A&S Dept. Chair Meeting Minutes

Department Chair Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2003
Room J 307 - 3:00-4:00 PM

Present:

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

Budget: Gabrielli updated the department chairs on budget issues discussed in the Expanded Cabinet, including what the budget process should look like and what the timetable should be. The Expanded Cabinet is developing budget guidelines and when finalized will be posted for campus comment.

Transfer Credit: Hamrick is suggesting that the awarding of transfer credit be changed from the way it is handled currently. He is suggesting that any transfer credit that is not recognized by our computer system be listed as generic free elective credit on the studentsÕ records. It would then be up to the student to petition for the transfer credit from each department involved. Discussed were the negative aspects of implementing such a policy including the additional workload on the department chairs as well as students. Gabrielli agreed to discuss this further with Hamrick.

Equipment Proposals: Gabrielli stated that the equipment proposal process is slightly behind schedule due to Britt PearceÕs illness but is continuing.

Miscellaneous: Gabrielli asked department chairs to give him the names of their departmental webmasters and reminded them to submit the types of recurring expenses they have in their departments as this will be needed for developing the budget in the future.

Indirect Cost Structure for Grants: It has been determined that any indirect cost funds received on the behalf of an awarded grant be divided as follows:

40% Academic Affairs
40% General Fund
20% Grants Office (to support further proposal writing)
Gabrielli asked the department chairs for input on the division of Academic AffairsÕ 40% share of these funds and whether or not there should be restrictions on the use of this money. The current ratio is:

8% VPAA
8% Dean
24% Department receiving the grant
The department chairs agreed that departments should receive a larger percentage and that no restrictions be placed on the use of these funds.

Adjunct Faculty Salaries: Adjunct faculty pay for SP04 will be based on a new workload hour scale. Adjunct faculty with over 5 years experience at SPSU may, with justification and approval by the VPAA, be paid as much as 30% over scale.