NOTE: At times, issues of confidentiality may require that some items discussed in meetings be excluded from these minutes.
 
PRESENT: Bill Barnes, Dick Aynsley, Alan Gabrielli, Mike Murphy, Dawn Ramsey, Judy Waits, Steve Hamrick
 
ABSENT: Sandy Pfeiffer
 
GUEST: Patricia Garrett, Director of Advancement
 
 
1. Funding Support for SPSU:
Garrett spoke to the deans about the goal of raising one million in unrestricted funds for SPSU. Garrett will meet with the deans to plan strategy for developing support from outside sources. The deans suggested joint visits with Garrett or a Foundation committee member to prospects, and also to make sure that alumnae are aware of matching funds.
 
2. Multi-Disciplinary Degree:
Ramsey said the multi-disciplinary committee met. Deans suggested that it would be useful to have all the advisory boards meet together to discuss the multi-disciplinary issues and how industry would react to this degree. There was concern that this degree would be too broad.
 
3. Middle George College:
Ramsey reported on the needs assessment at Warner Robbins (WR) and that WR follows federal regulations for hiring engineering staff. Our graduating students are not considered for engineering positions because our ET programs are accredited by the Technical Accreditation Commission (TAC) of ABET and not by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. The only eligibility for our ET graduates for engineering appointments at WR is by them passing the EIT or FE and having one year of experience supervised by a PE. Pfeiffer will discuss the issue with Dr. Rossbacher.
 
4. Two Additional Issues:
Ramsey reported that the cleaning crew in Building J unplugged all computers in the labs and moved some equipment outside the rooms to buff and wax the floors. The computers were not, in some cases, returned to the labs, nor were they reconnected. Ramsey noted that they did not want the cleaning crew to reconnect the computers, but also that there should be some coordination when the cleaning crews are going to be moving equipment. Also, it would be best if this type of cleaning occurred during breaks.

Ramsey talked to Anton Kashiri about the new signs on campus. He told her that the committee made all the decisions concerning the new signs. There was concern that no building would have letter designations even though the campus uses letters and not names to direct visitors on campus.
 
5. Distance Learning:
Ramsey had sent a draft of the Distance Learning Plan to the deans for prior review. She noted that it is important that the plan be reflected in the proposed budget.
 
6. Peer/Comparison of SPSU:
The expanded cabinet is pursuing the development of next year's budget including the request for a tuition differential because of our special mission. Hamrick and the deans discussed what makes SPSU "special" and what data would need to be gathered for this report.
 
7. Next Meeting:
There will not be a deans council meeting next week due to the expanded cabinet meeting at 1:00.