Administrative Council Meeting Minutes
April 4, 2011
Attendees: John Burns, Norman Hopper, Sukant Misra, Mike Galyean, Cindy Akers, Steve
Fraze, Leslie Thompson, Mark Wallace, Tom Thompson, Eduardo Segarra, Charles Klein
(for Alon Kvashny), Jane Piercy, and Norman Martin
1. Approval of March 21, 2011 minutes
Minutes of the March 21, 2011 meeting were approved.
2. Chairperson Manual
A revised list of proposed items in a new format for a chairperson’s manual was
distributed. Suggestions were made to include the following items to the manual.
Budget development, budget management, summer budgets and summer salary,
graduate program reviews, and endowments. The revised list will be distributed via
email for further review.
3. Out-of-State Travel Cap Report
Dr. Burns gave a brief report of the out-of-state travel cap.
4. Course Fees
Dr. Hopper reported that CASNR currently has a $15 per semester credit hour fee.
This fee is below the university average. The college is proposing to raise the fee to
$20 per semester credit hour, with plans to have the increase in place for the fall
semester. Dr. Hopper will check on global entry availability. If it is too late to
implement the increase for the fall semester, it will be set for the spring semester.
5. Deans’ Council Luncheon Meeting Discussion
Dr. Burns reported the summer budget allocation was discussed. The current
budget for summer sessions is $5.4 million. It was reported an additional $1.9
million is available for the summer sessions budget. Dr. Hopper distributed copies
of proposed steps for summer budget allocation and FY2011 summer school base
funding allocation. Colleges will receive the same base funding allocation as last
year, but we may be able to apply for supplemental funding. We need to generate
as many student credit hours as possible. A table reflecting a range of faculty
salaries and the equivalent amount paid a professor teaching two formal courses
(100% load) and one formal course (50% load) during a summer session was also
distributed. This information was based on a suggested flat rate of $4,500 to $6,500,
which is not being implemented, but was provided for information only.
Engineering and Arts and Sciences are using the flat rate policy. The use of flat rate
payments for summer teaching is not implemented by the Provost’s office, but is a
college decision. Individual departments in the college cannot choose to have
different plans.
Dr. Burns noted that when research grants are written, summer salaries should be
included.
Dr. Misra referenced an email from Taylor Eighmy regarding line items. The line
items will be cut at least 25%. The department chairs will need to meet with the
dean and associate deans to discuss how much line item monies the departments
are planning to cut. This information for FY12 needs to be sent to Dr. Misra by April
8th.
Dr. Burns noted that Taylor Eighmy would like each college to hire a full time grant
writing person.
6. Other
Jane reminded the members of the coffee reception honoring Dr. Bill Bennett and
the renaming of the Student Services Center. The reception will be held at the
Merket Alumni Center at 10:30 a.m. on April 26th.
Jane announced the Texas Chapter of ASLA will be hosting their conference in
Galveston, Texas April 28-29. The Texas Chapter reception will be held on April 28th
at Moody Gardens.
Jane reported the CASNR Scholarships and Awards Committee met and have
proposed to offer scholarships for an essay contest. The first place winner would
receive a $1000 scholarship, second place $750, and third place $500. This would
be in conjunction with the kick off of Ag Awareness Week.
Jane announced that CASNR is in the process of forming a Twitter group.
Dr. Segarra reported the CERI/ICRC Symposium went well. Dr. Segarra also
reported that Plains Cotton Growers liked the article Dr. Darren Hudson wrote
about Roger Haldenby in the Competing for Profit newsletter. Dr. Segarra
announced that Danielle McGuire has received the Outstanding Senior Award of the
Western Agricultural Economics Association, Inc. Danielle has received the largest
number of A+’s on record in the department.
Dr. Akers distributed copies of the undergraduate application and admission
information as of April 1, 2011.
Dr. Fraze noted the article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram regarding Texas students
being displaced by out-of-state applicants.
Dr. Hopper announced the CASNR Honors Banquet will be held on Friday, April 29th,
at the Merket Alumni Center. As a cost savings this year, the college will not cover
the cost of the dinner for faculty.
Dr. Leslie Thompson reported the meats group held a barbeque contest with 40
entries. The group plans to have the contest again next year. They will need judges
for the event, so please keep that in mind if you are interested in judging. The
Animal and Food Sciences Spring Banquet will be held on Saturday, April 9th.
Chance Brooks, an associate professor of meat science with Texas Tech’s
Department of Animal and Food Sciences, has been selected to receive the American
Meat Science Association’s 2011 Distinguished Teaching Award.
Dr. Wallace reported he attended the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raiser’s
Association conference in San Antonio. He has also attended planning meetings in
Austin for the upcoming International Urban Wildlife Management and Planning
Conference.
Charles Klein reported the LA department had a nice visit with visiting colleague,
James Callaghan. Charles announced the Texas Chapter of the American Society of
Landscape Architects Conference will be held April 28-29 in Galveston, Texas. Also,
the ASLA 2011 Annual Meeting and Expo will take place San Diego on October 30 –
November 2. This year there will be 11 senior project presentations. A schedule
will be available soon for those who would like to attend.
Dr. Misra reminded the members of the upcoming Ag Awareness Week and the
email from Courtney Myers regarding the booths in the library. More information
may be found on our website.
Dr. Misra asked the members if the current college brochure was being used in the
departments. The office is considering not printing additional copies this year. The
general consensus is the brochure is used. Additional copies with updates will be
printed this year. The usage will be reassessed next year.
Dr. Misra reminded the members to start thinking about topics for the faculty
retreat. Ideas will be discussed at the next Administrative Council meeting.
Dr. Fraze announced three award winners who will be recognized at the Western
Region Research Conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education
in Fresno, CA on April 21. The award winners are:
Distinguished Teaching: Cindy Akers
Distinguished Service: David Doerfert
Distinguished Research: Scott Burris
Dr. Galyean inquired about the current involvement in the land use management
planning degree. We will need more involvement to justify the need to move the
program.
Dr. Tom Thompson announced that Dr. Glen Ritchie will fill the Crop Physiology
position vacated by Dr. Craig Bednarz beginning April 1. Also, Dr. Vivien Allen will
be retiring June 1st. Dr. Richard Zartman will be the department chair beginning
June 1st.
Dr. Fraze announced the groundbreaking of the new American Museum of
Agriculture will take place on Monday at 2:00 p.m.