Present: Ray Rodrigues (presiding), José Martín, Doug Ferrier, Marilyn Dyer, Wayne Lewis, Betsy Boze, Cindy Lerma, Sylvia Peña, Victo Fuhro, Farhat Iftekharuddin, Carolyn Green, Eli Peña (guest).

1. Catalog: Eli Peña provided an update on the undergraduate catalog revision process.  He distributed diskettes to each of the academic deans and provided instructions about timelines and formats.  Ray Rodrigues asked that the program descriptions include assessment objectives.  Eli will add assessment objectives to the standard format.

2. Department Chair/Head Compensation: Victor Fuhro led a discussion of compensation options.

3. Response to SACS due April 15: Ray reminded members that their responses to the SACS request for a follow-up report are due April 15.

4. 7.5.2 Policy (Role and Responsibilities of Department Chairs): Members reviewed the latest draft of the policy.  They suggested that the number of items be reduced by consolidating like items under more general descriptions.  Betsy Boze will make the revisions.

5. Authority to Develop New Degrees: Carolyn Green distributed copies of the institution’s Table of Programs.  The Table of Programs lists all current programs as well as those that the institution is authorized to develop or plan for.  Members reviewed the table, noting the meaning of codes that further define our planning authority.  In many areas, approval of new programs would require a change in the role and scope of the institution.  Role and scope must be approved by the Coordinating Board.

6. Curriculum Diversity Audit: Carolyn reminded members of the diversity audit that she and Mimosa Stephenson are conducting.  The request is for information from faculty members about how they address diversity issues in their classes.  The results will be reported as part of an update on achievement of the Chancellor’s goals.

7. Registration Training: Victor Fuhro announced that summer registration training material is available on the web. The information can be accessed from the Publications page, which is reached by selecting NEWS on the home page.

8. Posting of grades: Victor reminded members that FERPA requirements preclude the posting of students’ grades in public places (e.g., on bulletin boards, on office doors, etc.) without the student’s consent and then only by means of an identifier known only by the student.

9. ExCET: Sylvia Peña distributed the latest ExCET test results, noting low first-time pass rates now that the bar has been raised for several of the tests.  Members discussed implications for curriculum and ExCET preparation procedures.

10. Faculty Search Status: Victor distributed a matrix to be used to report the status of faculty searches.  Responses are due to the Provost by Friday, April 9.