|
President's Advisory
Council :: Minutes
PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY COUNCIL
December 6, 2005
Minutes
Present: Blackwell, Cain, Clapp, Fowler,
Hudson, Jacob, C. McGuill, O’Connor, Rollins, Saxon, Schaefer,
Simons, Thomas, Walker, Ward
Absent: Alcorn, Brockman, Goodson,
Hernandez, Kvinta, Jaso, McCrohan, J. McGuill, Meyer, Murphy,
Russell, Wu
I.
Organizational Business
A.
Approval of Minutes – Chair, Randy Clapp called the
meeting to order. The minutes from the September 2005 PAC
meeting were approved as written.
B.
PAC Meeting Dates / Locations
Mr. Clapp
opened the discussion of a possible location change of PAC
meetings on a rotating basis to include the different areas
represented by the members of PAC, such as El Campo, Fort Bend
county area, Goliad, Refugio, or Karnes county areas. Regent
O’Connor suggested changing the dates of the 2006 June and
September meetings either in advance of or after Memorial Day
and Labor Day, respectively, in order to better accommodate
member’s holiday schedules.
Mrs. Cain
noted the need to consider the area school district’s Spring
Break dates with regard to the March 7, 2006 PAC meeting.
(Attached is a list of Spring Break dates for area school
districts.)
Mr. Clapp
asked that this matter be put forth as a discussion item.
II.
President’s Report – Tim Hudson, President
Dr. Hudson
provided PAC members a copy of the November 25, 2005 article,
“Ferment and Change: Higher Education in 2015”, by Daniel
Yankelvich, from The Chronicle of Higher Education.
This article details how higher education will look in ten
years identifying the following five major trends and how each
may transform higher education in the coming decade: 1)
Changing life cycles as the population ages, 2) The nation’s
growing vulnerability in science and technology, 3)
Understanding other cultures and languages, 4) Increasing
challenges to higher education’s commitment to social
mobility, 5) Public support for other ways of knowing. Also
included was a map of the U.S. projecting through 2015
population shifts and the impact on different geographical
areas – increases for the South and West, declines for the
Northeast and Midwest. Dr. Hudson stated that UHV should move
to take advantage of growth pattern. He asked that PAC
members review the article at their convenience.
Dr. Hudson
updated PAC on the recent interesting and very informative UHS
Board of Regents Retreat meeting. The board examined the
different areas and needs that will have an impact on tuition
costs.
Dr. Hudson
also noted that UHV has been working with the UHS on several
international issues – exploring partnerships in China and the
Middle East. Dr. Hudson updated PAC on his recent trip to
Spain in support of UHV’s international education programs,
and his meeting with the U. S. Spanish Ambassador, The
Honorable Eduardo Aguirre, who is himself a former UHS
Regent.
Dr. Hudson
advised PAC that the UHSSL new building project is going very
well, and that the Wharton County Junior College partnership
will be completed very soon. Dr. Hudson advised that UHV
would soon have some very good news regarding our nursing
program.
Regent
O’Connor thanked Mr. Phillips and Dr. Hudson for their donor
recruiting efforts in the Sugar Land area.
Dr. Hudson
mentioned the Dec. 10th fall 2005 Commencement
ceremony to be held on campus noting that nearly 3,000 are
expected to attend.
III.
Academic Update – Don Smith, Provost and Vice
President of Academic Affairs
Dr. Smith
updated PAC on the institution’s profile – 50% under graduate,
50% graduate, and widely-dispersed in delivery of programs.
Our online classes are probably the highest in the state (in
public institutes). Dr. Smith then introduced the deans in
order that they might each give a more in depth presentation
on their school.
Dr. Stansell,
Dean, School of Education and Humanities, provided PAC with a
detailed list of the degrees and programs offered for each
discipline. Dr. Stansell outlined UHV’s collaborative
partnerships and new programs. He also noted the following
highlights: Continued enrollment growth – 903 students
enrolled for fall 2005, largest of the three schools, the
Friday Forum series and faculty to present research, ideas and
concerns, co-sponsored conference on Mini-Technology and
annual Mid-Coast Reading Council scheduled in February. UHV
students continue to perform well on the TExES exams with a
99% pass rate for 2005.
Dr. Di Leo,
Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, updated PAC on the School
of Arts and Sciences noting that UHV is an upper division
school with junior and senior level classes. Arts and
Sciences offers 16 bachelor’s degrees and 4 masters. The most
popular of the bachelor’s is the BAAS – with currently 140
majors. The BAAS is being promoted at both the Cinco Ranch
and Sugar Land campuses. The second most popular major
offered is Psychology which will soon be offered in Cinco
Ranch. Biology and Computer Sciences each have 60 majors and
program development work is being done in the undergraduate
area.
Dr. Di Leo
also noted that the Arts and Sciences school is currently
looking at the possibility of offering a “Gaming” degree –
this is a very creative arena. Also being offered in Sugar
Land this spring is the Masters in Computer Sciences degree.
Dr. Di Leo noted that UHV/UHSSL has worked with the Sugar Land
area Chamber of Commerce in promoting many successful events.
He is hopeful that these efforts will reenergize science
skills. He advised PAC of Dr. Soma’s eco-friendly
UHV/Riverside Park greenhouse project and UHV’s Master
Gardener certification program as well as the progress being
made with the Criminal Justice, History, and Mathematics
programs. The School of Psychology target enrollment is 40
for the upcoming year.
Dr. Di Leo
gave PAC an overview of UHV/UHSSL’s new nursing program which
will begin fall 2006 with an expected enrollment of 40
students. He noted that faculty is currently being hired; he
expects that the Houston market will grow rapidly. The MAIS
degree has been very popular at Sugar Land with an enrollment
of 100 students. Dr. Di Leo stated the r goal is to make sure
that the courses offered meet the demand and need of our
students – noting that with on-line courses we are finding out
quickly how well received the course offerings are. He
advised that we would continue to build upon our MAIS and
other Masters degrees.
Regent
O’Connor advised that Forbe’s magazine had recently printed an
article on “Gaming” noting that it is a very hot arena with
large marketing potential in many areas, certainly, including
education.
Dr. Hudson
expressed his thanks to Dr. Di Leo for taking the position of
Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. He also
noted that Dr. Di Leo’s idea to reach out to area businesses
to recruit students through Chambers of Commerce was very
innovative target marketing.
Dean Charles
Bullock of the School of Business updated PAC on the many
achievements garnered during 2005. The AACSB International
accreditation of the School of Business - considered a
hallmark of excellence as it represents the highest standards
for business schools worldwide – UHV is in the top 15%. AACSB
peer review acknowledgement of the University of
Houston-Victoria’s School of Business as a national leader in
distance education with the use of WebCT Vista. In addition,
inclusion in the 2007 edition of The Best Business Schools,
published by the Princeton Review – the UHV MBA was ranked as
a GetEducated.com Best Buy Online MBA in 2004.
With regard to
the excellence of the faculty and staff, Dean Bullock was
pleased to note that in a recent survey of alumni, the UHV
School of Business Administration was ranked first among its
peers for the quality of professional staff advising. All 28
business faculty hold doctorate degrees and receive high
ratings from students – overall, student satisfaction with
faculty teaching effectiveness averages almost 90% annually.
The School of
Business 2006 strategic initiatives are a BBA in Healthcare
Administration set for online delivery beginning fall 2006 in
order to meet the local demand for healthcare administration
professionals. Also, a Master of Economic Development and
Entrepreneurship, an online program and one of a kind program
combining the fields of economic development and
entrepreneurship – with an expected start date of fall 2006.
(Both pending approval of institutional, system and
coordinating board.)
He also noted
the Global MBA and International partnerships being developed
the School of Business with reputable institutions in Asia
(China), Latin America (Mexico) and the Middle East (Egypt).
Dean Bullock outlined the vision of the UHV School of Business
Administration to become the global leader in business
education by connecting, through the internet, MBA students
from around the work to scholars, industry leaders and
students from other cultures to learn how to do business in
the global marketplace.
IV. Budget Update – Wayne
Beran, Vice President of Finance and Administration
Mr. Beran
gave presentation of the UHV budget. He noted that fall
enrollment is slightly down from spring, but numbers for the
upcoming spring enrollment are expected to rise. He also
noted the additional funding required in developing the
Nursing program, as well as the ‘Try UHV Free’ program. Mr.
Beran advised PAC of the current efforts being made to keep
costs down including utility studies, investigating areas of
revenue-enhancements, exploring UHS collaborations, and
increased utilization of time-saving computer programs in
Human Resources department.
V. Advancement Update – Richard Phillips,
Associate Vice President, University Advancement
Mr. Phillips
presented PAC information on the ‘Friends of the University’
campaign and an update on the significant increase in giving
for the “All for One” faculty and staff campaign. He
also noted that with the very generous gift of the Johnson
Foundation to the Nursing Program, UHV is $21,000 above last
year’s figures. Mr. Phillips thanked PAC for their 100%
participation in this year’s campaign and the fund-raising
outreach done by each within their individual communities. He
also noted that Mr. Mike Rierson, the new Vice Chancellor/Vice
President of UHS University Advancement, has scheduled a visit
to the UHV campus in the latter part of December.
Chair Clapp
suggested exploring possibilities with the Gulf Coast Medical
Center in Matagorda County, and Regent O’Connor advised that
UHV should look at the Alkek Foundation since they have
recently had a change of leadership.
Dr. Hudson
took the opportunity to extend his thanks and acknowledge the
generosity of Dr. Rice’s father, Mr. Truett. Dr. Hudson noted
the tremendous difference that can be made to a student’s life
by such a gift.
VI. Outreach & Student Services – Margaret Rice,
Executive Director of Student Services and Regional Outreach
Dr. Rice
updated PAC on UHV’s recent enrollment figures on both
campuses. She noted that UHV is still experiencing growth
with its highest ever number of 1,601 students for this fall,
63 students up from last year. She also gave PAC an update on
the fall 2005 commencement plans noting that it would be UHV’s
largest ever graduating class.
Dr. Rice also
outlined UHV’s ongoing partnerships with Wharton County Junior
College and Coastal Bend College, and the strategies for the
increase of Hispanic enrollment.
VII. Student Senate Update –
Robin Cadle, President, Student Senate
Ms. Cadle
updated PAC on the Annual Christmas Giving Tree and this
year’s recipients – Adopt-a-Pet, Victoria Food Bank, Perpetual
Home Care, Mid Coast Family Services, and CASA. Ms. Cadle was
happy to announce that the booth fees ($150.00) from the first
UHV employee-sponsored Craft Sale were contributed to the
Giving Tree. She also advised PAC that Student Senate again
this year provided students with pizza during final exams on
both the Victoria and Sugar Land campuses. Ms. Cadle also
noted that Student Senate representatives, Danny Ochoa and
Jason Sulak, attended the recent Sugar Land Student Senate
council meeting.
VIII.
Faculty Senate Update – Dr. Sandy Venneman,
President, Faculty Senate
Dr. Venneman,
as Faculty Senate President, detailed for PAC the
responsibilities of a UHV faculty member. Not only do faculty
members teach approximately ten hours in the classroom per
week, but each must also research his or her discipline
staying abreast of current information, trends and others’
research. In addition, UHV faculty members invest their time
and commitment with service to the university and to the
community. As an example, Dr. Venneman noted that locally she
serves as a consultant to a Hospital Ethics committee, works
with counselors in several area high schools and is also
involved with a community mental health committee. On the
national level she contributes to articles, and is also
involved with departmentally directed research in her field of
expertise.
IX. Discussion
Mr. Clapp
called for advice and discussion from the PAC members. Mrs.
Ward commented on UHV’s depth of commitment to the community.
Mrs. Saxon noted that UHV has developed and is offering great
courses in the field of criminal justice, and has opened the
door for teaching careers with secondary certification.
PAC chair,
Randy Clapp, mentioned the possibility opportunities for
collaboration for UHV to become involved with the area school
districts in implementing teen court with teens actually going
to court, serving as jurors and attorneys and defendants.
Mr. Clapp then
reminded PAC of the Holiday Open House and called to adjourn
the meeting after thanking all for their input.
Submitted by: A. Blumberg |
