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Academic Council
Meeting Notes
November 21, 2000
Present: Curtis Johnson,
Dean of the College; Dinah Dodds, Dean of Arts and
Humanities; Gary Reiness, Dean of Mathematical and Natural
Sciences; Harry Schleef, Dean of Social Sciences; Terri
Banasek, administrative assistant and recorder; and Rosie
Felton, administrative assistant for budgets and contracts.
Guests: Jane Atkinson, Vice President and Provost; and June
Jones, Associate Provost.
Announcements
Suggestions for Secretary of the Faculty and Fringe
Benefits Committee: Andrew Cortell and Diane Nelson.
Agenda Items
- Staffing projections for next year: Each department
has a set number of sections that they are expected to
contribute to Inventing America annually. The divisional
deans should meet with departments before course
schedules are set to determine which sections will be
staffed. Jean Ward wants enough sections from the three
divisions to cover approximately 28 total sections fall
semester and 24 sections spring semester.
Dean Johnson distributed a listing of faculty hires over
the past six years. The list included faculty members who
were replaced and indicated whether faculty members had
retired or left the College. The list will help with
projecting staffing needs. Dean Johnson asked that the
deans provide preliminary staffing needs for each
department by the December 5 meeting. At that time, the
Council can decide whether to replace courses on a
course-by-course basis or with a full-time replacement.
Salaries will be discussed separately.
- Jane Atkinson reported on the Provost's Forum and on
the meeting concerning child care. Two items came up in
the Provost's Forum that concern the Academic
Council.
- One student expressed concern about the number of
course changes and cancellations in the SOAN
department right before registration, which made it
difficult for senior majors to take the classes they
needed. Dean Schleef responded that this was a matter
of the department attending to course approvals in a
more timely manner.
- David Lageson discussed what was being done about
the air quality issue in the theatre. Several people
pointed out that clear communication with the
community would have been helpful. Regarding the dance
floor in the Black Box, it became very clear that
there was lack of communication between Facilities,
the Theatre Department, and Athletics.
- Dr. Atkinson will continue with the forums a
couple of times each semester, providing a place where
people can get answers to their questions. She said it
would be helpful if the deans attended and thanked
Dean Dodds for her attendance at the first forum.
Dr. Atkinson also reported on her meeting with
concerned parties about child care. Most of the
attendees were faculty, and there was a clear divide
between faculty and staff. There seems to be a lack of
understanding within the faculty about the budget.
Mervyn Brockett is willing to meet with faculty, on a
division-by-division basis, to discuss the budget. The
divisional secretaries can set these meetings with Mr.
Brockett, Dr. Atkinson, Dean Johnson and the
respective divisional dean.
One attendee at the meeting suggested instituting a
program for child care reimbursement similar to the
college tuition rebate. Human Resources will
administer a child-care survey to determine interest
and needs. Dr. Atkinson will communicate with the
interested parties that she has met with the Academic
Council and to let them know that their concerns are
being taken seriously.
The Provost's Council needs to start a legitimate
budgeting process. The Academic Council should be
building the CAS budget, and the Provost's Council
will be building the allocations for the
administrative offices. The full budget committee will
then make the difficult choices. Significant resources
need to be given to recruitment and retention
efforts.
- June Jones attended to discuss the proposed computer
replacement plan and the parental leave policy.
- Dean Johnson reported that Greg Walters thinks the
parental leave policy proposed by the Academic Council
will work. The only problem they could detect is that
there are certain times during the year when a woman
giving birth is likely to lose pay.
While Mr. Walters would like to devise an
institutional plan, Ms. Jones said the law school
would not agree to this plan because it is expensive,
and that is not where they want to put their
resources. Ms. Jones is in favor of separate policies
for the three schools. Once she receives a written
copy of the Academic Council's proposal, she will
review it from a legal standpoint.
- Dean Dodds described the computer replacement plan
proposed by the Academic Council, which would be based
on anticipated needs rather than a regular rotation.
The only crucial part of the timing is to be sure that
there is enough time to order the computers and have
them installed over the summer. When the assessment is
done in January, we will probably have an idea of
needs for the next three-four years.
Ms. Jones pointed out that funds spent on computers
come out of capital equipment and that the College has
spent about $500,000 per year on computers, with
considerably more spent this year in total capital
equipment. She added that funds can be moved from
operating budgets to capital equipment but not the
other way. Even if there is enough money in the
capital equipment fund, we still must be able to fit
depreciation on that equipment into the operating
budget. Since the depreciation period is five years,
the replacement timeframe for computers should be a
maximum of five years. Flexibility must be built into
the policy for emergency needs. IT needs to do an
accurate inventory of computers in the CAS, and
thereafter it can be done internally.
The Council will forward a written copy of the
policy to Ms. Jones, who will notify IT.
- Search Committee for Chief Technology Officer:
Harry Schleef, chair; June Jones; Jim Kop; Stuart
Kaplan; Jeff Ely; Valerie White, graduate school;
David Ellis, law school; two students, one from IT and
one from the Educational Technology committee; and
Wendy Washburn providing staff support.
- Susan Davis has requested payment for an instructor
for the ballet class she is currently unable to teach
because of a back injury. Academic Council approved $250
per week for three classes to be paid out of flexible
staffing.
- Jens Mache's sabbatical application was approved.
- 2001 Faculty Retreat: Due to cost considerations, the
retreat will be held at the Resort at the Mountain
instead of at Salishan. The Council agreed that certain
administrators again be included, as the retreat sets
direction for the coming year. Attendance at the retreat
keeps administrators apprised of what is going on in the
faculty and helps them perform their functions.
Next meeting: Tuesday, November 28, 2000, 8 a.m., in the
dean's office.
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