Academic Council Minutes, October 20, 2003

I.  Minutes

• Approved as corrected

II.      General Agenda   

• Data Collection 

  --Trudy Wortham noted that the Fast Facts sheet produced by OUA would now report Asian and Out-of-State students.  The data will be the same as those reported in the Fact Book.

• Instructional Technology

  --Chari Norgard reported on a meeting of several Texas public institutions that are in various stages of introducing WebCT Vista.  Texas A&M is the farthest into the implementation but was using an old version of WebCT and therefore has had to make a big leap.  Owing to concern about trying to implement too quickly, UH/UHV will proceed more slowly, using fewer pilots in spring 04 and planning to implement fully in spring 05, retaining the current WebCT version as a backup in case of unforeseeable problems, preferably at no additional charge.  Faculty using Vista from home computers will need a VPN up until Thanksgiving.

  --Joe Ferguson said IT is pushing to get M drive access from home computers in place by the end of this semester.  This will require broadband service and a VPN (virtual private network), which IT will provide.

• Fort Bend Issues and Updates

  --The provost indicated that there were no new developments at the off-campus centers in place or in prospect, except that the medical center in Houston is pressing for more degree programs to be delivered on site there.

III.   Specific Agenda   

• Faculty Development Conference Presentation and Research Requests/Reports

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000) to Dr. Judy Johnson for the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, in Dallas, TX, in March.

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000) to Dr. Steve Trowbridge for the 2003 Annual Meeting of the American Reading Forum, in Sanibel Island, FL, in December.

--Accepted grant-funded conference travel reports from Drs. Estella De Los Santos and Massoud Metghalchi. 

IV.  Other   

• Liz Branch proposed some alternatives for keeping track of conditions attached to graduate program admission and progress.  The role of OAR vs. the role of the school was discussed.  A task force will be formed to analyze the issue and alternatives and will involve the school deans.   

• A case of plagiarism involving two students who had copied the paper of a third student, who had taken the course previously.  The Council, considering the faculty member’s action to be sufficient at this time, decided to take no further action against the students involved.  The Council discussed concerns about plagiarism and the need to make students aware of its seriousness and the significant penalties that may apply. 

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10/20/03