College of Liberal and Applied Arts
Chair Council Minutes
April 12, 2010
The meeting began at 2:30pm in room 273D of the Ferguson Building. The people in attendance included the following:
Dr. Rick Abel (Government)
Dr. Freddie Avant (Social Work)
Dr. Troy Davis (History)
Ms. Dixie Groll (Assistant to Dean)
Mr. Perry Moon (College Council)
Dr. Brian Murphy (Dean)
LTC Todd Reichert (Military Science)
Dr. Mark Sanders (English)
Dr. Kandy Stahl (Psychology)
Dr. Jerry Williams (Sociology)
Ms. Sherry Williford (Communication)
Dean Brian Murphy opened the meeting with a discussion on whether the inoperative bells in Ferguson Hall should be
activated. It was decided that ringing bells were unnecessary. Dean Murphy circulated the final recommendations of the
ad hoc Curriculum Committee’s proposal for modifying BA degree requirements. He requested, and the chairs supported,
moving the implementation date to Fall 2011 to coincide with the release of the new undergraduate bulletin.
Dean Murphy distributed a revised assessment calendar for the period 2009-2014. He reminded chairs that unit goal
assessment data must be entered early (July 16, 2010) this year. The deadline will return to October in subsequent years.
Dr. Jerry Williams called attention to a change in the manner EEO assessment will be handled. It is now possible for the
coverage of EEOs to be shared among disciplines. The chairs in the social sciences have reached an understanding on
how assessment data will be acquired and he encouraged chairs in the “communication” area to do the same. This
approach will save time and minimize duplication.
Dean Murphy reminded chairs of the ongoing discussion about modifying the procedure and contents of tenure portfolios.
Since input has already been received from departments, he suggested that a two person committee (one chair and one
member from the College Council) review and update the College’s policy to include the proposed changes. After much
discussion, it was unanimously decided that Dr. John Hendricks would represent the chairs on the committee. The
College Council will be asked to select its representative as soon as possible to enable completion of the task by
semester’s end.
Dean Murphy asked the chairs to request faculty to encourage students to attend the upcoming Archie McDonald Speaker
Series lecture on April 29th with Mr. George Foreman. Dean Murphy next handed out a list of participants at the College’s
upcoming workshop on sustainable living in Austin. He invited the chairs to attend the event personally in order to
understand how the College can collaboratively build a curricular focus on sustainability at the conclusion of the event.
The chairs agreed that a retreat during the summer would be a positive step, leaving open the date and topics. The next
meeting will begin discussion on what should be accomplished at the event. A series of announcements followed:
 Please do not place tape on painted doors
 The chairs in LAN 102 and 142 may be replaced
 The position of internship coordinator for next academic year is available
 The “Chamber Connects” program will publicize College activities
 The College’s research space will open by semester’s end
 At 4:00 on Thursday, the papers of Larry Thomas (former Poet Laureate of Texas) will be donated to the library,
followed by a reading in the evening
 On April 21 from 10:00-noon, former Fulbright scholars will discuss “cultural competence” (RSVP to Carol Levine).
The meeting adjourned at 3:31.