Present:  Victor Fuhro, Marilyn Dyer-Whalen, Sylvia Peña, Farhat Iftekharuddin, John Ronnau,
    Jose Martin, and Raymond Rodrigues, presiding.

1. Proposed new meeting time for Dean’s Council (R. Rodrigues)
An alternative day for Dean’s Council meeting is being considered (beginning in the Fall Semester) due to a potential conflict with Executive Council meeting dates.  Monday or Wednesday were proposed as a more desirable meeting days.  No change will be made at this time.  When Executive Council’s meeting day is confirmed, the issue will be brought back to Dean’s Council.

2. Space Allocation (R. Rodrigues)
An inventory has been conducted of all office space on campus by the VP for Administration and Partnership and the Facilities Coordinator.  In a few cases, office space appears under utilized.  Dr. Moore’s observation and questions will be shared with the Deans.  Rene Villarreal will be asked to develop a template and procedure for inventorying office space and its use.  Use of office space will be added to the Deans & Chairs Workshop as a discussion topic.

3. Scholarship Research, & Other Intellectual Activity (J. Ronnau)
John Ronnau informed the Council that the Office of Sponsored Programs will publish a list of faculty and staff who have had grants or contracts funded the past year.  The purpose of this list is to recognize those who have engaged in grant and contract activity and to encourage continued efforts.

4. Grade Change Policy (J. Ronnau)
Revisions to the grade change policy that is currently included in the Graduate Catalog have been approved by the Graduate Committee and forwarded to the Provost for approval.  The Provost requested that the Dean’s Council review the proposed changes, also.  The revisions clarify the approval process for grade changes.  Dean’s Council approved the revisions.
The policy pertaining to Incompletes (I) was, also, discussed.  Concern was expressed that the I grade is being assigned inappropriately (i.e. for reasons other than emergencies) in too many cases.  The use of I grades will be added to the Deans & Chairs Workshop for discussion.

5. Deans & Chairs Workshop Agenda and Updates (R. Rodrigues)
The tentative list of topics and dates for their presentation at Deans & Chairs Workshop are:

June 19 The Syllabus (Rodrigues, Sledd, Rodriguez-Abad)
June 20 Assessment of General Education and relationship of that to the Major and ExCET and to course syllabi (Peña, Ronnau, Whalen, Iftekharuddin, Dougherty)

June 21 Finish assessment of general education; program reviews—outstanding parts of reports (Ronnau, Wade)
June 22 Sexual Harassment (Jim Hall and consultant)
June 23 Retention/Curriculum Innovations (Steingass and some Title V faculty)
June 26 Legislative agenda (Zavaleta)
June 27 Involving faculty in Department responsibilities (consultant Lisitz and Rodrigues)
June 28 Workforce speaker (Martin)
June 29 Field trip to maquiladoras (Rodrigues)
June 30 Party (Rodrigues)

Robert Lissitz, University of Maryland is being considered as a motivational speaker and also, to address the topic of establishing working partnerships within the academic departments.

6. RGV Public Health Community Conference (S. Peña)
RGV Public Health Community Conference will be held in Harlingen on June 8.  There is no cost to participate and space is still available.  A major focus of the meeting will be a report on the public health needs in the Valley.

7. Search Team Issues (V. Fuhro)
Victor reiterated the following policies that must be followed by all Search Teams:
? Search Teams cannot be reimbursed for tips or alcohol
? Search Team members should not charge lodging nor rental cars on their personal credit cards – they cannot be reimbursed.