Notes of the College of Education
Senate Meeting of April 3, 2009,
9:00 to 11:00 am, Room 3237 Benjamin Building
Attending: R. Lissitz (Chair), D. Wiseman (Dean), K. MacDonald-Wilson, J. Coffey, M.
Chambliss, R. Marcus, J. Rice, P. Campbell, P. Beckman, H. Mawhinney, H. Jiao, D. Imig, P.
Maccini
R. Lissitz: Called the meeting to order.
Motion: Moved to approve the minutes of the March 6th meeting. The motion was seconded and
minutes were approved.
Dean’s Office - D. Wiseman: Updates from Dean’s Office regarding
Stimulus Money – Investigating COE applications for money, Maggie McLaughlin attempting to
coordinate this, at least be aware of initiatives
 Increase in funds to current projects – NSF, NIH
 Money coming to states – partnerships with states. Dean had meeting with Nancy
Grasmick, areas focusing on teacher quality, standards, reorganization of
underperforming schools, etc
 Partnership money will be distributed in December, $150 million
STEM Activities – wants COE to be central to any initiatives, vs. locating them in content areas,
focused on producing teachers in STEM areas
 Proposal co-written with Mahlon Strasheim in Provost office using the U-Teach model,
recruiting students to teach math, wants it in COE
 SMTI – Science and Math Teacher Initiative – Dean head of leadership team to keep
COE involved, looking to merge 2 teams
 2% budget reallocation to Provost – Provost encouraged COE to submit proposal, Dean
focusing on Technology, Innovation, and Media – some faculty lines included, look at
research in this area as well as technology infrastructure
 Comments
o M. Chambliss – students express concerns that technology won’t be available in
schools, we respond by focusing on preparing students for the future
o P. Campbell – how can we be involved in responding to initiatives.
o Discussion of communication from Dean’s office to faculty – email alerts,
targeted email that includes a few sentences, paragraphs to decide whether to
follow a link, specific invitation to faculty to be involved in interest areas,
develop advisory group, have a point person, etc.
o Discussion of ideas regarding Technology Faculty – technology and learning,
cognitive remediation, technology and assessment
o Strong need to address technology infrastructure and resources – some
renovations happening in this area, more needed
o Need faculty in College of Education who do research on technology and research
using technology such as cognitive, artificial intelligence, learning with computer
assistance, computer assisted testing, etc.
Reorganization - Dean’s Advisory Committee has 2 more meetings, then will forward proposal
to Dean in next few weeks, Dean to send out to College for review and comment – within a 2
week window. Provost wants decision by June.




Discussion of small vs. large departments, Provost thinks a good size is 20-30, wants
college more compact and focused, discussion of what really is saved, what the costs are
Dean focused on doing reorganization to make us stronger and better – discussion about
what does this mean, request to address these questions in the plan that gets forwarded
Wants ideas from faculty and staff about building community in the COE
Dean’s understanding of Provost’s reference to COE becoming more compact is that he
wants fewer departments, but does not mean fewer faculty
Short discussion ensued regarding finding a chair elect – still no one person willing to be
nominated, Dean assisting in this process.
R. Lissitz presented he will not chair next year, discussed issue of role of Senate, options we
have
 Discussion of the value to university of focus on service activities, issues with what is
prioritized at university, people worn out with all reorganization and other activities, role
of senate and whether it really is a power (or could be) in the College
FAR Reports – still some faculty resisting completing them, but they are important and need to
be done to demonstrate how much we accomplish in the College
Next meeting suggestion we discuss intrinsic (and extrinsic) rewards to faculty
M. Chambliss – Awards/Honors committee – major progress in setting up a website for
nominations, still need some streamlining of process, Nomination deadline April 6th
Meeting adjourned.