Minutes
EMERITUS FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING
9:30 a.m. Monday, May 6, 2024
(2070E UCC, With Zoom Connection.)
President Berman called the meeting to order at 9:33
Roll Call:
EFC Members Attending: Christopher Atchison, Constance Berman, Warren Boe, Russell Lenth, Mary Ann Rasmussen, Carol Scott-Connor, Bernard Sorofman, Shelton Stromquist
EFC Members Absent: Ana Diaz-Arnold, Minnetta Gardinier, Diane Huber, Sheldon Kurtz, Jacob Odgaard, William Silverman, John Westefeld, Tricia Zebrowski
Other participants: Ann Howard, Office of the Provost; Robin Clark-Bennett, Director, The University of Iowa Labor Center
Approval of Minutes. Approval of the minutes for April 2024 was deferred. The April and May draft minutes will be mailed to EFC for final approval.
New Emeritus Faculty
Name College Retirement Date
Richard Wagner CDEN-Dental Clinic Admin January 5, 2024
William Sharp CCOM-Surgery April 4, 2024
John Murry CBUS-Marketing May 14, 2024
Laurie Croft CEDU-Belin Blank Center June 3, 2024
Danielle Kelsay CLAS-Communication Sci & Disorders June 3, 2024
Marianne Smith CNUR June 14, 2024
Benjamin Hunnicutt CLAS- Health & Human Physiology June 30, 2024
Suely Oliveira CLAS-Computer Science June 30, 2024
Arthur Spisak CLAS-Classics June 30, 2024
Daniel Weeks CCOM-Biochemistry July 5, 2024
Andrea Porter CCOM-Pediatrics August 10, 2024
John Allen CLAW August 23, 2024
Recently Deceased Emeritus Faculty
Name College Date
Jimmy R. Pinkham CDEN April 13, 2024
Moment of Silence in Remembrance
Reports from EFC Committees
Elections – Diane Huber, Mary Ann Rasmussen, Bill Silverman (Berman, ex officio) Ballots have been returned and candidates elected.
Program – Ana Diaz-Arnold, Sheldon Kurtz, John Westefeld (Berman, ex officio) No report
Lecture Series – Carol Scott-Conner, Shelton Stromquist – Carol reported on the lectures for the last semester – report on file. Now soliciting speakers for the Fall
Webpage – Russell Lenth, Minnetta Gardinier, Bernard Sorofman – Lenth said videos of recent lectures have been linked in the lecture descriptions on the website.
Reports from Liaisons to University Committees
Campus Planning: Jacob Odgaard – no report
Faculty Senate and Council: Minnetta Gardinier & Mary Ann Rasmussen – Mary Ann Rasmussen reported there was discussion about role of VPR, faculty tracks and the grievance procedures and student enrollment – approved minutes for the Faculty Senate can be found at this site: https://faculty-senate.uiowa.edu/meetings/meeting-archive
FRIC: Sheldon Kurtz & William Silverman – no report – approved minutes for the FRIC can be found at this site: https://fric.sites.uiowa.edu/meetings-minutes/approved-meeting-minutes-fy24
Hancher and Art Museum: Ana Diaz-Arnold & Bernard Sorofman – Sorofman will be reaching out to create to ensure better communication with the two organizations.
Libraries: Russell Lenth & Diane Huber – Library meeting will be held in the afternoon of May 6th.
Parking and Transportation: Warren Boe & Carol Scott Conner – Boe went to the May 3rd meeting. Discussion included the fact that parking fees are being increased, for the first time since 2016. Notices on details will be sent out very soon. It was also noted that the implications for IRS taxes may be felt.
Boe also noted a new parking ramp is being constructed and 4 electric busses being purchased.
President’s Committee on Athletics: John Westefeld & Tricia Zebrowski – no report
Recreational Services: Christopher Atchison – reported on campus plans and wellness. Report on website
Research Council: Shelton Stromquist – Stromquist reported that there are 29 applicants for candidates to fill the VPR, candidate visits to campus are being scheduled.
There are also two committees working: 1. A Benchmarking committee to assess college level support services. 2. A Conversations committee, on which he is a member to have discussions with faculty re support pre and post award. He will meet with Berman, Lenth and Sorofman to discuss this work further.
Senior College: Warren Boe – Boe reported that there will be 11 courses presented this semester attracting about 1,200 students. He also highlighted the last two courses: 1) Hemingway and the Writer's Vocation led by John Raeburn and 2) Germany's Three B's: Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms led by Ed Kottick.
Berman applauded Boe’s service this year, filling in for Cathy Cole.
New Business:
Lenth announced that Minnetta Gardinier and Chris Atchison have agreed to serve in 2024-25 as Vice President pro tempore and Secretary pro tempore, until an official election is held for those EFC offices.
Berman thanked Ann Howard for her support services during the last year.
Berman then conducted a general discussion of the Annual Meeting procedures.
Guest Speaker Introduction:
Stromquist introduced Robin Clark-Bennett. She joined the Labor Center from 2002-2004 to work on the Child Labor Public Education Project, a two-year initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. She returned to the Labor Center as an educator in 2008, served as lead instructor for a 2010-2012 U.S. Department of Justice funded regional public education project on the workplace nondiscrimination rights of immigrant workers, and was appointed Director in 2021.
Clark-Bennett described the history of the Center noting 70 years of programming generally focused on short courses addressing labor and workplace issues beginning during tenure of Pres Hancher. They offer 80 – 90 classes per year, across state with customized classes on topics of relevance to local workers. She also noted that this a unique program within the state University system.
Clark-Bennett highlighted the range of issues the Center has addressed with emphasis on environmental law, child labor and equity in the workplace. She reported that 1,936 individuals have participated in their educational programs since July 2023.
Clark-Bennett noted that programs are offered across the state, including 60 counties in the last 6 months.
Clark-Bennett also discussed their budget. Expenditures have been around $600,000/year but announced that the Center will no longer receive GEF funds from the University. Consequently, they are pursuing grants and contracts. She listed grants amounting to about 400,000 but noted that F/A deductions reduce the amount available for programing. She also announced a fundraising campaign with a $160,000 goal.
Discussion
Rasmussen applauded the work of the Center with small staff and asked about fundraising.
Lenth said the programs are a clear benefit to the State.
Stromquist asked for info about programs addressing equity and women in the workforce. Clark-Bennett described leadership/educational conferences for women in construction.
Lenth asked about connections to farming, Clark-Bennett responded that they work with churches and NFPs to address farm issues/workers.
Berman adjourned the meeting at 11:00