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March 22, 2001 Meeting Minutes |
ACADEMIC COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
March 22, 2001 2:00 pm Hunter Hall Conference Room
Recorder: Kathy Cordo
In attendance were Bertha Benavidez, Cynthia Bettison, Kathy Cordo, June Decker, Larry French, Terry Heiner, Judith Lawrence, Claudia Leonard for Gwen Cassel, Junius Logan, Louis Martinez for Lou Ollivier, Michael Metcalf, Julie Miller, Al Milligan, George Muncrief, Ernie Noack for Jerry Harmon, Steve Reed, Donna Rees, Faye Vowell, and Katherine Woodard.
Announcements
· C.A.T.T.S. will now be called Information Technology (I.T.).
· Please direct questions about copy center hours to Chris Casey. According to the plan, a maintenance person will be available on campus to assist with copy center issues.
Legislative Update
Dr. Vowell reported that the governor line-item-vetoed much of the educational budget, which is unfortunate since it was the best proposal in some time for Western. Specifically, what was vetoed included the money for the NeTL (teacher licensure via distance delivery), the BSN in nursing, and the athletics gender equity bill. The legislature is still in session and has put forward three follow-up bills, one for funding faculty raises at 7% and staff raises at 6.5%, and another providing $55,000 for utilities. The third, a capital bill providing $1.275 million for infrastructure, has not yet been vetoed. Also not vetoed were a NAFTA proposal, CDC money, extended services at $616,000, and the ITV money. The governor has until 6 April to act on these bills.Serials Cost and Possible Cutting
Julie Miller reported that a careful look should be given to the purchase of periodicals for the library due to their increasing expense. Her information will be presented to the Instructional Resources Committee. She requested department chairs remind committee members to attend the meeting. If funding remains the same and costs increase, the library will have to deselect some titles. Julie can furnish cost-per-use data to faculty on periodicals used in their fields. She is aware accreditation issues are involved with some periodicals. Three-fourths of the library budget is spent on print format, and this will continue. Periodicals claim 30% of the total operating budget of the library, salaries for staff claim another 50%. Therefore, 80% of the total budget is spent on periodicals and salaries.
Relocation of CDC During Construction
Several proposals have been mentioned for relocation of the CDC during construction: the top floor of Light Hall, Eckles Hall, Silver Schools, temporary buildings on the open space behind Sechler Hall, the Rec Center in town, The Masons building, Elks Lodge, and various churches. Each of these locations was discussed, and many were not adequate due to lack of bathroom facilities suitable for young children in a pre-school setting.
As a side issue, Dr. Vowell questioned whether any complaints had been registered concerning the construction. One complaint from a private citizen concerned the messiness of the grounds and was reported to Chris Casey. Ernie Noack reported a visibility and potential safety issue for night-class students walking between Martinez/Phelps Dodge and the Fine Arts parking lot. Dr. Decker mentioned a bank of lights that extends across the back of Old James that might be turned on for students. Dr. Vowell replied lights have been ordered and maybe the order needs to be speeded up.
CIT/GRC Use of Auditorium
Uses of the auditorium in the CIT/GRC building were discussed. The auditorium will seat around 250, the classrooms around 40. The auditorium may be used for distance education, some theater productions, as a conference center—especially for economic development use, for satellite downlinks, and for classroom use. The structure of the auditorium makes the 35mm package less effective than we had hoped. They are looking into using the F.A.C.T. as a place to put the 35 mm package. Cynthia Bettison suggested looking at other universities to see what uses their auditoriums are being put to. She also suggested that drainage control be planned before the building is built, rather than dealing with flooding problems later. Dr. Vowell stressed that planning ahead is important, as is communication.
Committee to Decide on Furniture, etc. for CIT/GRC
A committee is being created to plan room use, what furniture should be ordered, what computer programs will be needed, and what will be in the labs. Dr. Vowell requested that the expressive arts department be involved in planning the labs, along with math and computer sciences.
On this topic, the Information Technology Taskforce met yesterday. As more educational programs are developed requiring computers, the need for more computers in the classroom and more computer lab space has emerged. Can we upgrade the technological capability of WNMU’s classrooms? Dr. Vowell is planning a presentation on the topic and needs data. Judith Lawrence offered data she had gathered several years ago. Dr. Vowell requested updated information. Julie Miller described “classroom on a cart” which the library is developing. The “classroom” has lap tops on a cart with a plug-in and is expensive. Many classrooms on campus are not wired for the internet, which would be necessary for the cart application.
Update on Hiring for Spring
· Bertha Benavidez (Applied Technology) reported the last she heard, no one met the minimum requirements and plans are to re-evaluate the positions.
· George Muncrief (Business) reported several candidates fit the profile, and a search committee has been approved but has not met.
· Al Milligan (Math) reported the committee has been approved by both HR and Carmen.
· Terry Heiner (Natural Sciences) reported the committee has selected three candidates. They are coming in next week.
· Claudia Leonard (Occupational Therapy) reported one applicant for each of two positions. They are still taking applications.
· Larry French (Social Sciences) reported the sociology position has been delayed due to a publication delay.
Closing Discussions
· The new catalog contains course changes and additions to many academic programs, but will not be available until early next fall. The department chairs asked how to advise using the old catalog. Dr. Vowell replied the new information should be used to advise, except for the unusual case of a transfer student, who may be under an old catalog, depending on circumstances. Each department should prepare an addendum covering the changes to their program. The addendum should be attached to the old catalog and given to the student to use until new catalogs can be supplied. Students need to understand they are to comply with the new catalog.
· No one from the library, museum, or expressive arts is represented on the Loss Control Committee. Dr. Vowell suggested someone should be.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:26pm.