The College of Education Executive Committee met on Thursday, July 6, 1995, at 7:30 a.m. in the Ashley Room at the Holiday Inn with Dean Toth presiding. Members present were: Drs. McGahee, Hertzog, Ducharme, Price, Gunter, Reed, Milbrandt, Uhlir, Merriman, Bauer, Swank, and Ms. Roberts.

Dean Toth thanked Dr. Merriman for treating the committee members to breakfast at the Holiday Inn.

Dean Toth commented on VSU's mission in serving the higher educational needs of Southwest Georgia. Dr. Elsie Hand, a member of the Board of Regents, expressed concern as to why VSU was not offering more courses in Southwest Georgia. The primary reason is that a major portion of the Southwest Georgia area is within the service area of Albany State College. As a result of Dr. Hand's concern, Acting Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jan Kettlewell met with a group of representative teachers from the Southwest Georgia area. After this meeting, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Joan Elifson wrote to Albany State College and made recommendations for improving its offerings in the Southwest Georgia area. A representative from Albany State responded that it could, with a few exceptions, meet the needs in the Southwest Georgia area. Dr. Elifson responded with the suggestion that Albany State and VSU work collaboratively in meeting the area's needs. The feeling of the Executive Committee members was that it would be better if we offered programs independently and not work collaboratively with Albany State.

Dean Toth reviewed the five teachers nominated for the Student Teacher Evaluation Committee. The Executive Committee members agreed to allow Dr. Swank to select the representative to serve on the committee.

Dean Toth gave out a handout from Mr. Brignati showing the percentage breakdown for the VSU budget for FY95 and FY96. The funds allotted for instruction increased from 56.6% in FY95 to 57.6% in FY96.

Department heads were reminded that the Winter Quarter, 1996, schedule was due in the dean's office by August 23.

Dean Toth is on the screening committee for selecting the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, a position currently held in an interim capacity by Jan Kettlewell.

The deans of colleges/schools of education in the University System will meet in Savannah in October to review admission standards to teacher education.

The Professional Standards Commission has voted to eliminate the Teacher Certification Test (TCT) in July, 1997. It will be replaced by Praxis II, which will be used as the test of teaching field content knowledge. Praxis II is not currently available for all of the certification areas in Georgia. Dean Toth will send the department heads a list of the available Praxis II test areas.

Dean Toth passed around a copy of the most recent meeting agenda of the Board of Regents.

Department heads will receive their individual departmental budgets within the next few days.

Dr. McGahee reminded committee members about the BVE 240 exemption test to be given on July 7.

Dean Toth discussed the problem of a number of students who were not able to get in FED 701 this summer. He asked the department heads to encourage their advisors to put graduate students in FED 701 and PSY 702 early in their programs of study.

Dr. Ducharme moved approval of curricular changes in the Middle Grades undergraduate program. Motion was seconded by Dr. Bauer. Discussion centered around the need for a separate course in the teaching of reading. The general consensus was that a separate course in the teaching of reading was needed. It was suggested that Dr. Ducharme withdraw her proposal and take it back to her department for further discussion and development; Dr. Ducharme agreed. Dr. Ducharme also withdrew proposed changes in the Middle Grades graduate programs, both the M.Ed. and the Ed.S. She will re-submit all proposals at a later date.

Dr. Gunter had submitted a proposal for a track in Early Childhood Intervention under the Special Education major in the M.Ed. degree program. Dean Toth informed Dr. Gunter that the materials submitted would not suffice as a new program proposal and suggested that he withdraw them for further development; Dr. Gunter agreed.

Dr. Price had also submitted curricular materials for revision in several courses in Secondary Education. After some discussion, it was suggested that she also withdraw these materials for further revision and development; Dr. Price agreed.

Dean Toth reported that Mr. Henry Thornton had been employed to run the Education Center Copy Center and will begin work on Monday, July 10.

Dean Toth brought up two issues for discussion: (1) the problem of some faculty not meeting their classes the full time, and (2) some faculty who are giving their final exams early. He stated that if a class was not meeting the full five hours each week, then maybe the department should consider reducing the course to a two- or three-hour course. In addition, he stated that the final exam schedule was published well in advance of the beginning of each quarter and that both instructors and students should plan their schedules so that final exams could be taken at the scheduled times. Discussion followed about how faculty who did not "follow the rules" were causing a morale problem within the College of Education.

Dean Toth announced that Dr. Joe Ramsey has accepted an offer to be the new Head of the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics.

Dean Toth announced that a new listserv (COEDEAN) is available in the College of Education. It may be accessed only through the dean's office.

Faculty in the Department of Special Education have been awarded two grants; faculty in the Department of Secondary Education have been awarded one grant.

Dean Toth reported that he had met with Mr. Brignati and with Dr. Bailey about renovation scheduled for the Lilly Building. As the VSU Foundation is paying the costs of renovation, it will be necessary to closely monitor the renovation costs. Dean Toth also briefly discussed the renovation currently underway in the Woolworth Building which will house the Speech/Language clinicians, Speech Clinic, and Child Care Center.

Dean Toth announced that all remaining "gold" carpet in offices and classrooms in the Education Center will be replaced either toward the end of summer school or during the break between quarters. It will be necessary for faculty affected to ensure that there are not books, boxes, etc., left on the floors in their offices.

Ms. Roberts announced that orientation for transfer students will be held on Saturday, July 8.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,