Academic Council Minutes – February 20, 2008
I. Review of Minutes – January 16, 2008
Under General, Other. Correct second paragraph to read, “Dr. LaBrecque suggested keeping the diploma as simple as just the major and degree.”
II. General
· Guests
The recruiters were invited to attend the Academic Council meeting. In attendance were A&S-Tracy Fox, Business-Rosie McCusker, Education-Sandy Hybner, and Nursing-Tammy Whatley
1. Ms. Chari Norgard distributed copies of the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan and information regarding the Uniform Recruitment and Retention (URR) Report. Ms. Norgard informed Academic Council that the report was received by the Coordinating Board, but that the Coordinating Board still has questions. Ms. Norgard and several recruiters attended a webinar on February 12 where the Coordinating Board explained what was expected and how to have an effective URR Report. Ms. Norgard has learned that the Coordinating Board will be conducting site visits in April and May to institutions that have not had their Uniform Recruitment and Retention reports accepted.
Ms. Norgard provided Uniform Recruitment and Retention Report components required by the Coordinating Board. Those components included a written program plan for the URR plan, evaluation plan for the report, and an electronic URR report.
Dr. LaBrecque and Ms. Norgard met with Dr. Hudson to discuss an action plan. Dr. Hudson has agreed to appoint a steering committee which will be able to oversee the development and implementation of the plan. Dr. LaBrecque suggested that the current Academic Council be appointed as the steering committee with Ms. Norgard as chair. Mr. Bullock suggested that Mr. Wayne Beran also be invited to join since he oversees areas that also impact recruitment and retention such as Marketing and Financial Aid. Ms. Norgard stated she would meet with Mr. Beran to bring him up-to-date with the URR plan. Ms. Norgard will send the recommended list of individuals to Dr. Hudson so that he can appoint members to the steering committee.
Dr. LaBrecque mentioned that the report focuses on only undergraduate information. UHV’s report must explain how UHV is unique as an upper-level university compared to four-year universities in that our recruiters also focus on recruiting graduate students.
Mr. Bullock stated that the institution should have common goals that reflect those goals established by the Coordinating Board through the Closing the Gaps initiative. Dr. Di Leo agreed stating that each school may have different strategies to reach those goals. It was agreed that the Closing the Gap goals would be used to assess the various school’s goals.
Ms. Norgard established a time table for submission of school retention plans. Ms. Norgard also provided the deans with a template that includes goals, strategies, outputs, outcomes, and measures. The information is due to Ms. Norgard by March 14th. She and Dr. Tong-Ai Zhang will compile the information to put into the URR report. The draft will be reviewed be circulated the week of March 24th.
Dr. Di Leo suggested that the information be included as part of the unit assessment plan. Dr. LaBrecque agreed adding that the information will also assist with preparation for the next SACS visit.
2. Ms. Norgard discussed community college partnerships and 2+2 agreements. The information on the website is out of date and counselors from the community colleges are asking for updated degree plans. Ms. Norgard shared the degree plan webpage that the School of Business website. She suggested that each school use the same format in order to make it easier for counselors and students to figure out what courses the transferring students needs to complete at the community college. The webpage will require the use of a database for the degree plans. The deans agreed that this format would be used as a common standard for degree plans. Dr. Di Leo stated that having the degree plans in that format will take sometime for the School of Arts and Sciences since they have many degree plans.
Dr. LaBrecque mentioned that Marketing has also asking for this information to be updated. She asked the schools to have the 2+2 agreements updated on the web by Spring Break. Then schools can concentrate on updating the degree plans in the format previously agreed upon.
The Community Colleges 2+2 agreements include the following junior colleges:
1. Ms. Trudy Wortham provided Spring 2008 headcount and semester credit hour information as of February 20, 2008. Ms. Wortham believes that once all data has been processed UHV’s enrollment will slightly exceed the budgeted 2855. Ms. Wortham was asked to show a breakdown of locations to include the top 10 locations of residence and “Others.”
1. Mr. Joe Ferguson informed Academic Council of discussions he has had regarding possible reduction in HEAF funding for information technology next year. The reductions in HEAF for information technology may be used for building projects. The fund reduction will affect the computer replacement cycle and possible other upgrades.
1. Dr. Margaret Rice stated that she and Dr. Di Leo are working with Austin Community College regarding a 3+1 certificate. They believe that they currently have 80 students enrolled; however, they need to verify the count.
2. At the last Academic Council meeting, Dr. Di Leo asked Ms. Wortham if it was possible for concentrations to be listed on student’s transcripts. Ms. Wortham has asked for this modification to be added to PeopleSoft, but may not be as easy as was originally anticipated. She will continue to work to have the concentrations added.
III. Specific.
None.
1. Dr. LaBrecque asked about the necessity of Faculty Development Conference reports. Since the travel is for presentation and the Academic Council approves the report, she does not see the necessity of a report upon return. It was general consensus that the reports would not be required of conference travel; however, research reports are necessary.
2. The following Faculty Development requests were approved:
-- Dr. Linda Hayes was awarded an FY08 conference grant for $390.00 for her presentation at the Federation of Business Disciplines Conference, March 4-8, 2008 in Houston, Texas.
--Dr. Timothy Berkey was awarded an FY08 conference grant for $1300.00 for his presentation at the National School Board's Association Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida from March 30-31, 2008.
--Dr. Hal Smith was awarded an FY08 Research grant for $385 you to research collections of unpublished records at the Texas State Archives for a publication on "Texas through Women's Eyes."
Dr. Donald Loffredo was awarded an FY08 publication grant for $600.00 for his article "Ego State Differences in University Students by Gender, Race, and College Major" that has been accepted by the Journal of Psychiatry, Psychology and Mental Health.
--Dr. Yixi Ning was awarded an FY08 Research grant for $1300.00 you to examine the history and structure of the Chinese stock market, and explore the existing structure/regulatory problems related to the market.
--Dr. Mary Natividad has received an FY08 conference grant for $1220.45 for her presentation at the 19th Annual National Youth-At-Risk Conference in Savannah, GA from March 2-5, 2008.
--Dr. Marie Plemons has received an FY08 conference grant for $1046.97 for her presentation at the 19th Annual National Youth-At-Risk Conference in Savannah, GA from March 2-5, 2008.
-- Dr. Mary Mayorga has received an FY08 Research grant for $200 to conduct research to support a publication regarding counseling.
As recorded by,
Karen Boldt
02/20/08