Academic Council Meeting Minutes - 1.19.16

1. Approval of Minutes of Academic Council Meeting from December 1, 2015

Dr. Mike Kerckhove moved approval of the minutes of December 1, 2015. Dr. Bill Ross seconded. With no further discussion, the minutes were approved by voice vote.

2. New Course Proposals

RELG 210 Occult American Religions was proposed as a new course. Dr. Sam Abrash motioned to approve the new course proposal. Dr. Sydney Watts seconded. The new course proposal was approved by voice vote.

3. Mentoring and Promotion of Associate Professors - Dr. Laz Lima, Associate Provost

Dr. Laz Lima, Associate Provost, shared a presentation summarizing data from the previous COACHE survey. The presentation focused specifically on disparities recorded in the experiences of faculty of color and women, compared to white faculty and men, in mentoring and preparation for promotion.  Dr. Lima noted that challenges around mentoring and promotion standards have appeared previous COACHE data.

As requested by several chairs, Dr. Laz Lima secured a larger room to accommodate the more formal COACHE Survey discussion, scheduled for January 28, from 4-5:30 p.m., in Tyler Haynes Commons 305.

Dean Skerrett noted that Dr. Lima’s identification of data enabled diagnosis of problems that the both Ad Hoc Committee on Promotions and the Dean’s Office have identified in conversations with faculty members.  The data confirm our sense of the challenges and help to prioritize them.

4. Program Based Budgeting Presentation

Dean Skerrett spoke about the Dean's Advisory Council (DAC), its origin and formation, the importance of its role in robust faculty governance. The dean described the Program Based Budgeting process that the School of Arts & Sciences has now pursued for four years. She described the evolution of faculty leadership of DAC.  This year the new Chair of DAC led the meetings and helped organize the process. 

The dean reported on allocations regarding continuing operating funds, one-time/non-continuing operating, and recent faculty and staff position requests.

The Dean noted that every department and program that offers a Major will receive a $1,000 discretionary fund in FY17.  The purpose is to reduce the need for department chairs and coordinators to make small requests for funds.   This is part of the bureaucracy reduction effort in the Dean’s office.  At the end of the year, any surplus of these funds will fall to A & S reserve where it can be recycled in a similar allocation in following years.

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

Dean Skerrett reviewed the motion, the friendly amendment, as well as Dr. Nicole Sackley's document titled, "Suggestions for Revision of Entrepreneurship Minor." 

Dr. Abigail Cheever asked for a point of clarification. She wondered whether a particular suggestion was considered unfriendly.

Dean Skerrett clarified that the Business School viewed many of Dr. Sackley’s suggestions as friendly, but they viewed the inclusion of two A & S courses (from a list supplied) to create a significant difference from their proposal.  Dean Skerrett indicated that the Entrepreneurship faculty have submitted their proposal to a University process, and would like it to advance or return to them.

Dr. Nicole Sackley spoke against the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Design proposal.  She indicated that, in her view, the proposal should be written by a cross-school committee.

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.