Academic Council Retreat Minutes, August 18, 2003
I. General
Agenda
--More equipment is being dedicated to the
imaging project to try to speed up the process.
- Instructional
Technology/Online Issues and Updates
--The centers are improving
their web sites with links to the campuses.
--WebCT Vista is in
progress, with four days of training scheduled in Houston for online
technicians and instructional support staff.
--11 applications have been
received for the web-design position.
--Computers for new faculty
are on hand.
--M-drive access from home
may be available by late fall.
--IT has been swamped
responding to worms and viruses.
--The prospects for a
center at 290 and Beltway 8 appear to have improved, with a start up not
earlier than summer 04, depending on resources, etc.
--The centers would like
more on-site offerings and may see online offerings as a threat to those,
though these must be seen as two complementary ways of trying to meet
educational needs and better serve the regional community.
II. Specific
Agenda
--Approved the request of a
student for an exemption from the TOEFL on the basis of demonstrable
English proficiency.
--Approved the requests of
three students for an exception to policy on suspensions at other
institutions. All had GPA
over 2.0 and were probably readmissable to their previous institutions.
--Referred a grade appeal
to the Dean of Arts and Sciences.
- Faculty
Development Conference Presentation Request and Reports
--Approved a request of Dr. Yong Lee for a
travel grant ($930) to present at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Financial
Management Association International Conference, in Denver, CO, in
October.
--Accepted grant-funded
conference travel reports from Drs. June Lu and Chun-Sheng Yu.
III. Faculty
Matters (Deans and Senate Chair for this portion)
- Review
of staff office assignments in the auxiliary building at Sugar Land.
- Discussion
of mail service and location of faculty boxes for faculty assigned to
Fort Bend centers (intention is to put up boxes in the aux. staff
building).
- Discussion
of moving to one summer term but with options of 10 weeks and 5 weeks.
The Senate will consider the issue.
Any options recommended must be fiscally feasible—i.e.,
revenues must be commensurate with costs over time.
- Discussion
of future prospects for the institution in light of bachelor’s
degrees being offered at community colleges on a pilot basis, of
continuing demand for off-campus and online delivery of instruction,
of increasing opportunity to draw on faculty located abroad, of
decreasing state support for higher education, of changing leadership
within the System, and of related issues and concerns.
Also, discussed in this context was the possible use of
paraprofessionals to assist faculty in the delivery of courses.
DNS/kw
8/19/03
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