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

Dr. Toth announced that Dr. Ramsey's mother-in-law had passed away and that Dr. Ramsey was attending her funeral in New Jersey. Dr. Dorminey announced that Dr. Akins' father had passed away in California.

Dr. Gunter moved approval of a waiver for the length of the M.Ed. program in speech-language pathology under the semester system; the motion was seconded by Dr. Morgan. Under the semester system, the program will be between 57-60 hours. The motion was unanimously approved.

Dr. Price moved approval of a waiver for the B.S.Ed. program in broad field science and social studies under the semester system; the motion was seconded by Dr. Swank. Dr. Price explained the rationale for the request. The motion was unanimously approved.

Dean Toth stated that he anticipated requests for waivers for Music Education and Art Education, but he has not yet received anything from those departments.

Dr. Gaumond, Director of the Odum Library, has requested input from the COE about the operating hours of the Instructional Materials Center (IMC) in the Education Center. Generally, he is interested in determining if the current operating hours are meeting faculty and student needs. The consensus was that no changes were needed in the operating hours of the IMC. Dr. Gaumond has informed Dean Toth that the Odum Library is changing its weekend hours. The library will begin being open from 5-7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; on Sundays, the library will open at 1 p.m., which is an hour earlier than its current hours. If successful, the hours may be extended to keep the library open even longer.

Dr. Price reported that she, Dr. Dorminey, and Dr. Ducharme had attended a Teacher Support Specialist (TSS) training workshop in Macon. This workshop prepared them to be trainers of student teacher supervisors. Dr. Price plans to offer the two TSS training courses, EDG 741 and EDG 742, during the fall and winter quarters of each year, respectively. Dean Toth suggested that perhaps this training could be included as part of the Teaching and Learning Center of the P-16 initiative. Dr. Swank suggested that perhaps Drs. Price, Dorminey, and Ducharme could offer TSS training to VSU student teaching supervisors and part-time faculty supervisors.

Dean Toth reminded department heads of the dates for New Student Orientation (the name has been changed from New Student Insight).

Dean Toth has met with Ms. Reynolds, Mr. Brignati, and Mr. Archibald about the new policy on assessment of fees (athletic, health, and student activity) for students enrolled in classes which are held over 50 miles from Valdosta. This policy would include student teaching. Basically, the policy states that students enrolled in VSU classes (or student teaching) in a county which is beyond 50 miles from Valdosta will not pay the fees. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled in all classes which are beyond 50 miles from Valdosta. If a student is enrolled in "split" classes (some on-campus and some off-campus), the fees would have to be paid.

Dean Toth announced that some departments (SPE, SED, PE) have extended offers for new faculty.

Dr. M. Reed discussed the diversity planning process. Departments will be responsible for adding to the NCATE report due in October about what each department is doing in relation to increasing diversity within the department.

Dr. M. Reed distributed program outcomes which had been developed by the department heads' working group committee. Dr. Price made some suggestions for improvement.

Between spring and summer quarters, renovations will take place in the Distance Learning Lab and in the Science Education Lab.

Each department head reported on the progress being made in formulating department mission statements. It was also noted that some changes had been made in the University Mission Statement.

The SACS team visit will take place October 15 and 16. The purpose of the visit will be to review the doctoral program. A consultant will be on campus August 13 and 14. Dean Toth noted that the team preparing for the SACS visit would need to be broader than just the doctoral coordinating committee, which is composed of Dean Toth, Dean Clark, Dr. McClung, Dr. Wiley, and Dr. Morgan. Dr. Gunter nominated Dr. Bauer as the Executive Committee's representative to this committee; Dr. Price seconded. The motion was not voted on. However, there is a need for a liaison between the coordinating committee and the COE Executive Committee.

Dean Toth reminded department heads that departmental annual reports were due in his office on June 10.

Dr. Benjamin is requiring that documentation be provided for any non-tenured faculty members who are being recommended to receive terminal contracts. As this is a major change from what has been done in the past, Dean Toth will discuss the issue further with him.

Dean Toth has received the approval for COE faculty raises for next year. He asked each department head to schedule a meeting with him after the Executive Committee meeting to review the raises. Dean Toth would like the faculty informed of their raises as soon as possible. All faculty members who were recommended for equity raises did receive them, although not always in the amount recommended.

Dean Toth has also received departmental budgets for next year. There are, however, still some problems with the assignment of unfilled positions to various departments.

Mike Vollmer of the Office of School Readiness has contacted Dean Toth about some possible funding which his office might have available. Dean Toth is checking on the possibility of using these funds to renovate the Child Care Center at University Center.

The Compaq computers ordered for the Vocational Education labs were shipped last Friday and should be arriving any day. These will be put in Rooms 122, 240, and 244. Another order will go out today to replace the computers in the other VE lab, Room 262. For the first time, all of the computers in VE labs will be alike. The computers coming out of these labs will be given to faculty. To receive a computer, faculty members will have to apply through the COE Technology Committee and justify how the computer will be used.

Announcements

--Dr. Price distributed a suggested six-week schedule for Summer Quarter, 1997.

--The Department of Special Education will hold its brown-bag luncheon tomorrow.

--Dean Toth is funding another position to assist Bobby Watson in maintaining computers within the COE.

--Dean Toth announced that Dr. McCabe (ECRE), Dr. Wilson (PSY), Dr. Hunter (EDL), and Ms. Craven (PE) have submitted letters of resignation.

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

Respectfully submitted,