October 6, 2015 - Academic Council Meeting Minutes

1. Survey of Dean’s Office Communication - Dr. Jon Dattelbaum, Chair of DAC

The Dean, Associate Deans, and staff stepped out of the room while Dr. Jon Dattelbaum, Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council, administered the Survey of Dean’s Office Communication.

2. Approval of Minutes of AC Meeting September 15, 2015 

Dr. Robert Hodierne moved approval of the minutes of September 15, 2015. Dr. Ted Bunn seconded. With no further discussion, the minutes were approved by voice vote.

3. New Course Proposals for Spring 2016 – Dr. Ben Broening, Associate Dean

ANTH 303, FREN 412, JOUR 370, LAIS 308, and MSEN 205 were proposed as new courses. Dr. Sam Abrash moved approval of the new course proposals. Dr. Jeff Riehl seconded. With no further discussion, the new course proposals were approved by voice vote.

4. Revised Major & Minor (Studio Art) – Dr. Jeremy Drummond, Chair, Art & Art History

Dr. Jeremy Drummond introduced the Revised Major & Minor in Studio Art, and discussed the fact that this curriculum change has been discussed by the department for a few years.

Dr. Libby Gruner, Associate Dean, expressed concern about separating FSVP courses from the major. Dr. Yvonne Howell echoed this sentiment, concluding that there may be a larger problem with the General Education system as a whole.

Discussion ensued regarding this.

Dr. Tricia Stohr-Hunt moved approval of the new course proposals and the Revised Major & Minor. Dr. Johann Stegmeir seconded.  This motion includes the new courses VMAP 211, VMAP 212, VMAP 250, VMAP 253, VMAP 255, VMAP 256, and VMAP 261. With no further discussion, the Revised Major & Minor and the new course proposals were approved by voice vote.

Dr. Ben Broening, Associate Dean, then moved that the following Changes to Course Name and Number be passed by unanimous consent: VMAP 112, VMAP 113, VMAP 114, VMAP 115, VMAP 116, VMAP 117, VMAP 251, VMAP 252, VMAP 254, VMAP 257, VMAP 258, VMAP 259, VMAP 260, VMAP 300, VMAP 302, VMAP 304, VMAP 306, VMAP 308, VMAP 310, VMAP 375, and VMAP 465.

Dr. Ben Broening moved that the following Changes to Course Code be passed by unanimous consent: VMAP 279, VMAP 351, and VMAP 466.

5. New Minor in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Design  (cross-school minor)

Dr. Libby Gruner, Associate Dean, moved approval of the proposal for a new cross-school minor in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Design. Dr. Stephanie Cobb seconded.

Discussion ensued.

Dr. Abigail Cheever asked how the proposal represents a cross school initiative. Dr. Libby Gruner advised that this minor would be available to Arts & Sciences students and not available to business students.

Faculty members that a representative from the Business School be present to answer questions and present the program.

Dr. Ted Bunn moved to table the motion. Dr. Linda Boland seconded. With no further discussion, the motion to table passed by voice vote.

Dean Skerrett noted that she will ask representatives from the Business School to come and speak at the next Academic Council meeting.

6. Minor Changes to Courses

Dr. Ben Broening moved that the following Title Changes/Course Descriptions be passed by unanimous consent: PLSC 326, SOC 319, SOC 340, and WGSS 202.

Dr. Ben Broening moved that the following Course Number Changes be passed by unanimous consent: MUS 136 (was MUS 236) and MUS 137 (was MUS 237).

7. New Courses Proposals for Fall 2016

EDUC 451, EDUC 452, EDUC 454, EDUC 465, EDUC 468, EDUC 469, EDUC 471, EDUC 480, and WGSS 350 were proposed as new courses. Dr. Sam Abrash moved approval of the new course proposals. Dr. Michelle Hamm seconded. With no further discussion, the new course proposals were approved by voice vote.

8. Lecture Budgets – Dr. Kathleen Skerrett, Dean

Dean Skerrett requested feedback and recommendations regarding the annual lecture budget process.

Dr. MariLee Mifsud offered that she finds the process too insular within each department and suggested having a shared venue to network proposals and plans among departments. This would provide opportunities for more inter-departmental events. It would be good to have fewer, yet higher impact events.  

Dean Skerrett asked if the process of making requests is cumbersome at the end of the year. Dr. Hugh West noted that years ago the Dean allocated budget within the department budgets. Dean Skerrett said she thought that would be more efficient. Dean Skerrett said she will bring a proposal to Academic Council.

9. Calibration of Merit Scores Across Divisions – Dr. Kathleen Skerrett, Dean

At our next Academic Council meeting on October 20, 2015, the department chairs will meet in small groups to discuss calibration of annual merit scores across the quadripartite divisions. This meeting is required by the Guidelines for Merit Review: “Each October, Academic Council will dedicate one meeting to allow department chairs to meet in small groups to discuss discipline-sensitive benchmarks for applying the merit rubric. Individual cases will not be discussed in these meetings.”

To prepare for the calibration meeting, at the A&S Faculty Meeting on October 8, 2015, the Dean will make a presentation on the distribution of merit scores assigned in FY15.