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College of Arts
& Sciences
Faculty Meeting Minutes
February 2, 2000
Call to Order, 3:25 PM
Announcement: Dave Martinsen is in the hospital,
critically ill; his family will decide on how to keep the
College community informed. We wish the best for him.
Approval of December 1, 1999 minutes.
President's Report
We survived Y2K—congratulations to Brett Ingerman
and the IT staff. The College's website has won two awards
in the CASE regional competition: gold for the front pages,
and bronze for the special electronic version of the
Viewbook. Congratulations to Kari Chisholm.
Our print publications have won five other CASE awards:
gold for the design of the John Buck reception invitation,
silver for the design of the John Buck exhibition catalog,
bronze for the design of the Frank Manor event invitation
and program package, gold for the overall Buck catalog
including writing, and grand gold (best in category) for the
Buck catalog overall publication. The last of these is now
in the running for the grand crystal award (best in show).
Congratulations to Judy McNally and the publications
staff.
We've recently received $2,000,000 in cash for
undergraduate financial aid from an anonymous but generous
donor. This gift will repeat every year while the donor is
alive, and may continue for 10 years after the donor's
death. Up to $2,000,000 of the total gift may be used for
other purposes, giving us flexibility.
We are laying the foundation for a new capital campaign;
now in its quiet, behind the scenes phase.
Dean Atkinson is heading the effort to study the South
campus, physical and programmatic aspects, including a
number of new residence and student services buildings. We
have engaged architects, builders, and landscapers to plan
another 3-building concept.
Regarding the Social Sciences and Math & Natural
Sciences deanships, conversations are underway, concerning
operations and organizational structure.
Dean's Report
The Academic Council has looked at the matter of course
and instructor evaluations, as raised at the previous
meeting. The matter will be referred to the College Honor
Board. Dean Atkinson has met with the Honor Board chair,
Andy Holder, who will brief the Board. Professors Bekar,
Randall, and Wheeler are the faculty representatives on the
Board.
The AAAS committee reported on a discrepancy regarding
grade point requirements for the Dean's list and Latin
Honors at the last meeting. Effective at the end of this
semester, the Dean's List cutoff will become 3.75.
Regarding assessment: The Chronicle of Higher Education
has reported on a new study entitled "The American Freshman:
National Norms for Fall 1999," prepared by the Higher
Education Institute at UCLA. We participate in the national
survey on which this report is based. National statistics
for this year's first year students include:
- 32% report having done 6 or more hours of homework
weekly during their senior year in high school. That's
down from 44% in 1987.
- 40% report less than 3 hours of homework per
week.
- 17% report less than 1 hour per week.
- Yet, a record 34% of 1999 grads had "A" averages in
high school, up from 13% in 1969.
- Only 12% of the class of 1999 report ever received a
"C", down from 33% in 1969.
Reports such as these fuel demands for educational
accountability. He will report to the NWASC in 2000-2001
Fall term, with a site visit in the Spring. By the Fall we
need to have a clear, coherent plan in place. Departments
and programs (except Inventing America) have been asked to
prepare reports identifying curricular goals, curriculum
structure in relation to those goals, and means by which
faculty determine success toward those goals. The Math &
Natural Science Division and Environmental Studies have
completed these reports; it's hoped that the others will be
completed soon. The Deans will look closely at the reports,
and it's likely that the Curriculum Committee will as well.
Two task forces will look at writing and speaking and at
information literacy. We'll be examining how departmental
and program criteria mesh with the overarching goals.
A review is also underway of the Overseas Study programs.
Study abroad is fueled by student demand. We need to look at
how these experiences mesh with the overall College
experience. Faculty need to define the place of overseas
study, its connections to the overall program, how quality
is monitored. We're returning to questions we examined in
the 1980's, and again in the 1990's when we made the change
to semesters. Assessing student progress prior to graduation
is a faculty responsibility; after that time is an
administrative responsibility. We need a more systematic
approach to tracking alumnae.
Committee Reports
Committee on Admissions, Awards and Academic Standing:
Deborah Lycan
1. At the last faculty meeting, the AAAS proposed
restoring language on the performance/grade relationship to
the College catalog. AAAS has met since then; proposes the
language attached to today's agenda, eliminating the clause
on consent of instructor requirement for continuing in a
field after receiving a "D" grade. [This will be
considered old business today]
2. AAAS has been asked by Dean Atkinson to consider
whether the withdrawal policy is fair. At present, faculty
have discretion to assign a W or F when students stop coming
to class. Do we need a consistent policy? On the principle
of faculty discretion, AAAS is recommending no change in
policy.
Committee on the Curriculum: Steve Hunt
The committee approved a number of new courses at its
last meeting. Deadline for proposing new courses is now
past. Regarding the Academic Calendar: Committee wants to
point out that we approved the calendar because it was easy
to do so. The next four years are OK, so the committee is
deferring further consideration. Comment by President
Mooney: We have a consistent policy, not observing religious
holidays but allowing students to observe these as needed.
Christmas poses a delicate problem, as we are closed on that
religious holiday but not others. Is Christmas a religious
or a secular holiday? Comment on Martin Luther King Day:
Should we observe it by canceling classes? Dean Atkinson's
response: Curriculum Committee considered the matter and
took the position that academic work accompanied by campus
celebrations as appropriate.
Educational Technology: Harry Schleef
The committee's main goal this year is to develop a
technology strategy identifying goals, needs, resources and
implement plans. As step 1, asking each department to
respond with current and anticipated uses via department
chairs. Each division has a committee representative.
Introduction by Brett Ingerman: Patrick Ryle, from Reed
College, began as our new Director of Media Services in
September. We're anticipating an increased emphasis on
service.
Committee on the Library: Jim Grant:
Nothing to report.
Committee on Promotion and Tenure: Dick
Rohrbaugh
No full professors under consideration this year. Two
tenure cases are under consideration, letters have been sent
to Dean Atkinson. Committee's work is done for the year.
Old Business
AAAS catalog language proposal: no discussion, no debate,
question moved, seconded, approved unanimously.
New Business
Mike Sexton for Admissions: We've received more than 300
online applications. 450 early action admissions were sent
out on January 15; department chairs have names and contact
sheets based on expressed interests.
President Mooney: Year-to-year comparisons are thrown off
by new communications modes such as Internet. Remember that
personal contact with admitted students is important.
Meeting adjourned, 4:20 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
William Kinsella, CAS Faculty Secretary
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