The College of Education Executive Committee met on Thursday, May 2, 1996, at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room in the Education Center with Dean Toth presiding. Members present were: Drs. McGahee, Bauer, Milbrandt, Price, Faber, M. Reed, Morgan, Gunter, Ramsey, T. Reed, P. Hertzog (for Dorminey), Ducharme, Swank, Johnston, Ms. Roberts, and Ms. Teel.

Dean Toth announced that all of the recommendations for raises and merit increases had been submitted to Dr. Benjamin.

Dean Toth discussed the increasing costs of operating the Copy Center. Faculty need to be reminded of ways to save on copying costs, such as printing on "front and back," only getting as many copies as are really needed, and, in general, just using a little more discretion in having copies made. Dean Toth has budgeted $41,165, plus paper and staples, next year for the Copy Center.

Dean Toth asked department heads for an update on the status of the various faculty searches and interviews being conducted in the Departments of Psychology, Counseling and Guidance; Secondary Education; Health, Physical Education, and Athletics; Early Childhood and Reading Education; Educational Leadership; and Special Education and Communication Disorders. Additional positions are currently being advertised for: Early Childhood and Reading Education; Health, Physical Education, and Athletics; Psychology, Counseling and Guidance; Secondary Education; Special Education and Communication Disorders; and Vocational Education. These new positions have a closing date of June 7, 1996; Dean Toth wants the lists of people to be interviewed turned in to him by June 11, 1996.

Dean Toth discussed several issues related to semester conversion. Now that the College of Education has adopted a mission statement, each department should develop a departmental mission statement. A deadline of July 1, 1996, has been set for any department which wants to ask for a waiver of the 120-hour program limit under the new semester system. A university-wide semester conversion committee, chaired by Dr. Joe Tomberlin, has been established. Changes that are made in major programs will depend, to a large extent, what this committee recommends for the core curriculum. Of particular interest to the COE is Area F of the new core "Courses Related to the Program of Study." This area will be transferable from institution to institution within the University System.

Dean Toth announced that the Business Office will no longer pre-pay pre-registration fees for less than $50; but they will continue this practice for pre-registration fees for more than $50.

Dr. Morgan announced that VSU will submit a proposal for a School Board Training Workshop; this is the first time that VSU has been able to submit a grant proposal.

Dean Toth announced that the COE will only be able to send two people for TSS (Teacher Support Specialist) training. He has had requests from several departments. It was decided that Dr. Adele Ducharme and Dr. Julia Dorminey would be allowed to go.

Any courses scheduled for this summer in the Distance Education classroom (Room 97) and in the Science Education classroom (Room 260) will have to be moved. Both of these rooms are undergoing renovations during the summer.

Dr. P. Hertzog gave an update on her work on the P-16 initiative. The P-16 initiative has two main thrusts: (1) To link the various school levels, from pre-school all the way up, and (2) To reform teacher education. Plans are currently underway to re-establish the Plan-for-Change Committee. Dr. Hertzog and Dr. Mary Kay Corbitt are co-writing a $500,000 grant to fund the P-16 initiative at VSU; this grant, if funded, will require matching funds from VSU.

Dr. Swank announced that he had just gotten back from serving on a PSC and NCATE team visit at Georgia Southern University.

Mr. Robert R. Hill, Executive Secretary of the Professional Standards Commission, is retiring. Dean Toth has been asked to serve on the interview committee next week in Atlanta to select his replacement. While in Atlanta, Dean Toth will also meet about the proposed budget next year for ETTC.

State Senator Brown from Athens called Dean Toth about a bill (HB 46) which he had sponsored during this legislative session and which Governor Miller had just signed. The bill allows for the use of lottery dollars for staff development in technology and maintenance of equipment. Dean Toth suggested two things to Senator Brown: (1) Teachers won't use technology in their classrooms unless they receive support from principals and superintendents, and (2) Better use of mobile computer labs in order that the technology can be carried to the schools. This additional use of lottery funds will involve approximately $50 million.

Announcements

1. Ms. Roberts stated that the mobile computer vans will be ready for use during registration.

2. Dr. Swank has the calendars for next year's student teaching and admission to teacher education ready. He will send them out shortly.

3. Some faculty expressed concerns about the length of the Honors Day program.

4. Dr. Ducharme had the principals and teachers from MGE's professional development sites on campus this week for a luncheon. It was well attended.

5. The next Executive Committee meeting will be May 16.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,