Academic Council Meeting Minutes, November 3, 2004

 I.  Minutes

• The minutes for the September 15 meeting were approved as written.

II. General Agenda 

• Data Collection

--No report 

• Instructional Technology/Online Issues and Updates

--Chari Norgard and Joe Ferguson distributed a proposed survey on hardware and software use and needs.  Some minor changes were suggested.  Norgard also distributed a flier that provides basic information about taking courses online.  She will be attending a workshop on guidelines related to the Teach Act.  Mary Natividad raised a question about whether units are expected to respond to requests for ergonomic accommodations related to prevention or treatment of carpel tunnel syndrome.  Provost’s response was that it probably made sense for modest purchases that might help a person to be more effective but that expensive purchases should require the same kind of proof that is required for ADA accommodations. 

• Fort Bend Issues and Updates

--Discussion of the proposed centers on 290 and 288, along with management of the centers, took place.  Funding for facilities remains a problem. 

III. Specific Agenda 

·        Student Appeals 

--A student request to be admitted despite four suspensions at a previous institution was denied with the provision that the appeal could be brought forward again after the student has competed this semester at VC. 

--A student grade appeal of a C in a graduate course was denied.  

--A student request for waiver of TOEFL was approved on grounds of demonstrated English proficiency. 

·        Faculty Development Requests and Reports 

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000) to Dr. Don Fry to the 26^th Annual Rural Education and Small Schools Conference, in Manhattan, KS, in November. 

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000), pending receipt of outstanding report, to Dr. Thomas Matula to the International Academy of Business and Economics in Las Vegas, NV, in October. 

--Approved a research grant ($1,000) to Dr. Sandy Venneman for a research project titled “Investigation of Equestrian Characteristics.” 

--Accepted grant funded conference travel reports from Drs. Donald Loffredo and Thomas Matula. 

·        Other 

--The provost was tasked with sending out a reminder that grant requests should precede, not follow, a conference presentation. 

--Draft materials on projections of enrollments and related resource needs were shared, along with the assumptions involved.  These will be required at a future Board meeting in keeping with the UHS’s Strategic Principles and Initiatives.   

DNS/kw
11/5/04