PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE (AASC) MINUTES
Meeting Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Meeting Time: 2:00 PM Called to Order by Laura Govia, Chair
Purpose: To Address Academic Affairs of PTC
Required Materials: Agenda and Various Handouts
Preparation: Review all materials and be prepared to discuss and offer suggestions
Faculty Senate Members Present: Laura Govia, Chair/Chair Elect of Faculty Senate, Bob
Glidewell, Recorder; Michelle Herrera, Maribeth Anders, Joe McAfee, Jim Porter, Absent:
Jordan O’Roark, Billy Ginocchio
Faculty At-Large Members Present: Billy Parchman, Traci Johnston, Barry McVinney, Carla
Moody, Linda Ducrot, and Ann Fellinger Absent: Mike Dahly
Deans Present: Pam Cicirello, Todd Gold, Dick Burchett, Christy Sherrill, Ben Rains, Rhonda
Carroll and Joey Cole Absent: None
Administrators Present: Lavonne Juhl, Jason Green, Wendy Davis, David Durr and Catherine
Divito Absent: Jasmine Ray
Also present: Amanda Coleman, Mike DeLong, Provost, Mary Ann Shope, Vice President for
Learning and Liaison to PEC, Martha Eshelman, Beth Trafford, Brenda Bradley, Cindy Harkey,
Jeannie Williams and Presenters as listed in items below:
Minutes taken by: Robert J. “Bob” Glidewell, Recorder
Item 1. Welcome, Introduction, Review Agenda, Additions/Amendments to Agenda – Laura
Govia
Agenda approved with one addition of an MOU with UCA under Item 9.
Item 2. Minutes of the October 8, 2014 meeting were read and accepted as submitted.
REPORTS
Item 3. Enrollment – Mary Ann Shope
Mary Ann reported that the Fall, 2014 Enrollment Report was now available and to be
disseminated by Deans and Managers. The report has been presented to the Board of Trustees.
With declining enrollment recruiting, marketing and public relations efforts have begun. Specific
note was made of the number enrolled in programs versus the number of graduates from those
programs as this would be a high priority item.
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Item 4. Distance Learning – Jason Green – Academic Integrity Online
Jason reported that PTC has used a program for video monitoring since summer of 2013 but that
little use has occurred and little interest in attending training sessions exist. Since the program
costs approximately $10,000 per year Jason has requested a poll of faculty to determine interest
and intended use. The recommendation was for a faculty wide email poll with a Google Survey
with questions to be drafted by Distance Learning. It was pointed out that ADHE/HLC does not
have a definite timeline or process for this possible procedure. It was also pointed out that this
procedure differs from the Identification/Verification procedures within Financial Aid.
Item 5. Academic Engagement – Laura Govia for Mark Barnes – Part-time faculty Engagement
Laura reported that Mark Barnes, Chair of the Committee had received 50 responses from
faculty regarding engagement and the results would be presented in the December meeting.
Item 6. Academic Programs – Dorothy Martin
Dorothy reported that on November 3 Lauria Taylor advised the sub-committee of financial aid
issues with existing programs.
NEW BUSINESS
Item 7. Course Additions/Modifications – Dorothy Martin
Dorothy filed the following report
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FA14-922 – Small Engine Repair name change to Power Sports/Equipment Technology with
course prefix from SER to POW – this modification is to modernize the program and reflect what
is actually being taught in the program. Small Engine Repair sounds like lawn mower when the
program also teaches how to repair 4-wheelers, jet ski, and other recreational vehicles besides
lawnmowers.
FA14-923 – MET 1413 – remove the pre-requisite of MET1213 Intro to Human Anatomy. The
Disease Processes textbook has enough information about human anatomy. This will make it
easier for students to plan their schedules and move through the program effectively.
FA14-924 – BUS 1253 – Keyboarding II – raise the minimum typing speed to 30-35 from 25-30. A
score of 30 words per minute would put the student in the C or less grade range.
FA14-925 – ARTS 1202 – Public School Art – 3 of the largest 4-year transfer universities require
this course. It is also a critical part of the general education preparation of the Praxis II
FA14-926 – MUS 1202 – Public School Music – 3 of the largest 4-year transfer universities
require this course. It is also a critical part of the general education preparation of the Praxis II
FA14-927 – Associate of Science in Education – add more courses to the possible electives. In
adding more transfer colleges to the program other courses were needed for our students.
Each 4-year college has different requirements for its education majors depending on the grade
level and options the students plan to teach.
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FA14-928 – Teaching Physical Education – 4 of the largest 4-year transfer universities require
this course.
Item 8. Pre-requisites – Zack Perrine – Student Success
Zack presented the following proposal with a request of assignment to an Academic Affairs
Subcommittee for further analysis. Upon motion and second the proposal was assigned to the
Deans’ Cabinet and Academic Programs for collaboration.
Proposal for General Education Prerequisites
For the sake of transparency, clarity, and to encourage student success we, the Student Success
Committee, propose that Academic Affairs reviews and considers the implementation of
prerequisites for certain General Education courses. Many students can currently receive
information from a faculty or staff member about course recommendations. For some courses, a
prerequisite may currently be listed as recommended, but is not a true requirement. By formally
adding prerequisites to select General Education classes, then recommendations would become
requirements or expectations would be clear for students. This would encourage students to
follow and complete needed developmental classes before adding higher level ones. By stating
these prerequisites the success, retention, and persistence of students could be increased. Any
review and implementation would follow proper decision making channels and be at the
determination and discretion of the appropriate department or division. All processes related to
any potential course change would follow the current procedure.
The following courses were identified by the Student Success Committee for consideration
through this proposal:
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ARTS 2300 Introduction to Visual Arts
CRJU 2300 Introduction to Criminal Justice
FREN 1311 Elementary French I
GEOG 1310 Physical Geography
GEOG 2310 Cultural Geography
HLSC 2300 Nutrition
HIST 1311 History of Civilization I
HIST 1312 History of Civilization II
HIST 2311 U.S. History to 1877
HIST 2312 U.S. History since 1877
HIST 2355 History of Arkansas
MUSC 2300 Introduction to Music
PHIL 1310 Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 1330 Introduction to Critical Thinking
PHIL 2330 Ethics and Society
POLS 1310 American National Government
PSYC 2300 Psychology and the Human Experience
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RELG 2305 World Religions
RELG 2320 Old Testament Survey
RELG 2330 New Testament Survey
SOCI 2300 Introduction to Sociology
SPAN 1311 Elementary Spanish I
THEA 2300 Introduction to Theatre
Item 9. Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) (Articulations) – Erin Dail – Academic Alliances
Erin presented a uniform MOU packet/template for use by PTC dependent upon partners for
Articulation. Upon Motion and Second the Packet was approved.
Erin presented an MOU with Philander Smith College negotiated by Cindy Harkey and Mary
Ann Shope for articulation with PTC for the Associate of Arts Degree. Upon Motion and Second
the agreement was approved.
Erin then presented two MOUs with University of Central Arkansas and Henderson State for the
Associate of Science in Education
1. Articulation for the Mid-Level Teachers for Grades 4-8 with UCA
2. Articulation for the K-12 Teachers with Henderson State
Upon Motion and Second both agreements were approved.
COMPLETE COPIES OF THESE DOCUMENTS MAY BE FOUND IN THE PTC PORTAL
FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS UNDER THE AGENDA AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
FOR 11-12 -14 MEETING.
Item 10. Academic Proposal Forms – Laura Govia – Academic Affairs Standing Committee
Laura proposed draft forms to be utilized for issues to be presented to the AASC for cause,
uniformity and tracking purposes. The purpose of the forms was to provide the AASC with the
ideas and methodology for quantitative and qualitative research whereupon issues could be
assigned to the appropriate subcommittee. After much discussion a motion to table the discussion
definitely to the December meeting was seconded and approved.
DRAFT COPIES OF THESE DOCUMENTS CAN BE FOUND IN ITEM 10 IN THE PTC
PORTAL FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS UNDER THE AGENDA AND SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTS FOR 11-12-14 MEETING.
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OLD BUSINESS
Item 11- Academic Restructuring – Laura Govia – Ad Hoc Committee
Laura proposed that due to some confusion of the procedures for submission under the
Governance Model that the Academic Restructuring proposal previously submitted be allowed a
resubmission procedure and that an Ad Hoc Committee be established to review and resubmit
the proposal. It was noted that under the Charter of the AASC that the AASC has no authority to
create an Ad Hoc Committee but could recommend that such a committee be formed between
the two affected divisions. After considerable discussion and since the AASC had already
returned the issue to the Academic Operations Sub-Committee in September, the AASC would
recommend to the Academic Operations Sub Committee that a complete re-investigation of the
issue with input from all affected or interested parties be made and that they report the results to
the AASC.
Item 12 – Address Final Questions
The next meeting will be scheduled for December 10 in the Tom Steves Community Room. Item
Number 10 will be acted upon with revised forms.
Item 13 –Plus Delta – There is still need for improvement of the remote transmission of the
meeting between Main Campus and South. Sound was not available at times.
ADJOURNED: 3:45 PM
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