ACADEMIC COUNCIL

MEETING MINUTES

 February 4, 1999

 

 

Announcements:

Dean Savage said candidates for the position in Philosophy will be on campus next week. New hire Nicholas Smith had previously planned to take part in the interviews but now finds he is unable to attend.

The Physics search committee has extended an offer to its top candidate and is waiting for a reply.

Dean Johnson reported that there is an offer out for the position in Comparative Politics, and the So/An search committee is in the process of narrowing its candidate pool.

Dean Atkinson said that a letter of proposal is going to the Luce Foundation Monday for support of Asian Studies.

The search committee for the Director of Watzek Library will meet today.

Agenda Items:

1. Dell Smith joined the Council. He said that Admissions wants to formalize a policy and procedures for students who wish to attend LC for a limited amount of time but not apply for formal admission to the college. Currently we have a Special Student category normally used by staff or their dependents to take one or two courses on campus. A Visiting Student category would be used by students who wish to take a full course load for one or two semesters. The deans noted that visiting students should be enrolled in courses on a space available basis only, and demonstrate competency, much like a transfer student does. The Registrar and Admissions Dean Mike Sexton will draft policy which will then go to the Committee on Admissions, Awards and Academic Standing.

2. The deans discussed the current procedures on course overloads. The policy indicates that a normal full course load is 16 credits. A student who wishes to enroll in more than 19 credits must currently obtain a signature from their adviser and divisional dean. The maximum credits allowed for one semester is 21. In practice, this policy has a large number of students and deans jumping through needless administrative hoops. The Council agreed to change the procedure so that a student who wishes to take over 19 credits (20 or 21) will go to the Registrar's Office where a check will be done to assure that the student has a minimum of 3.0 GPA or above, then an Overload Authorization card will be issued to the student for signature by their adviser. The card should then be returned to the Registrar.

3. Dean Savage met with Greg Walters and gathered information about Leaves Without Pay. He said that the Faculty Handbook formally recognizes Sabbatical and Professional Leaves. There are currently formal policies on only Sabbatical Leaves which are paid leaves but none of the three schools (Law, Grad, CAS) have written policies on LWOP. He will work further with June Jones to develop such a policy.

4. The Council discussed the Faculty Retreat location. Wendy Washburn has been looking for a new location and is meeting with a representative from Salishan this week. The location is farther away then the Resort at the Mountain but she feels the benefits will outweigh the longer commute.

5. Dean Jones authorized a full time visitor to replace Micha Grudin in 1999-2000.

6. Dean Atkinson reviewed the agenda for the CAS Chairs meeting February 5^th. She will explain that departments and major programs must re-examine their curricula for the upcoming outcomes assessment report to the NWASC. They should ask questions such as:
   • What is the rationale for the structure of the curriculum?
   • How and when should accomplishments be measure?
   • What should be done to measure competencies e.g. writing and speaking?
   • Should each department identify a capstone?

    

7. Dean Atkinson said that the Student Advocacy Group asked to meet with the Council regarding their policy on term limits. The deans agreed to meeting with them next week to explain why the policy is important.