University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Department of Economics
MINUTES
Department Meeting of February 2 2015
Present: Ahmad, Das, Ersal, Glosser, Lovett, Marks, Schweigert, Tao, Teferra, Welsch, Winden, Xue.
Absent: Bashaw, Gao, Heinrich (sabbatical), Kashian.
The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 3:40 p.m.
1. Minutes: Das moved and Lovett seconded that the minutes of December 1, 2014 be approved. Passed
unanimously.
2. Announcements:
a) The Department’s scholarship and award winners are:
Dominguez scholarship: Anthony Galston;Laurent scholarship: Jose Zenteno; Hellie scholarship:
Derrek Grunfelder-McCrank; Econ Dept Scholarship: Clay Cusek; Nichole Lattin, Taylor Griffith
and Emmett Storts were awarded scholarships by the FERC.
b) (Self-) nominations are requested for the COBE teaching and research awards. It was noted that
Ersal received the teaching award last year. (Ahmad) Tao discussed the research award.
c) Faculty and staff are reminded that they are required to post their syllabi online, and that this will
be monitored for compliance. (Ahmad)
d) The Advisory Board meeting will be on Monday, April 20, at 3:40 p.m. An important theme will
be curriculum and long range course offerings. Faculty are asked to inform the chair if they have
suggestions for new members to possibly expand the board.
(Ahmad)
e) Faculty and staff are informed that questions for student evaluations are due by February 9.
(Ahmad)
f) For the benefit of new faculty, the chair briefly explained the State of WI biennial budget
procedure and current budget proposals.
3. Mentors for Masters Theses: Ahmad related that the first group of Masters students would be working
on their theses over the summer and asked for volunteers to mentor or advise these students. Those
interested are asked to provide their names and areas of interest to the chair.
4. Newsletter/Undergraduate Recruitment: Welsch is putting together an alumni newsletter and asks
faculty and staff to submit any items they would like included. Welsch asked for help putting together a
letter addressed to high school guidance counselors, and a brochure for prospective students, with the
intention of having this completed by the fall semester, to enhance recruitment of economics majors from
the high school level.
5. Differences between Graduate and Undergraduate Economics: In a follow-up to the discussion at the
previous meeting on Criteria for Graduate Level Coursework under consideration by the Graduate Council,
there was a brief discussion on how this applies to Economics courses. Faculty were asked to provide
Welsch any ideas or input they have on the subject.
6. Strategic Planning:
a) The Strategic Planning Committee is to have a draft of short, medium and long term departmental goals
completed by the March 2 departmental meeting, which can then be presented at the Advisory Board
meeting in April.
b) Goals need to demonstrate responsiveness to Inclusive Excellence (IE) and Liberal Education and
America’s Promise (LEAP) as found on the provost’s website, particularly High Impact Educational
Practices.
c) The above then need to become incorporated into the departmental Vision Statement.
7. Department Self Study:
2
The Department is in the process of conducting its Self Study for Audit and Review. The chair directed
several of the Department’s Committees (the Assessment Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee) to
address and write up their relevant sections for the Self Study.
8. Review of department long range course offerings: Deferred to March meeting. Faculty should be
thinking about any changes to course descriptions, numbering, course offerings, etc.
9. Old Business: none.
10. New Business: none.
The regular meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m. on a unanimously passed Winden/Welsch motion,
followed by a meeting of the personnel committee.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Schweigert, Secretary pro tem