The Academic Council met at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2000, in the Deans' Conference Room of Derryberry Hall with Dr. John Harris, Chairperson, presiding.

Dr. Marvin Barker
Dr. Roy Loutzenheiser
Dr. Jack Armistead 
Dr. Don Elkins
Dr. Rebecca Quattlebaum
Prof. Rebecca Tolbert
Ms. Sammie Young
Mr. Jason Wilds
Mr. Casey Schewe
Dr. John Harris
Dr. Jeff Roberts
Dr. Mark Stephens
Ms. Gloria Russell
Dr. Corinne Darvennes
Dr. Kurt Eisen
Dr. Brian O'Connor
Prof. Ken Hunter
Dr. Gretta Stanger
Dr. Andrzej Gutek
Dr. Linda Null Also attending as resource persons were Delores Wheatley and Deanna Nipp.

Dr. Winston Walden
Ms. Kim Vance
Ms. Jenny Bradley
Prof. Charlene Mullins
Dr. Bruce Greene
Dr. Norman Williams
Prof. John Dodson
Dr. Harry Smith
Dr. Ed Griggs
Dr. Joseph Anderson
Prof. Darlene Franklin
Dr. Edward Lisic

SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS

1. Approved the agenda.

2. Approved the minutes of the March 1 meeting.

3. Received annual reports from committees reporting to the Council.

4. Discussed the issue of giving exams outside regular class hours.

5.  Elected Gretta Stanger as chairperson for 2000-01

6.  Approved distribution of Academic Council notices and information via e-mail and the Web.

7.  Approved the appointment of a subcommittee to study the issue of the electronic distribution of syllabi.

PROCEEDINGS

Approval of the Agenda

    Professor Hunter MOVED approval of the agenda, and Dr. Loutzenheiser SECONDED the motion. The agenda was APPROVED.

Approval of the Minutes of the March 1 Meeting

Annual Reports from Committees Reporting to the Academic Council

    Dr. Harris distributed copies of the Teacher Education Committee's annual report. Dr. Barker MOVED approval of the annual reports as a group, and Dr. Loutzenheiser SECONDED the motion. Dr. Null questioned how changes mentioned in the Teacher Education report would affect the English Department, and Dr. Armistead noted that a member of the English Department sits on the Teacher Education Committee. When the report from the Committee on Commencements, Convocations, and Academic Ceremonies was reviewed, Dr. O'Connor commented that several people have expressed concern about the kind of image the University presents at commencement with only a "bare bones" group of musicians, and Dr. Harris suggested contacting the committee. In the report from the Instructional Improvement and Faculty Development Committee, Dr. Null asked about the Teaching/Learning Center, and Dr. Barker said he was trying to get information about whether or not one was needed here and how it could be most effective in supporting faculty teaching and student learning. The annual reports were APPROVED as distributed.

    Dr. Armistead stated that he polled his faculty on the question of whether or not faculty members should be allowed to schedule exams outside of regular class hours if the exams are not take-home tests or if the exam time is not published in the Schedule of Classes, and he said the responses were quite varied. Because he receives complaints about this every semester, Dr. Armistead said he would like for the Council to advise him on this question.

    Several faculty members and Mr. Wilds shared their experiences of either giving exams outside normal class hours or being affected by someone who did. Several Council members supported the idea as being helpful to students and sometimes helpful to faculty as well. The Council discussed the issue, including the legal aspects. Dr. Barker said what is stated in the Schedule of Classes Bulletin is an expectation of the students, and it is unfair to the students if we change the class or exam times. It was noted that it is obvious that a faculty member should not schedule an exam when a student has another class, but students also have other important activities and work schedules that should be taken into consideration. Dr. Harris asked if it would be possible to place these exam times in the Bulletin, and Dr. Barker said he would check with Mr. Rose. It was agreed that better planning is needed, and Dr. Armistead said the Department of Physics has agreed to plan better and to list their departmental exams in the Bulletin.

    The Council did not wish to take any action at this time.

    Acting as chairperson of the nominating committee which consisted of himself, Don Elkins, and Linda Null, Brian O'Connor MOVED that Gretta Stanger be elected as chairperson of the Academic Council for 2000-01. Dr. Armistead SECONDED the motion. Dr. Stanger was ELECTED by a unanimous vote.

    Dr. Barker said beginning next year he would like to do away with all paper for the Academic Council and other committees. Hard copies will continue to be filed in the Academic Affairs Office. The Council discussed the pros and cons of going paperless. Professor Hunter MOVED that in the interest of promoting the use of technology at the State's technological university, conserving natural resources, and reducing our staff work load, we do away with printed copies of the agenda and minutes and distribute a notice via e-mail that will direct people to the appropriate web site. Dr. Darvennes SECONDED the motion. As a side issue, Dr. O'Connor asked if a faculty member could send the syllabus via e-mail, which would save even more paper, and Dr. Barker said the syllabus could be provided electronically if an e-mail distribution list is kept. The motion CARRIED by a vote of 13 to 3.

    Dr. Gutek MOVED that the Academic Council petition the administration to provide members of the Academic Council with computers that will access all information in faculty offices. The motion died for lack of a second. Dr. Loutzenheiser suggested that anyone who does not have the necessary computer access could request and get a hard copy. The Council agreed to this suggestion, and Dr. Harris said it would be incorporated as part of the motion to do away with paper. Council members can print from the Web hard copies of anything they need to bring to the meeting, and Dr. Barker said his office would provide an overhead projector if the Council finds that it needs to view a particular document.

    Because the syllabus policy still states that a written copy must be given out the first day of class, Professor Tolbert asked if a subcommittee should be appointed to discuss the syllabus issue. She then MOVED to appoint a subcommittee, Dr. Stanger SECONDED the motion, and the motion CARRIED by a unanimous vote. Dr. Harris said that he would appoint a subcommittee to do this and also to look at the general issue of technology in the classroom as well as to specifically what is required. Dr. Null reminded the group that a large number of students are freshmen without adequate computer skills.

Adjournment

    The meeting was ADJOURNED at 4:10 p.m.

Pat Gilbreath
Recorder