December 2, 2003
Minutes

 

Present:  Alcorn, Blackwell, Clapp, Davenport, Haynes, Hernandez, Jaso, McGuill, Peace, Post, Rivera, Ross, Russell, Saxon, Simons, Smith, Soto, Stafford, Walker, Ward.

 

Absent:  Brockman, Goodson, Hales, Kvinta, McCrohan, Moya, Murphy, O’Connor, Reddell.

 

I.  Organizational Business

 

A.  Approval of minutes:  The minutes of the September 2, 2003 meeting were approved as written.

 

 

II.  President’s Report

 

A.  UHV fundraising efforts have been quite successful.  To date, $243,000 has been pledged for the Friends of the University (FOU) Campaign, including the Endowment Angels campaign.  The Houston Endowment was very pleased with our progress in the Access to Success Program and invited the university to submit another request. To date, they have fulfilled $125,000 of the $175,000 pledge to continue this program through next year. Alcoa, for the third year in a row, is funding the Girl’s Academy, LEAD, and Math/Science Awareness events for more than $51,000.  Dr. Haynes thanked all PAC members who have donated to the FOU Campaign and urged others to contribute. Sixteen out of 28 PAC members have participated in this campaign.

Dr. Haynes thanked all PAC members for their levels of commitment and dedication to this university in the last nine years.   

 

III.    Organizational Culture and Climate

           

            Nia FitzSimmons gave a presentation entitled “Organizational Culture and Climate” which was a synopsis of the 1999, 2001, and 2003 Surveys of Organizational Excellence in which the university participated and the recently concluded Work Unit Meetings held this semester.  The Survey of Organizational Excellence was begun in 1979 by the Governor of Texas to help strengthen organizations, identifying strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of their employees.  Over 100 state agencies partake in these surveys.  The goal of the surveys is to increase customer satisfaction and achieve higher employee performance levels.

In the 2001 Survey of Organizational Excellence, UHV ranked in the top five of 35 participating educational agencies.  Only one institution of higher learning scored higher than UHV in the overall survey.  In the 2003 Survey Of Organizational Excellence, University of Houston-Victoria’s scores rose substantially in all 20 constructs.  Seven constructs, physical environment, quality, strategic, goal oriented, external, employee development, and availability, had scores that were above 400.  With a scoring midpoint of 300, this means that UHV employees perceive the issue more positively than negatively.  The remaining constructs scores were all about 389.  Final ranking of participating universities will be released in late January 2004.

Work Unit Meetings were held this fall.  Dr. Haynes met with each division or department group separately to provide an opportunity for employees to offer their perspectives on how well UHV is performing, share best practices, and seek solutions to keep UHV running smoothly.  A synopsis of those meetings is then written and shared with division directors/supervisors.  They, in turn, bring suggestions and solutions to their employees.  In the past, this method has improved communication between departments and enhanced customer service delivery.

 

IV.  Brief Updates

 

            1.  Enrollment Update – Richard Phillips, Associate Vice President for Student Services and Regional Outreach, gave a summary of enrollment as follows:  in Spring 2003, enrollment reached 2,307, in Fall 2003, 2,411, and an estimated 2,500 students are projected to enroll for Spring 2004.  With the Texas State budget constraints, the increases in enrollment have proven to be a challenge in maintaining enough faculty and resources to accommodate the higher enrollment. Highlights of enrollment demographics were as follows:  25% total student body is from Victoria County, 25% from Fort Bend County, 25% from Harris County, and 25% from all other UHV service counties.  Graduate students make up 3% of the total student population.  We have more full time students than ever before; approximately 40% of semester credit hours are generated by on-line classes and a large percentage of the other 60% are a result of face-to-face that are partially on-line.  All three schools reported increases in enrollment.  Ethnicity demographics for the total student population are:  10-14% black, 14-15% Hispanic, 60-70% Caucasian, and 6-14% other.  Percentages generally reflect the UHV service region’s population mix with the exception of Hispanic (which is approximately 40%).

            Mr. Phillips summarized the new rules for enrollment that go into effect in Spring 2004.  Any student enrolled in a class for which he/she has not paid, will be dropped from that class the first class day.  This will allow students who are willing to pay their tuition and fees but who could not be placed on the roll due to class size restrictions, to be able to attend.  Dropped students may re-enroll, but will take their chances getting into desire classes and will have to pay a late registration fee.

            Tuition increases go into effect next semester.  There will be a $10 additional Tuition-Designated increase per semester credit hour.  Discussion followed on the different tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate students.  Even with increases, UHV is still one of the most economical choices when compared to other Texas institutions of higher education.  In an effort to minimize the impact of the increase in tuition for more students, the Office of Financial Aid is redirecting more merit-based funds to serve more need-based students.    

            A discussion ensued concerning the definition of designated tuition.  These funds were identified to be the same as a Building Use Fee.  Wayne Beran, Vice President of Administration and Finance, will supply a study comparing tuition and fees at UHV with other Texas State universities.  (Studies were sent to PAC on 12/04/03 via email and U.S. Mail.)

 

            2.  Ms. Oliphant was unavoidably detained and therefore, unavailable to give the Friends of the University fundraising report.  (Please see section II. President’s Report, item A.)

 

V.  Turning Points in Teacher Certification

 

            Dr. Mary Natividad, Dean-School of Education, gave an in-depth report on the changing rules for Teacher Certification. Recently, a debate in the Texas Legislator spawned by the (NCLB) No Child Left Behind program, has caused changes in the criteria governing certifications for primary and secondary school teachers.  Basically, the debate discusses who can teach, how they should teach, and what they should teach.  The NCLB program recognizes a link between quality teaching and student achievement, accomplished by effort or special ability. NCLB is committed to raising academic standards for teachers and lowering the barriers that keep people out of the teaching profession.

Currently, the State Board of Education requires an initial two-year temporary certificate be issued.  A permanent certificate must be issued by the state if an applicant has taught continuously in a public school for two academic years and has received favorable performance reviews by the employing district. Due to NCBL standards, it is proposed that an applicant for teacher certification must have a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an institution of higher education, must have majored in subjects other than education, and must have a satisfactory performance on the appropriate certification examinations.  Temporary certificates would only be issued in subject areas of the curriculum where individuals hold their degrees of higher learning.  Changes would include requirements at the school district level to provide mentoring during the applicant’s first year of employment and pre-service training in specified areas, including specified professional development.

At the University of Houston-Victoria, the School of Education currently offers a Secondary Teacher Certification Program that is delivered online, requiring 6 classes, and a one-year probationary teaching period.  A Middle School Certification Program is offered using intensive content that will net the applicant a generalist certificate.  In both programs, applicants must have maintained a 2.5 grade point average in order to be admitted into the program.  Mentor teacher support is offered through UHV Scholarship programs and online connections.  UHV has received approval for the new certification standards in the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, and the School of Education.

  

VI.  Advice, Discussion

 

- Dr. Karen Haynes reported that the appointment of an interim President for UHV is the sole responsibility of Chancellor Jay Gogue.  Generally, the Chancellor appoints a Presidential Search Committee that considers all the various stakeholders including the climate of the community. Once the committee is appointed, the search begins and usually takes about 4 months.  Dr. Haynes speculated that UHV could have a new President by the beginning of Summer 2004.

 

- President’s Advisory Council members took turn voicing their regrets that Dr. Haynes was leaving and congratulating her on her new appointment as the President of California State University-San Marcos.   

 

 

- The Council was reminded to R.S.V.P. for the Community Holiday Reception, being held in Dr. Haynes’ home at 7:00 PM on December 13, 2003.

 

The meeting was adjourned.