School RTP Committee; and
WHEREAS, The following non-tenured faculty have submitted to the RTP process and have been reviewed by a College RTP Committee and are recommended for reappointment by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; and
WHEREAS, The Officer-in-Charge has reviewed the recommendations of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the School RTP Committees, and the faculty will be sent the required notification by February 28, 2025; be it therefore
RESOLVED, That the SUNY Rockland Community College Board of Trustees approves the reappointment of the following non-tenured faculty, to their fifth year, for one academic year beginning September 1, 2025:
Fifth Year:
Amy Burgess
Dr. Alexander Brown
Nancy Chiocchi-McMorrow
Jeannine Kennedy
Martha Krawczyk
James Lee
Clare O’Dowd
Nancy Rosen
Dr. Rebha Sabharwal
Dr. Egbert Shillingford
Resolution 5-2025: Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2025-2026
Date: February 24, 2025
To: Board of Trustees
From: Dr. Scott J. Kalicki, Officer in Charge
Subject: Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2025-2026
WHEREAS, The Agreement by and between SUNY Rockland Community College, the County of Rockland and the Rockland Community College Federation of Teachers (RCCFT) Local 1871 requires that persons with term appointments be notified of their reappointment by the last day of February; and
WHEREAS, The SUNY Rockland Community College Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion (RTP) Policy requires that each candidate be reviewed and evaluated for renewal by a College RTP Committee; and
WHEREAS, The following non-tenured faculty has submitted to the RTP process and has been reviewed by a College RTP Committee and is recommended for non-reappointment by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; and
WHEREAS, The Officer-in-Charge has reviewed the recommendations of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the College RTP Committees, and the faculty will be sent the required notification by February 28, 2025; be it therefore
RESOLVED, That the SUNY Rockland Community College Board of Trustees approves the nonreappointment of the following non-tenured faculty, to the fifth year, effective June 30, 2025:
Non-Reappointment:
Bryan Berndt
Resolution 6-2025: Appointment of Director of Admissions
Date: February 24, 2025
To: Board of Trustees
From: Dr. Scott J. Kalicki, Officer in Charge
Subject: Appointment of Director of Admissions
WHEREAS, By Resolution 23-2023, the Rockland Community College Board of Trustees delegated hiring authority up to the level of Dean and Director to the Rockland Community College President without future Board approval; and
WHEREAS, The College has identified a need for a Director of Admissions, responsible for the admission and recruitment of students, and the oversight of recruitment and enrollment technologies. The Director is responsible for the hiring, evaluation and supervision of the admissions, operations and recruitment teams, as well as the recruitment and implementation of all specialty programs, such as the High School Program and Early Admits; and
WHEREAS, The College has conducted a full and open search to identify the most qualified individual for the position of Director of Admissions; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Rockland Community College Board of Trustees approves the appointment of Jason Hand to the position of Director of Admissions at an annual salary of $98,000.
(DRAFT) Resolution 1-2025: Approval to amend the Academic Grading Policy
Date: January 27, 2025
To: Board of Trustees
From: Dr. Scott Kalicki, Officer in Charge
Subject: Approval to amend the Academic Grading Policy
WHEREAS, The current Academic Grading policy was reviewed and modified by the Academic Standards Committee; and
WHEREAS, The Faculty Senate recommends this policy be amended in order to ensure that the policy meets the standards set forth by Rockland Community College; and
WHEREAS, The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs reviewed the above referenced academic grading policy and recommends approval of the amendment to the policy; and
WHEREAS, The Officer-in-Charge endorses this recommendation; be it therefore
RESOLVED, That the Rockland Community College Board of Trustees amends this policy to
read as follows:
Amended Academic Grading Policy
The following grades are assigned by the instructor as an evaluation of the level of achievement in a course and are used to calculate the student’s overall grade point average:
| Grade | Quality Points Per Credit |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
| NA | 0.0 |
| I | 0.0 |
Repeated Courses
When a student repeats a course, only the higher grade is used to calculate the cumulative grade point average (GPA). If the same grade is earned both times, it is only counted once in the student’s average. Although only the higher grade is used to calculate the cumulative GPA, both grades appear on the official transcript.
In addition, the following grades may be assigned to students but are not part of the student’s overall grade point average:
P: Pass
- Students should consult with an academic advisor or the Program Director since many degree programs do not permit students to select the P/F option for certain required courses.
- A grade of “P” indicates performance at a level of “D” or better. Students should be aware that courses graded with just a passing grade may not be granted transfer credit by other colleges.
AU: Audit
To audit a course means to register and attend the class sessions but not be responsible for written assignments or examinations and not receive a grade. A student registers to audit a course by submitting an approval request form to the Records Office by the deadline published on the College website. Once these forms are filed, the student may not change his/her option.
I: Incomplete
A faculty member may assign an Incomplete grade (I) to a student when a student is unable to complete coursework by the end of the semester/part of term due to an extenuating circumstance. The student must have made significant measurable progress in the course and have an overall passing grade for the work completed, as determined by the instructor.
NA: Never Attended
An NA grade is issued by an instructor when a student has never attended the course but has failed to officially drop the course. An NA grade does not affect a student’s grade point average and may not be used as a basis for tuition refunds or appeals.
W: Withdrawal
A “W” indicated official withdrawal from a course after the refund period has ended.
Courses officially dropped during the refund period do not appear on the student’s
transcript.
X Grade
When tuition is refunded because of the tuition appeal process, the grade of “X” may be issued by the College to indicate that the student has been withdrawn from their class(es) and that their tuition was refunded, eliminating their financial obligation to the College while preserving the acknowledgement of their attendance.
(DRAFT) Resolution 2-2025: Approval to amend the policy on Academic Freedom
Date: January 27, 2025
To: Board of Trustees
From: Dr. Scott Kalicki, Officer in Charge
Subject: Approval to amend the policy on Academic Freedom
WHEREAS, Rockland Community College (RCC) as a unit of the State University of New York (SUNY), observes general SUNY policies, and follows SUNY guidelines overseeing all teaching and learning activities; and
WHEREAS, As SUNY’s Academic Freedom policy only applies to the state-operated campuses there is a need for RCC to have an approved policy on Academic Freedom; and
WHEREAS, The Faculty Senate has approved the adoption of the Academic Freedom Policy (see attached) authored by the SUNY Faculty Counsel and approved by the SUNY Board of Trustees, which is included in the SUNY Policies of the Board of Trustees dated April 2024; and
WHEREAS, The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs reviewed the above referenced policy and recommends adoption of the amendment to SUNY’s academic freedom policy; and
WHEREAS, The Officer-in-Charge endorses this recommendation; be it therefore
RESOLVED, That the Rockland Community College Board of Trustees approves the procedures set by SUNY regarding Academic Freedom
Academic Freedom Current Policy
The Rockland Community College Board of Trustees reaffirmed the policy of the State University of New York cited below. This policy on academic freedom is embodied in Article XI, Title I of the Policies of the Board, section 335.27 of Title 8 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York.
The teacher is entitled to a full academic freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of his other academic duties, but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of this institution.
The teacher is entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing his or her subject, but he or she should be careful not to introduce in his or her teaching controversial matter which has no relation to his or her subject. Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of the institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of the appointment.
The college or university teacher is a citizen, a member of a learned profession, and an officer of an educational institution. When one speaks or writes as a citizen, one should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but one’s special obligations. As a person or learning and an educational office, one should remember that the public may judge one’s profession and institution by one’s utterances. Hence, one should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinion of others, and should make every effort to indicate one is not an institutional spokesperson.
Proposed New Policy
The Rockland Community College Board of Trustees reaffirmed the policy of the State University of New York cited below. This policy on academic freedom is embodied in Article XI, Title I of the Policies of the Board of Trustees.
It is the policy of the University to maintain and encourage full freedom, within the law, of inquiry, teaching, and research. In the exercise of this freedom, faculty members may, without limitation, discuss their own subject in the classroom; they may not, however, claim as their right the privilege of discussing in their classroom controversial matter that has no relation to their subject. The principles of academic freedom shall be accompanied by a corresponding principle of responsibility. In their role as citizens, employees have the same freedoms as other citizens. However, in their extramural utterances, employees have an obligation to indicate that they are not institutional spokespersons.