LA&S ASSEMBLY MEETING

May 10, 2006

Sauder Alumni Center

 

The meeting was called to order at 3:15PM by Amy Sage Webb, Moderator of the Assembly.  The minutes of the January 19, 2006 assembly meeting were approved.

Remarks from Amy Sage Webb, Moderator:

1.  Dean’s Advisory Committee Members for 2005-2006 reintroduced and thanked for their work.  Some of the year’s accomplishments were listed including a) approval of documents stipulating college policy on election procedures for the Dean’s Advisory Committee, the Vice President for Academic Affairs Advisory Committee, and policy involving the College Performance Review Committee.  Discussion of other issues related to faculty followed.

2. Remarks from Dean Sobieski:

1. Dean Sobieski opened his remarks by calling for a moment of silence out of respect for deaths of those close to the college and the university.  This year’s retirees were recognized as well.   
2. Issues relating to student integration were mentioned including ongoing efforts to work with Chinese students attending the university.  Perhaps some general education requirements could be waived or altered based on their academic experiences overseas.
3. During the past year 14 or 18 open positions have been filled, 2 are in the process of being filled and 2 will be filled next year.  Ellen Hansen was announced as the interim chair of the Department of Social Sciences.
4. Current initiatives were listed including the bio-science initiative, math program in Korea, the new engraving degree, the reorganization of Ethnic and Gender Studies, the move of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology to the Butcher Education Center and the pending move of Communication and Theatre Arts to Roosevelt Hall.
5. The Presidential Search was briefly discussed and faculty questions concerning the use of tuition dollars for faculty raises and the new fall break were entertained.

3.  Committee Reports:

A. General Education Council (Bleeker):

1. The Council approved a “Working Draft” of Goals and Outcomes for general education program and all departments on campus have been invited to submit proposals for general education courses which align with one or more of those goals and outcomes.  Course proposals and/or progress report due May 15, 2006.
2. Began working on designing an assessment instrument for evaluating performance of GTAs who teach general education courses.
3. Began discussion of a request to modify criteria of the alternative option for the Writing Component of the CAAP Exam.
4. Received an update on and discussed the Math Phobia Program, directed by Shanti Ramcharan, Director of Disability Services.

B. Banner Steering Committee (Wyatt):

• Buzz-in training and preliminary testing was discussed.
• The “go live” schedule was updated.
• Discussion of issues of faculty concern involving entering grades and advising were briefly discussed.

4. Assembly Business

            Dean’s Advisory Committee 2006-2007 was elected:

• Joe Yanik (Math and Computer Science) Moderator
• Christina Myers (Sociology and Anthropology) Secretary
• Members-at-Large:
• Marcia Schulmeister (Physical Science)
• Alfredo Montalvo (Sociology and Anthropology)
• Gary Holcomb (English)

General Education Council

• Gary Wyatt (Sociology and Anthropology)

Vice President’s Advisory Council

Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Mehring agreed to convene the VPAA’s advisory committee in 2006-2007.  Names will be solicited for the ballot in early fall semester.  According to LA&S bylaws, Webb would serve as Past Moderator, representing her area of the Humanities and Social Sciences.  One person will be elected to represent Communication/Theatre and the Arts, and one person will be elected to represent the Natural Sciences and Nursing.

Awards

• Teaching:  Richard Sleezer
• Scholarship and Creativity:  Myrna Cornett-DeVito
• Service: Ellen Hansen

Adjourned at 4:55

Submitted by:

Gary Wyatt, Secretary

 

Last Updated April 24, 2007