Eastern Michigan University
College of Arts & Sciences
College Advisory Council
MINUTES
22 October 2015, 15:30-17:00, 219 Pray-Harrold
PRESENT
Department/Program Representatives: Spolans (ART), Angell (BIO), Guthrie (CHEM), Kindred (CMTA), Sverdlik (COSC), Kim
(ECON), Luttrell (ENGL), Ryker (GEOG&GEOL), Dieterle (HIST/PHIL, CAC Chair), Kovacs (IESS, ex-officio), Dumitrascu
(MATH), Merrill (M&D), Jacobs (PHYS/ASTR), McIntyre (PSY), Ensor (SAC), Higgins (WGST)
Department Heads: Ramsey (ENGL), Sambrook (GEOG/GEOL)
Ex-Officio: Venner (CAS Dean’s Office)
Guest: Cynthia MacKnish (CASAC/GESA)
I. CALL TO ORDER: 15:30
II. GUEST: Cynthia Macknish (CASAC)
Overviews and purposes of program assessment and general education assessment were presented along with a summary table.
III. ADDITION TO THE AGENDA: Item VII below: Unanimously Approved.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 24 September 2015 Approved: 11 for, 0 against, 2 abstentions
V. REPORTS
Arts Report
• Motion to separate PHIL425 Theories of Justice new course proposal: 7 for, 2 against, 4 abstentions
• Motion to accept the resulting Arts Report: Unanimously Accepted
• Motion to approve PHIL425 Theories of Justice with comments: 1) SAC supports the proposed new course; 2) SAC
recommends PHIL consider a disciplinary-specific title, e.g., “Philosophies of Justice”; and 3) SAC hopes the approval of
this course will not obstruct the Criminology & Criminal Justice program’s future proposals for 400-level courses on
justice. Approved: 10 for, 0 against, 3 abstentions
Sciences Report: Unanimously Accepted
VI. URSLC ELECTIONS
ARTS, one year to complete term: Among two nominees, Regina Luttrell (ENGL) was elected by majority
SCIENCES, new position, one year: Cory Emal (CHEM) was elected unanimously
VII. INTERPRETATION OF “DEPARTMENT MEMBER” IN COLLEGE INPUT DOCUMENT
The language in the CID : “A College Advisory Council shall be established. It shall be composed of the following voting members; one (1)
faculty member from each department. Each department shall determine by vote who shall be their faculty representative and shall provide for an
alternate.” The question put forth is whether or not a faculty member can be a department member (and hence be elected as a
representative) for the department in which they have a 49% joint appointment There was Unanimous Agreement - Yes.
VIII. BUDGET COMMITTEE INPUT ON INSTRUCTIONAL BUDGET APPEAL PROCESS
An argument opened the discussion: that the developing proposed appeals process does not address the unfairness in using data
from past circumstances (as baselines) for departmental target calculations – that these perpetuate any unfair circumstances for
some departments, limit growth potential for some, or demand unreasonable growth for others. With the new contractual
requirement to develop equivalencies, some called for a suspension of the targets until such time as the new resulting
circumstances enable the Dean’s Office to recalculate targets. However, doing so would not enable targets to be based on a 5-year
trend. One suggestion was to use weighting once the new equivalencies are determined. The Dean gave a historical summary for
the need for and purpose of the targets - to fairly allocate funds but did not predict reduced allocations. The Dean and the Budget
Committee agreed to a meeting to discuss these problems. CAC representatives were told they may collect input on the existing
proposed appeals process at this point but that a revised version will be presented for input later.
IX. DEAN’S REMARKS
A. The Dean reported on his recent trip to China regarding developments with the Wuhan University Partnership. The renewed
agreement adds Computer Science, Economics, Math, and GIS programs. A “mobility” agreement is being developed that allows
EMU credit for courses taken at Wuhan University (having no tuition costs). There was a joint Wuhan-EMU international GIS
conference. There was also a meeting with pleased alumni who had taken courses at EMU.
B. In Winter 2015, the Journalism program proposed a departmental realignment: leaving ENGL to join CMTA. CAC
representatives need to collect input on the move for the 12 November meeting.
C. CAC representatives need to collect input on the proposed new faculty request matrix for the 12 November meeting. They
should consider consistency between both the CAS matrix and the University matrix being considered by the Faculty Senate (to be
distributed by the CAC Chair).
X. CHAIR’S REMARKS: none
XI. FACULTY REMARKS: none
XII. ADJOURNMENT: 16:27
Respectfully submitted,
Bradley Ensor, recording secretary