November 4, 2014 Academic Council Meeting Minutes

The dean called the meeting to order at 10:30.

1. Approval of Minutes of October 21, 2014

Dr. Aurora Hermida-Ruiz moved approval of the minutes of October 21, 2014.  Dr. Sam Abrash seconded. With no further discussion the minutes were approved by voice vote.

2.  Information about the DuPont Fund—Alison Keller and Vittoria Tripp

The first order of business was information about the DuPont Fund. Alison Keller, Director of Student Activities, and Vittoria Tripp, Office Operations and Budget Coordinator, introduced themselves and explained the opportunity provided by the DuPont Fund.

The fund supports the purchase of tickets and travel to visual and performing arts events for full-time students regardless of financial need. Discussion ensued. Toward the end, Dr. Walt Stevenson mentioned that he has a copy of the Endowment Gift Intent from Business Affairs and remarked that the donors wish the funds to be used.

3. New Course Proposal—Dr. Michelle Hamm 

Dr. Michelle Hamm moved approval of a new course proposal for CHEM 114 – The Chemistry of Cooking. The motion was seconded.

Dr. Hamm explained that the course would apply scientific methods to the art of cooking. With no further discussion the motion was approved by voice vote.

4.  FERPA and Electronic Media—Susan Breeden

The Registrar reminded faculty to be alert to FERPA implications when assigning students online work and distributed a checklist for faculty to consider. She also gave faculty the dates and times of the open house for the new classrooms in MRC.

5. Faculty Travel Budgets

The Dean presented information about practices at other liberal arts colleges, recommendations from the report of the Ad-Hoc Travel Committee, and three-year average expenditures on department travel budgets. Discussion ensued.

Dr. Nicole Sackley suggested tying faculty travel allocation more closely to the inflation index. Dr. Mari Tonn suggested reimbursement based on the market in which the conference or event takes place. Dr. Con Beausang suggested using the Federal Guideline for government employee travel spending to better project faculty travel budgets.

The Dean noted that the departments have not, in any year, expended the travel budgets allocated to them. Therefore the challenge needs to be identified: is it the level of allocation across the departments, or is it the level of reimbursement for individual travel opportunities?

In addition, Dr. Sam Abrash suggested updates to international travel spending; and the Dean asked members whether their faculty was getting the kind of professional development and travel opportunities they needed. Many felt they were not.

In the end, Dr. Dan Palazzolo suggested Academic Council delegate a small committee to review the issue and make recommendations to the Dean.

The meeting adjourned at 11:46.

Respectfully submitted,

Matt Oglesby