Academic Council Minutes, May 12, 2003
I. General
Agenda
- SACS
Recommendations/Suggestions
--Qualitative criteria for graduate
admissions were discussed in light of the SACS visit and recommendation.
Preference was for using a form that could be downloaded to
provide a reference letter. Students
might also be asked to submit a resume and might have additional
requirements in some programs. Practice
at other institutions will be reviewed.
--Separation of graduate studies from
undergraduate studies in a more distinct and meaningful way was also
discussed in light of recommendations and suggestions from the visiting
committee. Some ideas were
to form a graduate studies committee to give particular attention to new
graduate courses and programs, to incorporate appropriate questions in
academic program reviews, to develop a consistent definition of what
constitutes graduate study and how that is different from undergraduate
study, and to include on the new-course request forms a brief
description of how a proposed graduate course meets graduate criteria.
--Liz Branch reported on implementation
teams that have been formed to assist the implementation of
PeopleSoft’s student information system.
--In response to a question about
prerequisite checking, she indicated that course information is being
entered at present and checks could be initiated this summer.
A draft letter that will go out to students will be circulated
for comment, though the check system will be tested before any letters
go out. Prerequisites not
indicated in the course information cannot be checked—other than
manually.
- Instructional
Technology/Online Issues and Updates
--Chari Norgard indicated that she would be
attending the second three-day training session for Vista this week.
--She had shared information on an effort
to set up a book-selling operation in the currently unused trailer at
Sugar Land. This would be
provided by Barnes and Noble, through its site director at the UHD
campus. The deans expressed
concern that the move seemed precipitous and was likely to create
confusion if done without sufficient advance communication.
There was further concern about implications in the description
of the move to an on-site Barnes and Noble operation.
The provost will consult with Sharon Baca.
--The provost reported that Vice-Chancellor
Sheridan had give a progress report on the proposed Cy-Fair 290 MITC to
the Board of Regents last week. This
was well received, and so the Board will be expecting something to
happen before too long. Given
resource constraints, it will be difficult for institutions to extend
programs to a new location. It
was suggested that resource demands could be somewhat reduced by
realigning lead responsibilities at the centers.
This possibility will be explored as efforts to develop a 290
site continue.
--There was a question about whether
meetings of deans to address articulation matters were still on or were
indeed necessary in all cases. The
deans expressed a preference for meeting with their counterparts in a
less directed context, so that they could discuss more wide-ranging
issues, as well deal with any articulation needs.
The provost will follow up.
--A request was made for enrollment
statistics by program for Cinco Ranch.
The provost will follow up.
II.
Specific Agenda
-- The appeal of a student for an exception
to the last 30 hours rule was approved.
--The appeal of a student to be admitted to
a graduate program with an index score below 1300 was denied.
- Faculty
Development Reports
--Accepted reports on
grant-funded travel from Drs. Roy Foley, Yong Glasure, Massoud Metghalchi,
Marie Plemons, and Steve Trowbridge.
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5/13/03
Academic Council Minutes, March 24, 2003
I.
General Agenda
--Liz Branch indicated the upgrade of
PeopleSoft at UHCL had been moved up to March 04 with the other campuses
to follow. Full
implementation is expected by fall 2007.
--Joe Ferguson indicated that analysis of
Internet problems at Sugar Land was continuing but that use of a
“virtual private network” had led to improvement.
Bandwidth is not the problem.
--Chari Norgard indicated that she was
trying to line up faculty, student, and staff interviews for the SACS
visitor with responsibility for distance education.
It is not clear whether that person will go to Sugar Land and
Cinco Ranch. A joint
meeting of DE directors, WebCT staff, and enrollment staff will be held
on April 11 to address problems in partnering online courses.
There is also a problem of overcrowding courses because of
registrations from different institutions.
--The provost noted that mowing the
property at Sugar Land was very expensive and different options are
being examined. Dan Jaeckle
added that Michael Ruland’s crew had about completed setting up the
biology room at Sugar Land.
II.
Specific Agenda
- Faculty
Development Requests and Reports
--Approved the request of Dr. Xavier Garza
Gomez for a submission fee ($25) for to the 2003 Financial Management
Association Annual Meeting in Denver, CO, in October.
Also approved a request for a travel grant ($1,200) to present at
the Hawaii International Conference on Business in Honolulu, HI, in
June.
--Approved the request of Dr. Siva
Somasundaram for a research grant ($1,200) to study the anti tumor
activity of red chili active ingredients-capsaicin in prostate cancer
cell line.
--Approved the request of
Dr. James Walton for a travel grant ($1,200) to present at the 32nd
European Marketing Academy Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, in May.
--Accepted a report on
grant-funded travel from Ms. Tina Herrington.
--Faculty Development grants:
The Council went over a document the provost had prepared for
soliciting input on proposed changes from the Faculty Senate.
The provost will send it to the President of the Faculty Senate
for sharing with the appropriate subcommittee.
--Discussed and approved
procedures developed by Liz Branch to implement an automated system of
checking prerequisites and co-requisites.
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3/25/03
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