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SPSU Home >> Vice President Academic Affairs >> Meeting Minutes >> DEANS COUNCIL

DEANS COUNCIL

Extended Deans Council Meeting

December 12, 2012

C 131

 

Note:  At times, issues of confidentiality may require that some items discussed in these meetings be excluded from these minutes.

 

Members:  Dave Caudill, Rich Cole, Tom Currin, Steve Hamrick, Ruston Hunt, Joyce Mills, Thomas Nelson, Jeff Orr, Nikki Palamiotis, Jeffrey Ray, Han Reichgelt, Becky Rutherfoord, Zvi Szafran

 

Members Absent:  

 

Guests: 

 

 

Item 1. updates

Szafran updated the Council on the following:

• No DPS IT news yet - probably delayed into new year
• BioTech degree prospectus submitted
• SPSU is opposing a degree offered by Albany State - duplication of our BAS degree
• May have a future Fulbright visiting scholar
• CSE - MSIT ranked 13th online
• SACS went well - normal SACS meeting - more emphasis on distance programs and there should be the same support for distance programs as regular programs
• Discussion of the Florida governor favoring keeping low tuition in STEM courses and higher tuition in liberal arts - state to make up shortfall. This may have some parallel with Hope in Georgia in that Hope may fund STEM courses higher.
• Discussion of article in the Chronicle about UGA‘s unpublicized school for 60 undocumented students
• MET search was unsuccessful - will continue in the fall

 

Item 2.  Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness - Governor Deal has declared Feb 6 - 10 as Severe Weather Awareness Week and Feb 6 will be SPSU’s day for a Tornado Safety Drill wherein SPSU will analyze the results of its preparedness.

• There should be new signage soon for the shelters on campus
• SPSU should prepare for online instruction in case the physical campus is closed due to an emergency
• All faculty should be aware that D2L provides a “shell” for instruction
• Discussion of the pros and cons of making emergency directions as part of course syllabi
• Action Item: Chief Bauer has an emergency preparedness plan and he will be invited to the ALC in spring semester to present his plan
• There was a lack of communication after the recent shooting incident on campus with regard to notifying every one of the details of the event
• Parents are informed at Orientations about the SPSU warning system and they can sign up for the notifications
• Discussion of the pros and cons of social networks for dissemination of emergency details - incorrect information can be spread quickly as well as correct information.

 

Item 3. Improving Support and Encouragement for Associate Professors to Become Full Professors

• Discussion of the incentives and lack of incentives to move from associate professor to professor (full professor)
• Generally agreed there weren’t real incentives
• It is better for our students if faculty pursue higher ranks
• Salary compression is a reality since salaries have been frozen for at least five years and new faculty are hired at higher rates (in order to be competitive) so that new hires are often earning very close to what more experience faculty earn. This could cause morale problems and even attrition of faculty at some point
• Discussion of possible incentives for faculty seeking promotion
• Action Item: Faculty Senate will be asked to examine the reasons faculty often do not seek the rank of full professor and make recommendations as to how to encourage faculty to seek full rank

 

Item 4. Science Festival and Support for Outreach

• The Atlanta Science Festival will be held in March 2014 (March 22-29)
• Should SPSU participate and how?
• SPSU could hold an event or a few events and make it part of a marketing effort
• SPSU could involve classes as part of a special topics set of courses
• SPSU could make its involvement be part of the First Year Experience
• SPSU could structure their involvement similar to the way in which a grant is awarded. An RFP would be offered and innovative responses would be sought that are consistent with the SPSU 2010 Strategic Plan, especially with regard to the Objective of attracting more female faculty.
• If this strategy is adopted, then summer release time for faculty is preferable since it has less impact on the departments
• The VPAA will meet with the President and discuss the extent and monetary commitment to the SPSU involvement
• It was discussed that notwithstanding the faculty and student involvement, this effort is intense and justifies an assignment of a person to coordinate, monitor, and be responsible for SPSU’s involvement not only in this effort, but in Outreach, in general

 

Item 5. New Business

• A student was recently billed by SPSU for courses taken before the student was granted a degree in 2006. The VPAA will investigate
• On Jan 10, 2013, the Small Business Development Council will hold a two-part, invitation only, teaching session. Each dean is asked to solicit faculty who are interested. Deans can attend as well. Names should be given to Dr. Hunt

 

Action Items:

• Action Item: Chief Bauer has an emergency preparedness plan and he will be invited to the ALC in spring semester to present his plan
• Action Item: Faculty Senate will be asked to examine the reasons faculty often do not seek the rank of full professor and make recommendations as to how to encourage faculty to seek full rank

 

Future Agenda Items:

 

Meeting Adjourned at 4:15 P.M.