MINUTES OF THE MEETING

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The College of Education Executive Committee met on Thursday, January 18, 2007, at 8:30 a.m. in the COE Conference Room (Room 235) in the Education Center with Dean Gunter presiding. Members present were: Drs. McGahee, Stanley, Gerber, Galeano, Lee, Griffin, Hull, Martinez, Leech, Bauer, Reffel, and Ms. Roberts. Guest: Dr. Judd.

Dean Gunter announced that he had received an e-mail stating that there were state-wide technical problems with the Vista system. He asked department heads to pass this information along to their faculty.

Dr. Bauer announced that the registration deadline for the 2007 Czech Study Abroad Program was Friday, January 12. Twenty-one students have registered for the 2007 program; Drs. Wiley and Hinkle will accompany this year's group. Dr. Bauer is already making plans for the 2008 program.

Ms. Roberts announced that the Academic Majors Fair would be held on Tuesday, February 6, from 10:00-2:00. She has asked that two tables be reserved for the COE; if departments would like additional tables, please notify Ms. Roberts.

Dr. Lee announced that she had received the CEC SPA report; this report cannot be rejoined. Dr. Lee also announced that she and Dean Gunter had begun to write the rejoinder for the NCATE report. The NCATE report had two areas for improvement: (1) assessment of student learning at the initial and advanced levels; Dr. Lee is rejoining the initial part of this area for improvement, and (2) the unit does not have a systematic procedure to ensure that all programs use data for program improvement; Dr. Lee is rejoining part of the rationale for this area for improvement. Part of the rationale for this area for improvement was that fewer than 50 percent of the programs completed a self-assessment; however, completion of a self-assessment is not part of the standard. The rejoinder is due February 10.

Dr. Lee reviewed the new and improved Exhibit Center in LiveText. The revision makes the data more explicit. Data in Standard I have been re-organized completely. Dr. Lee did note that more unit-level data are needed for advanced teacher programs and OSP (other school personnel) programs. Dr. Lee also noted that NCATE is making the Standard I indicators for advanced teacher programs a little more explicit.

Dr. Lee discussed the need to use the data collected more effectively for program improvement. Also, the unit needs to do a more effective job of documenting data used for program improvement. Part of this documentation can be done through the annual COE Executive Committee retreat. It was also suggested that a regularly scheduled meeting for program coordinators might be used to ensure that all data are entered in a timely manner. It was also suggested that an Executive Committee meeting might be used each semester for a review of unit data.

Dr. Lee distributed a handout showing the student teacher disposition data for this semester. She noted a major positive change on statement 2 (schools need to get back to basics--teachers should present lessons for everyone in the same structured way for students to learn the content) between entry into the program and student teaching.

Ms. Roberts emphasized to department heads that students who are not meeting the requirements for the "2999" classes should not be told to withdraw. Students should register for the appropriate "2999" class each semester until a grade of "S" is attained. For the sake of consistency, the COE considers the number of students who enroll in "2999" classes as applying for admission to teacher education; the number who receive an "S" in "2999" classes are considered as admitted to teacher education.

Dean Gunter reported on a meeting he had attended with the human resource officers from area school systems. Some issues discussed at this meeting: (1) the BOR double-double initiative, (2) the need for a change for the date of the spring education career day, (3) classroom management, and (4) assistance for classroom teachers who have low expectations for their students.

Dean Gunter reported on the deans' council meeting held yesterday. Some of the items discussed at this meeting:

Dean Gunter announced that he has submitted a proposal to Drs. Zaccari and Levy for some re-organization of the College of Education. Part of the impetus driving this re-organization emanates from the ASHA (American Speech-Hearing Association) accreditation report which recommended that Communication Disorders be a separate department. Dean Gunter's recommendation to Drs. Zaccari and Levy is that Communication Disorders be made a separate department, that Special Education be joined with another department, and that other changes be made as a result of this merger. Further, Dean Gunter recommended that Dr. Gerber be moved into a new leadership position in the COE which will focus on new incentives in science and mathematics, that Dr. Lee be moved into the Associate Dean's position, and someone else assume the position of assessment coordinator. Dean Gunter asked to meet with the department heads and personnel affected by these recommendations after today's meeting to begin faculty involvement in these possible changes.

Dr. Hull distributed a curricular change requesting a General Special Education Option in her department's Ed.S. program. This proposal will be voted on at a later meeting.

Dean Gunter distributed a list of materials missing from the IMC and asked for department heads' assistance in trying to locate these materials.

Dr. Griffin announced that the Share the Wealth Conference would be held January 25-27.

Dean Gunter announced that he would be in Savannah next week chairing a PSC visit at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Dr. Reffel distributed a flyer advertising the Azalea International Folk Fair to be held March 1-2.

Dean Gunter distributed letters of intent to department heads; these should be given to faculty.