College of Education Senate
University of Northern Iowa
October 24, 2008
I.
Call to Order
A special meeting of the College of Education Senate was called to order by
Elana Joram, Chair, at 1:37 P.M. on Friday, October 24, 2008 in the
Dean’s Conference Room in Schindler Education Center, Room 205.
Senators in attendance [in bold] Alternates in attendance [in bold]
Elana Joram, Chair [EPF]
Rod Dieser [At large]
Dave Else [ELCPE]
Chris Kliewer [SPED]
Kim Knesting [At-large]
Robin Lund [At-large]
Rick Vanderwall [At large]
Bridgette Wagoner [TCHG]
Windee Weiss [HPELS]
Leigh Zeitz [C&I]
Ex-Officio Members in attendance
Dr. William P. Callahan, Dean
Susan Hudson
Jan Bartlett
Amy Staples
Suzanne Freedman
Kevin Finn
Becky Hawbaker
Todd Evans
Guests
Dr. Bev Kopper, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
II.
Guest
Dr. Bev Kopper stated that UNI is beginning its comprehensive evaluation for continued accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has chosen to participate in a joint project between the HLC and the
Policy Center on the First Year of College. The goal is to help a college or university “integrate specific institutional commitments or projects directly into the processes for gaining continuing accreditation” from the
Commission. UNI is partnering with the Policy Center to participate in
Foundations of Excellence and we have been approved to participate in that program. She says there have been concerns raised with the general education program, in particular the assessment plan.
The following is the anticipated timeline:

Spring 2008: Self-study steering committee develops self study design and organizes subcommittees.
Fall 2008 through Spring 2009: Foundations of Excellence project begins. Subcommittee develops draft reports. Steering committee prepares rough draft of the self-study.
Fall 2009-Spring 2010: Foundations of Excellence plan initiated.
Steering committee circulates and receives reactions to draft report.
Steering committee finalizes report.
Fall 2010: Preparation for team visit.
Spring 2011: Evaluation takes place.
Kopper is the Chair of the HLC Steering Committee and Dr. Barry Wilson is the COE representative on that Committee. Joram voiced concern that she doesn’t think there is sufficient proportional representation on the committee, specifically with the number of COE faculty represented. She noted that out of 20 committee members, only one is from the COE.
Kopper responded that when you have a wide breadth committee it is hard to have more than one person representing various areas across campus.
Philosophy, organization, learning, faculty, transitions, all students, diversity, roles and purposes, and improvement are foundational dimensions of the Foundations of Excellence process.
Joram thinks there needs to be support for students making the shift between high school and college to assist in them in learning study strategies. Kopper encouraged anyone with questions or concerns in this area to contact the Transitions Dimension chair or the Faculty Dimension chair.
Kopper stated that Dr. Lubker’s plan for Task Force #2 will also look at the structure of the Liberal Arts Core. In addition, a separate committee will be identified to look at graduate programs. Lubker will launch both as part of Task Force #2.
Kopper stated that UNI applied for a special Carnegie classification and we were approved. As a result, we have an additional level that relates to community engagement and outreach. We need to develop an action plan that we can use and put the recommendations into practice.
Dean Callahan encouraged Kopper to visit individual departments across campus to share this information with them. Joram questioned if the
College of Education could hold a spring meeting and have Kopper make this presentation to the COE faculty at that time. The dean stated that

Kopper has also requested a special AAC meeting with this as the sole topic of conversation. Kopper also encouraged everyone to update their
Web sites. Everyone was asked to provide information as timely as you can, if contacted.
III.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary-Sue Bartlett
Secretary
:msb