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Academic Council Retreat Minutes, January 16, 2004
Minutes
Student Appeals
- Approved
student requests
- To
receive credit, upon payment, for a course that had been completed
but not recorded.
- To
be exempted from the TOEFL requirement on the basis of demonstrated
proficiency in English.
- To
be admitted despite four previous suspensions at another university,
since the student had since completed coursework at another
institution and had accumulated an acceptable GPA.
- Denied
the request of a student index of under 1300 to be admitted to a
graduate program.
Faculty Development Conference Presentation and
Research Requests/Reports
- Approved
development grants for
- Conference
presentation ($1,000) to Dr. Joseph Ben-Ur for the International
Conference on Elections on the Horizon:
Marketing Politics to the Electorate in the USA and UK, in
London, in March.
- Conference
presentation ($1,000) to Dr. Roy Foley for the 2004 Professional
Development Schools National Conference in Orlando, FL, in March.
- Conference
presentation ($957) to Dr. Michele Kahn for the American Educational
Research Association, in San Diego, CA, in April, pending receipt of
outstanding report.
- Conference
presentation ($1,000) to Dr. Mary Natividad for the 2004 American
School Counselor Association Conference, in Reno, NV, in June.
- Conference
presentation ($1,000) to Dr. Diane Prince for Professional
Development School National Conference, in Orlando, FL, in March.
- Conference
presentation ($608) to Dr. Harold Smith for 2004 annual meeting of
The Texas State Historical Association, in Austin, TX, in March.
- Approved
research grants for
- Research
($720) to Dr. Judy Johnson to evaluate the spelling patterns in
essays written by youth with and without written expression learning
disabilities.
- Research
($1,000) to Dr. Nagarajan Ramamoorthy to study cultural values and
attitudes of knowledge workers, their perceptions of organizational
processes and attitudes and behavioral intentions toward their
organizations.
- Accepted
grant funded reports from Drs. Chien-Ping Chen and Luh Yu Ren.
Program Review Report
The Council discussed at
length the report of the Joint Committee on Program Review. The schools will further consider the viability of
certain recommendations, such as an external test for Computer Science,
since the ExCET no longer fulfills that function.
Use of follow-up employer surveys on the performance of graduates
was considered desirable, but not practical in most programs, since the
university has difficulty even maintaining current addresses of graduated
students. Education will
continue to work on increasing enrollments in the C and I program.
Deans thought program
faculty would like more feedback from the Joint Committee on program
strengths, as well as weaknesses. Given
the workload and focus of the graduate and undergraduate curriculum
committees, the need for a separate program review committee was
discussed. The purview of such a committee might be broadened to
encompass planning and assessment, perhaps folding in the Faculty Budget
Oversight Committee. The
provost indicated that more of the routine institutional planning needed
to be shifted to the Institutional Research office and that the director
of that office could possibly staff the committee.
The President of the Senate will follow-up on what the Senate might
prefer to do.
Curricular Revisions and New Programs
The Council reviewed and
further approved the academic programs and changes previously approved by
the Faculty Senate.
Instructional Technology
- Chari
Norgard apprised the Council of the development of student survey on
the kinds of technology they are using, along with problems, needs,
etc. Several institutions
are conducted such surveys, and she has collected several samples. She also indicated that four courses are being piloted,
using WebCT Vista. Other
courses will be added in summer and fall, with full roll out planned
for spring 05.
- Joe
Ferguson indicated that UC 215 now had upgraded ITV equipment
installed and that it was now being tested.
UW 120, which previously housed ITV equipment, has been
returned to a standard classroom.
He also indicated that if we are to continue ITV connections to
El Campo, we will incur a monthly fee of about $250, since the former
provider of a free line will no longer provide it.
It was noted that since we would not need a connection before
next fall, we could defer a decision.
The requirement would be a contract for a full year of service.
- There
was discussion of how and when we might deliver courses to the El
Campo center, assuming the cost of facilities use can be worked out.
Education will be looking at the possibilities for a cohort
program.
Preview of Academic Budget Priorities
- The
provost indicated raises as a top priority. Some money will have to be reserved to fund initiatives
on 290, should a center become available there. Some assistance may be needed in Institutional Research.
- IT
indicated it would like to move the number of computer replacements up
from 75 to 80 and to consider some redundant systems for the sake of
security. It was
suggested that IT purchase and pilot a few pen tablet PCs that may
obviate the need for downloading of student papers for correction.
- ISS
will again request funding for a synchronous online support package
that would permit remote participation of students in various
locations. She indicated
that reorganization in the Academic Center would add no new positions
but could result in some reclassification.
- Arts/Sciences
expects to add one faculty position, would like a software line item
for Computer Science, along with a part-time lab assistant.
- Business
expects to add one faculty position and to fill two existing openings.
One staff position may be returned to 40 hours—from 30.
- Education
expects to add one faculty position and to fill one existing opening.
Line items will be needed for standard tests and
science-education materials.
- The
Library is seeking an upgrade for data imaging project and needs a
boost in overall allocation, since this has declined in recent years
as a percent of the institution’s operating budget.
- Student
Services may need to add positions in financial aid and career
services. These would
probably be funded from student service fee revenues, which are at
least sufficient to cover one of them.
Updates and Issues
- The
number of students registered but no paid to date was discussed.
The conclusion was that communications had been more than ample
and that the university would have to hold the line on the deadline.
There was concern that the university’s internet/email
problems could have affected students attempts to pay.
It was thought that some allowances on the late fee might need
to be made in justifiable cases.
- Problems
with students securing books in Sugar Land were discussed.
- The
upcoming COW (online workshop) was noted, and Chari Norgard indicated
that discipline-specific COWs were in the works.
- Joe
Dahlstrom noted that a new UHS librarian had been hired for the
collaborative off-campus efforts.
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1/19/04
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