MINUTES OF THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL
TENNESSEE TECH UNIVERSITY
April 4, 2007
The Academic Council met at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, 2007, in the Deans’ Conference Room of Derryberry Hall with Christine Miller, Chairperson, presiding.
The following members of the Council were present:
Dr. Robert Niebuhr Dr. Pat Jordan
Ms. Deanna Nipp-Kintz (for Dr. Walden) Dr. David Larimore
Mr. Bobby Hodum Dr. Sharon Huo
Dr. Wade Faw Dr. Bob Clougherty
Dr. Paul Semmes (for Dr. Armistead) Dr. Linda Null
Dr. Darrell Garber Mr. Ray Jordan
Mr. Zac Fox Dr. John Harris
Dr. Cathy Cunningham Dr. Darrell Hoy
Dr. Susan Laningham Dr. Gretta Stanger
Dr. Jeff Roberts Dr. Chris Brown
Dr. Christine Miller Dr. Mark Stephens
Dr. Don Visco
Others attending the meeting were Dr. David Huddleston, Dr. Claire Stinson, Ms. Debbie Combs, Ms. Yvonne Gribble, Mr. Charles Wilkerson, Ms. Denise Hensely, Dr. Deivy, Dr. Stephen Parke, and Dr. Dan Combs. The following members of the Council were absent:
Dr. Roy Loutzenheiser Dr. Jim Baier
Dr. Susan Elkins Dr. Brian O’Connor
Ms. Carolyn Greer Ms. Darlene Franklin
Mr. Christian Bucher Ms. Delane Stewart
Ms. Katie Oakley
SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS
1. Approved the agenda.
2. Approved the minutes of the November 15, 2006 meeting.
3. Approved annual reports from committees reporting to the Academic Council.
4. Approved the Language Company proposal.
5. Approved the Civil and Environmental Engineering Fast-Track MS Program proposal.
6. Approved the Electrical and Computer Engineering Fast-Track MS Program proposal
7. Approved Dr. Christine Miller as chairperson of the Academic Council for 2007-08
PROCEEDINGS
Mr. Ray Jordan MOVED approval of the agenda, and Dr. Pat Jordan SECONDED the motion. The agenda was APPROVED as distributed.
Dr. Harris MOVED approval of the minutes of the November 15 meeting, and Dr. Stephens SECONDED the motion. The minutes were APPROVED as posted on the Academic Council web site.
Dr. Harris MOVED approval of all the reports as submitted, and Dr. Faw SECONDED the motion. The motion PASSED by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Charles Wilkerson, Director of International Student Affairs presented a proposal to waive TOEFL test requirement for undergraduate applicants if the students complete the advanced level at designated schools. Dr. Stephens MOVED approval of the proposal, and Mr. Hodum SECONDED. After some discussion, the motion PASSED by a unanimous vote.
Dr. Huddleston explained that the program will allow students to earn six hours of graduate credit during their last two undergraduate semesters that can be used as part of both their undergraduate and graduate curricula. The modification is proposed to attract a larger number of our best undergraduate scholars to our graduate program. Dr. Larimore MOVED approval of the proposal, and Dr. Laningham SECONDED the motion. After some discussion, the motion PASSED by a unanimous vote.
Dr. Parke stated that the ECE proposal is identical to the CEE proposal. ECE currently has three top juniors interested in graduate school. Dr. Harris MOVED approval of the proposal, and Mr. Jordan SECONDED. The motion PASSED by a unanimous vote.
The nominating committee composed of Dr. Null, Dr. Jordan, and Dr. Harris recommend Dr. Christine Miller as chairperson for 2007-08. Dr. Null MOVED to accept the nomination, and Dr. Harris SECONDED the motion. Dr. Miller was ELECTED by a unanimous vote.
Dr. Semmes presented an update on Banner student services and how it will affect our current policies. No policy changes are being requested at this time. However, there are two items that will need to be addressed in Fall 2007 to be effective Fall 2008. They are the repetition of courses and reporting of grades, and the retention table and GPA reporting.
Dr. Barker stated that the Council
should revisit the plus/minus grading issue in the near future. After some discussion, Dr. Miller proposed
that this issue be tabled for the Fall 2007 meeting.
Dr. Miller stated that the Council would be losing their Executive Officer due to the retirement of Dr. Barker. She thanked him for his years of service to TTU and the Academic Council. The Council acknowledged his many contributions.
The meeting was ADJOURNED at 4:40 p.m.
Carol Holley, Recorder
Documents on file with minutes:
Annual Reports
Language Company Proposal
CEE Fast-Track MS Program Proposal
ECE Fast-Track MS Program Proposal