Dean's Council Minutes
June 4, 1998
 
R. Rodrigues (presiding), V. Fuhro, J. Holt, J. Martin, C. Lerma, M. Stephenson, P.
 Kavanaugh, W. Lewis, D. Ferrier, A. Zavaleta, M. Dyer, H. Silva (Guest),
 J. Goodwin (Guest).
 
New Business:
 
 1) Developmental Education Survey
Deans Martin and Zavaleta reported that they have already filled out or will fill out the parts of the survey on Developmental Education from the Coordinating Board that apply to them.
The Deans asked what the author of the cover letter of the Developmental Education Survey meant by stating that the Developmental Education program at UTB/TSC was exemplary.
H. Silva and J. Goodwin said that the Developmental Education program at UTB/TSC is considered exemplary, in part, because the program contains mandatory assessment, and placement, tutoring, and supplementary instruction.
 
 2) TASP
H. Silva reported that local high schools are requesting orientation sessions for students regarding the TASP test now that students need to have taken the TASP before they can register at UTB/TSC or qualify to be TASP exempt).
Zavaleta reported that 15% of students at STCC, 12% of students at Laredo CC and 10% of TSC students pass all sections of the TASP on their first attempt.
H. Silva said that it will be a key in advising and counseling to identify students who are approaching or exceeding 27 credit hours in developmental education.
Ms. Silva reminded the Deans that if a student receives a grade of "B" in a college level Mathematics of English Composition class that student does not have to take the TASP in that area.
H. Silva said that faculty could identify a college level class (i.e. in the social sciences or behavioral sciences) that would also serve to demonstrate a student's competency in reading. If a student passed such a class with a "B" or better the student would be exempted from having to pass the reading section of the TASP test.
 
 3) Academic Assessments
The positive news is that the academic assessments from all undergraduate programs were handed in on time.
In order to assure that chairs do not end up writing the academic assessments at the last second the academic assessment process should begin in the Fall.
 
 4) ExCET Results
The State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) has issued ExCET results for the last testing period. Students achievement on The ExCET has improved considerably although there are some areas where improvement is still necessary. G. Brogdon has a complete list of all ExCET results.
 
 5) Enrollment Figures
R. Rodrigues handed out to the Deans the statistics on the latest enrollment information for Summer Session 1. It showed a significant drop in enrollment at the upper division. Enrollment in the lower division and at the graduate level showed slight increases.
R. Rodrigues has asked for a report of students who have transferred from UTB/TSC to other institutions in order to understand more clearly what is happening in the area of enrollment.
The Deans agreed that there is an acute need for an enrollment management plan.
Zavaleta noted that in Behavioral Sciences enrollment is down because fewer sections were offered.
In Education enrollment is down because fewer students have been admitted to the teacher education program. In addition there are only two faculty remaining in Reading after the retirement of two faculty and the resignation of one other.
R. Rodrigues questioned whether the institution is failing the majors by not offering enough courses at the upper division.
W. Lewis noted that those departments which offer evening classes have had increases in enrollment rather than decreases.
R. Rodrigues said that departments need to build more evening classes into their schedules.
M. Dyer said that experiences in Health Sciences is that Saturday classes also work for students who have full-time jobs during the week.
R. Rodrigues said that it might be helpful for Deans and Chairs to work through a Fall/Spring Schedule at the Deans'/Chairs' workshop in order to develop a schedule which would accommodate student schedules better.
Zavaleta noted that one of the reasons that enrollment has gone down in Behavioral Sciences is because the faculty is offering two graduate courses in Harlingen instead of teaching upper division classes.
Zavaleta said that this problem illustrates the need for more faculty. There is no other way to accommodate the needs of developmental students, lower division and upper division students, and graduate programs.
Rodrigues suggested that the Deans might want to develop a formula for the chairs to help them develop their schedules (e.g. _____% of evening classes, _____% of undergraduate classes, _____% of evening classes, _____% of Saturday classes.
 
 Old Business
 
 1) Official Faculty Transcripts
In order to respond to the SACS recommendations, the director of Human Resources, A. Fuhro, asked the Deans for their suggestions on how Human Resources might have an up-to-date compilation of official faculty transcripts. Right now UTB/TSC is out of compliance on this point.
The Deans requested to the SACS recommendations, the Deans might want to develop a formula for the chairs to help them develop their schedules (e.g. _____% of graduate classes, _____% of undergraduate classes, _____% of evening classes, _____% of Saturday classes.
The Deans also suggested that, in the future, a request for an official transcript be included in the letter-of-hire of any faculty person.
The Deans agreed that since this is a procedural matter it will not require a change to any HOOP.
 
 2) Primary Language of Faculty
According to House Bill 638 each component in the UT System must adopt a procedure to certify that faculty can speak English will enough to teach the classes that they are teaching.
R. Rodrigues will check on what is being done at other institutions in this regard and report to the Deans before a policy decision is made.
 
 3) Other
SETB will be closed to the campus the entire week that the Border Governor's Conference is taking place.
Faculty need to clean their offices.