Academic Council Minutes, June 10, 2002
I. Guests
--The scheduled appearance of Tim Terry on book orders was postponed.
--Yolanda Gonzalez was present to discuss the biennial survey of
student satisfaction. The university is allowed up to 30 additional
questions. Some of these must be used for identification of location,
medium, etc. The Library and University Advancement have designated some
questions. Other recommended questions should be sent to Ms. Gonzalez.
The survey will be administered as in the past through classes. It takes
only a few minutes. The deans will identify the classes to be used. The
survey will also be administered online this time.
II. General Agenda
--Liz Branch gave a presentation on PeopleSoft, focusing on five
features that could be added student self-service, prospects, transfer,
advising, and prerequisites. The first three of these were seen as
related and probably most important. Prerequisite checking capability
was also seen as important.
She also gave a report on the data-imaging project and led a
discussion of features and process. The imaging project will be useful
for maintaining working files as well as archived ones.
--Joe Ferguson reported that few off-campus faculty are currently
using the e-mail server and that the plan was to stop forwarding e-mail
in the near future. The deans indicated that e-mail should be forwarded
through the second summer session, because of online courses, but that
faculty should be notified now so that they can change their address for
fall classes.
He also indicated that the transition to Outlook was underway, with
some units completed. Short training sessions are necessary.
- Instructional Support Services
--Chari Norgard provided information on the electronic course
listings maintained by the Coordinating Board and Southern Regional
Education Board. She said the reporting requirements were quite
burdensome and was seeking feedback on whether the university was
benefiting from the listings.
She also indicated that WebCT training was now online and that the
one-on-one sessions with faculty had been going well.
She indicated that there was a problem if online students were “zapped”
for lack of payment and were also deleted from the WebCT roster in that
they would have lost any class work if reinstated. A discussion ensued
on problems surrounding non-payment and reinstatement, especially in
summer, given the tight time frame. Liz Branch and Chari Norgard agreed
to meet with Greg Fanelli, Lois Lemke, and Carolyn Mallory in an effort
to address the problems.
III. Specific Agenda
--The appeal of a student to be admitted despite three suspensions
from a prior institution was deferred to obtain further information.
- Faculty Development Grants
--Approved the request of Dr. Steve Trowbridge for a travel grant
($433) to present at the Texas Center for Educational Technology 8th
Annual Teaching and Learning Symposium, in San Antonio, TX, in June.
--Accepted a report on grant-funded conference travel from Dr.
Chun-Sheng Yu.
- Instructor Withdrawal Policy
--Postponed
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6/12/02
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