Research and Academic Affairs Council Meeting Notes

Research and Academic Affairs Notes

Monday, August 14, 2006

AGENDA

Strategic Plan Format Questions-Susan Allen

Strategic Plans due November 1st with the exception of the volunteer units whose reports are due on September 15.  These early reports will be used as models to identify necessary formatting changes in the overall report.  Critical Needs should be included in the format and will be added as a new column.

HLC Working Group-Susan Allen

Dr. Allen will notify those appointed to the HLC Steering Committee whose focus will be the three areas of concern noted by the previous HLC visit a) Shared Governance b) Strategic Planning and c) Assessment.  Sub-committees will subsequently be established for each area of concern.   The Steering Committee's initial Draft of the Strategic Plan for HLC's March 2008 visit is due March 30, 2007.  A University draft is expected to be released September 15, 2007. 

First Year Convocation Reminder-Lynita Cooksey

Invitations to First Year Convocation are being mailed.  The Convocation will be held in the Convocation Center on Monday, August 21st at 4:00 pm and is expected to conclude promptly before 5:00 pm to minimize class absences.  Dr. Cooksey will contact the Chairs and Directors

 of students who will miss class due to the Convocation attendance requirement.

Dates for Start-of-Semester BBQ-Susan Allen

Dr. Allen anticipates hosting a RAAC barbecue at her home to kick off the semester.  Invitations will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Peer Institutions-Rick McDaniel

Two handouts were provided to RAAC the first two-page document lists Possible Aspirant Peer Institutions and Potential Peer Institutions.  These institutions were selected based on varying characteristics two of which included the types of programs offered and an enrollment of  less than 28,000 students.  Deans are to provide suggested additions or deletions to the list within the next two weeks.  A revised list will be sent back out to RAAC.  The second document was a printout of the Carnegie Classification changes.  This information may be reviewed at http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/classifications/index.asp?key=791 .  ASU's current classification is Master's/L: Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)

Announcements:

1. Kathryn Jones—Current enrollment appears to be 85% of where we were last year.  Head Count is expected to increase once high school concurrent enrollments are reported.  First year enrollment will be recounted and released as soon as possible.  ADHE is taking a closer look at institutional reports.

2. Greg Thornburg-The number of students attending orientation this year appears to be approximately the same as last year, and is anticipated to increase with next week's orientation.

3. Russ Shain—Alumnist Darrell Cunningham has been awarded the Arkansas Broadcasting Association's Pioneer Award.

4. Gil Fowler—The Lecture Concert Series schedule for this Fall and Spring will be released this week.  The first event is scheduled for early September.

5. Sue Marlay-International Student Orientation this week and a reception on the 22nd for new and returning students.

6. John Beineke—College of Education has been awarded several grants a) Math/Science program (.5 million) b) Educational Renewal Zone Grant (129k) and c) 3.2 million for the building of the new Childcare facility.

7. Len Frey—Terry Roach received the Outstanding Business Teacher Award.  Candidates for the Executive Director position in the Delta Center will be on campus in the next few weeks.

8. Mike Bowman—Faculty are welcome to review the upgraded IVN systems.  ASU-J is expected to be completely upgraded by the end of the week with the remaining 10 units off-campus to be upgraded in the very near future.

9. Al Romero-Roundtable discussions regarding the Delta to begin this week.  ORTT will finance the discussions.  Graduate Students are welcome to attend.  The discussions will be posted on the internet.  For posting information, please contact Dr. Al Romero at 972-3082.

10. Lt. Vincent-The weekend of September 2nd, Military Science will host the  70th Alumni Reunion with an induction ceremony to the Hall of Heroes.  There will be a tailgate party preceding the ASU v. Army football game.

11. Lynita Cooksey—Faculty will need to access Web for Faculty through their AccessPoint accounts.  Faculty needing to review advisees transcripts will need to use the former Web for Faculty portal until the Banner transition is completed.

12. Beth Hood-Expecting significant funding for a new building in Jacksonville after having a positive meeting in Washington with lobbyists.  IDC distributions will be delayed at least month. Contact Dr. Allen if a small advance is needed prior to IDC distribution.

13. Don Maness (on behalf of Robin Hicks)- Faculty development dollars will float to  accounts today.

14. Carole Cramer-ABI has two new faculty, Brett Savory, Asst. Professor of Agriculture and Pam Weathers, Molecular Biosciences Director and Judd-Hill Chair.  Fabricio Medina-Bolivar is a 2006 award recipient.  A new research consortium is being initiated from the Hairy Root Workshop.  ABI has also initiated some seed grants in collaboration with UAMS and the Children's Hospital.

15. Mark Hoeting-IT Strategic Planning Committee is chaired by Dr. Len Frey and anticipates completing the plan by December.

16. Bryan Ulmer-CLT received great faculty responses from the three workshops held last week.  For the first year, 99.9% of new faculty have their BB, email and web accounts prior to the beginning of the semester thanks to the great efforts of IT.

17. Bill Humphrey-Expecting a great turn out at the Faculty Association Meeting on August 16th and anticipates a Handbook Task Force reviewing issues that fell through to get faculty appointed to committees.

18. Rick McDaniel-Dr. Marti Lu Allen has been hired as the new Museum Director.

19. Dan Reeves-The 2006 Season looks great for the Fowler Center. The Second City Improv troupe will perform October 9th and 10th in the drama theatre.  September 8th, Senator Mark Pryor will honor Roger Carlisle.

20. Susan Allen-passed out July 2006 Trip Report. In the California meeting, discussions developed regarding the possibility of faculty/student exchanges with ASU and Makerere in the areas of Agriculture and Art.