Present:

• Alan Gabrielli, Dean, Arts & Sciences
• La Juana Cochrane, Department Chair, Social & International Studies
• Joel Fowler, Department Chair, Mathematics
• Ken Rainey, Department Chair, Humanities & Technical Communication
• John Sink, Acting Department Chair, Biology, Chemistry & Physics

Enrollment:

The School of Arts & Sciences is slightly behind the University in enrollment numbers (when measured as percentage of class openings filled). A&S is at 85.8% capacity and the University as a whole is at 86.5%. Overall enrollment is up from last year but down from last semester.
(Note: A&S enrolled 44.9% of total enrolled credit hours in SP05, down 0.6 percent from F04 but up 2.4% from SP04.)

Budget Issues:

• OS&E - Gabrielli updated the chairs regarding the 25% holdback in OS&E funds being held in reserve. There is no date for release of these funds yet pending more information on a possible mid-year budget cut.
• Equipment Funds - Equipment money has not been released but Hornbeck is soliciting proposals. Tech fee proposals are due on January 21st. Approved tech fee proposals should be funded in September, 2005.
• Formula Funding - Gabrielli briefly explained formula funding for the 2006 budget and that there is a possibility the University may lose some funding. He explained how enrollment numbers (especially graduate student enrollment) and other factors from 2004 will affect budget numbers for 2006.

Deans Council Update: Current discussions in the Deans Council meetings include:

• strategic plan - After identifying and grouping strategic issues, the deans have been asked to come up with plans.
• academic positions - A&S has received more tenure-track and one-year appointments than other schools so may not get approval for additional positions for next year. SIS has filled its position and Biology, Math, and TCOM searches are all nearing completion.
• pre- and post-tenure reviews - The existing P&Ps on pre- and post-tenure reviews are out-of-date due to several reorganizations and will be updated. The deans are developing updated policies and they will be sent to the Senate for approval.

Expanded Cabinet:

• working on budget priorities and planning
• possible implementation of the One-card for students and faculty. This debit type card could be used for financial aid disbursements/reimbursements and for purchases on campus. More information is needed and will be gathered to see if this is a good option for our campus.

Summer Schedules: The deadline for imputing the summer schedule is January 28. The guidelines haven't been finalized regarding summer pay and the use of part-time faculty. Gabrielli discouraged the chairs from offering traditionally low-enrollment courses.

Outcomes and Assessment: Departmental outcomes and objectives for each of their programs are due to Alan as soon as possible.

Evaluations: There are no changes in the procedures department chairs will use to evaluate faculty. Evaluations are due to be completed in March.

Retention: Despite a history of low retention among freshmen and sophomores, this semester the University has a higher retention rate in those two categories.

Marietta City Schools: The University has received a grant to host a two-week summer institute in July to train Marietta Middle School teachers in science, math, and technology areas. Faculty will be needed to help with this project.

Cobb Magnet Internships: Magnet schools require their seniors to take a one-semester internship. Gabrielli asked for suggestions on how we could place some of those students on our campus. Internships could be needed in science, fine arts, pre-professional, and science and technology.

Gabrielli asked for agenda items for the next A&S meeting to be scheduled soon.

The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.