Deans Council Minutes
September 28, 2005
GUESTS: Yongli Ma for Joyce Mills
Item 1: Role of Deans and Chairs
The updated roles for deans and chairs were re-circulated to the deans for any last suggestions before distribution to the campus. The draft “Roles” documents are attached to these minutes. Faculty comments are invited.
The proposed new signatory authority has gone to the President for review.
Item 2: Update on New Positions
The VPAA gave the deans permission to begin advertising for their approved faculty positions. Combined ads will be placed in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Departments will place ads in specialty publications. Proposed language for advertisements must be approved prior to placement.
Item 3: Conserving Fuel
The VPAA encouraged car-pooling to conferences, meetings, etc. whenever possible and asked that only essential travel be approved.
Item 4: Industrial Support for
VPAA Szafran asked the deans to identify the names of persons in industry who would be willing to attest to the quality of our programs and would be willing to hire our graduates. This is needed to generate letters in support of engineering and liberal arts to help expand our mission. The new mission statement is almost finalized and will be sent out again to the Deans for comments and suggestions.
Item 5: Faculty Availability on Campus
The VPAA asked the deans for feedback on the degree to which faculty should be expected to be on campus. While the current policy is that faculty are minimally expected to meet their classes and hold at least 5 office hours per week, it was widely agreed that this is not sufficient to meet expectations. It was agreed that there should be a clarified standard and that P & Ps on faculty expectations should make this policy clear. The following sample standard was proposed:
“Full-time faculty at SPSU are generally expected to maintain a presence on campus of at least 4 days per week during academic terms, except for holidays and off-campus assignments on behalf of SPSU. Exceptions to this standard require explanation and the approval of the faculty member's Chair, Dean, and the VPAA.”
It was agreed that this standard be brought to the Faculty Senate for further discussion.
Item 6: Transfer Credit
VPAA Szafran asked for suggestions on simplifying the issuance of transfer credit, especially when it comes to awarding transfer credit for core classes. Szafran stated that there is a need for streamlining the procedure to make it quicker and easier for students to receive transfer credit and asked if a campus committee should be involved. Steve Hamrick will discuss ideas with the undergraduate curriculum committee and the student status committee to decide which committee should be involved if changes are implemented. The goal is not to change the core but to make a more liberal and reasonable transfer credit policy. The VPAA will work on a proposal to be submitted to the faculty.
Meeting adjourned at 4:10 P.M.