Academic Council Minutes, February 1, 2006

 I.  Minutes

--Approved with this amendment to item 4 on reconfigured TOEFL scoring system:  “An Academic School may establish a higher score or alternative but equally rigorous method of demonstrating proficiency as approved through the academic governance process.” 

II. General Agenda 

--The Council had an impromptu discussion of 8-week intra-sessions and the complexities and benefits they offer.   A task force chaired by Dean Bullock has met and continues work on the issues. 

• Data Collection

--2,503 students have now registered and paid for spring semester with some still registered but not paid (2,557 was the final total for last spring). 

• Instructional Technology/Online Issues and Updates

--ISS (Chari Norgard) is working on a “good practices” document for online instruction. 

--IT has an internal audit in progress.  A scanning system for financial records is in progress with the intention of reducing the number of paper copies needed. 

• Fort Bend Issues and Updates

--Enrollments are down significantly at the Sugar Land center. 

--An academic services dean for the centers should be named shortly. 

--Programming of space in the proposed new building will begin once an architectural firm has been selected.  Those affected should be ready to provide input once the programming gets underway. 

--IT has added technology to create two “smart classrooms” at Cinco Ranch. 

III. Specific Agenda 

• Faculty Development Requests and Reports

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000), pending receipt of a FY 05 research report, for Dr. Joseph Ben-Ur to present at the 3^rd International Political Marketing Conference, in Nicosia, Cyprus, in April. 

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($1,000), pending receipt of two FY 04 reports, for Dr. Horace Fairlamb to present at the Southwest Texas Pop/American Culture Association Conference, in Albuquerque, NM, in February. 

--Approved a development grant for conference presentation ($345) for Dr. Luh-Yu Ren, to present at the 33^rd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Economics and Finance, in Houston, TX, in February. 

--Accepted a grant funded conference travel report from Dr. Nora Hutto. 

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2/6/06