Minutes of the Dean’s Council Meeting of June 9, 2009

Present: Anantha Babbili, Moustafa Abdelsamad, Arthur Hernandez, Kelly Quintanilla, Mary Jane Hamilton, Jennifer Smith-Engle, Harvey Knull, Christine Shupala, Robert Nelsen

Note taker: Cely Smart

I. Call to Order

Dr. Babbili called the meeting to order.

II. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of June 2 will be approved at the next meeting of the Deans’ Council.

III. Overload Pay

Dr. Knull reported that the rule regarding overload pay must be reviewed before any decision can be made regarding pay over 100% effort. The System is currently revising how “full-time” will be defined. The Council discussed how a full-time load at the University should be determined as a combination of teaching, research, and service. Dr. Nelsen reported that a task-force is being created to address this issue.

IV. HEF Preparations

Dr. Babbili discussed the budget requests in terms of priority with the deans. He requested that the deans take the actual cost of their top priority into consideration and prepare a few other items with smaller budgets that are high priority in the event that the top priority cannot be funded. Dr. Babbili encouraged inter-collegiate conversations between the deans to work together on budget requests. Dr. Nelsen suggested a presentation in mid-July by Judy Harral on the use of HEF funds, and the Council agreed on the importance of an information session. There was also a discussion on the software needs in the colleges and sharing resources. Dr. Babbili requested that the deans continue to work on their HEF priority list and be prepared to submit it in September.

V. Dr. Lord’s Visit

Dr. Babbili requested that the deans or their designee are available for Dr. Lord’s visit on Monday, June 15th. Dr. Nelsen reported that Dr. Lord’s agenda has changed and that a question and answer session will be held from 1-2 pm on Monday. Dr. Babbili requested that if the deans do have questions for Dr. Lord that they discuss them with Dr. Nelsen or Ms. Shupala first. Dr. Lord’s visit will focus on the QEP and the SACS narratives.

VI. Other Issues of the Council

Dr. Babbili reported that the CEO breakfast was extremely successful and the student speaker was excellent. He requested that the deans start to look for students whowill make superior representatives for the University. Dr. Knull informed the deans that the review process will be very in-depth for any student whom the dean recommends.

Dr. Knull raised the issue regarding the need for the University to evolve a practice to follow regarding the appointments of graduate assistants. Dr. Knull presented a document that emphasized the need to keep GA and TA positions at half-time appointments. Dr. Abdelsamad and Dr. Hamilton voiced concerns that neither the College of Business nor the College of Nursing and Health Sciences have any graduate assistants. Dr. Babbili vowed to work with the deans to get a graduate assistant in their colleges. The Council unanimously endorsed ½ time appointments for graduate assistants and teaching assistants.

Dr. Quintanilla requested that the deadline for program reviews be pushed back to September to accommodate departments that will not have faculty on campus until that time. Dr. Nelsen emphasized the need to have at least three program reviews for SACS and will work with the deans to find departments that are available to finish these in time.

Dr. Quintanilla raised a faculty concern regarding summer teaching contracts. Many of the Liberal Arts faculty requested that they receive their summer contracts before the first day of summer classes. Dr. Abdelsamad made the point that contracts cannot always be determined by the first day of summer classes because some classes will not make and the document is a binding contract. The Council discussed the need to have the contracts begin with the phrase, “Contingent upon your class making….” The Council emphasized the need to ensure that faculty are not misled that they will be paid if their class does not make, even if they receive a contract.

VII. Adjourn

Recommended Action Items

-Creation of a task force to review Overload Pay