Administrative Council Meeting Minutes
January 21, 2014
Attendees: Dr. Michael Galyean, Dr. Sukant Misra, Dr. Cindy Akers, Jane Piercy, Norman
Martin, Reagan Ribordy, Dr. Michael Orth, Dr. Steve Fraze, Dr. Rick Zartman, and Dr. Phil
Johnson
1. Minutes from the November 18, 2013 Administrative Council meeting were approved as
distributed (no meeting was held in December).
2. Dr. Galyean gave an update on CASNR’s Alpha Zeta Chapter. The chapter has not had
an active presence on campus for approximately 10 years, but the student scholarship has
continued to be funded each year by American State Bank/Prosperity Bank. Mr. W. R.
Collier as well as several other donors recently donated funds to endow the scholarship,
which will generate considerably more funding. This will give us the ability to award an
additional two to three scholarships each year. As our Alpha Zeta Chapter is still
recognized at the national level, Dr. Galyean would like to see it revived. Please visit
with your faculty to see if anyone would be interested in being the student advisor for this
group and getting it active again. Please forward interested faculty names to Dr.
Galyean.
3. Dr. Galyean announced that Dr. Misra has been appointed Associate Vice Provost of
International Programs, and will assume his new duties on February 1st. Dr. Misra has
served CASNR for the past 12 years as Associate Dean for Research and will be truly
missed.
4. An e-mail was sent to the chairs regarding the President’s Mid-Career Faculty Awards.
This is a new award that will be given to recognize and reward those faculty “who are
emerging leaders nationally and internationally in their disciplines – those who serve as
role models and mentors for our students and who further advance the academic mission
of the university beyond the borders of our country and worldwide.” Dr. Galyean asked
the chairs to nominate one faculty member from each of their departments, and he will
forward two names (ranked) to the Office of the Provost. Please have the nomination
packets to Dr. Galyean by Tuesday, February 11th.
5. Dr. Misra gave a short explanation of the new budget hearings that will be held on
February 14th, and what will be included in our presentation to the Provost. Our main
goal of these hearings will be to show how much CASNR has grown over the past several
years, and how our budget for operations has not been able to keep up with our growth.
6. Dr. Galyean informed the council that CASNR has received one new faculty position, as
well as working with the Free Market Institute on another possible faculty position. The
cluster hires are still in the works and we are not exactly sure how many positions we
may get from that program.
7. Dr. Zartman announced the PSS new building addition ground breaking ceremony will be
held on March 29th, and they are hoping to begin the actual building process in May.
8. Jane Piercy reported that the Talkington Matching Funds Program was a great success for
CASNR. Over $900,000 was donated which will give an additional $1.8 million boost
for our scholarship program with the matching funds.
9. Jane also mentioned it was time to send out invitations for the Texas Tech Day at the
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. If you know of someone you think should be
invited, please let her know as soon as possible.
10. Dr. Akers announced the Student Success Center would be hosting the first annual
CASNR Winter Welcome on Wednesday, January 22nd in the Matador Room at the SUB.
It will begin at 4:00 p.m. At about 6:00 p.m., the Ag Council will host the first “Mr.
CASNR” pageant that will hopefully be a fun time for all. Please encourage your faculty
and students to attend these events.
11. Dr. Akers reported the deadline to apply for the Terry Scholars was last Wednesday, and
they have already received 20 applications to review. The Associate Deans will meet
next month on the 4th to review and choose the top 60 applicants to interview.
12. Dr. Akers passed out a handout with the new core curriculum that has been approved by
the THECB. It will be effective this fall (2014).
13. Dr. Akers also handed out the current apps/admits numbers, and so far CASNR’s spring
numbers look good. CASNR is one of three colleges on campus that enrollment numbers
are up above the university average compared to last spring. She will e-mail the Student
Success Center report to everyone as soon as it is complete.
14. Dr. Johnson reported Agricultural and Applied Economics is working with the Free
Market Institute on a possible faculty position. They have identified a potential candidate
and are looking at setting up an interview in February. Also, their graduate program
review has been scheduled for February 10 – 11.
15. Dr. Galyean noted that Landscape Architecture also has a graduate program review
coming up soon.
16. Dr. Misra announced there are several research proposals in the works, some domestic
and others international. Dr. Misra also noted that if anyone has any unfinished business
regarding financial issues, to please contact him.
17. Dr. Fraze reported that Agricultural Education and Communications had several faculty
members as well as students in Kenya recently for a study abroad program as well as
working on some international proposals. He indicated the department is currently
working on completing their coordinating committee report.
18. Dr. Orth noted that AFS is currently trying to get their food science position filled, and
are in the process of checking references. They will also have an equine position to fill,
as Jane Bagley will be leaving at the end of May. There will also be an animal health
position open in the near future.