Academic Council Meeting Minutes -- 11.3.15

1. Approval of Minutes of AC Meeting October 20, 2015

Dr. Michelle Hamm moved approval of the minutes of October 20, 2015. Dr. Jon Dattelbaum seconded. With no further discussion, the minutes were approved by voice vote.

2. New Course Proposals

MUS 230 was proposed as a new course. Dr. Mike Kerckhove motioned to approve. Dr. Walt Stevenson seconded. The floor then opened for discussion.

Dr. Jeff Riehl explained that an Intermediate Level Guitar course would offer opportunities for students who aren’t yet ready for private lessons.

Dr. Libby Gruner, Associate Dean, asked if the course would fulfill the FSVP requirement and Dr. Jeff Riehl clarified that no, it would not.

With no further discussion, MUS 230 was approved by voice vote.

CHEM 324 and CHEM 325 were then proposed as new courses. Dr. Vincent Wang, Associate Dean, motioned to approve. Dr. Robert Hodierne seconded. Dr. Jon Dattelbaum discussed the two new course proposals.

With no further discussion, the new course proposals were approved by voice vote.

3. Changes to Majors, Minors, and Concentrations

A Proposal for Changes to the BMB Major was brought to the floor. Dr. Robert Hodierne motioned to approve. Dr. Michelle Hamm seconded.

Dr. Jon Dattelbaum discussed the proposed changes to the BMB Major curriculum, explaining that the goal is to increase interdisciplinary approaches.

Dr. Libby Gruner, Associate Dean, asked about the difference between changes to the B.A. and B.S. BMB degree. Dr. Jon Dattelbaum clarified that there would be no changes to the B.S. BMB degree, just to the B.A.

With no further discussion, the new course proposals were approved by voice vote.

4. A&S Next (February 20, 2016)

Last year A&S worked with Career Services to pilot a career workshop for A&S students. The pilot workshop was entitled A&S @ Work. This year it will be called A&S Next.

Our goal this year is to increase the number of students who can attend: In addition to other advertising for the event, we will be sending materials to department chairs and program coordinators to encourage students to come. The workshop will take place from morning until mid-afternoon.

In addition, Dean Skerrett is inviting faculty involvement to moderate panels of alums and to participate in practice networking sessions. If you are interested in becoming involved, please let her know.

5. Academic Program Review -- Dr. Vincent Wang, Associate Dean

Dr. Wang reported that the first cohort of programs undergoing Academic Program Review has met. He showed the multi-year schedule for the next cohorts, requesting AC suggestions for revision.

Dr. Jan French requested that the Department of Sociology and Anthropology be moved to Cohort D.

Dr. Yvonne Howell asked if two programs could collaborate on their academic program review, and Dean Skerrett clarified, yes, that one purpose of the cohort assignment is to enable such collaboration. The new Academic Program Review policy was designed to reduce bureaucratic busy work and to focus attention on discussion of questions that programs find meaningful. Collaboration is encouraged where programs identify shared questions or potential discussion partners. In addition, the dean’s office will provide resources at the request of programs that are carrying out review.

6. Phishing Scams

The dean encouraged the department chairs and program coordinators to educate department colleagues (faculty and staff) about phishing schemes. Dean Skerrett noted Vice-President Information Services Kathy’s Monday’s letter to bring to attention to the indicators of phishing schemes and to warn colleagues of the risks of inadvertently giving information to criminals.

Mr. Kevin Creamer offered that if departments would like someone from IS to come and speak to colleagues, he would be willing to arrange that.

7. Strategic Planning Priorities

Our new president has extended the timeline for strategic planning. The provost has asked the deans to lead conversations within the schools to identify priorities for the next strategic plan. The president is interested in learning what has been achieved and what needs to be advanced.

Dr. Mike Kerckove asked how our concern for equity in high education would be carried into the next priorities. Dr. MariLee Mifsud observed that access is one way we achieve equity, but not the only way. It is necessary to achieve equity in academic outcomes and campus climate.

Associate Dean Gruner observed that equity means asking, how does the institution change so that it better reflects society? Equity means advancing high impact practices in our pedagogy throughout the School of Arts & Sciences as well as pathways to inclusion of all students in our programs.

One priority of the next strategic plan should be support for teaching that furthers the inclusion and achievement of all students and that supports their thriving. This needs to be a priority for faculty development.

Dr. Yvonne Howell observed that for cohorts that are carrying out Academic Program Review, equity should be one of the central questions departments and programs should ask themselves, so that they don’t just keep talking about their own territorial issues. Questions about equity for faculty and students should be part of the orientation to Academic Program Review.

Dr. MariLee Mifsud noted that she hoped that we would advance equity as a priority in the context of reflection on social justice.

Dr. Todd Lookingbill asked how will the first Academic Program Review cohort incorporate the president’s vision into their goals, given that those strategic goals have yet to be decided.

Dean Skerrett said that she believed that President Crutcher plans to build on the Richmond Promise and that the commitment to equity as part of Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) is core to the president’s leadership in higher education.

Dr. Linda Boland brought up the issue of transfer students missing so many opportunities that are offered to many first and second year students. We should be attentive to this when students from under-represented groups take different entry points to our curriculum.

Dean Skerrett noted that we should be mindful of this as we implement articulation agreements with two-year colleges. Associate Dean that the School of Professional and Continuing Studies has articulation agreements with J. Sergeant Reynolds. She also described the strong diversity of the student body in SPCS.

Dr. Tricia Stohr Hunt said that we need a Faculty Development Center, where colleagues can learn how to engage in pedagogy that promotes equity and inclusion. I

Dean Skerrett mentioned the proposal among the Associated Colleges of the South for a strategic plan that might include shared faculty development opportunities, especially around diversity, inclusion, and faculty development.

Associate Dean Gruner supported the priority of a Faculty Development Center. This has been talked about for many years but not implemented. She mentioned that the priority of equity and inclusion could be central to a reform of the General Education Curriculum.

Dr. Paul Achter observed that the members of Academic Council are largely white, and he noted that leadership must reflect the talk. He asked how equity fits into the tenure and promotion process, especially in review of SEIs, which reflect patterns of discrimination that have been documented nationally.

Dean Skerrett supported Dr. Achter’s comment. She recalled Dr. Dan Palazzolo’s remark that two decades ago the leadership was overwhelmingly white and male. The advancement of white women into the tenure-steam faculty and leadership positions demonstrates that we have the capacity to change. Yet it also demonstrates that, during that time, we have not changed in ways that equally support the thriving and advancement of faculty of color. This needs to be a strategic priority that is integrated with the priority for students; they are fundamentally related priorities.