Academic Affairs Executive Council Meeting
JULY 7, 2015 2:30PM, PRESIDENT’S CONFERENCE ROOM
Attendees
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Dr. Jeffery Knighton
Dr. Richard Baskin
Dr. Susan Finazzo
Dr. Mike Mahan
Dr. Anne Purvis
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Professor Teresa Betkowski
Professor Peter Higgins
Ms. Brenda Blackstock
Ms. Laura Shadrick
Dr. Knighton began the meeting by welcoming Dr. Finazzo and Professor Higgins to the group.
My Values
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Because of the new additions to the Council, Dr. Knighton briefly reviewed his values to
offer a better understanding of what people can expect from him:
o Commitment to excellence.
o Treat everyone with respect
o Strive to have fun
Minutes will be posted
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Going forward, the minutes from these meetings will be posted on the GSC Academic
Affairs website.
Gifts!
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Dr. Knighton presented each Dean with an iPad Air and keyboard case to aid in
productivity.
o He is also providing each Department Head with the same set.
Need a new name for this group
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Dr. Knighton would like to rename this group, so it will not be confused with Academic
Council.
Please send all suggestions for a new name to him via email.
Sick Leave/Annual Leave
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When you know in advance that you will be absent please enter that time into ADP as
soon as possible.
If any absences are not entered by the 15th of each month, you must complete an
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Exception Time form, which can be found in the shared Word templates or on the HR
website.
In addition to documenting in ADP, also inform Dr. Knighton of time away from campus.
Standing Authorization for Travel
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Please submit Standing Authorizations for Travel for FY2016 to Dr. Knighton as soon as
possible.
This form covers all in-state travel (only have to enter expense reports)
If travel affects another budget (such as SACS or QEP), there will need to be coordination
and communication with the Budget Manager.
AA Organizational Chart
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The group briefly reviewed the latest Organizational Chart for Academic Affairs.
Dr. Knighton has added Coordinator positions.
Raises
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A small portion came from the BOR for raises and additional funds were added from the
GSC budget to allow for more significant raises.
Faculty and Staff will receive half in July or August (when their contract begins) and 1/2 in
January 2016 if we reach 4,088 students this fall.
New Hire Procedures/Hiring Guide
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The group briefly discussed the revised hiring procedures and forms.
o Step 1 of the hiring process should be charging the Search committee.
o We will make phone interviews block 3 under selecting candidates.
Eventually we will have a faculty hiring guide that corresponds with the HR Hiring guide.
o Ms. Shadrick will get sample and "no-no" questions from Nancy Goodloe to add to
the guide.
o Dr. Knighton hopes to create a Department Head manual in the near future,
which will include a hiring section.
Advising for New Faculty
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The group discussed changes to advising procedures to require all new faculty members
to spend 20 hours each semester advising in the Student Success Center.
o Dr. Knighton and Professor Higgins will meet on July 8 at 10am to discuss details.
NSO-7/9/2015
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We are generally on track for the NSO.
Students should not be able to sign up after midnight tonight, so the online report should
be up to date in the morning.
Guided Pathways
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Academic Summaries now say which Guided Pathways students are in.
After 7/29, we may open Pathways seats to non-pathways students.
Students who RSVP’d for the 7/16 NSO were put into Pathways.
Concerns and Needs
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The lack of seats is making it very difficult to make schedules.
We could potentially host 152 schedule changes in the SSC, which equates roughly 57%
of NSO attendees.
Dr. Purvis is concerned about the July 9 NSO being held on final exam day for some
Summer NURS courses.
Academic Affairs Policies/Policy and Procedure Approval
Form
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Dr. Knighton will send everyone the list and asks that everyone plan to take 1 or 2 policies
and write them up.
Faculty Credentials
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The School of Education is completely verified and aligned, and the School of Nursing is
almost complete.
Dr. Finazzo is meeting with Institutional Effectiveness tomorrow to review the process.
Dr. Knighton will enter Dean information.
What's entered on the Qualifications Form during the hiring process is entered in
Performance Cloud as alternate credentials by Professor Betkowski.
Some letters are needed for faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences.
Area Reports
Dean Mahan
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Grant work is completed
The School of Education is preparing for an onsite visit in November for Secondary
Majors and the initial visit for the new Middle Grades degree.
Dean Finazzo
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Dr. Finazzo is settling in and has been having tons of meetings with the departments.
Professor Betkowski
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Professor Betkowski began by stating that the leadership team voted on the QEP
proposal.
o The results will be released once Dr. Burns approves.
o She asked that everyone suggest 2-3 people from their area that would be good
on the QEP committee and send nominees to Dr. Knighton and herself by
Monday, July 13.
Professor Higgins is going to a QEP summer workshop shortly.
Nuria Cuevas is our SACS VP and is scheduled to visit July 30.
o Professor Betkowski will send her bio to the group by the end of the week.
o We hope to have a QEP Committee Chair for her to meet at this visit.
Compliance certification materials coming in slowly, so please encourage submission as
soon as possible.
o Drafts are fine.
Ms. Walker and Professor Betkowski are meeting with Kirsten Joyner in IT on 7/8 to
revise the IE website.
Dr. Baskin
CETL
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Erica Johnson is the new CETL Coordinator.
Support and involvement of Deans and Department Heads is critical for CETL.
New Faculty Orientation (NFO)
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The NFO agenda will be distributed shortly.
o Aug. 4 at noon in NAHS 123 will be the luncheon for new faculty, Deans,
Department Heads and mentors.
Dr. Baskin wants feedback from all Deans on how to improve this new faculty orientation
process.
Professor Higgins
Professor Higgins and the SSC team are focused on preparing for the NSO.
Next Meeting
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Dr. Knighton will send Full Faculty meeting thoughts next week, and he would like any
feedback to be sent to him via email.
Our next meeting will be July 28 in the afternoon.
We will plan to meet a day or so after the Cabinet meetings, except in December.
The meeting adjourned at 4:14pm.
Minutes Submitted by Laura Shadrick.