Academic Council Minutes, December 21, 2005 

I.  Minutes 

--Approved as written 

II. General Agenda 

• Data Collection

--Margaret Rice reported that 1974 students had registered to date for spring. 

• Instructional Technology/Online Issues and Updates

--Joe Ferguson handed out for discussion the student survey on ITV that John McKee does at the Sugar Land center. 

• Fort Bend Issues and Updates

--The provost indicated that two candidates for the academic administrator position would be interviewed in January, with the possibility of adding interviews, if advisable. 

--The proposed new building was discussed.  Although preliminary planning has been done, the actual “programming” of the space will not occur till an architectural firm has been hired.  The various users will then have input.  Still to be determined is what joint functions, such as ITV, may be accommodated in the existing building. 

III. Specific Agenda 

• Student Appeal

--The previous appeal of an MBA student for a change of grade was reviewed in light of the instructor’s explanation.  The appeal was denied.  

• Faculty Development Requests and Reports

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000) for Dr. Jane Fry to present at the International Reading Association Conference, in Chicago, IL, in April. 

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($200) for Dr. Yong Glasure to present at the Academy of Economics and Finance 33^rd Annual Meeting, in Houston, TX, in February. 

--Awarded a research grant ($150) to Dr. Yong Glasure for a paper titled “Financial Integration for the EC Member Countries:  Evidence from and I(2) Cointegration Model.”

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000) for Dr. Nora Hutto to present at the Annual World International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement Convention, in Florida, in January. 

--Accepted grant funded conference travel reports from Drs. Yong Glasure, Massoud Metghalchi and Steve Trowbridge. 

• Other

--Sandy Venneman raised a question about funding of computer software.  Provost indicated that IT, schools, and provost’s office are budgeted for different types of software requests but that, within reason, requests are met through one source or another.  

--Joe Dahlstrom brought up an issue with regard to funding of data bases that may be relatively expensive, may duplicate existing resources, and may see very limited use. 

DNS/kw
12/21/05