Kevin Donnelly (AG)
Ike Ehie convened the meeting at 10:30 am.
None.
Hightower – Non-Standard Class time request.
The minutes for the March 10, 2004 meeting were approved.
Donnelly distributed copies of the draft proposal for members that did not have the latest version prepared by DeVault dated 5/15/03. Comments were given. Pence expressed concern about having one time for a group exam when some sections are at night and some sections are during the day for the same course (sec. III. A. i.). She questioned whether there is a distinction between night sections and Evening College sections. Would Evening College sections also test at the group exam time? Stevens suggested that we would have to accommodate for evening students, and if some of them cannot come during a group time in the day, the test would have to be at night. Ewanow noted that the policy does not provide for all scenarios for night classes. For example, students with two classes on the same night would have finals scheduled for both classes on the same night at the same time, 7:00-8:50 pm. Pence also expressed concern about the scheduling of the Saturday final (sec. III. B. v.). Is this the Saturday before or after the balance of finals week? Saturday before is also commencement day in the fall semester, so it was suggested that the wording be changed to “Saturday of finals week” (ie. after all other finals) for fall semester. The Saturday before would work better for spring semester, since commencement would be on the Saturday of finals week in the spring. Donnelly questioned for whom this document was being developed and noted that it is too complex for a student policy. Nielson noted that Gunile developed this for guiding policy to create the final exam matrix for publishing to the web/class schedule, not for students to interpret. Stevens and Pence requested that we have a simple student focused document also. Ewanow believes that a lot of faculty are not following the current final exam policy now, and we need a policy for the handbook that gives guidance for how to make exceptions. Stevens is concerned about whether students are being taken advantage of. Hightower recommended that we revisit the policy for further ideas and changes next month
Wheatley presented the petition for BIOL 320, TU 11:05-12:20 for Fall 2004. The petition had previously been approved by e-mail vote after the last meeting. A motion to accept the e-mail vote results was passed.
Hightower presented a NST request for Fall 2004 for CIS 540, TU 12:30-1:45 for Fall 2004. An error was made in switching to standard times and the course was schedule for 50 minutes but needs to be 75 minutes. Ewanow asked about the room, and Hightower noted it is the only room they could get, and it cannot be moved up to the standard time because another NST class is scheduled just before this in the same room. Donnelly noted that students should be contacted to warn them that they may now have a class overlap since they may have already enrolled under the 12:30-1:20 time posted in the line schedule. A motion to approve the requested NST was approved.
Nielsen asked for input on use of the 19-23+ enrolled reports. Gunile is also sending lists of students in duplicate sections by e-mail. Everyone thinks they are valuable. Most contact students to warn them to correct it. Hightower drops students from duplicate sections and excess hours. Stevens expressed concern about the wait list process. Donnelly noted that the wait list committee is working on recommendations for short and long term improvements and that the new LASER system should allow much more effective use of wait lists. Several expressed that students continue to be frustrated about the whole enrollment process related to closed sections, ineffective wait list, and abuse of the system to hold spots.
Hightower has been getting reports of more students visiting classes, and is concerned about this trend. He noted that Pat Bosco was pushing for this some years ago, and he thought that we had discouraged it because it may actually be negative (ie. poor representative instructors, material way to complex for the visiting student, etc.). No one recalled such a policy actually being developed. There was general support for allowing students to visit class and several colleges sponsor programs to allow such. Ewanow reported that Architecture has a 2 nd visit experience that incorporates class visits. Donnelly reported that Ag has an “ag experience day” where prospects shadow current students to class for a day, repeated 3-4 times per year. Moser reported that Tech and Aviation has a “day in the life” once per semester. It is an Admissions Office program. Hightower thinks that it is becoming more common and students are just showing up at random because they are requesting observing a class when they schedule their campus visit. Ewanow agreed that visits would not be appropriate for some courses. Ehie thinks is should be handled on a case-by-case basis. Donnelly suggested that we ask Pat Bosco’s office whether they see a trend for more students asking to visit classes.
Donnelly asked how other colleges are maintaining electronic distribution lists for the green/white sheet distribution process. Faculty Senate has always maintained a list and provided labels for mailing, but seem to not be providing similar support for electronic distribution. Members who were involved noted that colleges were maintaining their own lists and borrowing from each other. Donnelly thought that was the case, and is concerned about accuracy of the lists as course and curriculum chairs and administrators change over time. He will contact Faculty Senate to see if support for electronic distribution can be provided as in the past for mailing hard copies.
The calendar committee is submitting another recommendation for the Fall 05-Summer 09 calendar after Faculty Senate rejected the Friday fall semester starting date proposal that allowed for a two day fall break. The new proposal will be back to a Monday start with a one day fall break (minimum 75 day semester). Spring would start on Thursday before MLK day (76 day semester). Ewanow asked if the purple Registrar’s calendar for fall 04 was correct. Nielson confirmed that it is correct, and the fall 2004 starting date is Wednesday, August 18. There will still be a two day fall break in fall 2004, but no study day.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:40am.
May 12, 2004.
Respectfully Submitted by Kevin Donnelly