Tuesday, February 5, 2007
Attendance:
Present: Robert Aiken, Karen Turner, Paul LaFollette, Bonnie Averbach, David Baron, Jon Clark, Joan Delalic, Marge Devinney, Pauline Hurley-Kurtz, Luke Kahlich, Diane Maleson,
Bernie Newman, Ira Shapiro, Joan Shapiro Joel Sheffield, Roberta Sloan, Roy Stevens
1. Call to Order:
Meeting was called to order at 1:05 PM
2. Guests: First Visitors - Bill Bradshaw, Peter Jones, Ellen Brown and Eleanor Myers.
Our visitors first discussed the status of our NCAA recertification.
This is proceeding in an orderly fashion. The three areas of interest to the recertifiers are Governance and Compliance, Academic Integrity, and Athletes' Well Being. There is a large faculty presence on the recertification steering committee.
The priorities of the Athletics Department, in order, are
1) Integrity
2) Academics (We currently have a 2.94 overall GPA for our athletes)
3) Business (We expect a 3 million dollar surplus this year)
4) Athletic Performance
Turner commented that she had recently heard Carol Dumfries speak and was most impressed. Turner feels that our faculty should have more opportunities to hear our coaches speak.
Next we had a most impressive presentation by Peter Jones and Dr. Ellen Brown about the new Center for Support for Student Athletes.
Baron asked if we have any special programs for pre-professional students.
He was answered, "yes."
Several made comments that they hoped that this successful approach to helping student athletes could be carried over to help non-athletes, especially in the area of improved advising. Jones agreed, and said that there have been nine new employment lines added to our advisors.
I. Shapiro asked what the minimum GPA's were required by the NCAA.
Answer: 1.8 at the end of the second semester.
1.9 at the end of the fourth semester.
2.0 at the end of the sixth semester.
3. Vice President's Report (Turner):
The nominating committee has met. They will be contacting schools and colleges this week.
We are making progress at filling vacancies on the Student Awards Committee.
Turner is a member of Workgroup 9, the bureaucracy workgroup. She would appreciate hearing stories about problems with the bureaucratic infrastructure. She asked that we solicit them from our colleagues and forward them to her.
4. Second Guests- Terry Halbert and David Watt from the GEEC.
We have made wonderful progress in getting courses approved. We still face issues about fees, scheduling, and similar devilish details.
Watt asked, "Five years hence, what will show that GenEd has been a success?"
Several suggestions were made, including "Signs that TU Students are becoming active members of the academic community."
"Signs that GenEd is 'owned' by the faculty."
"Will GenEd not be viewed as something to 'get out of the way.”
LaFollette asked how many courses that had been approved by the GEEC had their colleges later chosen not to implement.
Answer: three out of roughly 100.
Baron asked whether course creation will cease, or will be a part of a continuing process in which old courses disappear and new courses develop.
Answer: The latter. There will be continuing development.
Someone asked whether there has been any thought of seeking external funding.
Answer: Yes.
J. Shapiro suggested that we consider showcasing our GenEd program in a conference.
5. Approval of Minutes:
The minutes from January 22 and January 29 were approved as corrected.
6. President's Report (Aiken):
Aiken met with the Provost and with CATA about the search for a senior vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Development.
The position has now been announced through the LISTSERVs and through the Temple Times. CATA has agreed to an internal search, and propose an "advisory committee" for the evaluation of candidates. Deadline for new nominations is Friday Feb. 8.
They hope to have a candidate identified by April.
Maleson pointed out that there seems to be an increasing desire from HR to become involved in faculty hiring. This is not part of their responsibility, and we need to be watchful.
A search committee for a new dean for Social Administration will be formed soon.
7. Old Business:
There was further discussion about the issue of Deans and their attendance at Collegial Assembly meetings. Aiken will forward our concerns to the Provost.
8. New Business:
None
9. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:04 PM
Paul S. LaFollette, Jr.
Secretary
