Administrative Council Meeting Minutes
November 19, 2012
Attendees: Dr. Michael Galyean, Dr. Cindy Akers, Dr. Sukant Misra, Dr. Leslie Thompson, Dr.
Richard Zartman, Dr. David Doerfert, Dr. Mark Wallace, Dr. Emmett Elam, Dr. Alon Kvashny,
Jane Piercy, and Reagan Ribordy
1. Minutes from the October 15, 2012 Administrative Council meeting were approved as
distributed.
2. Instructor of Record – In regards to the new HB 2504, graduate students who teach
classes for faculty cannot be added to the system after the 12th class day (as in the past),
and be evaluated at the end of the year. The SACS regulations and OP 64.03 state that
the instructor must have at least 18 hours of graduate work in the field of teaching
responsibilities to be given full responsibility for a class. For this current fall semester,
the graduate student instructors will be evaluated, but the evaluations will not be loaded
into the system. Beginning with the spring 2013 semester, the graduate student can be
entered into the system as the instructor of record along with their credentials. Measures
need to be put in place to check the instructors to make sure their credentials meet HB
2504 criteria.
3. Digital Measures – CASNR is one of two colleges on campus who are not currently using
Digital Measures to run our annual faculty evaluations. With the reaffirmation of SACS
beginning in the near future, it is assumed that we will be mandated to begin using the
system. It was suggested that Dr. Akers set up a meeting between the Chairs and Elaina
Cantrell, to see what options of “input” are available to the faculty members. Inputting
the information seems to be the biggest issue.
4. Student Exit Interviews – Information from graduating seniors and graduate students is
invaluable, and procedures need to be implemented to make sure that we make the best of
our opportunity to gather this information. It would be beneficial for the chairs to meet
and standardize some of the questions on their exit interview form to be mutually
beneficial for the departments as well as the Student Services Center, Development, etc.
5. Curriculum Review – Dr. Galyean reminded the chairs that their departments need to be
in the process of reviewing their curriculum and he will continue to check with them in
their monthly meetings to see how the process is going. He is hoping to get a progress
report from each chair at the end of the spring semester.
6. Other
Dr. Misra reported that the graduate student incentive program had 29 positions
submitted, and offers have been made. It is our understanding the funds will be state
monies. Just recently, the President’s Graduate Student Incentive Program was
announced, and three of our departments will have a total of seven additional positions
that we will be asking funds for.
Dr. Misra also noted that Dr. Dominick Casadonte, Interim Dean for the Graduate
School, has been working with the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program, and is currently
asking for the number of undergraduate, graduate and post doctoral students each
department could accommodate. Dr. Misra will forward the e-mail to the chairs, and
when you reply to Dr. Casadonte, please copy Dr. Misra so he will also receive the
information.
Dr. Zartman reported that he just returned from Israel from a conference last week and
was glad to be home.
Reagan Ribordy announced that ORS (Office of Research Services) is implementing a
new electronic system, and they are currently trying to work out the “bugs.” There will
be electronic routing sheets as well as electronic signatures to streamline the system.
This new program will feel into “Fastlane.”
Dr. Wallace noted that NRM has recently had a MOU approved with McLennan
Community College, and are looking at implementing more programs like this with
several other colleges.
Jane Piercy reported that she had received lots of good feedback on the Pig Roast that
was held on November 8th. Also, Jane indicated that Texas Tech’s “One Billion Capital
Campaign” is now just $42 million away from reaching its goal.
Dr. Leslie Thompson received good news this morning. The Meats Team called and
reported they won the 2012 National Meats Judging Championship. Texas Tech had the
two top high individuals, as well as beating the second place team (Kansas State
University) by 50 points.
Dr. Akers handed out the Student Success Center’s report for the month of October, as
well as their planned activities for November.