Approved as corrected 12/08/98

ACADEMIC COUNCIL

 MEETING MINUTES

December 1, 1998


The minutes of the November 24 meeting were approved as corrected.

Announcements:

Dean Dodds said there will be a divisional meeting to discuss the Family Leave Policy. Dean Dodds asked Dean Atkinson to call a meeting to discuss the 60 credit limit. Of the 14 Foreign Language students graduating this year, there are 7-10 who have over 60 hours. Dean Dodds would like to meet with Dean Atkinson, Dell Smith and Nicole Aas-Rouxparis to resolve this immediate issue.

Dean Dodds reminded the council of the upcoming orchestra meeting. Dean Atkinson explained that Lewis & Clark has an arrangement with Reed College for a joint orchestra program, and that there are some logistics to be worked out. Dean Dodds would like a meeting next semester that includes Ann Christensen and David Schiff.

Dean Keedy said that the Math & Natural Sciences division chairs would like to discuss the budget and student employment with Dean Jones. Dean Keedy and Dean Jones will have a preliminary discussion next week with Glendi Gaddis and Barbara Leveque.

Dean Johnson will email Jean Ward with an updated list of Inventing America instructors for 1999-2000.

The upcoming General Education forum was discussed. Dean Johnson said it would be counterproductive for the Academic Council to take a stand; they will be there to listen. Dean Atkinson will be chairing the forum, and will notify individuals at tomorrow's faculty meeting that students will also be included in the forum. In regard to the discussion of Inventing America at the forum, Dean Dodds would like to contribute her perspective, hear other viewpoints, and not feel that she is there to defend the course. Dean Johnson would like to know if records exist that pinpoint which departments have been willing to contribute to Inventing America over the past four or five years. He would also like it clarified that retention has gone up since Inventing America was started.

Agenda Items: 

  1. JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS: Dean Atkinson stressed the importance of moving on this issue to assure that students and their families receive attention with career development. There are several professions that can connect with Lewis & Clark, making it an important recruiting tool. The MAT and Law School programs currently have arrangements for joint degrees. Dean Atkinson wants to avoid eroding the liberal arts dimension while allowing individuals to receive bachelor and professional degrees. It will be important for the Board to look at several models to create career pathways and advising for Lewis & Clark students. Dean Johnson will speak with Dean Huffman, and Dean Keedy will speak with the division chairs about an OGI and OHSU connection. Dean Dodds and Dean Atkinson will speak with individuals in the MAT program to get ideas.
     
  2. THE WEB: Dean Atkinson believes that the electronic image of the institution is crucial, and she indicated that President Mooney is concerned that the three schools are taking a less than unified approach to the college's web site. She and Dean Jones will communicate with the graduate school and the current web staff members. There is help needed now to make the web site user-friendly for next year's potential students. It will be important to display updated versions of the Calendar of Events, Chapel programs, Gallery of Contemporary Art exhibits, etc.
     
  3. OVERSEAS PROGRAMS: Dean Atkinson is concerned about students who expect to participate in more than one overseas program. This can be reasonable for Foreign Language majors, but a number of other students seem to be "collecting" overseas options. Dean Atkinson is concerned that some faculty don't know how to advise students about overseas programs, and thinks that the Curriculum Committee may need to have some input. Dean Johnson would like to know to what extent the Admissions department depends on overseas programs for recruitment. He also reminded the council that in the past the Ford Foundation representative has been critical of students spending time overseas, and this could create a concern with grant approval. Dean Jones is concerned about overseas programs from a budgetary perspective. Dean Atkinson would like a list compiled by spring that includes programs or departments requiring review, and said that overseas programs definitely belong on the list.

Created by: hamilton@lclark.edu
Updated: 07-JAN-99