October 8, 2019

Attendees:  James Marquart,  Arne Almquist, Paul Bernazzani, Katrina Brent, Brian Craig, Dan French, Derina Holtzhausen, Lynn Maurer, Brenda Nichols, Joe Nordgren, and Bob Spina.

I. Approval of Dean’s Council Minutes dated September 24, 2019

The minutes of the Academic Dean meeting, dated September 24, 2019, were approved as written.

II. Policy Updates – Katrina Brent 

1. Class Attendance (for financial aid) –This policy involves verification of attendance accomplished through the use of an attendance assignment in each Blackboard course. Students would have until the census date of each course to complete this assignment.  Students who fail to complete the assignment for each course they are enrolled in, will have their financial aid awards adjusted or cancelled.
2. Mix and Match Terms– Currently the University has mix and matched parts of terms for students to give them the most flexibility and freedom to complete their education. We are, however defined as a school with a Standard Academic Year, and are bound by federal regulations. Beginning in spring 2020, academic programs offering 16 and 8 week courses will not be permitted to offer 5-week courses.  Similarly, academic programs whose standard offering is 5-week courses will only be permitted to offer 5-week courses.
3. Technical Credit – This policy hopes to decrease the minimum upper-division hour requirement for undergraduate degrees from 45 to 42.

ACTION:  Dean Bob Spina made motion to accept all 3 policies revisions as presented, Seconded by Dean Almquist; all approved.  

III. Self Study Reports – Brenda Nichols

Self-Study reports going out need to be vetted through Dr. Theresa Hefner-Babb in the SACS office.  There should not be any SSR going out without someone besides the writer reviewing it first. These will now all be housed together in SACS office.

IV. College Worksheets Follow-Up

The worksheets were sent out via email.  Dr. Marquart will be meeting with the deans individually to discuss the focus for each college.  Dean Holtzhausen was asked to go ahead and share with the group what she had planned for the College of Fine Arts and Communication.  She gave a brief overview of the three areas of focus which are: 

1) Student success, which includes retention across all classifications and time to graduation;

2) Recruitment; and

3) Grant applications.

Dean Spina also shared two areas of focus for the College of Education will be research scholarships (submitting proposals for external funding) and improving on university graduation and retention rates.

Dean Maurer announced she is holding a retreat Friday for her department chairs and will be asking them for department goals. 

OTHER: Dr. Marquart shared an article he recently received from the Coordinating Board called “Graduate Programs in Texas – What Is Needed”  He will have a copy emailed out for the deans to review.  

V. OTHER:

Derina Holtzhausen

There was an email sent out from Human Resources regarding retirement buy-out.  Derina asked if others had received it, but there were some who had not.  Dr. Marquart said he would forward the email to all the deans.   

Joe Nordgren

1. Nordgren received an email a couple of weeks ago asking if under enrolled courses for Study Abroad could be approved. (within summer budget). He requested the deans’  input before replying.  All agreed that no, under enrolled courses should not be approved.   
2. The application and interview process for the BECK Teaching Excellence Award has been completed and the recommendation has been made to Dr. Evans.

Lynn Maurer

The search for a Vice Provost of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is moving ahead.  The team has been pulled together again with five applicants so far.

Bob Spina

The Academic Lecture Series with Dr. Hrabowski is tomorrow night, October 9^th, beginning with dinner at 5:30pm on the 8^th floor of the Library.

 VI. Adjourn – The meeting was adjourned at 2:50pm.