ACADEMIC COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

September 4, 1997

Approved as corrected 9/11/97


Announcements:

Dean Savage said that it was necessary to add five sections during registration to meet the demand in foreign languages. Classroom space is at a premium, especially in the heavily used class periods (2, 3 & 6). The possible loss of classrooms in Appalachia and the Gate House has further exacerbated the problem. Dean Savage will speak to the Registrar about reducing the number of offerings in the problem time periods.

Dean Keedy is in the process of moving the MNS Dean's Office to the space on the second floor of Olin, previously the Physics office. His move has come about because of the consolidation of secretarial support for the divisional dean, physics and chemistry departments.

Dean Johnson said that Physical Plant Services is attempting to resolve ventilation problems in the Bio/Psych office area.

Agenda Items:

  1. Bret Ingerman joined the Council to facilitate the purchase of equipment <$5000 requested in 1996-97. The orders will go forward now that fall enrollments are known and the budget is estabished. Ingerman reported that computers for the new tenure-track faculty are due on campus any day. Dean Atkinson will now be in contact with directors of non-academic departments for requests from their areas.

    The Council revisited an earlier discussion regarding a change in the schedule for equipment requests in the CAS. The revised schedule will include submission of requests for equipment <$5000 in early fall, discussion and prioritization by the Council through November, with orders placed and equipment delivered in the spring. The new schedule will provide Information Technology with easier access to the faculty/staff receiving computers than is the case in the summer months. The Council agreed to begin the new schedule immediately by accepting another round of requests this fall. Forms will be sent to departments soon. On a final note, Ingerman asked the Council to keep in mind the importance of maintaining a regular replacement cycle for the computer labs, and academic departments will be asked to submit supplimental requests.

    Dean Atkinson will convene the CAS division capital budget group to review and confirm decisions made last spring. Additional funding may become available and make additional purchases possible in the capital budget category.

  2. Mervyn Brockett said that retention was about the same as last fall, with 30 no-shows at registration. Further, he reported that Summer Sessions did not gross the expected revenues in 1997, falling short of the $700k projection by approximately $160k.

  3. The Deans compared membership lists for this year's round of search committees and discussed possible candidates for the vacancies on Standing Committees. On other committee business, the Council noted the resignation of Christine McLeod, Mathematical Sciences secretary and the primary support person for the Committee on the Curriculum for the last few years. It was noted for the record that the Council extends their gratitude to Chris for her exceptional work on the committee. The search for a replacement is underway.

  4. Dean Atkinson solicited advise from the Council regarding a faculty representative for the upcoming 7 College Dean's Conference on Ethics. Clayton Morgareidge was suggested and has since agreed to participate.

  5. Dean Atkinson opened a Council discussion, intended to be the first of many, regarding planning in the CAS to take place in appropriate venues, including faculty and administrative committees, offices and divisions. President Mooney and Scott Staff seek to identify areas for funding priorities, with the President also working to fund a number of endowed chairs in the College. As recently as the Faculty Retreat, he announced Jimmy Miller's promise to fund a chair in the Humanities.

    Areas identified for further discussions are:

Created by: washburn@lclark.edu
Updated: 19-Sep-97