Present:

• Alan Gabrielli, Dean, Arts & Sciences
• La Juana Cochrane, Department Chair, Social & International Studies
• Joel Fowler, Department Chair, Mathematics
• John Sink, Acting Department Chair, Biology, Chemistry & Physics
• Phil Patterson, Biology, Chemistry & Physics

Meeting began 11:10 a.m.

Update from recent Deans Council:

• John Mills reports that roofing issues will be resolved soon. After completing Building E, roofing will begin on the wellness center.

• The Georgia Early College proposal will not go forward. Marietta and Cobb School systems both pulled out of the proposal. Marietta did not have enough students to justify the effort. Cobb cited short lead on time and currently no superintendent. If there is a second round of funding, we may try partnering with Cobb again.

• The Construction Engineering proposal is going downtown soon, the Mechatronics proposal is still in development but should be ready by the end of the semester

• Early warning information: Relatively few freshmen were found to be unengaged in 3 or more courses. Letters will be sent to freshmen; those reported unengaged in 1 or 2 courses will bet a letter stressing the importance of engagement, those unengaged in 3 or more classes will be invited to attend a college orientation class.

  Highest levels of non-engagement were found in Math 1111 and Phys 1111.

  Discussion continued on engaged and non-engaged student, tutorial assistants and classroom ethics for other areas in arts and sciences

• Changes in Signatory rules - Department chairs will no longer need to send student assistant EIFs to the Dean and will no longer need Dean's signature to spend budgeted funds.

  Department Chairs will still need signatory approval to move funds from one budget to another, and to hire part- or full-time faculty or staff

Equipment request: There will be a new form distributed for equipment requests. Large amounts may need extra justification. Dept. Chairs will collect equipment requests from their faculty and send prioritized requests to Gabrielli. Funds should be available by October.

BCP department collected $10,000 from lab fee which will be used for his department's purchases. Faculty positions: Approval is pending to begin searches to fill vacant and new positions. Departmental committees should begin, if they have not already started. Pending final approvals, ads can be placed by the end of this month or by October.
Differential tuition in Architecture is being proposed to generate revenue to hire more Architecture faculty.

Department Updates:

HTC Department:
Dr. Rainey reports that there are:

• 2 full-time Temporary Faculty hired
• Chair position search to begin soon
• Susan Morrow's position to be filled
• Need another position for TCOM
• China Students Issues: New students will be arriving on campus from China. The department is sorting out different issues to handle their arrival.
• Department will be going on a planning retreat on September 23rd.

• 2 full-time Temporary Faculty hired
• 1 Full-time Assistant Professor hired through the hiring committee
• 1 faculty will be retiring this year
• The Math department faculty discussed student assistant support for interim courses (Math 1111 and Math 1113). The faculty decided on student graded homework on a weekly basis to begin in Spring. Dept. has a draft of the Assessment plan. No deadline noted.

SIS Department:

• Department is displaced to the 1st floor of the J building due to the air conditioning repairs. Everyone is adjusting and it seems to be working out well.
• 1 new full-time temporary faculty hired This new faculty is very flexible. He is qualified to teach history, political science, law, and English courses. He prefers to teach at night which works well for the department.
• French courses are being offered again this term
• The International Studies major is growing. 34 enrolled this term
• Issues with tracking International Studies Minors. Need to track for planning and course offering purposes.

Physics Department:
Patterson is working on the following:

• Schedules for next semester
• 5 year plan for majors
• Formalizing advising process
• Bill Burnett retiring - Search for his replacement should begin in Fall '06

Gabrielli reminded everyone of mini-bios, to be distributed by Academic Affairs; 1 paragraph for new people with description, degree, where taught before, any special interest

Meeting adjourned 12:00 p.m.