Administrative Council Meeting Minutes
April 6, 2009
Attendees: John Burns, Norman Hopper, Sukant Misra, Steve Fraze, Philip Gipson, Kevin
Pond, Jane Piercy, Tom Thompson, Phil Johnson (for Eduardo Segarra), John Billing (for
Alon Kvashny), Norman Martin
1. Targeted Faculty Hires
Dr. Burns stated the college (CASNR) must start making a case to move research
forward. Each department must start the process to identify targeted faculty.
Targeted faculty should be full professors that would bring grant monies with them.
Dr. Burns asked the department chairs to acquire input from their faculty to help
identify targeted faculty. Dr. Misra suggested the departments name more than one
per department. Information to include when targeting faculty is the amount of
money they would bring in and how departmental programs (research revenue per
FTE, SCH generation, etc.) would be impacted. Dr. Misra also suggested considering
upcoming retirements when planning for replacements. Departments were asked to
start working on their plans and have them ready by June 1st. If needed, the plans
will be revisited at the faculty retreat.
Dr. Burns stated that stimulus monies will not be allocated for new buildings, but for
renovations. He asked departments to submit a request for lab space renovations
and state how the renovations would impact research dollars and efficacy of
academic programs. These requests should also be prepared by June 1st.
2. 2009 TTU Doctoral Fellowship Initiative
Dr. Burns reported a total of 80 doctoral fellowships were awarded across campus.
CASNR will receive 13 doctoral fellowships. Dr. Burns asked if there were any
questions regarding the guidelines.
3. Faculty Award Nominations – Timeline
The suggested timeline was changed to accommodate schedules. The timeline now
will be as follows:
Hard and electronic copies of the award nominations due May 18th to Donna
The paperwork for nominations includes the nominees’ brief vita, their five
year summary of teaching evaluations, and the support document. For the
CASNR Staff Award, the supporting document form may be found on the
CASNR website (that is the only form needed). The CASNR Research Staff
Award will not include teaching evaluations.
Information placed on the CASNR website by June 5th
Ballots due by June 19th
Review nominations at a special meeting on June 29th
4. Administrative Council Retreat – August 10-12, 2009, NRA Whittington Center,
Raton, NM
Dr. Burns reported that reservations have been made for the Administrative Council
Retreat at the Whittington Center. The group will leave on Monday, have the retreat
on Tuesday, and return on Wednesday. Spouses are invited. Dr. Burns asked the
members to be thinking about a topic for the retreat. One suggested topic is
“Growing the Research Enterprise.”
5. Faculty Retreat – Tuesday, August 25th, Ranching Heritage Center
The members would like the Advisory Board to be included at the Faculty Retreat.
The Advisory Board will be notified. Seven theme suggestions were submitted.
Four of the seven will be combined. They include: a) developing new
majors/options to meet the needs of society and our clientele, b) growing
undergraduate and graduate enrollment [strategies that could be followed to
enhance our academic program offerings and increase our overall enrollment
through cross-disciplinary academic efforts/programs], c) preparing for the future
of agriculture, and d) updating courses and other requirements of existing majors,
developing interdisciplinary programs and developing new majors and degree
options.
An Ad Hoc Committee will be selected for the faculty retreat. Members of the
existing CASNR Educational Enhancement and Curriculum Committee and the
Student Services Center will represent the Ad Hoc Faculty Retreat Committee. Drs.
Hopper and Misra will coordinate this effort .
6. Other
Dr. Hopper reported that CASNR has received the summer budgets that were
requested.
Dr. Hopper distributed information on the Degree Program Learning Outcomes and
Assessment Expectations and Timeline.
Norman Martin reported that the Department of Agricultural Education and
Communications’ website has been updated. Kris Allen, CASNR’s webmaster, was
hired to make the changes. She is available, for a fee, to assist other CASNR
departments if needed.
Dr. Pond reported that the AFS Banquet held on Saturday night had approximately
300 in attendance.
Jane Piercy announced Philip Sansone, President and Executive Director of Whole
Planet Foundation, will be on campus for Agricultural and Natural Resources
Awareness Week. Ag Awareness Week will take place April 20-24.
Dr. Fraze reported that the area FFA contests went well on Saturday.