College of Arts and Sciences
Council of Chairs
November 9, 2005
2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
AS 122
Present: E. Acosta-Belen, S. Alam, J. Altarriba, I. Berger, C. Bose, E. Briere, J. Collins, A. DeBlasi, K.
Doolen, E. Gaffney, S. Galime, T. Harrison, V. Idone, M. Jerison, T. Lance, J. Mandle, A. Millis, J. Neely,
S. North, C. Olsen, D. Parker, J. Pipkin, M. Raider, L. Schell, L. Slade, G. Stevens, H. Strother, R. Ward, J.
Welch, J. Wick-Pelletier, E. Wulfert, A. Zak
Recorder: R. Greenhouse
Minutes: E. Wulfert made a motion to accept the minutes of October 12, 2005, seconded by I. Berger and
passed unanimously.
Announcements:
Thank you for your participation in the October 28 open house – 2,400 visitors attended (this number
includes parents.)
Valedictorian Dinner: Dona is identifying eligible students (the College can send 3) and she will be in
touch as soon as they have been selected.
December Commencement – Thank you for your input in assisting with marshals. If any of your faculty
still wants to march, let Dona know or they can go to the Commencement website to sign up. If you want
to order your own hood, it must be done by November 18th. Otherwise only UA hoods will be available
through Barnes and Noble.
Summer schedules are due to Michelle Lasak by 11/18/05. Thank you for suggesting summer session
online courses.
Reminder from Chris Ranc, Barnes and Noble – Please submit your spring book orders if you have not
done so.
Final Exams – There should be no early finals. If special accommodations are required, requests must
come through Dean’s office (Gregory Stevens).
Bruce Szelest will be canvassing schools and colleges to see if our requests for accurate data are being met.
Chair terms ending reminder has been sent to affected departments. December 1st is the suggested
timeframe to begin the process to identify potential candidates (or incumbent chair) for recommendation to
Dean.
Distinguished Professor Lectures scheduled: Kajal Lahiri, Economics (Fall 2005), Ron Bosco, English (Fall
2005) and Edna Acosta-Belen, Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies (Spring 2006).
Reminder to all about thinking of your extremely distinguished colleagues to be consider as distinguished
professors.
Excellence awards – nomination deadline 11/11/05. Remind your faculty members.
Research Update:
Larry handed out materials regarding research statistics of the College and Departments.
He pointed out that there was a decline from previous year. We must be concerned about downward
changes. The College generates a good amount of indirect costs. We need to have a policy that takes into
account the size of the College in the area of indirect costs.
Accent on Research is available on line.
A draft policy on preparing campus impact statements was distributed and discussed. Use this as a guide as
to how credit should be allocated. Assoc VP Webster stated that it is a positive draft.
Diversity and Hiring Issues:
The TOP program has been suspended. Hiring diverse faculty is a priority, but not through the TOP
program. Work with the Dean, and she will work with the Provost to recruit good minority candidates.
Advertising is extremely expensive, and the demands to advertise in particular venues by Affirmative
Action increase the costs. Discussions with departments that have worked within the parameters of
Affirmative Action will be held to communicate about this subject. Please make sure that Dean is involved
in seeing all Affirmative Action materials when candidates are being proposed.
Graduate TA Issues:
Regarding appointing teaching assistants as part time lectures--it is understood that the needs exist.
However, University policy states that teaching assistants on full-time appointments cannot hold other jobs.
There is an issue of accountability.
Compact Planning:
The Dean has received 30 compact plans. Between now and December 9 we need to come up with a plan.
We will work with departments along the way. The College is working on a basic template. The Dean is
going to ask the Provost if she can divide the college into 6 units, because to rank the entire College’s
initiatives makes it a disadvantage in ranking so many. The Dean suggests the following areas:
Fine Arts
Communication and Related Studies
Humanities
Social Sciences
Life and Environmental Sciences
Physical Science and Mathematics
This will show the cross-disciplinary-ness of the College.
We will communicate routinely while work is being done.
Faculty Council ought to be involved but with the short amount of time it may not be possible.
There was a note from Kermit Hall clarifying that the compact will likely cover three years. Chairs may
need to make revisions as necessary.
Adjourned: 410