MINUTES OF THE MEETING

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The College of Education Executive Committee met on Thursday, November 13, 2003, at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference Room in the Education Center with Dean Gunter presiding. Members present were: Drs. McGahee, Ducharme, Siegrist, Gibbs, Friedrich, Thomerson, Backes, Wehling, Gerber, Price, Hull, Bauer, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Moss, and Ms. Roberts.

Dean Gunter reported that Dr. Atterbom has improved and is out of the hospital; his plans are to return to Valdosta next Tuesday and to be back in his office by next Wednesday.

Dean Gunter distributed the Five-Factor Team Assessment results; this survey had been completed by department heads at the McFarland workshop. Overall, the results were good. The lowest rating was in the area of "discourse." A possible explanation for this could be that there are three new acting department heads in the COE as well as a new dean and the group members just do not yet know each other well.

Dean Gunter distributed the feedback report on the "2003 Institutional Report of Progress Towards Meeting the Regents? Principles." Overall, the report was very good. The BOR review team congratulated the COE on its "excellent progress."

Dean Gunter reported on the meeting he had attended last week in Macon with representatives from the PSC and the USDOE (U.S. Department of Education). The primary discussion centered on how Georgia teachers will meet the requirement for being "highly qualified" as mandated by NCLB (No Child Left Behind). Dean Gunter reported that special education teachers who are teaching a group of students in a specific content area will be required to be "highly qualified" in that content area. Because of this requirement, many Georgia special education teachers may not meet the "highly qualified" requirement. Dr. Ducharme noted that middle grades teachers have the same problem. For example, a middle grades teacher who is certified in science but is teaching mathematics will not be considered "highly qualified." Because of this, the "self-contained" middle grades class will probably become obsolete. Further discussion was held about the proposed changes in PSC certification rules. Specifically, the rule would allow someone who is certified in one area to simply take the Praxis II in another area in order to add that area, without having to take any additional coursework.

Dr. Gerber discussed NCLB (No Child Left Behind) grants; these were formerly the Eisenhower grants. Approximately $1.5-$2 million is given out each year through these grants. In the past, these grants were only given in the areas of mathematics and science; they are now open to the areas of social studies and language arts as well. These grants are primarily for professional development of in-service teachers. Dr. Gerber has copies of grants which have been funded in the past for any faculty member who would like to review them.

Dr. Gerber announced that he was still soliciting input about the video release form which he had distributed at an earlier meeting. He plans to meet with Laverne Gaskins in the next few days about revising the form.

Dr. Gerber distributed an on-line evaluation form. He has talked with Mark Swift about how this process will work. He thinks that it will be possible for the COE to use this system for course/instructor evaluations at the end of spring semester.

Dr. McGahee distributed copies of the revised "Courtesy Placement Guidelines." He explained that these were for students who student taught outside the VSU service area and who were supervised by faculty other than VSU faculty. Student teachers who choose to do this will be required to pay a stipend to the mentor teacher and supervisor. He also distributed copies of the revised "Substitute Teaching Guidelines." The major change in these guidelines is that student teachers who choose to substitute teach during the last three weeks of their student teaching experience must have a signed approval form.

Dr. McGahee reported on the Administrative Council meeting he had attended on Tuesday for Dean Gunter. Some of the items discussed at the meeting: