MINUTES
Meeting of the Economics Department
March 2nd, 2015, called to order at 3:45PM
Present: Ahmad (Chair), Bashaw, Das, Ersal-Kiziler, Glosser, Guo, Kashian, Lovett, Marks,
Schweigert, Teferra, Tao, Welsch, Winden, Xue.
1. Approval of February 2015 Minutes: Kashian moved, Welsch seconded, the minutes was
unanimously approved.
2. Announcements (Ahmad):
a) Updates on budget: Ahmad provided an update on the budget situation. Ahmad has
requested two part-time positions to compensate for two sabbaticals in 2015-2016.
Approval of these positions are still pending and if needed, he may shift upper-level
course faculty to cover the core courses (Econ 201, 202 and 245). Faculty may not be
able to get their preferred teaching time slots. No overloads will be offered. The chair
anticipates, based on discussion in the Administrative Council meetings that travel
money should not be affected. The budget cut should not affect M.S. program course
offerings.
b) Curriculum changes: Ahmad asked the faculty members to think about how they use
data to inform curricular changes and discuss in the April department meeting.
c) Some faculty members will march at the May 16 commencement. Need to get cap and
gown.
d) Ahmad has discussed graduate thesis mentoring and advising pay with Dean Stone.
The normal pay by the university is approximately $500 per 3-credit student but we can
get $1,000 per 3-credit student for this first year only. The department will also offer
$200 for thesis committee members per student.
e) Econ245 textbook: Bashaw will head a committee to review textbooks.
3. Welsch informed the department that the MBA program intents to raise admission
standards. They are trying to increase the required combined GMAT and GPA points
from 1000 to above 1100. No one at the meeting opposed it.
4. Ahmad: the department needs advisory board mission and roles. Ahmad would like to
have a draft ready by the Department’s April meeting and to distribute it to the Advisory
Board members prior to the April 20 Advisory Board meeting. Ahmad provided examples
from UW-Madision, Michigan State, and Kansas State. Kashian (seconded: Welsch)
moved to form a committee led by the chair and two chair-appointed members to develop
the mission before the end of March for the April department meeting. Discussion
followed, which included the following thoughts: Kashian encouraged faculty members to
reach out and find people to serve on the advisory board. Ahmad sought ideas for the
mission. Suggestions on career-oriented, practical training and suggestions on curriculum
matters were mentioned. The motion was unanimously passed. Ahmad will head the
committee. Kashian and Glosser joined the committee.
5. Winden passed on information about GenEd learning outcomes. The process is still ongoing. Faculty members were encouraged to send him comments.
6. Kashian provided updates on the development of department goals. Kashian worked with
the department Strategic Planning Committee (Marks, Schweigert and Tao), Ersal-Kiziler
and Winden to develop the short-term goals that combine the department SWOT analysis
results and college and university goals. Kashian asked faculty members to go through the
short-term goals and claim responsibilities. The SPC should add action plans for the goals
and develop long-term goals before the April meeting. It will be reviewed by the advisory
board on April 20 and be finalized in May.
7. Ahmad showed current course offerings in the department and recent enrollment numbers
in the courses. Given that there is more scrutiny about low-enrollment courses, the
Department needs to think about re-aligning courses (will seek advice from the advisory
board). Faculty members were asked new courses they would like to teach, as well as
which courses should be eliminated as part of the realignment. Faculty members were
asked to review course descriptions in the online catalogue and identify those that need to
be changed or re-written. Marks encouraged faculty members to advertise the econ minor
because it is a low-price and low-cost option for the students. BBA majors who have
completed required Econ 201, 202 and 245 can earn a minor in economics with only four
more upper-level econ courses.
8. Ahmad asked faculty to review DFW (Grade D Fail Withdraw) rates and think about what
to do about it. The discussion is postponed to April meeting.
9. Scholarships (Ahmad): the department needs a mechanism to coordinate the scholarships.
Discussion is postponed to April meeting.
On a Das and Kashian motion, the meeting was adjourned at 5:05pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ran Tao (Nancy)
Secretary Pro Tem