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and Academic Standing (AAAS) |
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Dismissal |
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Suspension |
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Continuing Probation |
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Probation |
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Continued Warning |
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Warning |
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Removed Probation |
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Removed Warning |
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Subcommittee Reports
Professor Cortell reported that the Petitions and Waivers Subcommittee met and approved all petitions to waive. Chair of Awards Subcommittee Professor Yes reported that students have been informed of one of the awards and others are in progress. Registrar Smith said that two Truman Scholarships were awarded to students in previous years largely due to Deborah Lane's efforts. Ms. Lane is back with the College operating from the College of Arts and Sciences office.
Admissions Applications
Dean Sexton said his office received 130 on-line applications last evening. Today, February 1, 2002, is the deadline.
Faculty Survey Results
Coordinator Williams distributed compiled results of the faculty survey. There were 82 respondents. Statistics included a breakdown by division and also by pre-major advising as well as major advising faculty. She pointed out that some of the results could point to problems in retention. There are low percentages in how faculty perceive advising, per se, helping advisees plan their four years at Lewis & Clark - 53%; talking with advisees about their life goals - 35.4%, and meeting advisees at times other than registration - 41.4%. It appears L&C faculty do not perceive developmental needs of students as important. These needs should be addressed in some way if faculty are not doing it. Professor Scalettar remarked that some assumptions about students are not valid. Coordinator Williams said that the average number of advisees per faculty member is 20-22 students, with a 10 to 40 spread.
Dean Sexton observed that it is very disturbing when one out of five faculty advisers don't agree or strongly agree that it is their responsibility to advise students. With average counseling loads that means over 400 students could be advised by faculty who feel that way.
Registrar Smith said that there is another alternative to advising tradeoffs within departments, for example, life-goals with pre-major advising. Some faculty feel comfortable advising in certain areas and uncomfortable in other areas. He suggested one solution would be to distribute the types of advising to faculty who are comfortable with them. If the institution feels it is important for faculty to advise on life-goals, by helping students decide where they are it going, and what they are going to do once their education at L&C is complete, then life-goals advising needs to be achieved.
Professor Yes commented that there are neither incentives nor rewards for great advising. Advising is written in the faculty handbook but there is no enforcement. Professor Scalettar said that the major load varies between departments; there are not many majors for some departments. Professor Cortell suggested that there are mixed incentives to being a more or less popular adviser.
Coordinator Williams pointed out that the question, "adviser effectiveness should be included in considerations for faculty tenure, promotion, and merit pay increases" got a neutral/mixed response.
Getting the web version of the student survey up depends upon Kari Chisholm, who has had it since before spring semester started. A $100 gift certificate at the bookstore will be drawn from respondees. Results of the faculty questionnaire will be given to Academic Council and also to Jim Grant and Emily Clark.
Dean Eldridge said that there is a new person in the career center. She will help students from the time they arrive at L&C, in thinking about what they will do after graduation, whether graduate school or work. She helps students with their resumes.
Registrar Smith said that Emily Clark, Vice President for Planning and Secretary of the College, is working on how the image of the College can best be projected. A group working on the marketing and identity of the College includes Provost Atkinson, President Mooney, Vice President for College Relations Scott Staff, Dean of Students Eldridge, Associate Vice President for College Communications Judy McNally, Dean of Admissions Michael Sexton, Dean of the College Curtis Johnson, Division Deans Schleef, Reiness, Dodds, and Emily Clark.
Professor Krussel said that students in good academic standing have to make formal withdrawals when leaving the College. Processing leaves of absence incurs administrative costs. Should the AAAS Committee recommend assessing some kind of fee for applying for a leave of absence?
Director Gaddis said L&C is part of a Federal financial aid consortium. At present, L&C processes Federal aid applications for students to receive funding and forwards the money to another school in the consortium or to SIT. This requires L&C staff and resources for processing. Our service is only being done for students who study abroad through another institution. Many other institutions do not provide this financial aid service. We have about 20 students studying abroad through another institution and receive funding, which is funneled through L&C now, and the numbers are growing.
Also this service may now be expanding to organizations. Director Gaddis is okay with the school-to-school transfer of funding, but is not comfortable with transfer from school to an organization. Registrar Smith said L&C does not accept credit from a non-accredited institution with the exception of SIT and Costa Rica. Director Gaddis said there are two students in this situation this semester. One routes through Western Washington University, then when the overseas trip is complete, L&C receives the transcript from WWU. A letter generated at L&C must be written guaranteeing that the credit is transferable. Not all students who go abroad are using financial aid. Federal aid only allows eight semesters of eligibility. Those who are not on financial aid would not be getting charged for processing the financial aid, but those who do get Federal aid would be charged in this situation. Most of those on aid will not get aid from the other institution where they are taking the overseas trip. L&C could institute a policy of discontinuing this service, or L&C could charge a fee, or L&C could continue giving the current service.
Registrar Smith explained that evaluating transcripts takes lots of L&C staff time. Dean Sexton said that Skidmore charges a $500 fee when students take overseas programs outside of Skidmore. Registrar Smith said there are a variety of reasons students go elsewhere to take overseas education: 1) he/she did not get into the L&C overseas program, 2) timing of the L&C offering is off, 3) it is cheaper to go elsewhere, and 4) there are more choices elsewhere. So far we have not had any advantage of being in the consortium. About 25-30 students go on overseas trips a semester, and about one-half are receiving financial aid.
Is there value in charging a fee? Coordinator Williams wants to find out what other schools do. Sometimes leftover aid money gets used by students for transportation and other costs. Director Gaddis said most financial aid is going straight to other schools. Professor Cortell ascertained we are talking roughly about $2000. Registrar Smith said we need very concrete numbers, and the numbers taking advantage of SIT. Director Gaddis said that money and aid need to have the rationale very well established. She said there are a lot of schools that say, "We do not do consortium agreements." She will take a look at what Willamette does. Registrar Smith suggested the committee take a look at Kalamazoo also. Professor Krussel told the committee that the Chronicle of Higher Education had overseas statistics last year.
Professor Scalettar asked about the students leaving and never coming back. Dean Sexton said the committee talked about having students reapply. Registrar Smith will get some data, and then the committee can have a discussion to on whether or not to change the current policy and procedures. There is a trend of increasing numbers going overseas and transferring in credit. There is value in having an overseas experience. Dean Sexton pointed out there is a revenue consideration as well. Dean Eldridge asked what do we need to do to encourage students to return? Professor Cortell suggested a list be created of those programs at other institutions that are approved, rather than letting students go elsewhere. Registrar Smith said that if we are going to put an L&C stamp on an L&C education, we need to look at the program from where it was transferred.
This discussion will be continued.
Registrar Smith asked about what the faculty did about the students in good standing request. Professor Krussel replied that he reported what the AAAS committee had done, and would like to have entire package acted upon at a faculty meeting.
Meeting adjourned.
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