|
Academic Council
Meeting Notes
February 8, 2000
Announcements:
Dean Keedy said that there have been enthusiastic
reactions to the geology candidate Elizabeth Safran, who
interviewed last week. Three more candidates will come to
campus.
Dean Dodds said the third candidate for the Music
position is here now, and the Theatre search committee has
invited two candidates to interview in the next few
weeks.
Dean Johnson reported that two candidates have
interviewed on campus for the Dubach Chair in Political
Science. Unfortunately, the President was not available to
meet one of them, so he may be invited back.
The So/An search reports approximately 65 applicants for
their position, which focuses on gender studies.
Agenda:
Bret Ingerman joined the Council to discuss his proposal
for the implementation of a regularly scheduled computer
replacement program for the CAS. The systematic process of
replacing desktop computers began last year in the Common
Services area at an annual cost of $120K. Ingerman now
proposes that the College of Arts & Science sector
follow suit. Even though the CAS is a more daunting
challenge, as the division has desktop, teaching lab and
classroom computers to calculate into the mix, Ingerman
recommends the CAS approve a four-year replacement cycle at
the approximate cost of $400K annually. In the first
replacement cycle, machines identified as high need would be
replaced with new ones. There could also be some recycling,
with high-tech user machines being handed down to those with
lesser needs. (This would still turn out to be an upgrade
for the recipients.) The same procedure would be followed
each year for four years and then started all over with the
first group. He said that IT will refine the computer
inventory list and recalculate the annual cost if the
Council is interested in the program. It is not anticipated
that the need will grow exponentially over the years, as the
college is fully equipped with computers at this time. There
is also the possibility of reducing the cost by adopting a
five-year replacement plan. Ingerman said some colleges have
special endowments for computer replacement and he is
working on this with Janel McKenna, Senior Development
Officer in College Relations. Reports are that comparable
schools are spending 4-1/2 % of the E&G (Educational
& General Budget) on technology. He estimates that LC is
at 3% now. Bret Ingerman and Dean Jones will join the Social
Sciences chairs this week to discuss the replacement
program.
Mr. Ingerman asked for assistance with the following:
There is a need for 4 or 5 extra computers for Core and
visiting faculty. Faculty sometimes take their computer home
to do scholarly work while on sabbatical leave; IT must then
find a computer for the visiting faculty replacement. In the
past, it has often come as a surprise when visitors arrived
in the fall to find an office with no computer, leaving IT
to scramble for a replacement. It was agreed that the need
for a replacement should be identified on the formal
sabbatical request, submitted in the year prior to the
leave. IT can then have a replacement machine in place in
plenty of time for the arrival of faculty in the fall.
Dean Johnson reported that the social sciences chairs
were opposed to altering the faculty handbook (review
document) to incorporate language referring to the special
difficulties of teaching in Inventing America (as had been
proposed by one junior faculty member). They emphasized that
InvAm teaching is already given special notice in the review
process at every level. Two chairs who are current members
of the CPT said that in CPT deliberations failure to teach
in InvAm would be much more noted than receiving lower than
average evaluation. However, they have no objections to
having separate statistical reports. The IA Director has
asked if it would be advisable for her to read the standard
evaluations for the IA sections.
|
