Academic Council Minutes, May 3, 2000

Student Appeals:

--Approved student request for admission despite 3 suspensions from a prior institution; student had since been admitted to another institution and is in good standing.

--Denied student appeal to transfer as graduate credit courses taken as postbaccalaureate study.

Faculty Development Grants:

--Approved a request of Dr. Li Chao for a travel grant ($900) to present at the ED-MEDIA 2000--World Conference on Education Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications, in Montreal, Canada in June.

--Accepted reports on grant-funded conference travel from Dr. Li Chao, Dr. Marie Plemons, and Ms. Tina Herrington.

--Discussed whether to exceed the $1,500 limit on conference-travel awards this year. Concluded any increases should apply to the following year so that all would be equally eligible. Also concluded that, given increased cost of travel and registration, the award limit should be increased for next year. Though this means the funds will not go as far, the pay-out from endowment funds has gone up and will help to cover the difference.

Advisement Night:

--Cherie' Garrett-Bosch was present to discuss advisement night. It was concluded that the event would be extended to a week with different degree programs scheduled for different times, as best fit the faculty members' schedules.

Fort Bend and Off-Campus:

--Discussed responsibility for admissions at Fort Bend--MITC staff vs. institutional representatives. Provost will talk with Sharon Baca about the assumptions and process.

--Financial aid advising may also be needed but is more complicated to provide owing to federal regulations that apply. Financial aid representatives can and have made on-site visits when a number of students need advisement.

Instructional Technology:

--Discussed where to assign responsibility for check out of portable equipment. (In the main, LCD projectors with Lap top computers.) Dr. Dahlstrom indicated the Media Center could probably do that. Assignment of equipment to heavy users was also a consideration--but would depend on having enough equipment.

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