COUNCIL OF DEANS

November 14, 2001

The Council of Deans met in regular session at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 14, 2001, in the Provost's Conference Room. Sam Buchanan presided, and the following council members were present: Bob Everding, Jonathan Glenn, Neil Hattlestad, Maurice Lee, and Jane McHaney. Pat Cantrell represented Gabriel Esteban, Deborah Walz represented Elaine McNiece, and Steve Addison represented Ron Toll. Sally Roden was absent.

The Council of Deans minutes of October 31 were approved as circulated.

Joe Delap attended to share information from a Freshman Year Experience meeting he recently attended along with Everding at Asheville, North Carolina. Topics covered at the conference included discussions on roles and rewards, concerns on focusing too much on teaching and not enough on learning, increasing civic engagement for students, how and when student attrition happens, and the difficulties in initiating changes. Following discussion, Delap departed at 9:45.

Lee discussed the possibility of creating through the Instructional Development Center a panel of senior chairs who could help junior chairs deal with difficult issues. Hattlestad shared information about sessions conducted in the mid-1980's with panels of chairs who would discuss thematic issues. He reported that those discussions were very beneficial to new chairs. The deans agreed that developing such a panel through the IDC would be helpful, and McHaney suggested polling chairs to determine issues that need to be covered. Buchanan asked the deans to recommend two or three chairs to serve on such a panel.

Buchanan (1) reminded deans of the "mini-Bear Facts Day" scheduled for Searcy students; (2) asked that advising student organizations be recognized as service when considering promotion, tenure, and merit pay; (3) cancelled COD for November 21.

Dean Reports

Glenn reminded the deans of the United Educators' teleconference scheduled for noon today.

Lee (1) distributed brochures for field experience trips in the College of Liberal Arts; (2) stated that he, Jack Gillean, and the Affirmative Action Committee will be meeting in December and will ask chairs for information about recruitment and retention of faculty.

McHaney distributed (1) information on a scholarship program for minority teachers; (2) a PEU brochure on admission, retention, and exit requirements for teacher education; (3) a list of standing committees in the PEU; (4) an message about a new student education club that will meet the first Thursday of each month.

Walz asked deans to submit the name of a volunteer to serve on the IRB and distributed requirements for the post.

Hattlestad urged the deans to get a flu shot, and Buchanan suggested a flu shot would make a lovely holiday season gift for the deans' assistants.

Everding reported on a successful residency with Matapat.

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

cd