Office of the Dean
College of Liberal and Applied Arts
Department Chair Minutes
March 4, 2013
The meeting began at 2:30pm in room 273D of the Ferguson Building. People in attendance included the following:
Dr. Kwame Antwi-Boasiako (Government)
Dr. Freddie Avant (Social Work)
Dr. Mark Barringer (History)
Dr. Ray Darville (College Council)
Ms. Dixie Groll (Dean’s Office)
Dr. Marc Guidry (Associate Dean)
Dr. John Hendricks (Media Communication)
Dr. Mike Martin (Multidisciplinary Programs)
Dr. Brian Murphy (Dean)
Dr. Mark Sanders (English)
Dr. Robert Szafran (Social Analysis)
Dr. Jeana Paul-Ureña (Languages & Communication)
Dr. Jerry Williams (Psychology)
Dean Brian Murphy introduced Dr. Bob Szafran to provide an update on the new core curriculum. Dr. Szafran reported that
the committee is now beginning the process of reviewing course proposals for inclusion in the new core curriculum. Dean
Murphy inquired if any departmental feedback was received on establishing clearer criteria for promotion. The Department of
Social and Cultural Analysis recommended allowing the applicant to select from the current promotion standard or the
standard in place five years earlier; any time gap in publications was deemed irrelevant. The chairs elected to send this
proposal to the College Council for feedback. Additionally, the chairs considered it important to develop a clear policy
statement that publications achieved at a different institution would not apply toward fulfilling departmental tenure
requirements at SFA. This matter was also forwarded to the College Council for input.
Associate Dean Marc Guidry provided an update on the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP). He announced that an
April 15 deadline has been imposed for receipt of applications. Dr. Jerry Williams announced that Dr. Mark Sanders would
launch the College’s Faculty Seminar Series in Fall 2013. More information would be provided when available.
Drs. Mark Sanders and Kwami Antwi-Boasiako submitted a revised proposal for the standardization of Assessment
Coordinator positions. The chairs requested a few amendments and, with these, the proposal was being sent to the College
Council for review. As proposed, departments would retain latitude to supplement the duties assigned to an Assessment
Coordinator or decide not to appoint a faculty member to the position.
Drs. Jeana Paul-Urena and John Hendricks solicited input on how to conduct the College’s Freshman Convocation. It was
agreed that the college event, scheduled for September 5, should be scaled down and much of the focus should be
transferred to departments to arrange separate events at a later date. Dean Murphy next circulated the agenda from last
year’s Honors Banquet and asked if any modifications were warranted. The chairs recommended eliminating their role in the
ceremony and allowing faculty members with personal knowledge of an award recipient to make the presentation.
Dean Murphy distributed the revised draft of the college’s unit goals. The chairs suggested a few changes and approved the
final version. A draft of departmental unit goals that parallel those of the college will be considered at the next meeting of the
Chair Council.
Dean Murphy reminded the chairs of several upcoming deadlines and the meeting adjourned at 3:50pm.
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