Present:  Betsy Boze, Farhat Iftekharuddin, Raymond Rodrigues, Doug Ferrier, John Ronnau, Terry Rives, Sylvia Peña, Jim Holt

1. HOOP Proposal--Educator Preparation Committee (Sylvia Peña)

The council accepted the revisions as noted.  The proposal will now be submitted to the Academic Senate for review & approval.

2. Selecting Emeritus Faculty (Raymond Rodrigues)

Council discussed qualifications for promotion to Emeritus faculty status.  The council agreed in principle that Emeritus Faculty should be granted privileges such as library access, parking permit, and e-mail accounts.  The Provost will discuss the latter item with Dr. Wayne Lewis.  John Ronnau agreed to collect information from other institutions regarding guidelines for promotion of Emeritus faculty.

3. NCIA Exemplary Initiatives Competition (John Ronnau)

Pros and Cons of participating in the Exemplary Initiative Awards competition sponsored by the National Council of Instructional Administrators (NCIA) were discussed.  The required entry fee was seen as an impediment by some council members; however, overall the council agreed that participation may have some benefits.  Dean Holt will further investigate the possibility of submitting a nomination.
 

4. Post Baccalaureate Certificates (PBC’s)

John Ronnau proposed the use of a consultant from the Council of Graduate Schools to initiate a discussion on our campus regarding the concept as well as the advantages and disadvantages of PBC’s.  It was suggested that this discussion could be tied to the larger issues of graduate standards and assessment.

5. Participation of Dean of Graduate Studies & Sponsored Programs in faculty interviews.

Dean Ronnau invited the Academic Deans to include him on the schedule for interviews of new faculty.  This would provide an opportunity to raise the awareness of new faculty about Graduate Studies and sponsored programs at UTB/TSC. The deans supported the proposal enthusiastically.

6. Interdisciplinary Programs

Dean Ronnau indicated his intention to engage all departments who currently offer Interdisciplinary Programs at the graduate level in a discussion during spring semester about the strengths and need for further development of these programs.  He observed that while interdisciplinary programs present extra challenges they are gaining increased attention across the country.

7. Skeleton crews during holidays.  (Sylvia Peña)

The provost will confer with Executive Council regarding expectations for staff coverage during the holidays and report back to the deans.

8. Expansion of USDA building.

Dean Holt reported on the proposal to expand the USDA building which will serve as a business incubator complex.

Congratulations were offered to Dean Holt for completing his Masters Degree!

9. Strategic Planning (Rodrigues)

The Deans were asked to encourage and facilitate faculty discussion regarding the Strategic Planning on campus.

10. Martin Luther King Week

Dean Iftekharrudin reported that planning is underway for honoring Martin Luther King Week.  He reported that a “Dream Wall” would be constructed in North, South, Tandy & SET B.  The Dream Wall will contain excerpts for Martin Luther King’s  “I have a dream” speech.  Students will be invited to record their dreams for UTB’s future on the wall.

11. Introduction of new faculty

The Provost reminded the deans that they should be prepared to introduce their new faculty at the opening session for Academic Affairs at the beginning of the spring semester.  Additional ways for recognizing and honoring new faculty were discussed.  The Provost will invite the President to be introduced to new faculty at the opening session.

12. Summer Employment (José Martín)

Concerns raised by the Academic Senate regarding faculty summer employment policies were discussed.  While the Deans understand that summer employment is an important source of income for some faculty, it is understood that not all faculty choose to take on this extra assignment.  Both an immediate and long range concern of administration remains the prevention of faculty burn out.

Meeting adjourned at 10:45

Submitted by John Ronnau