MLS Program Faculty Meeting
October 6, 2014 218 Ragsdale, 1:30-3:30
Present: Drs. Yontz, Harer, Sua, Munde, Al Jones, and Jami Jones and Marson (via Skype)
Absent: Dr. Dotson
Harer reported that he was still working with Michelle Oros, of Beaufort County Schools on developing a CEU offering for program students on grantwriting, but that work was going slowly because of Oros’ many other commitments.
He noted that sponsored events at the NCSLMA conference in Winston-Salem were planned and should be very successful. Six NCEDDS students are attending and will visit two local schools with model library programs, and that he and Drs. Dotson and Marson would be along on the tours. An exhibit booth has been arranged, along with a social reception for students and alumni.
After the reception, a Dutch treat dinner will be staged at a local restaurant.
The minutes of the August 28 faculty meeting were approved with corrections (Yontz/Munde).
Harer distributed a preliminary schedule for the ALA External Review Panel’s visit later in the month, and went over the details. Sua reported that invitations to the reception for ERP members had been sent to 600+ students, alumni, friends and ECU dignitaries. She distributed copies of a draft menu and food order for Aramark, at an estimated cost of $528.00.
Munde reported that she was preparing evidence files that included copies of all materials submitted to COA, along with source data, copies of course syllabi, faculty cv’s and relevant
ECU and COE documents described in the Program Presentation. The files will be in hanging folders organized by Standard in movable file containers so that they can be taken back to the hotel by ERP members.
Drs. Dotson and Sua will be making posters that reproduce factual material and tables from the
Program Presentation to hang in the ERP workroom.
Harer reported that Dr. Mott would take care of parking passes for the group, and would prepare welcome baskets for their hotel rooms.
Jami Jones proposed that pursuant to a conversation at the 2014 Summer Student Forum, and to discussions with other members of the faculty, that the President of the ALA Student Chapter attend the ALA conference during the year after service, rather than the year before beginning service as President. If this change were adopted, Barbara Raley Flohr would attend the 2015 conference as ECU’s student-to-staff representative. Munde made a motion to this effect, and
Yontz seconded. The motion carried.
Nominations for the 2015-2016 President of the ALA Student Chapter will be made in April
2015.

Harer and Yontz announced that they would plan a tailgate party for the Student Chapter, to be held at Yontz’s house on November 22, 2015 before the ECU-Tulane football game.
Minutes of the faculty meeting of September 22, 2014 were approved (Yontz/Harer).
Harer noted that applications for admission for Spring 2015 would be due on November 30.
Potential students who completed the admission form by that date would be considered eligible, and would be considered if they submitted all other materials no later than January 7. Setting staggered deadlines allows potential students to declare their intentions first, but then provides ample time for them to collect other required documents necessary to complete their applications.
Jami Jones and Harer noted that recently students seemed to be having difficulty using
SabaMeeting. Reported problems included identifying and loading the correct Java version, installing Saba client software, logging into a session, or staying connected to a session. Some students do not disable pop-up blockers, and then think there is a more serious problem. Some students experience frustration, and are disappointed not to be able to participate. To correct these problems, Jones suggested that a unit be added to LIBS 6010 that would require students to successfully attend a practice SabaMeeting session. There were further suggestions to break this into smaller tasks, e.g., complete a computer test/checklist to ensure that their computers were
Saba enabled, successfully log into a practice session (do a sound check, screen check, use the
IM feature), and submit a ticket to ITCS if they were unable to successfully attend the practice session. Grade points would be awarded only when the student had successfully attended the practice session. Munde said she would work on including this in LIBS 6010.
The meeting concluded at 3:30.