Minutes of the

Arts and Sciences Chairs and Directors Meeting

Sept. 5, 2007 – 2:00 p.m.

Attending:  T.Anderson, C.Asleson, B.Carlson, T.Carpenter, R.Colvin, J.Connor, H.Dewald, R.DiCaprio, N.Goda, J.Gilliom, J.Grant, S.Jarvis, C.Marshall,  J.McLaughlin, L.McMills (for Malinski), S.Miner, M.Morrone, G.Nadon, B.Ogles, R.Rossiter, G.Rothwell, S.Sarnoff, J.Shields, A.Tickamyer, F.Toner, A.Zucker

Announcements:

•  The annual Faculty Welcome and Awards Presentation is scheduled for Thursday, Sept.20, 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Baker Ballroom.

•  Due to budgetary constraints, the Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner has been cancelled for this year.  The event will be scheduled next in 2008.

•  A message providing specifications for the Associate Dean position will be sent out shortly, and suggestions may be sent to Dean Ogles.  The position responsibilities will include overseeing the curriculum (including serving as chair of the college curriculum committee and as a member of UCC and the Programs Committee), acting as liaison with the College of Education and Univeristy College , and resolving student complaints.

•  The Staffing Advisory Committee will meet on Sept.6 and will meet on Sept.11 and 12 with chairs who have submitted requests.

•  Zakes Mda, Professor of English, will present a reading and book signing on Sept.12 at 7:30 pm in the Walter Hall Rotunda.  His new novel, “CION,” is the first African novel set in Athens County .

Getting to know the College – Contemporary History Institute:

Steve Miner, Director, shared the following information about the CHI:

•  Founded in 1988-89 with support from McArthur grants.

•  Currently funded primarily by OU.

•  Offers Ph.D. in History and Journalism and MS in Political Science and Economics.  Approximately 80% of CHI students are in History.

•  Focuses on graduate education and 20^th Century history.

•  Funds a 3-part seminar series (1^st quarter – methods; 2^nd quarter – broad themes; 3^rd quarter – particular issues).

•  Provides travel support for graduate students to visit archives and attend conferences, and helps get books published.

•  Brings speakers to campus, and tries to coordinate with books students are reading.  Suggestions for speakers are welcomed.

•  Provides $30,000/year in library endowment in support of faculty research.

•  Funds the Baker Peace Studies Conference each Spring quarter.

Policy Review – Faculty Development Awards:

Arts and Sciences Faculty Development funds are awarded three times per year, once during each academic quarter.  All Group I faculty are eligible; other faculty may receive funding if the activity to be supported is necessary for their job.  Guidelines are available on the college web site.  The typical award is about $1,500; however, partial funding of proposals is an option.

High School Guidance Counselor Breakfast:

High school guidance counselors were invited to attend a breakfast on Sept.7 to begin rebuilding a relationship with OU.  Asleson requested handouts to distribute and welcomed suggestions.

Environmental 1804:

Morrone announced that she and Nancy Manring from Political Science are the recipients of an 1804 Grant that will support integration of environmental issues into the undergraduate curriculum.  Faculty in fields that do not traditionally focus on such issues will be selected for participation in a faculty development workshop on environmental literacy in December and monthly networking meetings afterwards. Each participant will receive a $500 faculty stipend for attending the workshop and working on integrating environmental issues into undergraduate courses.

Academic Quality Indicators:

Ogles distributed a draft list of metrics to be used to provide an aggregate snapshot of the quality of activities in the college and asked for suggestions and additions.  The following were included in the resulting discussion:

•  Distinguish between presentations and invited presentations.

•  Include global citizen preparation (study abroad).

•  Include peer review of articles and panel participation.

•  Define community service or add a category for service in the national discipline.

•  Distinguish between general education teaching and majors teaching.

•  Develop criterion-based teaching evaluations to standardize across departments.

•  Count nominations for teaching, research and service awards.

•  Include number of accredited departments.

•  Include support of Honors Tutorial programs.

•  Include national ranking.

•  Include research funding.

•  Include number of theses and dissertations produced.

•  Provide a 5-7 year average for books published.

Peer Evaluations:

Chairs shared how peer evaluations are completed in their departments.  Some have all faculty in the department perform the reviews, and other departments have committees complete the evaluations.  Most departments reported using a 10-point scale for teaching, research and service.  Some use the short-form PDF, others the PDF plus supplemental materials, and others a full CV.  Some departments base reviews on one year, but others have different time windows for different categories.

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