FAC Meeting Minutes

12/11/03 - 10 - to 11:30 am
Attending: Micheline Chalhoub-Deville, Nancy Jackson, Ellie Herman, Rahima Wade

Rahima had not typed up the minutes yet from the previous meeting so we just reviewed her notes and proceeded with the business at hand. First, we each reported out on our meetings with our respective DEOs on the program coordinator support issue. Since Dave and Scott were not in attendance, we will hear their reports at our January meeting and decide on our next steps after that.

C & I Report - Micheline and Ellie met with Gary Sasso, DEO of C & I. Rahima could not attend but did submit a list of possible ideas for supporting PCs that was shared with Gary. Gary is planning on having a set number (not determined yet) of graduate assistants next year (04-05) to support the PCs in our department. It is possible that one secretary may be assigned to support PCs work but if this happens it will be determined after the office review now underway. It may be possible to earmark the Hazel Prehm summer research funds for PCs use. Gary is already including PCs altered responsibilities as part of the considerations for merit pay.

P & Q - Nancy Jackson met with Tom Rocklin, DEO of P & Q. Tom indicated that there is usually not just one faculty member working on doing PC tasks; they share. The secretaries are also very helpful and efficient. They cut the number of PC meetings and Tom tries to send less issues and requests to the PCs when possible. The P & Q PCs do not want fixed term lengths or devising lists of their duties. They also do not want graduate student assistance; the secretaries work fine (there are 3 FT secretaries and a program assistant in the P & Q office).
Tom indicated that when there is a special need, he could arrange for a course release. (Note: This is not always related to PC responsibilities, it might be arranged when there is APA program accreditation).

We then went on to talk about the Curriculum Task Force. Here is the membership:

Peter Hlebowitsh, C & I
Dennis Maki, CRSD
Tom Rocklin, P & Q
David Bills (or another faculty member), EPLS

David is on leave right now so he may not have received the invitation yet. This group should begin to meet next semester.

In regard to the College Uniqueness effort, the Dean is very excited about this. She e-mailed Micheline and they met on 12/10. The UI is trying to distinguish itself both in the field nationally and among the regents institutions so our work as a College will fit nicely within this larger effort. The Dean would like us to have a core mission statement with 7-10 defining characteristics as to how our college is unique. We need to formulate the mission in such a way that will attract graduate students nationwide. We should also focus on being a pre-professional college with excellence in teaching. Ellie will find the document from 8-10 years ago about our College's special characteristics. This is the Audit conducted by the accounting firm of Peat Marwick, May 1989. Micheline handed out several articles from the Dean for all of us to consider as we plan this effort.

We then discussed different ways we might approach establishing the College Uniqueness mission and characteristics. We could have conversations across departments in focus groups. We could form cross-department committees that look at particular issues. Rahima proposed a big meeting of the college faculty that would include a brief (20-30 minute) overview of our aims and then time for cross-department breakout groups with focused questions for each group. Ellie (or Nancy?) suggested that each group have a computer to use to answer these questions and take notes on the discussion in their group, then Ellie would compile the focus group comments.

We need to see what other Big 10 and CIC Colleges of Education have as their mission and/or unique characteristics. Nancy suggested we look at the University of Washington also. Nancy also suggested that one theme or characteristic might be Individual Differences: The student as an individual. We could develop themes (characteristics) and then have particular examples of each (perhaps many, be inclusive rather than selective at this point). It was suggested that we start by looking at "What do we do well now? What makes us unique?" rather than trying to change or develop some new direction.

We talked about one of the Dean's secretaries doing some of the research for info we need (see paragraph above). For TEAC review, we will also have to identify our goals and strengths. The secretary from the Dean's office will review the TEAC website to see what other institutions have listed as their COE's strengths or areas of focus.

Micheline will communicate with the Dean about our discussion. Ellie and Rahima will write the C & I PC discussion with Gary report.

Our next meeting will be in early February. Micheline will e-mail us to set up this meeting. We may have two meetings in February and one in early March to prepare for a college-wide meeting at the end of March (at least two weeks before AERA - Note: I think AERA is the week of April 12 so our meeting could be on March 26).

Respectfully submitted,

Rahima Wade