The College of Education Executive Committee met on Thursday, October 9, 1997, at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room in the Education Center with Dean Toth presiding. Members present were: Drs. McGahee, Gunter, Slate, Corbin, Price, Bauer, M. Reed, McNeill, Siegrist, Swank, T. Reed, Dixey, Kasper (for Andrews), Ducharme, and Ms. Roberts. Guests: Dr. Tayloe Harding and Dr. Julie Reffel.

Dean Toth distributed departmental budget reports for October.

Dr. Julie Reffel spoke to the committee about her desire to establish a chapter of Pi Lambda Theta at VSU. Pi Lambda Theta is a student organization primarily devoted to community service. In order to be a member, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA, be a junior or senior, and be nominated for membership. The organization publishes the periodical EDUCATIONAL HORIZONS.

Dr. Reffel stated that it would take about a year to organize a chapter. There are 114 local members of Pi Lambda Theta. The membership fee for the organization is $25 per year. If established, the chapter would be required to hold three meetings per year as well as complete one community project. Ms. Roberts stated that the Advising Center would be glad to include an informational sheet about Pi Lambda Theta in each new student's advising folder. Dr. Swank moved that Dr. Reffel be allowed to begin the procedures to establish a chapter at VSU; the motion was seconded by Dr. Bauer. The motion was unanimously approved.

Dr. Reffel also asked permission to establish a chapter of the Student Council of the International Reading Association at VSU. Membership in this organization is primarily geared toward early childhood and middle grades education students. Membership in this organization does not require a certain GPA. Ten members are needed in order to establish a chapter. Dean Toth told

Dr. Reffel that since this organization was not really a COE-wide organization, it would not need approval of the COE Executive Committee. Dean Toth encouraged Dr. Reffel to establish a chapter. Dr. Reffel asked Dean Toth if he would provide her with letters of support for both organizations; Dean Toth stated that he would do so. Dean Toth also stated that he would notify the Student Government Association (SGA) of the establishment of both organizations on campus.

Dr. Gunter reported on the Capital Funds Campaign. Dr. Gunter reported that rather than just soliciting general funds for the capital campaign, the focus will be more on a series of specific projects. Dean Toth stated that the only two specific projects he had heard mentioned were the Center for Performing Arts and the Jekyll Island Theater. Dean Toth stated that he felt that the COE needed to determine a specific project to focus on rather than just general scholarships.

Dr. Gunter also discussed the FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) Grant. One of the major themes of this grant program is faculty development, particularly the improvement of postsecondary education. Another theme is centered around the implementation of technology in the schools. Anyone who is interested in working with Dr. Gunter in developing a grant proposal should see him.

Dean Toth announced that there would be a $54 million technology initiative from the state legislature this year that includes a half-time technology specialist for every school. Dean Toth also announced that new administrative software is being introduced into the schools this year.

Dr. Swank stated that a luncheon had been held for faculty who had helped with the Opening School Experience. Dr. M. Reed distributed the results of a survey given to the students who had completed the Opening School Experience. Ninety percent of the students rated the Opening School Experience as "helpful." Dr. Swank reported that the procedures for conducting the Opening School Experience under the semester system are still being discussed.

Dr. M. Reed distributed copies of the COE Student Diversity Summary and gave each department head a copy of his/her department's Diversity Plan. The committee discussed the summary and the departmental plans. Dr. M. Reed requested that the departmental diversity plans be discussed with departmental faculty and any needed changes made. Copies of the final plan should be returned to Dr. M. Reed.

Dr. M. Reed distributed copies of a COE Multicultural Resources list. This list contains abstracts, bibliographies, internet addresses, etc., of a wide variety of multicultural resources. Dean Toth stated that he hoped many of these resources would be incorporated into the semester course syllabi.

Dr. M. Reed distributed copies of the results of a survey about the Conceptual Framework Principles which had been given to both undergraduate and graduate students. This survey was to determine how important students felt each of the principles was in their major. All ten of the undergraduate, and all five of the graduate, principles were viewed by over 90 percent of the students surveyed as being either "very important" or "important."

Dr. M. Reed distributed a draft copy of a core curriculum survey. This survey will determine how "helpful" undergraduate students view the undergraduate core curriculum courses: HE 200,

EDG 200, SPE 360, PSY 250, PSY 270, and BVE 240. Dr. M. Reed asked for feedback about ways to improve the survey before it is administered.

Dean Toth passed around copies of some of the Praxis II results so that department heads could see how student results are reported.

Dean Toth asked department heads to remind all faculty to go through the appropriate channels when setting up observations in school systems.

Dr. M. Reed reported on the course evaluations which were done using the scantron at the end of summer quarter. A new piece of software has been ordered which is more compatible with the forms we use; this should help to speed up the process each quarter.

Dean Toth reported that the October meeting of the Academic Committee had been canceled; items from the COE will not come before the committee until the November meeting.

Dean Toth announced that there is a website for the Peachstar Satellite which contains programming information. The address is: http://www.gpb.org/pstar/peachstr.htm

Dean Toth announced that the Business Office has forms available which can be filled out in order to pre-pay registration fees for conferences.

Dean Toth announced that the Business Office is holding a seminar on October 10 to explain its operating procedures.

Dean Toth reported on the meeting of the Board of Regents he attended in Macon. The theme of the Board of Regents for this year will be teacher education; 15 of the 34 University Systems schools have teacher education programs. The meeting was attended by arts and sciences deans, education deans, and academic vice presidents from these 15 institutions. Dean Toth felt that the meeting was very positive. Dean Toth made a presentation on technology in teacher education, and Dr. Benjamin made a presentation on barriers to teacher education success.

Ms. Roberts announced that the COE will have a table at the Happening '97 being held tomorrow in the quad from 12 noon until 4:30 p.m.

Training for the new BANNER version is being held today. The BANNER system will be "down" next week. When it comes back up, it will be the new version.

Dr. McGahee announced that Marsha Tillman, a senior Business Education major, had been awarded one of the three Charles McDaniel Scholarships.

Dr. T. Reed has had a planning grant from the National Science Foundation Grant funded in the amount of $233,000. VSU is the lead institution, but we will work with Alabama and Florida to go into rural, poverty schools to implement a ten-year, $5 million grant.

Dr. Bauer announced that this month's issue of AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST focuses on the topics of intelligence and life-long learning.

Dr. Swank is in the process of developing a new certification process for graduate students.

Dr. M. Reed distributed copies of a handout entitled "9 Principles of Good Practice for Assessing Student Learning."

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:43 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,