Academic Council Meeting
6/3/15 1:00PM IN SSC 229
Attendees

Ms. Laura Shadrick

Dr. Steve Raynie

Ms. Brenda Blackstock

Prof. Teresa Betkowski

Prof. Tonya Moore

Dr. Melinda Hawley

Dr. Ric Calhoun

Dr. Nolan McMurray

Prof. Fredrick Bailey

Dr. Sonya Gaither

Dr. Jeffery Knighton

Dr. Barry Kicklighter

Dr. Mustapha Durojaiye

Dr. Anne Purvis

Dr. Tom Aiello

Dr. Ed Whitelock

Dr. Richard Baskin

Prof. Peter Higgins
Dr. Knighton welcomed the group and stated that we only have one or possibly two agenda items for this
conversation and stating that minutes will be posted to the website.
NSO Updates





The next NSO date is June 16, 2015.
Ben Ferguson has decided to make several important changes to the format of future NSO’s.
These changes were presented to the NSO planning team, Team Cobra, this past Monday.
The main purpose of these NSO changes is to find better ways to engage students during the
orientation process.
Dr. Aiello will help coordinate the Academic Affairs portions of the programs.
New NSO Schedule
8:00 am to 9:00am

9:00am-9:30am



9:30am-10:20am
Check in only (can buy lunch tickets) in Alumni Memorial Hall.
o Students receive bags containing their schedule, goodies, and
informational sheets.
Welcome from Dr. Burns
Informational items from Mr. Ferguson.
Current GSC students will lead new students to the Fine Arts Auditorium
for a student-led session about college life.
o Mr. Ferguson may contact you for current student
recommendations (for help).
10:30am
10:30am-11:20am
11:30am-12:30pm
12:30pm-1:20pm
1:30pm-2:20pm
2:20pm-5:00pm
 Parent info session in Alumni Memorial Hall
Students and Parents are reunited and students are split into three random groups
(red, blue or green).
Each group will go to one of 3 sessions:
 Option 1: Academic Affairs Session in Alumni Memorial Hall
o Can visit booths to learn about programs available at GSC
 Option 2: Lecture Session in Fine Arts Auditorium
o Will hear from Financial Aid, Business Office, Registrar’s Office,
Public Safety, etc.
 Option 3: Activities & Athletics Session in the SARC
o Will briefly hear from Student Affairs personnel and participate in
fun activities
 Lunch for red and green groups
 Blue group attends Academic Affairs session in Alumni Memorial Hall
 Lunch for blue group
 Break for Academic Affairs
 Academic Affairs session
 Students and Guests can visit the Registrar, Financial Aid, the Business
Office, Bookstore, obtain student ID cards, parking passes, etc.
o This will also be the designated time students can visit the SSC if
they have a legitimate reason for needing to change their
schedule.
 This will be led by Drs. Knighton and Baskin and Professor
Betkowski or other designee.
 Learning Support students appeal schedule changes in
SSC 229.
Other NSO notes





We will no longer be accepting participants after 9:00am
The SSC will be making all new student schedules, including nursing schedules.
o If a student shows up at 9am and has no schedule, Admissions will send the GCID to the
SSC, who will make them a schedule that morning.
o Professor Higgins will now send transfer nursing student surveys and student info to Dr.
Purvis before the orientation dates.
o Transfer students have to attend the entire orientation now instead of arriving at lunch.
o No new students will be able to make their own schedule changes.
 They will not be unlocked until the day before drop/add begins for fall semester.
 We will work to develop guidelines for acceptable reasons to change schedules.
We need Academic Affairs reps (personnel from each department) 10:20am-2:20pm and then 2
or 3 reps for the SSC.
Make booths inviting by possible using backboards, materials, music, etc. Dr. Knighton will
present a prize to the best booth.
o Ideas for booth workers include Human service club members, B2B members, Adult
Learners, etc.
o Dr. Aiello will determine how many tables will be needed, and Ms. Shadrick will help
determine configuration and logistics.
The group enjoyed a lively discussion about possible incentives to encourage students to visit the


booths.
o Any new promo materials advertising programs must be approved and printed for the
school.
o If you have questions about items or materials to distribute, contact Dr. Knighton.
Previously, Admissions was the point of contact until classes began
o Now, we want Department Heads (or department personnel) to be the point of contact
for new students.
 Perhaps send standard emails welcoming the students, etc.
The group briefly discussed issues such as the need for flow charts for financial aid or payment
deadlines, relaying core curriculum requirements to both students and parents and whether or
not we are losing any important information by eliminating the department sessions after lunch
that have been delivered in each department.
o Professor Betkowski stressed the importance of program maps and making them
available to new students.
o We have researched hosting new student workshops to take place during fall to help
students learn how to register effectively.
Upcoming NSO Dates
June 16, 2015
July 9, 2015
July 16, 2015
July 30, 2015
August 7, 2015



Drs. Knighton and Baskin and Professor Betkowski will go through the sessions as participants for
evaluation purposes.
Dr. Whitelock will work will Dr. Boumpani for NSO music majors since they can declare a music
major, but they must audition before actually becoming a music major.
The group discussed the various pros of having attendees evaluate each NSO.
Assessment Updates



Department Heads are in the process of verifying faculty credentials.
o We have to show "qualifying fields" or at least 18 graduate hours for faculty without
Ph.D.’s.
o Original letters of qualification should be sent to Human Resources and electronic copies
should be sent to Institutional Effectiveness.
Templates have been made for Gen Ed Assessments and templates for Master Program
Assessments are in progress.
IE is moving departmental annual plan to Performance Cloud to make the editing process more
seamless.
The meeting adjourned at 2:14pm.
Minutes submitted by Laura Shadrick