Academic Council Minutes, November 17, 2003

 I.  Minutes 

• Approved as corrected

II.  General Agenda 

• Data Collection

--OAR reported that Houston Community College transfer agreement is now on the university site, with the notation that signatures are pending.   

--Also that application updates will now be forwarded to the chancellor, as requested.   

--The revised procedures for registration and disenrollment were reviewed and some further changes made.  They will be sent out to faculty and staff before they are sent out to all students.   

• Instructional Technology

--Joe Ferguson presented options for the configuration of the combined ITV and computer classroom; the option with more computers was preferred.   

--He also reported that access to the M drive from home computers will soon be available, assuming all goes well.  Testing is in preparation.  This will enable home users to have access to address systems and other features.  They will need to have broadband access and to keep up-to-date on virus/worm protections. 

• Fort Bend Issues and Updates

--Chari Norgard reported that the revised Sugar Land website is much improved and will be up in January.   

--Also that UHD has a new bookstore manager who will staff the facility at Sugar Land for about three weeks around the beginning of the term.   

--Also that Cinco Ranch is filling a vacant computer staff position.   

--The provost indicated that he had met in Sugar Land with a number of Fort Bend faculty members and will share a report when it is done. 

III.  Specific Agenda   

• Faculty Development Conference Presentation and Research Requests/Reports

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000) to Dr. Horace Fairlamb for the American Philosophical Association Conference, in Calcutta, India, in January, pending receipt of outstanding reports.   

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000) to Dr. Dan Hallock for the American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences Conference, in Las Vegas, NV, in February.   

--Approved a research grant ($750) to Dr. Diane Prince for a study that will attempt to investigate the attitudes of teachers, university faculty, and graduates toward the value of the field-based program and the value of the technology investment by the state.   

--Accepted grant funded conference travel reports from Drs. Xavier Garza Gomez and Diane Prince.   

--Accepted a grant funded research report from Drs. Dan Hallock and Joe Szendi. 

• Student Appeals

--The provost confirmed with the Council that it did not need to review requests for the institution to accept credits from institutions that are not accredited by one of the established regional bodies.  The institution does not accept such credits.

• Other

--The Council reviewed a proposed addition to sanctions for academic dishonesty.  The revision will go to the Senate through the appropriate committees for consideration.

DNS/kw
11/18/03