Academic Council Minutes,
April 29,
2002
I. General Agenda
--Liz Branch reported on the "Fit-Gap" sessions that have
been underway in an effort to align PeopleSoft and with the institutions’
needs (or vice versa). There was considerable discussion, particularly
of the impact on workload and difficulty of replacing key people, even
if resources should permit.
--She also reported on the efforts of the web publications group,
which has made significant progress. It is anticipated that the schedule
will move online for spring 2002, with in-house paper copies to faculty
and staff who want them. The catalog, too, will be put online, as will
the 2+2 agreements.
--Joe Ferguson reported that Windows 2000 installation was done, and
indications are that it is working well, with fewer help-desk calls than
occurred with the 98 version.
--IT is preparing to switch to Outlook for e-mail support. Deans
noted that off-campus faculty were still having e-mail problems. Plans
for ITV include leaving one unit in UW 120, maintaining two units on the
3rd floor of UC, and upgrading the unit in UC 215 and installing it at
Cinco Ranch. The university will then have three units on-campus and
three off--at Sugar Land, Cinco Ranch, and El Campo. ITV is also used
for connecting to SWTSU for MSW courses.
- Instructional Support Services
--Chari Norgard reported that a lunch meeting will be held prior to
the COW in May to brief faculty attending on what to expect. A follow-up
lunch meeting is also planned.
--She also reviewed the recent AAS meeting, particularly with
reference to bookstore issues. She has been asked to organize a
system-wide session on Horizon-Live.
--ISS is currently helping several faculty to develop online
courses--two in Arts &Sciences, three in Business, and three in
Education.
--She also reported that the institution will have to purchase a
license for the use of Remedy, a WebCT tool formerly provided by UH.
II. Specific Agenda
--Accepted that Arts & Sciences was providing means for student
seeking a second bachelor’s degree to meet the statutory requirements
with regard to the Texas Constitution.
--Referred two requests for waiver of the TOEFL to the Registrar’s
office to make further inquiries with regard to the students’
demonstrable proficiency in English.
--Referred one request to the School of Business Administration.
- Faculty Development Grants
--Approved the request of Dr. Peggy Cloninger for a travel grant
($1,022) to serve as a Chair at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Academy
of Management, in Denver, CO, in July.
--Approved the requests of Dr. June Lu ($1,075) and Dr. Chun-Sheng Yu
($600) for travel grants to present at the International Conference on
Advances in Management, in Boston, MA, in July.
--Approved the request of Dr. Andria Young for a travel grant ($470)
to present at the 27th Annual Convention of the Texas Association on
Mental Retardation, in Corpus Christi, TX, in July.
--Accepted reports on grant-funded conference travel from Ms. Tina
Herrington, Dr. Mary Natividad, and Dr. Marie Plemons.
--Approved a proposed revision to graduate admissions policy--which
will be forwarded to the Academic Affairs Committee.
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5/1/02
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