ACADEMIC COUNCIL

MEETING MINUTES

December 14, 1998

Announcements:

1. Dean Dodds reported that she met with Barbara Roberts and Greg Walters regarding the classification of the A&H secretarial position. They determined by speaking to Barbara that her divisional secretary position in the Math & Natural Sciences division varies greatly from the one held by Janice Byerlee in Arts & Humanities. Walters and Dodds will have a fuller discussion of the A&H position in January.
2. Dean Keedy reported that the Physics search committee has recommended two candidates for on-campus interviews. Dean Keedy said he was concerned that no seemingly qualified women were considered for interviews. After reviewing the files himself, he recommended that they reconsider one of the female candidates for a phone interview. The committee will do the interview this afternoon.
3. Associate Professor of Physics Michael Broide and Professor of Biology Paulette Bierzychudek have written a prospectus for an endowment to support summer research.
4. There are 26 applications for the position in Japanese History. The pool looks stronger than last year. There are over 100 applications for the one year position in European History.
5. The Council discussed the annual hiring of tenure-track faculty who have not yet completed their Ph.D. The deans had agreed some time ago that they will not penalize new faculty financially if they start their employment before finishing their dissertation. However, they also agree that some language could be included in all tenure-track letters of appointment that includes a reasonable deadline for completion of the degree. It was decided to include language such as, "your appointment is contingent on completion of our Ph.D. no later than [one year after beginning contract date]."

Agenda Items:

1. Dean Dodds said that there are four foreign language instructors that are paid adjunct salaries who have worked full or almost full-time for the past four years and have only received raises of 3.5% annually. Dean Jones explained that it would be preferable to consider raises for these employees for these employees at the same time as faculty raises were considered.
2. Dean Dodds raised the question of increasing the adjunct salaries for all foreign language instructors; currently salaries are $2800 per course. Dean Jones said it would be easier administratively, to pay all adjuncts the same amount. A question was raised, however, whether a Ph.D. should receive a higher salary then a masters degree. It was also noted that beginning language courses have only 5 contact hours per week. Should the expectation for contact hours be raised? The pay issue for foreign language instructors was not resolved.
3. The Council discussed the possible review of Overseas and Off-Campus Programs. It is important to periodically review such programs and make adjustments if necessary. The International Studies Coordinating Committee works in conjunction with the Committee on the Curriculum as oversight bodies, but the role of each is unclear to many people. The Academic Council will review the document for Department and Program Reviews at its next meeting.
4. Dean Atkinson said she will call another CAS Department Chair's meeting in late January to charge departments with going back to devise department plans to do mid-course assessment. An articulation of how they determine their success in teaching to certain goals is needed. By next year a written report must be completed for the NWASC on how such outcomes assessment is being conducted.