Dean Toth welcomed Dr. David Graf, the new Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Graf comes to VSU from Iowa State University; his past professional roles include that of department head and graduate coordinator. In the past, Dr. Graf has worked on the development of computer-assisted instructional materials; he will hold faculty rank in the Department of Secondary Education, Curriculum, and Instructional Technology. Dr. Graf has spent his first few days talking with the deans to get their input into what types of services should be provided by the Center for Teaching and Learning. He also requested that the department heads provide him with suggestions for activities. Dr. Graf feels that the primary focus of the Center should be on faculty development, specifically in the area of teaching improvement. Dr. Graf expressed his willingness to visit individual classrooms, if requested to do so, and offer suggestions for improvement. Dr. Graf emphasized, however, that it is not his intention to violate individual faculty freedom within the classroom. Dr. Swank suggested that the Center's role be expanded to include faculty development in the areas of advising and support services. Dr. Graf announced that the headquarters for the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Education (POD) will be moved to VSU, probably in January, 1998. This international organization currently has a membership of approximately 1100. Dr. Graf has a temporary office in Nevins.

Dean Toth asked Dr. Gerber to report on a new dissertation format which has been approved by Dean Clark as an option for the VSU doctoral students. Dr. Gerber used this format in completing his dissertation. This new format is called the "journal ready dissertation." Students who use this format would complete the traditional first three chapters. In the final version of the dissertation, however, these three chapters become the appendix. Students take the findings and discussions obtained from their study and complete 2-3 appropriate journal articles which become the final version of the dissertation. The student's final defense consists of approval of these 2-3 journal articles. VSU students will be allowed to use either the traditional approach or the journal ready approach for completing their dissertations.

Dean Toth announced that applications for the Board of Regents' Distinguished Professor for Teaching and Learning should be submitted to his office. These applications were sent to all faculty earlier this week; they are due by Wednesday, October 1. Dean Toth will put an announcement about these applications on coedean.

Dean Toth discussed the PeachStar Satellite Network. Programs through this network are available on channel 64. Faculty should ensure that students are aware of this system. PeachStar provides programming which is appropriate for grade levels P-12. Dean Toth has a master schedule of the upcoming programming.

Dean Toth announced that promotion and tenure materials are due to his office by Monday, November 17. Dean Toth has revised the COE promotion and tenure forms and will have them available in his office within the next few days. The same promotion and tenure guidelines used in the past will be used this year. Dean Toth announced the list of COE faculty who will undergo pre-tenure review this year. These faculty are: Randy Bass, David Graf, David Hedgepath, Arnold Murdock, Chuck Talor, Sandy Trowell, David Wasieleski, Marsha Reed, Ruth Stonestreet, and Julie Ann Woods-Cripe. Dr. Bauer asked about those faculty to undergo post-tenure review this year; Dean Toth replied that he was still verifying this list of faculty with the vice president's office and would make this list available to department heads within the next few days. Dr. Dixey suggested that perhaps the COE should have a promotion and tenure meeting at which all relevant promotion and tenure guidelines could be explained to interested faculty. Dean Toth responded that he would set up such a meeting in the near future.

Dean Toth announced that the GATE and GACTE meeting would be held in Macon on October 16-17.

Dean Toth distributed a copy of some recently received Praxis II score sheets. These score sheets do not indicate whether or not the student passed the Praxis II. A student's score will need to be compared with the required score for his/her respective certification area as determined by the Professional Standards Commission.

Dean Toth stated that some COE faculty members are not following the correct procedure for administering final course evaluations; in fact, a few faculty are not giving final course evaluations. Dean Toth asked department heads to please review this issue in their respective departments. Dean Toth reminded department heads that all faculty must use the approved COE course evaluation form. If any faculty member wants to administer an additional evaluation form, he/she may do so. Dr. M. Reed distributed a list of COE summer quarter courses which were evaluated using the new scantron forms. She hopes to have a summary of course evaluations available for department heads in the near future. Dean Toth distributed copies of articles published in Change which dealt with the issue of course evaluation.

Dr. Price moved approval of curricular changes in the Ed.D. program; the motion was seconded by Dr. Bauer. These changes reduce the three research courses from four credit hours each to three credit hours each; the elective hours are reduced from seven to six. These combined changes will result in the Ed.D. program being reduced from 58 total hours to 54. This proposal affects all three options (Curriculum and Instruction, Adult and Vocational Education, and Educational Leadership) of the Ed.D. program. The motion was unanimously approved.

Dean Toth reviewed the university budgeting process which will be used for next year. College and departmental budgets will be based on established college and departmental goals.

Dean Toth announced that a meeting will be held in Macon next Thursday, October 2, of the university system education deans, arts and sciences deans, and academic vice presidents. The meeting will deal with the issue of teacher education, which is the focus of the Board of Regents for this year. Dean Toth will serve on one of the panels for the meeting; he will discuss accomplishments of the College of Education at VSU, particularly as they relate to the area of technology.

As of September 23, undergraduate enrollment at VSU is only six fewer students than last year; graduate enrollment is only 52 fewer students than last year. This past summer quarter's enrollment was 7.2 percent higher than last summer quarter's enrollment.

Dean Toth announced that the three finalists for the position of Associate Dean of the Graduate School had been announced. They are: Dr. John Slate, Dr. Byron Brown, and Dr. Lynn Corbin.

Beginning Fall Semester, 1998, VSU will not accept any students with a SAT verbal score of less than 430 and a SAT math score of less than 400, except for students who come from a 30-mile radius of Valdosta. For these students within a 30-mile radius of Valdosta, VSU will serve as their "two-year" college.

Dean Toth asked department heads to remind faculty members to check their proof rolls very carefully.

Dean Toth asked department heads to make sure that all staff and faculty are aware of VSU's tuition remission policy.

The Georgia Educational Technology Conference will be held April 22-24, 1998, in Macon.

Dean Toth asked department heads to remind faculty members to begin and end classes at the correct time.

Dean Toth announced that the bid had been let for the card swipe system for the Education Center. Faculty who come into the Education Center on weekends should be sure to make sure that the front door is locked both when they enter and when they leave.

There will be a "kick-off" meeting for VSU's upcoming SACS visit on January 30, 1998. The SACS accrediting visit will be during 2000.

Dr. Swank announced that a meeting would be held tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in the Continuing Education Center with representatives from the Professional Standards Commission (PSC). The primary topic of discussion will be certification.

Dean Toth announced that the request to change the name of the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics to the Department of Health Sciences and Physical Education had been tabled by the Academic Committee.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:17 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,